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Best Time to Visit San Francisco: When to Book Your Northern California Vacation
by Jill Loeffler •
Are you looking for the best time to visit San Francisco? The great thing about our beloved City by the Bay is that temperatures are cool and mild all year long.
This means a vacation here at any time of the year is wonderful. There really is no worst time to visit San Francisco.
However, there are a few times of the year that I think are extra special. Read on for more details about my top five so you can decide when to visit San Francisco.
These five best times to travel to San Francisco take into account the weather, annual events, and other seasonal offerings for you to enjoy.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
1. Best Time to Visit San Francisco: September & October
Overall, the best time to visit is in September and October. In my opinion, these months offer the best weather in San Francisco.
It's the warmest time of the year and is often called our "Indian Summer." It's also when we have the least amount of fog.
Throughout these two months, you will find mostly clear skies and daytime temperatures around 70 degrees. At night, the lows are in the mid-50s. September is the warmest month of the year.
There is also little rain during this time of year. Overall, it's the perfect time to soak up the sun around San Francisco.
I love this time of year because you will find dozens of festivals, outdoor concerts, and other fun outdoor activities.
Here are a handful of my favorite events and things to do in the fall in San Francisco.
Fleet Week
Feel the roar of the Blue Angels as they perform over the SF Bay during Fleet Week. This annual event is usually the second weekend in October.
The Blue Angels typically perform on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons starting at 3 pm and offer a fantastic show over the San Francisco Bay until around 4 pm.
In addition to the airshow, you can also tour (for free) several Navy ships and attend Fleet Week-related parties and celebrations.
>> Visit my Fleet Week page to learn more
SF Giants Baseball
Watching a baseball game at Oracle Park is a wonderful experience. The best time of year to do it is in September. This is when the evening temperatures are a little warmer (just a little!).
The views are outstanding and usually the baseball is great as the season is wrapping up. Go Giants!
>> Visit my SF Giants page to find a schedule of upcoming home games
Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival
This annual festival is another big draw in September. It includes a street fair and a decently large parade. The date changes each year and is always the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar's eighth month.
Don't worry, you don't need to calculate it out! Visit my page for the date for this year and other details.
Japanese Tea Garden
Head over to Golden Gate Park to visit our famous Japanese Tea Garden. Fall is a great time to see the sun shining down on the park and photograph this beauty.
Another reason why it's one of the best times to go to San Francisco's Japanese Tea Garden is that the busy summer tourist season is over, so it's not as crowded.
Arrive on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 9 am and 10 am for free admission.
>> See pictures and learn more here
Napa Valley Wine Tours
For those who love wine tasting, fall is also the best time to visit San Francisco and Napa Valley.
You can head up north to wine country on your own (find Napa visiting tips here) or on a guided tour (my recommendations here).
This is the middle of harvest season, when the vineyards are absolutely gorgeous.
The region is full of activity, the grapes are ripe on the vines, and the leaves are starting to turn colors. It's a lively and beautiful time to visit.
>> This is also one of my favorite guided Napa tours
Bay Cruises
As September and October are the best months to visit San Francisco for the pleasant temperatures, I think it's also a great time to head out on the water on a San Francisco Bay cruise.
The skies are clear, and you can get wonderful photos of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the San Francisco Skyline.
>> Find tickets to the most popular SF Bay Cruise
>> Find some of my other favorite cruises around the Bay here
2. Best Time to Go to San Francisco: Fourth of July
Another one of the best months to visit San Francisco is July. That's because one of the summer's biggest events is our large Independence Day waterfront celebration. It draws in more than 200,000 people each year.
July 4 is full of music, food, and fun. Even though it is busy, you can still enjoy strolling around the waterfront or heading out on a boat cruise as you celebrate the holiday.
The big fireworks show draws in even more people in the evening. The fireworks start at around 9:30 pm.
July is and interesting time in San Francisco because, while it's usually mostly clear, it's sometimes foggy around the time the fireworks go off.
Even if you can't see the fireworks fully, seeing them through the fog is neat. It's a fireworks show like no other.
The other great thing about July is that it's cool in SF when most of the rest of the country is sweltering hot. Therefore, you'll want to wear a jacket and maybe even grab a blanket. It's a great retreat from the heat.
>> Learn more about the fireworks show
>> Find a list of things to do all around SF for the Fourth of July
Fun Events in San Francisco by Month
3. Best Time of Year to Visit San Francisco: Thanksgiving Weekend
If you love kicking off the holiday season, then for you November might be the best month to visit San Francisco. Thanksgiving weekend is such a magical time around the city.
Even though it's a holiday weekend, you will find that many attractions and tours run on Thanksgiving Day. Several restaurants offer brunch, lunch, and dinner specials.
Black Friday (the day after the Thanksgiving holiday) is also a fun day around SF. You will find lots of shopping deals. It's also the day of the annual lighting of the Union Square Christmas tree.
Many other holiday lights will be shining by this weekend. You can head out on a holiday lights tour or stroll around the city checking them out yourself.
The weekend is also full of other activities, including theater performances, concerts, and sporting events.
>> More about what's happening during Thanksgiving Weekend in SF
Are you excited to see the SF city lights at night? One of the best ways is on the Panoramic Sunset Tour by Open-Top Bus, which takes you through the top districts, plus a photo stop on Treasure Island looking back at the San Francisco skyline. (Open every day except 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve.)
4. Best Month to Travel to San Francisco: December
Those who love to walk around amidst Christmas and holiday decor will find December the best time to visit San Francisco.
The San Francisco weather has a chill in the air, giving the holiday lights an even more special charm.
You can check out the towering Christmas trees in Union Square, on Pier 39, and at Ghirardelli Square. You can also head over to City Hall to see our cherished building adorned in red and green lights.
Other displays around the city include department stores right on Union Square, popular personal displays in the Castro & Noe Valley, and the lights around the Civic Center Plaza.
These are just a few of my favorites. Many keep their displays lit until January 1.
Other fun holiday events include seasonal ice skating rinks, visits from Santa, and plenty of great deals at local stores.
>> Find out what there is to see and do for Christmas in SF
>> Check out what's happening on New Year's Eve
San Francisco Weather by Month
5. Best Time to Travel to San Francisco: April
Another one of the best times to visit San Francisco is in April. This is when the city is in bloom after all the rain during the winter months.
The most striking sign of spring is all the cherry blossoms. The cherry trees usually start to bloom in late March, and you can almost always guarantee they will fully bloom by April. The best places to see them are in the Japanese Tea Garden and in the Japantown District.
The San Francisco weather in April is usually sunny and mild, giving you the chance to fully embrace the springtime.
April is also when the large Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival takes place. It's over the course of two weekends in April (usually the second & third weekends).
The festival features traditional Japanese food, entertainment, and a parade. You can also do a little shopping or check out one of the demonstrations.
>> Visit my Cherry Blossom event page for details
>> Learn more about what's happening in SF in April
What About San Francisco in the Summer Months?
The summer months are our busiest time of the year. Although it isn't in my top five (outside of the Fourth of July), you are still in for a treat, as there are so many fun things to do here in the summer.
The San Francisco weather in the summer is much cooler than most of the US, so it's a great place to escape the heat.
Daytime temperatures in the summer often feature average high temperatures in the upper 60s and cool down to around the mid-50s at night. It's comfortable, and one of the only places in the US you will be wearing a jacket in the middle of July and August!
You will also find plenty of summertime festivities, including the North Beach Festival in June, the SF Jazz Festival in July, and Outside Lands in August.
Note that because summer is high season for tourists, it's not the cheapest time to visit San Francisco. However, you will still find plenty of free things to do if you're traveling on a budget.
Our mild temperatures make it easy to enjoy outdoor activities like strolling across the Golden Gate Bridge, exploring Chinatown, and walking around Fisherman's Wharf.
Looking for the best time to visit San Francisco and Yosemite? Summer and fall are popular because snow can close roads from November to May.
If you're interested in this combined trip, plan ahead, since reservations fill up quickly! I recommend this guided Day Trip from SF with Giant Sequoias Hike.
My Final Thoughts on When to Visit San Francisco
I know not everyone can visit in September and October, which I consider to be the best time to visit San Francisco, so I hope you'll enjoy these alternatives, too—including the option to visit in the summer.
The reality is that SF is gorgeous all year long, and there is always something in bloom, a great festival, or some other event that will make your stay special.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group!
It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!