Wondering when’s the best time to visit San Francisco? As local travel experts living in SF, we have some thoughts to share with you to help you decide. With considerations like weather, crowds, costs, and annual events, there are plenty of reasons to visit our fair City by the Bay all year-round! In fact, we daresay San Francisco is a city for all seasons due to our mild climate and steady temperatures throughout the year.
You might want to check out our Expert Local Travel Guide for Visiting San Francisco to get started planning your trip. You’ll also find our favorite places to eat and drink in our list of free local recommendations if you download our free TourCentric app! Don’t miss out — we love these spots and know you will, too.
For now, let’s review the best time to visit San Francisco based on weather, events, and other factors you might want to know from a local perspective…
Peak Summertime in San Francisco: June and July
Summer in San Francisco is not quite like the sun-filled California days you might have in mind. In fact, summer in SF is rather chilly and gloomy under our typical fog! With summer temperatures rarely exceeding 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius), you don’t come to the City by the Bay for a beach vacation.
With that said, however, summer in San Francisco is fueled by festivals! We love to celebrate and find ample excuse to do so in the summer months. From the world’s best Pride Parade in June to July 4th celebrations and parties in our public parks…summer is a time to be outdoors in San Francisco, even if the weather isn’t very “summery” to visitors.
If you want to avoid the crowds but still need to take advantage of summer vacation with the kids, try to plan your San Francisco trip during the Burning Man Festival in August. It feels like the city empties out as everyone heads to the desert. Coachella, in April, is another time when the city seems deserted as everyone heads to the desert!
Best Time to Visit San Francisco: Autumn!
While August offers better weather than the peak summer months of June and July, you’ll still see some lingering summer crowds in the city. As September rolls around and all the students head back to school, prices go down alongside those crowds. Meanwhile, the weather markedly improves!
That’s why we think autumn is the best time to visit San Francisco because you can enjoy the city during fair weather with fewer tourists.
The streetcars and cable cars are less busy, allowing you to relax and enjoy the journey along our iconic streets and neighborhoods.
Blue skies are more likely, while Karl the Fog isn’t quite as oppressive. With comfortable weather extending into November, you can plan on visiting San Francisco during months that are typically less desirable for most cities.
Events in San Francisco in the Fall include artistic festivals galore! Visit for Shakespeare, Bluegrass, film festivals and more. The San Francisco Fringe Festival and the Castro Street Fair are not to be missed.
Fall is that magical time of year when locals celebrate the better weather and our uniquely quirky SF vibes. You’ll love the atmosphere around this time of year.
Visiting SF in the Winter: November to February
While winter in most cities at this latitude means bundling up and battling icy winds, winter in San Francisco is considerably milder. Our waterfront location mitigates the worst of the typical winter cold, leaving us with somewhat comfortable conditions. Winter is the rainiest time of year in SF, however, so do plan to wear appropriate layers as you take advantage of lower prices and smaller crowds.
Thanksgiving and Christmas can be particularly busy times of year in SF, but then the twinkling holiday season lights across the city make for a magical experience in December. You’ll certainly find the best deals for travel during January and into February if you’re seeking a more budget-friendly trip.
The giant Valentine’s Day Pillow Fight, the Noise Pop Festival, and the Lunar New Year are all events worth visiting SF for in February. In fact, San Francisco’s celebration of the Chinese New Year is the largest outside of Asia!
Visit San Francisco in the Spring: March to May
As the winter rains disperse, March and April offer San Franciscans a slight reprieve from the heavy skies. Don’t expect boundless blue skies every day, but you may just luck out with some pockets full of sunshine.
If you want to witness a truly San Francisco event, come in May to watch (or join!) Bay to Breakers, a running event through the city that celebrates the eclectic, colorful, diverse beauty of San Francisco. Be warned: some participants will be in their birthday suits (although many more will be in full, fun costumes).
So, as we said at the beginning, San Francisco is definitely a destination for the whole year! Whether you want to visit during specific events or try to avoid the crowds altogether, if you’re seeking sunnier weather or hoping to keep costs down, we hope these tips and local insights will help plan your trip to our beloved city.
And, when you get here, be sure to immerse yourself in the stories of San Francisco with one of our entertaining and insightful audio tours. Download the TourCentric app for free (where you can also get our free local recommendations for places to eat and drink) and peruse our tour options there.
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