Home › Travel Guides › North America Travel Guide › United States of America › California › San Francisco › San Francisco International (SFO)

San Francisco International Airport Guide (SFO)

Airport info
Code: SFO
Address:
PO Box 8097, San Francisco, California 94128-8097, United States
Location:

The airport is located 22km (14 miles) south of San Francisco.

Number of terminals: 4 Dialling code: +1
Telephone:
1 800 435 9736 or (650) 821 8211.
Timezone: GMT -8:00
San Francisco International Airport map

Here you'll find essential information on San Francisco International Airport, including contact details, airport transfer facts, details of airport facilities, and how to get there.

Airport news: 

The redeveloped Terminal 2, serving domestic routes, opened in April 2011, incorporating a large retail/dining area, a pedestrian bridge to the AirTrain and 14 boarding gates. It is home to American Airlines and Virgin America.

Information: 

Airport information booths are located on the Arrivals level of all terminals. Computerised information kiosks are available at the desks 24 hours a day. Travelers Aid kiosks are located on the Departures levels of all terminals. These are open daily 0800-2000.

Website: 
www.flysfo.com
Transfer between terminals: 

The 24-hour AirTrain light rail service links the International Terminal with the other terminals, parking garages, the Airport BART station and the car hire centre.

Driving directions: 

From central San Francisco, take Highway-101 south and follow signs to the airport. For access to the car hire centre, turn left onto I-380 and turn right onto South Airport Boulevard. For access to the long-term car park, take Highway-101 south, exit at San Bruno Avenue/San Francisco International Airport, take the San Bruno Avenue exit, turn left and follow the signs.

Public Transport

Public transport rail: 

Rail: The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) (tel: (650) 992 2278; www.bart.gov) operates a rapid rail service to northern San Mateo County, San Francisco (journey time: 30 minutes) and the East Bay from the SFO BART station on the Departures level of the International Terminal. The station is linked to all terminals via the free AirTrain service. BART services connect to Millbrae Station, from where a Caltrain (tel: 1 800 660 4287; www.caltrain.com) shuttle service runs between San Francisco and San José.

Public transport road: 

Bus: SamTrans (tel: 1 800 660 4287; www.samtrans.com) buses run from outside Terminal 1 and the International Terminal to destinations in San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco and Palo Alto, 24 hours. For further ground transportation information, visit the airport information booths or call the Bay Area Transit information line (tel: 511; transit.511.org).

Taxi: Taxis depart from outside the Arrivals levels of all terminals. Taxi drivers are required by airport regulations to accept fares to all destinations. The taxi fare to the Downtown area is around $40. On arrival, contact the uniformed taxi co-ordinator or call 1191 from an airport courtesy phone. Shared minibus shuttles are also available.

Terminal facilities

Money: 

ATMs are available in all terminals and boarding lounges. There is a full service bank in Terminal 3. Bureaux de change and automated currency exchange machines are located throughout the International Terminal. Telephones equipped with data ports are located throughout the terminals. Free Wireless Internet is available in all public spaces. Mobile telephones can be hired.

Food: 

There are numerous bars, cafés and restaurants in each terminal.

Shopping: 

Four duty-free shops are located in the International Terminal. There is a duty-free kiosk in Terminal 1, boarding area B. Other shops include gift shops, newsagents, bookshops, clothing and accessories stores, sweet shops, toy shops and cosmetic and toiletries shops.

Luggage: 

There is a lost property office on the Arrivals level of Terminal 1 (tel: (650) 821 7014). Trolleys are available for a fee throughout the terminals. Left-luggage is available at the Airport Travel Agency, in the International Terminal.

Other: 

These include a medical centre, nurseries, showers, a hair salon, shoeshine services, a museum and an aquarium.

Airport facilities

Conference and business: 

The Airport Travel Agency (tel: (650) 877 0422) in the International Terminal provides fax and photocopying services. Basic business services and mobile phone rental is offered at TripTel in the International Terminal Main Hall. There are also workstations where laptops can be charged. Meeting and conference facilities are available at a number of local hotels, notably the Holiday Inn (tel: (650) 873 3550; www.holidayinn.com), as well as at the South San Francisco Conference Centre (tel: (650) 877 8787; www.ssfconf.com), which is also close to the airport.

Disabled facilities: 

The airport is physically accessible and airline employees can assist passengers with disabilities before departure or upon arrival; passengers requiring wheelchairs should contact their airline prior to travel. There are TDD/TTY phones throughout the airport for hearing-impaired travellers. Reserved car parking is also available in all car parks (tel: (650) 821 7111); the shuttle bus from the long-term car park is equipped with a lift. Ramp-accessible taxis are available. SamTrans buses and the Caltrain shuttle are wheelchair accessible. So are all BART stations.

Car parking: 

Short-term (hourly and daily) car parking, with direct access to the terminals, is available at both the domestic and international parking garages. Passengers flying to Canada should use the domestic terminal’s parking garage. Valet parking for all terminals is located in the domestic garage, off the Departures level roadway. A long-term car park is located 3.5km (2 miles) north of the airport terminals. A free shuttle bus service operates between the long-term car park and the terminals. There is also a cell phone waiting lot. Parking information is available (tel: (650) 821 7900).

Car rental: 

The rental car centre is located outside of the terminals but on airport property and is linked to the terminals and BART station on the 24-hour AirTrain Blue Line. Nine major car hire companies are based at the centre: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

Airport hotels

There are no hotels at San Francisco International Airport, although there are anumber of hotels of varying levels of price and comfort in the immediate vicinity. Many hotels provide courtesy shuttle services to and from the terminals.

Four Points San Francisco

Four Points San Francisco is located 4km (2.5 miles) from San Francisco International Airport and offers a complimentary shuttle bus service to/from the terminals. The hotel has its own fitness centre, on-site dining and offers free high-speed Internet access.

Telephone: (650) 624 3700.
Website:
www.starwoodhotels.com
Holiday Inn Express San Francisco International Airport North

Holiday Inn Express San Francisco International Airport North is located 1.6km (1 mile) from the airport and is connected via a complimentary shuttle bus service. Hotel facilities include free Internet access, a business centre and 'Park and Fly' parking packages.

Telephone: (650) 589 0600.
Website:
www.ichotelsgroup.com
Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport

Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport is less than 10-minutes' drive from San Francisco International Airport and offers a complimentary shuttle bus service. Hotel facilities include on-site dining, a fitness centre and business services.

Telephone: (650) 347 1234.
Website:
http://sanfranciscoairport.hyatt.com
San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront

San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront is located 1.6km (1 mile) from San Francisco International Airport and offers a complimentary shuttle bus service to/from the terminals. Hotel facilities include an indoor pool, fitness centre, and on-site dining.

Telephone: (650) 692 9100.
Website:
www.marriott.com

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.