Directions to the City Center Hostel

San Francisco City Center Hostel
685 Ellis Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

Phone: (415) 474-5721 

San Francisco Hostels Map :: Google Map

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From San Francisco International Airport (SFO) 

By public transit
Take a BART train ($8.10) from the airport to the Civic Center station. (Trains run 4 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, 6 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to midnight on Sundays and holidays.)

Exit the station using the UN Plaza exit. Walk across the plaza towards City Hall (the large domed building) and turn right on Larkin Street. Walk 5 blocks north on Larkin, then turn right on Ellis Street. The hostel is the first building on the righthand side.

By airport shuttle
Lorrie's Airport Service offers a discounted rate of $14 per person for shuttle service between the airport and HI-San Francisco hostels. Click here to reserve a ride to the San Francisco City Center Hostel.

Other shuttle services are also available. Reservations are not required; look for a shuttle stop outside the baggage claim. Note that late-night or early morning service may be limited.

By taxi
There are usually plenty of private taxis available at the airport. Look for an official taxi stop outside the baggage claim. (Avoid any drivers who approach you outside of an official taxi stop.) A ride to the hostel will set you back about $50.

From Oakland International Airport (OAK)

By public transit
Take an AirBART shuttle bus ($3, exact change) from the airport to the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART station. (Shuttles run Monday - Saturday from 5 a.m. to midnight, and on Sundays from 8 a.m. to midnight.)

Take a BART train ($3.80) to the Civic Center station. Exit the station using the UN Plaza exit. Walk across the plaza towards City Hall (the large domed building) and turn right on Larkin Street. Walk 5 blocks north on Larkin, then turn right on Ellis Street. The hostel is the first building on the righthand side.

By airport shuttle
Available shuttle services include BayPorter Express and SuperShuttle. Expect to pay around $26-$32 for one person ($15 for each additional person) for service from the airport to the hostel. Reservations are highly recommended, and in some cases required.

By taxi
Private taxis are sometimes available at the airport, but you may have a long wait, and some taxis are not licensed for service to San Francisco. A ride to the hostel will cost about $75. 

From Transbay/Greyhound bus terminal

By public transit
From the front (Mission Street) entrance of the terminal, take MUNI bus #38 ($2, exact change) to Geary and Larkin streets. Walk 2 blocks south on Larkin to Ellis Street and turn left. The hostel is on the righthand side.

You can also take MUNI bus #38L to Geary and Leavenworth streets. Walk 1 block west on Geary to Hyde Street and turn left. Walk 2 blocks south on Hyde and turn right on Ellis Street. The hostel is on the lefthand side.

By taxi
Private taxis are usually available around the Transbay/Greyhound terminal; a ride to the hostel costs about $12.

From Amtrak train station  

The nearest Amtrak train station is in Emeryville, but Amtrak offers connecting bus service to San Francisco. When you purchase your train ticket, select "San Francisco - Civic Center" as your final destination.

From the Civic Center bus stop, walk west across UN Plaza towards City Hall (the large domed building) and turn right on Larkin Street. Walk 5 blocks north on Larkin, then turn right on Ellis Street. The hostel is the first building on the righthand side.

By car

From the North on Highway 101
Drive south across the Golden Gate Bridge. Hwy 101 South becomes Lombard Street. Turn right on Van Ness Avenue. Drive south for 18 blocks until O'Farrell Street. Turn left on O'Farrell Street. Turn right on Hyde Street and immediately turn right on Ellis Street. The hostel is at the end of the block on your left side. There is an unloading zone in front of the hostel entrance; when you arrive, the hostel staff can direct you to nearby parking.

From the South on Highway 101
Follow signs on Hwy 101 North to the Ninth Street/Civic Center exit, which exits from the left lanes. Exit onto Ninth Street (a one-way street). Follow Ninth Street north, staying in the three right lanes. When you cross Market Street, Ninth Street becomes Larkin Street; continue north on Larkin. Turn right on O'Farrell Street. Turn right on Hyde Street and immediately turn right on Ellis Street. The hostel is at the end of the block on your left side. There is an unloading zone in front of the hostel entrance; when you arrive, the hostel staff can direct you to nearby parking.

From the East Bay
Drive west across the Bay Bridge on Hwy 80 West. Take the Ninth Street/Civic Center exit to Ninth Street (a one-way street). Follow Ninth Street north, staying in the three right lanes. When you cross Market Street, Ninth Street becomes Larkin Street; continue north on Larkin. Turn right on O'Farrell Street. Turn right on Hyde Street and immediately turn right on Ellis Street. The hostel is at the end of the block on your left side. There is an unloading zone in front of the hostel entrance; when you arrive, the hostel staff can direct you to nearby parking.