Month guide · San Francisco · United States
San Francisco in December
What December is really like in San Francisco: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 9.6 hours of daylight. Cool and wet, with holiday lights at Union Square, the Ferry Building and Pier 39; prices rise over the holidays.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 9.6 hours
- Sea temperature
- 13°C (55°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in San Francisco: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 8°C (46°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (18°C (64°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 14°C (57°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:18
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:52
- Daylight
- About 9.6 hours
- Sea
- 13°C (55°F)
Autumn (September–November). Usually the warmest, clearest weather of the year in September and October, with Fleet Week and free festivals, before rain returns in November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Holiday tree and ice rink at Union Square (usually mid-November to early January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Architecture · Marina
Palace of Fine Arts
Built for the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition, the Palace of Fine Arts is a classical rotunda and colonnade reflected in a lagoon.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Couples
- Photo spot
- History
Park · Presidio
Presidio and Crissy Field
Picnic on the Tunnel Tops lawns, where food trucks often gather on weekends in the warmer months.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
- Nature
Park · Mission District
Mission Dolores Park and the Mission murals
Dolores Park's sloping lawns give one of the best skyline views in the city and fill with picnickers on sunny weekends.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Art
- Views
- History
Nature · Outer Richmond
Lands End and the Sutro Baths
Start at the Lands End Lookout visitor centre, explore the Sutro Baths ruins, then walk the trail east for bridge views; it is about 5 km out and back.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 14°C, lows near 8°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit San Francisco?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
San Francisco in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit San Francisco?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cool and wet, with holiday lights at Union Square, the Ferry Building and Pier 39; prices rise over the holidays.
+How warm is San Francisco in December?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in San Francisco in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.