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Sausalito Ferries

Enjoy the Spectacular Views!

For some of the best views in the Bay Area, as well as a great way to enjoy an authentic San Francisco experience, take a ferry to or from Sausalito on the other side of San Francisco Bay. First, a warning of sorts: There are actually two ferry services that transport passengers to and from Sausalito:

• The Golden Gate Ferry – This ferry is operated by the Golden Gate Bridge District, a public company, and embarks from the Ferry Terminal located where Market St. intersects with the Embarcadero. You must purchase tickets before you board this ferry and the ticket machines are located at the Terminal. Golden Gate ferry schedules can be found here: http://www.oursausalito.com/ferry-schedule-sausalito.html (Make sure that you are looking at the schedule for your ferry, as schedules for both ferry services are here.)
• The Blue and Gold Ferry – This ferry is run by a private company and departs from Fisherman’s Wharf, or Pier 41, which is about two miles north of the Ferry Building on the waterfront. Tickets for this ferry are sold as you board the ferry on the Sausalito side or at the Pier 39 terminal at Fisherman’s Wharf on the San Francisco side. Blue and Gold ferry schedules can be found here: http://www.oursausalito.com/ferry-schedule-sausalito.html (Make sure that you are looking at the schedule for your ferry, as schedules for both ferry services are here.)

Which of these Sausalito-San Francisco ferries you choose is up to you, your schedule and which location is most convenient for you. However, there are some traveler’s tips for you to consider to ensure that you have a great time no matter which ferry you choose:

• Dress in layers. The winds off the Bay can be unforgiving in all seasons and the weather can be unpredictable. It’s far better to have a jacket and/or sweater and not need them than need them and not have them.
• If you bike across the Golden Gate Bridge and are taking the ferry back to the city, there are separate lines for passengers with bicycles and those without bikes. The line for those with bicycles can be lengthy, so if you don’t have a bike, get in the other line and save some time!
• Night service for the ferries is infrequent, particularly in the winter months. If you miss the last ferry and need to get back to the city, Bus schedules can be found here: http://www.oursausalito.com/buses-in-sausalito.html
• Some smaller pets are allowed on both ferries, but must be kept in a carrier of some kind at all times. Larger animals are not permitted on the Golden Gate Ferry, except for service animals. Larger animals can board the Blue and Gold Ferry, but must be kept on a leash at all times.
• There is no terminal on the Sausalito side, only a pier that is a short walk from a touristy section of the city. However, there are ticket machines nearby if you need them.

Both ferry services offer spectacular views of San Francisco and the Bay Area, so you can’t go wrong no matter which service you choose. That said, Bay Area residents tend to prefer the Golden Gate Ferry, as the Society of American Travel Writers has ranked it the #2 ferry ride in the world. Plus, tickets on this ferry service are slightly less expensive at $7.45 one way, compared to $9.50 on the Blue and Gold line.