Search Flights from Islamabad to San Francisco

It is possible to reach Islamabad Airport with buses and metrobuses that you can take from the city. The routes of these buses and metrobuses usually start from Rawalpindi, also called Islamabad's twin city. Within city transportation has improved, but there are not many choices in terms of transportation means. Therefore, public transportation in the city is crowded, especially during heavy traffic hours.

You can reach Islamabad Airport within 15-20 minutes by taxi or by your own car and within 30-35 minutes by bus.

Bus

Islamabad city buses are easily distinguishable from others because of their light color. The local buses are crowded and slow, but they provide transportation at very low fares. The seats next to the bus drivers are reserved for women and children, so you will have to be careful about the place you will sit on the bus. All the bus stations in the city are air-conditioned, large, and modern and there are ticket vending machines and sales points in all of them.

The city buses have a much larger and wider network than metrobuses. Bus 110, one of the most popular bus lines, goes from Mandi Morh to Bahara Kahu via Khayaban.

Bus number 111 goes to F-8 Markaz from Rawat via Al Shifa H8. The area where Islamabad city center is located is called "Blue Area". The 1-B-A bus from this area serves Mandi Morh to the Secretariat.

The bus number 21 is called the airport bus, because it is one of the rare buses that pass through the airport. The stops of this bus are RWP Kachehri, BBIAP Airport (Islamabad Airport), Faizabad, Zero Point, Aabpara, Sarina, SPP and Secretariat.

Metrobus

Metrobus service is provided between twin cities: Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Metrobuses operate from 6.15 am until 10 pm every day of the week. Ticket vending machines are available at all Metrobus stations. Be sure to validate your ticket at the entrance after you have purchased your ticket from the Metrobus station.

Another name given to this service in Islamabad is Islamabad Metro-Pindi Metro. Metrobus service, which has a route of 22,5 km, meets the need of city transportation by serving between the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Metrobuses started to operate in 2015, and has 24 different stops in total.

You can buy your tickets from vending machines, or you can use the e-ticket system. 10 of the stops of Islamabad-Rawalpindi metrobus are in Rawalpindi and 14 of them are in Islamabad.

Taxi

Taxis are the most convenient and economical way of transportation for the cases of emergency. Try to bargain with the taxi driver before or after your ride. The only disadvantage of using taxi in Islamabad is that almost all of the taxi drivers do not speak English. Because they do not speak English, mark the place you will go on the city transportation map that you can obtain from the tourist information office before your ride and try to explain it on the map to the taxi driver

Yellow cabs are the most used taxi types in the city. Most of the taxis are not air conditioned but their fees are very satisfactory. Some of the taxi drivers in the city use their personal vehicles as a taxi; they are not affiliated with a specific company. You can also rent these taxis on a daily basis at very reasonable prices.

The number of taxis attached to the major companies operating in the city center is more than that of individual taxis. Some of the taxi companies you can choose to get to Islamabad Airport or city center are Metro Radio Cab (+92515872236) and Islamabad Radio Cab (+9251111888100).

Car Rental

There are quite a number of car rental companies in the city of Islamabad, because many domestic and foreign tourists want to rent their own car and visit nearby cities. It is much more economical to rent your car from the airport by pre-booking, but you are also likely to rent your car at reasonable prices from the city center as there are more local car rental companies than international companies in the city.

If you wish to deliver the vehicle you are renting at the airport at your return, you must make sure that a branch of the company you rented car is also at Islamabad Airport. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get to Islamabad Airport by car from the city, except for heavy traffic hours.

Airport Information

Another popular name for Islamabad International Airport is Benazir Bhutto International Airport. Islamabad Airport, the third largest and most modern airport in Pakistan, is located in Chaklala Rawalpindi outside Islamabad. Some of the facilities and opportunities within Islamabad Airport are VIP lounges, duty free shops, restaurants, free internet access, souvenir shops, ATM machines (Pakistan National Bank, Habib Bank, MCB Bank, Barclays, Citibank) and banks.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in San Francisco California, 21 km from the city center. The airport is a major transit center for passengers, particularly those traveling from Asia. San Francisco International is the second busiest airport in California and one of the first major airports to have an automated baggage system in place.  

San Francisco International Airport is an important hub for United Airlines and Virgin America. There are a variety of transportation alternatives available to get to the city center from the airport. You can get to various parts of the city from San Francisco International Airport by taxi, bus, train, rental car, and personal car.

Train

There are two rail systems that you can use to get to the city center from San Francisco International Airport. The first is the BART, a rapid-rail system. The BART station is located in the international terminal at the airport. The BART starts running in the early hours of the morning, providing easy and fast transportation between the airport and the northern and southern parts of the city.

The other rail system that you can use to get to the city center from SFO is the CalTrain. This train departs on the hour, every hour, every day of the week, until 10 pm. This train provides transportation between SFO and San Francisco and San Jose.

Taxi

One of the most convenient and fastest transportation alternatives to get to the city center from SFO is by taxi. Taxi fares are calculated based on the kilometers traveled. A taxi from the airport to downtown San Francisco can cost between 42 and 62 dollars and takes about 20 minutes. Taxis are readily available at each terminal at the airport and depart from the taxi zones located on the arrivals/baggage claim level. For more information on taxi companies and their contact information please visit San Francisco International Airport’s website.

Bus

SamTrans buses provide transportation between San Francisco International Airport and the city center. These public buses are operated by San Mateo County and run between San Francisco International Airport and San Mateo and various parts of San Francisco. SamTrans lines KX, 292, 397, and 398 stop at the airport terminals. Buses stop at the arrivals and baggage claim level of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and at Level 1 of the International Terminal.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another transportation alternative to get to the city center. There are many rental car companies that have offices at the airport. Renting a car is also a great way to get around the city during your trip. The AirTrain Blue Line provides access to the Rental Car Center from the airport terminals and it operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National, Budget, Fox and Thrifty. If you are traveling between multiple places make sure to specify your vehicle pick up and drop off location.

Bike

San Francisco International Airport contains bike assembly stations and parking areas for those who are traveling with their bike or who want to leave their bike at the airport. The BART and SamTrans rapid rail systems provide passengers with bike/transit options and the airport features marked bicycle routes.