Season guide · San Francisco · United States
San Francisco in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Peak crowds and prices but often cool, foggy and windy, especially near the ocean; the Mission and the East Bay are sunnier. Expect highs up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F), with about 1 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 12°C (54°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 1
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F) to 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 21°C (70°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 1 | 14.8 h | 4/5 |
| July | 21°C (70°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 0 | 14.5 h | 5/5 |
| August | 22°C (72°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 0 | 13.6 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 19°C (66°F), and 1 of the year's roughly 59 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- 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)
Make the most of the weather
Museum · Golden Gate Park
de Young Museum
Facing the Academy across the Music Concourse, the copper-clad de Young shows American art, art from Africa, Oceania and the Americas, and textiles.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Views
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Experience · Nob Hill
Cable cars and the Cable Car Museum
Skip the long queue at the Powell and Market turnaround by boarding a few stops up the line, or ride the quieter California Street line.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Views
- History
Waterfront · Fisherman's Wharf
Pier 39 and the sea lions
Pier 39 is a busy pier of shops, restaurants and street performers, but the real draw is the sea lions that haul out on the floating docks beside it, a colony that settled here after the 1989 earthquake.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
Street · Russian Hill
Lombard Street
Visit early in the morning, when the gardens are in soft light and before the queue of cars builds.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
- Views
Viewpoint · Telegraph Hill
Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill
The 64-metre Art Deco tower on Telegraph Hill, finished in 1933, has Depression-era murals in its ground-floor lobby and an observation deck looking over the bay and both bridges.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in summer
- Napa Valley (About 1–1.5 hours by car) — Napa Valley has hundreds of wineries along Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail, best known for Cabernet Sauvignon, with Yountville, St Helena and Calistoga for lunch.
- Berkeley (About 30 minutes by BART) — The University of California campus and its Sather Tower anchor Berkeley.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit San Francisco?
It is a trade-off: Peak crowds and prices but often cool, foggy and windy, especially near the ocean; the Mission and the East Bay are sunnier. The best months overall are April–May and September–October.
+What is the weather like in San Francisco in summer?
Highs of up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F), with about 1 rainy days over the season.