Best time to visit · San Francisco · United States
The best time to visit San Francisco
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
The best time to visit San Francisco is September to October, when the summer fog usually clears and the city has its warmest, sunniest weather. April and May are also pleasant and quieter. Summer (June to August) is the busiest season but often cool, grey and windy, while winter brings rain, green hills and lower hotel prices.
Key facts
- Best months
- April–May and September–October
- Shoulder season
- March, June and November
- Warmest month
- September (avg high 23°C (73°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 14°C (57°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~11 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January
Seasons
San Francisco has a cool Mediterranean climate shaped by the Pacific: mild, wet winters, dry summers often blanketed in fog, and a warm spell in September and October, usually the sunniest months. Conditions vary between districts, with the western neighbourhoods foggier and the Mission sunnier.
December–February
Winter
Cool and wet with clear days between storms, green hills, Lunar New Year and some of the lowest hotel rates of the year.
March–May
Spring
Mild, drier days, wildflowers on the headlands and blossom in the parks, with fog starting to return by late May.
June–August
Summer
Peak crowds and prices but often cool, foggy and windy, especially near the ocean; the Mission and the East Bay are sunnier.
September–November
Autumn
Usually the warmest, clearest weather of the year in September and October, with Fleet Week and free festivals, before rain returns in November.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°C | 8°C | 11 | 12°C | 9.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 16°C | 9°C | 10 | 12°C | 10.7 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| March | 17°C | 9°C | 9 | 12°C | 11.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 18°C | 10°C | 5 | 12°C | 13.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 19°C | 11°C | 2 | 13°C | 14.2 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 21°C | 12°C | 1 | 14°C | 14.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 21°C | 13°C | 0 | 14°C | 14.5 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 22°C | 13°C | 0 | 15°C | 13.6 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 23°C | 14°C | 1 | 15°C | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| October | 22°C | 13°C | 3 | 15°C | 11.1 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| November | 18°C | 10°C | 7 | 14°C | 10.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 14°C | 8°C | 10 | 13°C | 9.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Lunar New Year celebrations begin (late January or February) |
| February | Chinese New Year Festival and Parade in Chinatown and around Union Square (usually February) |
| March | St Patrick's Day parade (around 17 March) |
| April | Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown (usually April); San Francisco International Film Festival (usually April) |
| May | Bay to Breakers — costumed footrace across the city (usually the third Sunday of May); Carnaval San Francisco in the Mission (usually Memorial Day weekend) |
| June | San Francisco Pride parade and celebration (usually the last weekend of June) |
| July | Fourth of July fireworks on the waterfront (4 July; often hidden by fog) |
| August | Outside Lands music festival in Golden Gate Park (usually August) |
| September | Large conventions at Moscone Center can raise hotel rates sharply (often September and October) |
| October | Fleet Week air shows and ship parades on the bay (usually early October); Hardly Strictly Bluegrass — free music festival in Golden Gate Park (usually early October) |
| November | Día de los Muertos procession in the Mission (2 November) |
| December | Holiday tree and ice rink at Union Square (usually mid-November to early January) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January, and the sights are quietest in January–February.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Winter | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit San Francisco?
The best time to visit San Francisco is September to October, when the summer fog usually clears and the city has its warmest, sunniest weather. April and May are also pleasant and quieter. Summer (June to August) is the busiest season but often cool, grey and windy, while winter brings rain, green hills and lower hotel prices.
+When are hotel prices lowest in San Francisco?
Usually in January. Cool and the wettest time of year, with crisp, clear days between storms; hotel rates are among the lowest of the year.
+What is the rainiest month in San Francisco?
January, with about 11 days of rain on average.
+How hot does San Francisco get?
The warmest month, September, averages highs of 23°C (73°F) and lows of 14°C (57°F).