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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Colma
Spend a half‑day in Colma to see the cemeteries and Skyline College, then catch BART back to San Francisco; no overnight needed.
Colma is a small town on the San Francisco Peninsula, best known for its historic cemeteries and easy BART access. A few hours suffice to walk the cemetery grounds, grab a bite at Cafe Colma, and explore Skyline College, then return to nearby San Francisco or Daly City for more activities.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (fog and occasional fire restrictions on nearby hills)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–70 excl. bed · Mid $80–110 excl. bed · High $130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at Cafe Colma | $2–3 |
| Filipino breakfast (tselog) at Cafe Colma | $5–7 |
| BART fare (single ride) | $3–4 |
| SamTrans bus ride | $2–3 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SFO · San Francisco International Airport
- BART connects directly to Colma station
Typical fares
- BART Colma↔San Francisco
- about $3.50 each way (check)
- SamTrans bus day pass
- about $5 per person (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
BART stops at Colma (north‑south line). SamTrans routes #120, #121, #123 serve the BART station and nearby neighborhoods; walkable within the town centre.
See and do
Known for
- Colma Cemeteries
- Skyline College
- BART station
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | BART northbound, about 15 min | ≈20 min |
| San Bruno Mountain (hiking) | SamTrans #120 to San Bruno, then local trailhead | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- Colma hotel options
- Major chains present; suitable for a quick night if needed
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis-KOOL-peh |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-syahs |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah |
| Where is the restroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?DON-deh ehs-TAH el BAH-nyo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Parking near the cemeteries can be limited; use BART if possible.
- Some cemetery sections close for private events; check signage.
Colma is low‑crime; standard city precautions apply. Cemeteries are quiet, but stay on marked paths.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Colma yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Colma Cemeteries
- Skyline College
- BART station
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Colma, revision 5302693 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5302693
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Colma
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US consulate in San Francisco (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/colma). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.