Recreating HoHo Bus on public transit

The 49-Mission MUNI bus takes riders from north to south through almost the entire city

Why pay $66 when you can pay $5.70?

I think a great way to experience a new city is by bus and foot, then you can be paying attention to everything happening around you. And visitors to San Francisco often ask about the value of the Big Bus Hop On Hop Off as a way to see the city as efficiently and yet as thoroughly as possible. But people are also often on a budget, and a HoHo 24-hour pass on just the Red Route will cost you $66 per person ($56 for a child 12 and under). That’s a lot of money that you could be spending sampling all the amazing food the city has to offer.

Top tip from locals – you can reproduce the Big Bus HoHo Red Route on MUNI public transit for $5.70 per adult (or free for those 18 years and under).

Riding MUNI
First, it’s important to understand how to ride MUNI. MUNI is the transit system that operates within the city of San Francisco that includes buses, light rail trains, vintage streetcars, and cable cars. You can buy MUNI individual tickets or day passes on the MuniMobile app or via Clipper (physical card or app). If you’re not riding BART to/from the airport or taking Golden Gate Transit ferries or buses to Marin and the North Bay, I highly recommend just doing MuniMobile because it’s less confusing.

A Day Pass on MuniMobile is $5.70 for unlimited rides for one calendar day. The only difference between a Day Pass and a Visitor Pass on MuniMobile is access to the cable car. I recommend buying a Day Pass for each day then only upgrading to the more expensive Visitor Pass on the day you want to ride the cable car. Each adult will need their own pass, those 18 and under don’t need a pass (except an individual ticket for the cable car).

HoHo RED ROUTE
Here’s the detailed Red Route reproduction on MUNI public buses (no other forms of transit required), starting from Fisherman’s Wharf:

1) Take the 28-19th Avenue bus from Fisherman’s Wharf (it starts at Powell and Beach St) in the direction of Daly City Bart to the “Crossover Drive and Lincoln Way” stop (to enjoy more of the park, take the free Golden Gate Park shuttle or walk around)
To see Ghirardelli Square, Lombard St, Marina, Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park

2) Take the 7-Haight/Noriega bus in the direction of Downtown from the “Lincoln Way and 19th Avenue” stop to the “Beale and Mission” stop
To see Golden Gate Park, Haight Ashbury, Painted Ladies, Civic Center, Union Square, Ferry Building

3) Take the 12-Folsom/Pacific bus in the direction of Nob Hill from either the “Main and Market” or “Drumm and California” stops to either the “Pacific and Kearny” (to Pier 39) or “Pacific and Stockton” stops (to Ghirardelli Square)
To see Ferry Building, Transamerica Pyramid, Chinatown

4) To the Pier 39 side of Fisherman’s Wharf: Take the 8-Bayshore bus in the direction of Fisherman’s Wharf from the “Columbus and Kearny” stop to the end of the line
To the Ghirardelli Square side of Fisherman’s Wharf: Take the 30-Stockton bus in the direction of North Point/Presidio from the “Stockton and Pacific” stop to any stop along North Point
To see Chinatown, North Beach/Little Italy, Fisherman’s Wharf

Don’t want to do this yourself? I can guide you. Contact me about an affordable custom tour!