San Francisco has its cable cars, which offer spectacular views of the City by the Bay.

Miami does not lag behind in offering train rides with striking views of the Magic City.

And they are free.

As they wind on elevated tracks through rows of skyscrapers, Metromover’s automated trains offer breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay and the downtown office towers, especially at night, when some are colorfully lighted.

While the views are no longer a surprise to frequent Metromover riders, they amaze newcomers and visitors — some of whom take the train just to gawk at downtown.

Now in its 25th year of service, the Metromover has an average of 27,200 boardings every weekday on interconnected loops between the Miami-Dade School Board building north of downtown and the Brickell financial district south of downtown.

One recent evening, several riders offered their opinions on the Metromover’s scenic rides.

“One of the attractions of the Metromover is the views — beautiful, spectacular,” said Beatriz Chavez, who arrived from Mexico in September and since then has used the system to go from home to work and back. She was interviewed after she boarded a Metromover train at the Adrienne Arsht Center station.

“The sunsets are my favorites because they are extraordinary from the elevated tracks, a view you cannot see from street level,” she said.

Chavez carried a bouquet of roses given to her by a 7-year-old nephew a few days before Valentine’s Day.

On a Metromover train traveling to the Brickell financial district at night, Daniela Galofre took photos of the lighted buildings.

Galofre, a Colombian studying biology at Miami Dade College, said she enjoys her daily Metromover commute because of the panoramic views of downtown from the train.

“The views are beautiful,” said Galofre. “You’d think at first that from the Metromover you would not be able to see these views, but you can actually see the entire city from the train.”

Galofre started snapping pictures when the train approached the looming Miami Tower, formerly known as the Centrust Tower, which that evening was lit in blue on one side and purple on the other. On certain holidays, like the Fourth of July, the building lights up in red, white and blue.

On the same train, some Italian tourists were also taking in the sights.

Their attention was drawn to the Freedom Tower, lit in bright red.

“There is a similar structure we saw in Seville,” said Simona Giannobile of Rome, referring to La Giralda, the bell tower of the Cathedral of Seville in Spain. The Freedom Tower incorporates in its design La Giralda-style features.

“It’s a great way to see downtown, especially since it’s free,” Giannobile said.