Free Rides on SF’s Open-Air Boat Tram

Muni’s most charming rides are back for summer, and this year they’re free all the way from Castro to Fisherman’s Wharf.

As part of the Summer Vintage Streetcar Service, you can ride one of Muni’s historic streetcars every Friday and Saturday through October 11, 2025. Each weekend, the vintage cars rotate among the fleet, so you might ride the breezy open-air Boat Tram from Blackpool, Melbourne Tram, Milan Tram, Zurich/Brussels Tram, or even Car No. 1, Muni’s first streetcar from 1912.” Note: SFMTA’s official video lists October 13 as the last day, but since that’s a Monday and the service runs only Fridays and Saturdays, we believe the final rides will be on October 11, 2025.

2025 Details

• When: Fridays & Saturdays through October 11, 2025
• Hours: First trip leaves Castro around 12:50 PM, last trip starts back from the Wharf around 7 PM
• Route: Full F-Line (Castro → Market Street → Ferry Building → Fisherman’s Wharf at Jones & Beach)
• Cost: FREE for vintage streetcars on the F-Line

Market Street Railway posts the schedule each Thursday, so you can check ahead to see which car will be running that weekend.

Meet the Vintage Fleet

• Boat Tram: Built in the 1930s for Blackpool, England, these open-air cars were designed for summer tours along the coast. Car No. 233 runs the F-Line this summer.
• Melbourne Car (Car 496): A 1928 tram from Melbourne, Australia.
• Muni Car No. 1: San Francisco’s first electric streetcar, built in 1912, and the first publicly owned streetcar in the U.S.
• Milan Car (Car 1895): A 1928 Peter Witt–style tram from Milan, Italy, designed with a conductor in the middle to collect fares.
• Zurich/Brussels Car (Car 737): Built in 1952 for Brussels, Belgium as part of the PCC streetcar program, and painted to honor Zurich, Switzerland. Rarely in service, this is SF’s newest historic streetcar operating on the F Market and E Embarcadero lines.

How to Track the Cars

• Weekly updates: Market Street Railway posts the weekend schedule.
• Live map: Streetcar.Live shows which cars are currently running.

Tips for Riding

• Best boarding spots: Castro, Ferry Building, or Beach & Jones (Wharf turnaround). Boarding at the ends of the line gives you the best chance for a seat.
• Photo ops: Dolores Park & Noe Valley, Castro Street, Civic Center & Union Square, Financial District, Embarcadero & Ferry Building, and Fisherman’s Wharf (Pier 39, SkyStar Ferris Wheel, Liberty Ship Jeremiah O’Brien).
• Expect a wait: The open-air Boat Tram is especially popular, so lines can form on sunny days.
• Track in real time: Use Streetcar.Live before you head out.

If you’re heading downtown or to the Wharf on a Friday or Saturday, it’s an easy way to ride a piece of San Francisco history without spending a dime.

 

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