The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market takes place at the Ferry Building in downtown San Francisco, at the base of Market Street on the Embarcadero. There are many public transit, biking, and parking options listed below.

Driving and Parking 

For driving directions, visit Google Maps. There are a number of affordable parking options within a couple blocks of the Ferry Building!

On Saturday, the best deal is Golden Gateway Garage at 250 Clay Street—just $3 for the whole day with validation at our CUESA Info Booth!

On Tuesday and Thursday, the Ferry Building offers valet parking ($12/hour with validation; $60 max daily rate). We validate parking for the ACE lot at Embarcadero and Washington ($4/hour for the first 2 hours with validation; $8/hour after that).

For motorcycles, there are 40 parking spaces just north of the Ferry Building at Pier ½ ($.50/hour 7 am to 7 pm; $.25/hour 7 pm to 11 pm).

We’ve prepared an easy-to-use parking guide with parking options and their availability and validation rates:

Download the Parking Map (PDF) »

We do our best to keep this map current, but we do not operate any of the listed parking facilities. Prices and locations may change without our knowledge. Please drop us a line if you discover incorrect information.

Veggie Valet

The Veggie Valet is a free service that allows you to drop off your farmers market purchases and either continue shopping or grab your car for curbside pickup. The Veggie Valet booth is open from 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the Veggie Valet service is offered through the Information Booth.

Public Transit

The Ferry Building is one of the most easily accessed locations in the Bay Area. We encourage shoppers to take public transit to spare the air. You can reach it by all San Francisco BART lines, many MUNI lines, the F Market Streetcar, the California Street Cable Car line, and several ferry lines. From the Peninsula, ride Caltrain and connect with Muni’s N-Judah. Find Bay Area transit information, maps, and schedules at www.transit.511.org.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART): The Embarcadero stop is just one block away! Go to www.bart.gov.

San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI): Busses, trains, and streetcars all stop at or near the Ferry Building. Plan your trip at www.transit.511.org.

Ferry: Terminals for Sausalito, Oakland, Alameda, and Larkspur ferries are behind the Ferry Building. For schedules, visit www.sanfranciscobayferry.com.

Biking

With a large bike lane, the Embarcadero is easily accessed by bicycle. Bike racks are located in front of and behind the building. We recommend that you use a sturdy U-lock, as there have been incidents of cable-clipping. For bike lane maps and cycling information, go to www.sfbike.org.

Other Things to Do Nearby

The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is in the located near many attractions on the waterfront. Here are just a few.

Scheduling Your Visit

CUESA welcomes groups of all ages to visit our farmers markets, including classes and tour groups. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is open Tuesday from 10 am to 2 pm, Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm, and Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm, year round. Most groups attend our Tuesday market. The Saturday market can be very crowded and is only possible to navigate in small groups. The Thursday market has abundant lunch choices and a handful of farmers. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market operates rain or shine, but please keep in mind that it is located outdoors in an uncovered area. We encourage you to visit at different times of the year to gain an understanding of California’s harvest seasons. To learn what produce might be available each month, consult our seasonality charts.

Market Tours

For public school classes grades 1-5, CUESA offers Foodwise Kids, a free program that uses the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market as a classroom for teaching students to love vegetables and fruits through comparative tastings, exploring the market, and a hands-on cooking lesson. Teachers can learn more and sign up here.

For other student groups, please contact info@cuesa.org to request a brief introduction to the market by a CUESA staff member.

Things to Know Before Visiting

• Restrooms and drinking fountains are located inside the Ferry Building on the ground floor, at either end of the building.
• Lunch is available at all three weekly markets. Check our sellers page to find out what restaurants can be found on each market day. There are tables in the market (available only on a first-come-first-served basis) that may be sufficient for small groups; larger groups sometimes have lunch across the Embarcadero in Justin Herman Plaza. 
• To make the experience more meaningful, some groups buy food together to create a communal meal or snack.
• Maps and information are available at the Information Booth. To find out more about the Info Booth, Veggie Valet, parking, and market programs and amenities, visit the market services page »

Additional Information for Schools and Youth Groups

Please bring at least one adult chaperone for every six children. The best way to enjoy the market is in small groups. Please do not let children walk around the market unsupervised.

Please review the following rules with the youth and the chaperones before your visit:

• The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is a wonderful place to learn about where food comes from, and it is also a place of business. Please don’t block customer access to a stand. For groups of more than a few people, line up and approach each stand in pairs.
• Don’t interrupt a seller’s conversation with a customer. Wait until they are done and then ask your question. 
• Ask permission at each stand before touching or sampling produce. Please do not take more than one sample per person.
• Do not lean on produce (be especially careful with clipboards).

For more information and to schedule a visit, contact info@cuesa.org or 415.291.3276.

Activities and Curriculum

For downloadable activity sheets and other resources, visit this page »

Foodwise Kids

Foodwise Kids is a free program for elementary school classes that uses the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market as a classroom for teaching students to love vegetables and fruits through comparative tastings, exploring the market, and a hands-on cooking lesson. The program takes place during the school year and serves primarily low-income students. Learn more and request to bring your class »