Search Flights from San Francisco to Islamabad

Located 21 km from the city center, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major transit center for passengers, particularly those traveling from Asia. San Francisco International is the second busiest airport in California, following Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Every year SFO handles a significant number of both domestic and international flights. There are a variety of transportation alternatives passengers can utilize to get to and from the airport.  

San Francisco International Airport stands out for the comfortable and exceptional services it offers. The airport features services aimed at meeting your every need, from comfortable passenger lounges, to restaurants that offer a wide variety of cuisines and a vibrant array of stores where you can go shopping.

San Francisco International Airport is accessible by taxi, bus, train, rental car, and personal car as the airport contains parking lots that offer short-term and long-term parking options.

Train

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

The other rail system that you can use to get to 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 San Francisco and San Jose and SFO.

Taxi

One of the most convenient and fastest transportation alternatives to get to SFO from the city center is by taxi. Taxi fares are calculated based on the kilometers traveled. A taxi from downtown San Francisco can cost between 42 and 62 dollars and takes about 20 minutes. For more information on taxi companies and their contact information please visit San Francisco International Airport’s website.

Bus

SamTrans buses provide transportation between the San Francisco city center and the airport. These public buses are operated by San Mateo County and run between San Mateo, various parts of San Francisco and San Francisco International Airport. SamTrans lines KX, 292, 397, and 398 run directly to 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 airport. There are many rental car companies located in the city. You can drop off your rental vehicle at the Rental Car Center before your departure. From the Rental Car Center the AirTrain Blue Line provides access to 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.

Bike

San Francisco International Airport contains bike assembly stations and parking areas for those who want to access the airport by bike. The BART and SamTrans rapid rail systems provide passengers with bike/transit options and the airport features marked bicycle routes. Bike lovers can easily access the airport by bicycle.   

Airport Information

San Francisco International Airport is located 21 km from the city center. The airport covers an expansive area and operates domestic and international flights out of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. The AirTrain automated system provides free transportation between each terminal, as well as the Rental Car Center and BART station. The AirTrain Red Line links all terminals, terminal garages and the BART Station. The AirTrain Blue Line links the Rental Car Center with all terminals, terminal garages, and the BART Station. SFO also contains a variety of services and amenities to meet passengers’ pre-flight and post-flight needs.

The airport features health services in the terminals, rental car offices, banks, a lost and found, wireless internet, charging stations, clothing stores where you can go shopping, restaurants and cafes, the Aviation Museum & Library, rotating exhibitions, spa services, children’s play areas, free yoga rooms, a market, and much more. 

In Islamabad, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, within city transportation is highly developed and quite easy. City transportation is usually provided by bus, metrobus and taxi services. Trains are mostly used for trips outside the city. Railways in Islamabad and its surrounding have a very large network.

There are trains a few times a day from the main railway station in the city of Islamabad to the big and modern cities. Buses waiting at Islamabad Airport also have stops near many famous hotels. A large part of the city transportation is carried out by bus, but it is also convenient to travel around by bicycle and phaeton. The fact that bicycle roads are developed in the city is driving many local and foreign tourists in the city and even the locals to take advantage of bicycle transportation. It is very comfortable to go to many places in the city with a small car with two or three wheels called "Riksov". Since these vehicles are small, they take you where you will go quickly without getting caught in traffic.

Riksovs, a different and basically good option for transportation, is often located in Qasim Market and Rawalpindi. Islamabad has a cleaner, more modern and wider transportation network than other cities in Pakistan. Islamabad is divided into eight different zones including the diplomatic zone, the trade zone, the education zone, the industrial zone. In each zone there are different shopping areas and public parks etc. that are suitable for the structure of that zone. While public transport does not offer much choice within the city, the buses that are the main means of transportation of the city meet a large part of this need.

Apart from city buses, Metrobuses also serve in Islamabad, one of the rare cities that provide different methods of transportation. MetroBus is just like a bus, but it is very fast like a subway. These means of transportation, which resemble the metrobuses in Istanbul, have a single route but it is possible to see the stops in many places of the twin cities (Rawalpindi and Islamabad).

There is a small train station and bus station just outside the arrival terminal of Islamabad Airport. It is very practical to meet your transportation needs with city buses and trains departing from here. You can reach to Islamabad city center from the airport by metrobus and buses, as well as by taxi or car rental services.

Bus

Islamabad city buses have many different routes and some pass through Islamabad Airport. Buses that are quite crowded at some times, although slower than metrobuses, are another practical option for transportation from airport to Islamabad city. You can use buses in times when metrobuses are crowded or for a connected ride. Because buses and metrobus lines are connected to each other, it is very easy to reach them by making a few transfers at the desired times.

The 1-C bus line goes to Islamabad Secretariat from Rajalpindi Saddar Terminal via Murre Road. Bus number 3 provides transportation between Raja Bazar and Bari Imam. Bus number 21 travels from Garakhpur to Islamabad Secretariat via Adiala Road.

It's a very practical to go to areas I-9, I-10, and Shifa Hospital by transferring from bus number 21 to bus number 22. Bus 101 goes to Faisal Mosque from Pirwadhai Bus Stand via Faizabad. The 104 line goes to Islamabad Secretariat from Tamal via Chungi.

The bus number 105 goes from the G-11 Markaz to the Aab Para via the Karachi Company. It is very fast and economical to get to the city center from Islamabad Airport with the metrobus. Metrobuses serving since 2015 have basically one route. This route begins from the Secretariat Terminal and ends at the Saddam Termian. The stops are Parade Ground, Shaheed-e-Millat, 7th Avenue, Stock Exchange, PIMS, Katchehry, Ibn-e-Sina, Chaman Road, Kashmir Highway, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Khayaban-e-Johar, Potohar Road, IJP Road, Faizabad, Shamshabad , Sixth Road, Rehmanabad, Chadni Chowk, Waris Khan Road, Committee Chowk, Liaquat Bagh and Marrir Chowk.

Taxi

Taxis are one of the most preferred options to reach the city center from Islamabad Airport. If you have a chance to bargain, the price they will give you would be much more economical. It would take you about 14 minutes to reach the city from the airport by taxi and it would cost about 28-35 TL as of today.

If you prefer transportation from Islamabad Airport to the city center by taxi, you can make your reservation by calling the following companies which offer reasonable price options: Metro Radio Cab (+92515872236) and Yellow Cab / Taxi Service (+92515405077).

Car Rental

If you make your pre-reservation by calling the car rental companies located in Islamabad Airport or via internet, you are likely to rent your car at much more reasonable prices. You can get to Islamabad city center from the airport by car in about 15-20 minutes. If your holiday lasts less than a week, it is recommended that you consider the option of public transport (metrobus and buses) instead of renting a car.