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Living in SF / Berkeley

New to San Francisco or Berkeley? No worries! Check out the information below to help you get around the cities. If you need more help, contact us anytime.

Arriving info

​San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 14 miles south of San Francisco. The city can be reached by car from US 101 or US 280. Shuttle busses, door-to-door vans, rental cars, and long term parking are available 24 hours a day (www.quickaid.com/airports/sfo). Airport pickup from SFO is also available.

Transportation

  • MUNI (SF Buses, streetcars, cable cars)

  • BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)

  • SamTrans (San Mateo County Buses)

  • Caltrain (Peninsula Train)

  • Golden Gate Transit (Marin County Busses, Ferries)

Living in Berkeley

General info on the city

Arriving info

The easiest way to get from Oakland Airport to Berkeley is undoubtedly by taxi, though of course it’s also the most expensive option. However, given how much you’ve spent to get here, an extra \$50 might be well worthwhile if it gets you straight to your rooms.

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Alternatively you can take the AirBART shuttle to Coliseum BART station – this costs about $6. From there you can get a train to Berkeley BART station for a couple bucks.

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The mass transit option for San Francisco takes quite a long time and involves a number of changes. We recommend getting an Airport Shuttle bus to pick you up directly. Using Bayporter Express, this will cost about $35 and take you wherever you want to go in Berkeley.

Transportation

  • BART is the light rail/underground system which serves the entire Bay Area, including the line from San Francisco Airport to Berkeley. Along with the AC Transit bus system, BART is the main form of public transport in the area with multiple stops in Berkeley alone. More importantly, it offers regional connections to the likes of Oakland and San Francisco, where you’ll definitely want to spend a good amount of time!You need to buy your ticket before boarding the train. Sadly it’s not possible to get monthly passes, but you can buy prepaid tickets for up to $60 in value, or keep recharging your clipper card as required. There are also very few to zero discounts available for students, so it’s full fares all the way.

  • AC Transit. This is the 3rd-largest public bus system in the state, serving Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Oakland and Kensington. Alongside BART, it’s the most popular way to travel around the city as the bus routes go straight through Berkeley.

  • Bicycle. Berkeley is one of the best cities in the state for cycling. Since it’s so sunny and dry out here, we recommend trying to get your hands on a second hand bike as soon as you land. It will last the whole year and you’ll be able to travel when and where you want, without sitting in a crowded bus or paying for fares.

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