The Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

The Ferry Building has stood at the foot of Market Street since 1898. Before the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge opened in the 1930s, most people arriving in San Francisco came through it by boat. Today the long arcade inside holds nearly 50 food merchants, restaurants and shops. On Saturday mornings a farmers market wraps around the building with more than 100 vendors. Ferries still leave from the docks behind it.

For Palo Alto visitors it works as a half day on its own or as the first stop of a bigger waterfront day. Our San Francisco day trip guide covers the wider city. This page covers the marketplace, the farmers market, getting there and how to build a morning around it.

Getting there from Palo Alto

By Caltrain and Muni

Take Caltrain from Palo Alto to the 4th and King terminal, 39 minutes on a weekday express and about 50 on a local. Weekend trains are locals. The three-zone adult fare is $8.50 through December 2026, rising to $9.00 on January 1, 2027. Pay with Clipper or a contactless bank card and tap at both ends.

From the station you have two good choices. The N Judah Muni Metro runs along King Street and the Embarcadero to Embarcadero station, one block from the building. The fare is $2.85 with Clipper or contactless. Or walk: the Embarcadero promenade runs flat along the water past Oracle Park and the Bay Bridge, about 1.5 miles and 30 to 35 minutes. The marketplace itself suggests the N Judah for Peninsula visitors. Allow about an hour and a half door to door from Palo Alto.

By car

Take US 101 north and exit toward the Embarcadero or Bay Bridge, depending on traffic. The drive is about 35 miles. The marketplace's preferred lot is the ProPark lot at Embarcadero and Washington Street, just north of the building. The visit page posted these rates in late 2026:

Most shops and the farmers market info booth validate with a purchase. The city-owned Golden Gateway Garage at 250 Clay Street, a few blocks inland, is another option, with weekday rates listed around $8 an hour. Rates change, so confirm on the posted signs.

The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

The market is run by Foodwise, the nonprofit formerly known as CUESA. It has operated here since 1993 and is a California Certified Farmers Market, so the farmers selling produce grew it themselves. It runs year round:

• Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The main event, with more than 100 vendors on the plaza in front and the walkway behind the building. Farmers sell fruit, vegetables, eggs, meat and flowers. Food makers sell bread, cheese and preserves. Chefs run breakfast and lunch stands.
• Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. About 20 vendors, with produce and hot lunch.
• Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ten to 15 vendors, mostly street food lunch plus some produce.

Saturday gets very crowded by 10 a.m. Arrive near opening for the best choice and shorter lines. Foodwise posts each week's vendor lineup on its site. In November, look for persimmons, apples, citrus starting up and the last of the peppers. Bring a sturdy bag, since you will buy more than you planned. If you prefer something closer to home, our guide to Palo Alto's farmers markets covers the Saturday downtown and Sunday California Avenue markets.

Inside the marketplace

The building is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., but each merchant sets its own hours. The Ferry Building Marketplace site lists them. Highlights from its late 2026 directory:

• Hog Island Oyster Company at the north end, with oysters from its Tomales Bay farm and big bay windows. Listed daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Expect a wait at weekend lunch.
• Gott's Roadside for burgers, fish tacos and shakes, listed from 10 a.m. daily until 9 or 10 p.m.
• Cholita Linda for Latin American fish tacos and agua frescas.
• El Porteño Empanadas for hand-made Argentine empanadas.
• Acme Bread Company, Blue Bottle Coffee and Red Bay Coffee for breakfast on the go.
• Humphry Slocombe ice cream, Dandelion Chocolate, Recchiuti Confections and Miette Patisserie for something sweet.
• Fort Point Beer Company and Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant for a drink.
• Book Passage and Heath Ceramics for browsing.

The building has free public Wi-Fi. Restrooms are inside. San Francisco City Guides, a volunteer nonprofit, offers free walking tours of the building on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Check its schedule before you go.

Taking a ferry

The building still works as a terminal. San Francisco Bay Ferry runs to Oakland, Alameda and Vallejo. Golden Gate Ferry runs to Sausalito and Larkspur. A short ride across the bay is one of the cheapest scenic trips in the region and the views back at the skyline are excellent. Our Sausalito guide covers the Marin side. For a hike and history on the water, see Angel Island. Fares and schedules change by season, so check the operator's site the day before.

A waterfront walking route

This walk links the station, the Ferry Building and the northern piers. It is flat, about 3 miles one way and easy to cut short.

1. 4th and King. Walk east on King Street past Oracle Park to the water.
2. The Embarcadero south. Head north along the promenade under the Bay Bridge.
3. Ferry Building. Market on Saturday, or the marketplace any day. Walk out behind the building for the view of the bridge and the East Bay hills.
4. Pier 15. Continue north about 10 minutes to the Exploratorium. Its outdoor pier space is free to walk.
5. Pier 33. The Alcatraz ferry landing. The island closed on October 26, 2026 for dock repairs, with a return expected around mid-November.
6. Pier 39. End at the sea lions and Fisherman's Wharf. The F Market and Wharves streetcar runs back along the Embarcadero.

What it costs

Entry to the building and market is free. A car-free trip costs about $17 in round-trip Caltrain fares for an adult in late 2026 plus a few dollars for Muni. Breakfast at the market or a lunch counter typically runs $15 to $30 a person and an oyster lunch more. Prices vary by vendor, so treat these as rough guides.

Safety and practical tips

• Lock bikes well. The marketplace warns of cable-clipping and recommends a sturdy U-lock on the racks at both ends of the back plaza.
• Mind your bag in crowds. Saturday mornings are packed. Keep phones and wallets in a front pocket or a zipped bag.
• If you drive, empty the car. Break-ins happen along the waterfront. Move bags to the trunk before you arrive and take valuables with you.
• No dogs. State health rules keep pets out of the marketplace and market. Service animals are welcome.
• Bring a layer. The plaza catches the bay wind even on sunny days.

A sample half day and full day

Saturday half day

1. 7:30 a.m. Caltrain local from Palo Alto.
2. 9 a.m. Walk the Embarcadero to the market.
3. 9:30 a.m. Breakfast from a market stand, then shop the farm stalls.
4. 11:30 a.m. Coffee inside, a look at Book Passage and the back plaza.
5. 12:30 p.m. N Judah back to 4th and King and the train home.

Full day

Add a ferry to Sausalito and back in the early afternoon, or walk north to the Exploratorium and Fisherman's Wharf. You can also book a bay cruise from the northern piers. If you want to stay for dinner and a show, compare hotels near the Embarcadero and take the train home in the morning.

Frequently asked questions