Best Time To Visit San Francisco > Weather And Temperature

What is the best time to visit San Francisco?

Even though tourists rush to the West during summer, the best time to visit San Francisco is during the Fall from September to November. With summer bringing in unstable weather that can go from sunny to rainy within hours, tourists prefer the Fall season which brings in the city's warmest days and fewer crowds. Another good time to visit the Golden Gate City is during the spring, which offers clear skies and mild temperatures to the visitors, unlike anywhere else in California. Moreover, if you are sure that you can stay warm enough in the chill of the winter months, consider travelling from December to February to grab lower hotel rates and crowd-free tourist spots.

Weather in San Francisco

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Monthly Weather in San Francisco

Month	High/Low (°C)	Rain
January	14°/ 9°	5 days
February	17°/ 9°	0 days
March	15°/ 9°	5 days
April	16°/ 10°	3 days
May	16°/ 11°	5 days
June	20°/ 13°	0 days
July	18°/ 13°	0 days
August	21°/ 14°	0 days
September	22°/ 14°	0 days
October	21°/ 13°	0 days
November	17°/ 10°	4 days
December	14°/ 10°	12 days

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More about Best Time to Travel to San Francisco

San Francisco in September

Weather
With clear skies and 12 hours of daylight, September is the best month to visit the Bay City area. The hotel prices start to fall, and the onset of autumn ensures that days are brighter and rain free. Pack the light layers but remember you will see a lot of the sun too!

Events & Festivals in September
The Labour day is usually celebrated at the beginning of the month, and the celebrations typically mark the end of the peak tourist season, thus starting the hotel discounts. To infringe upon the beginning of autumn, San Francisco celebrates the Autumn Moon Festival, bringing to life the ever-changing glories and mysteries of the moon. Also, if you enjoy the uncensored indie theatre with a dash of Chinese culture, the golden gate city has something to offer everyone, with the Dragon boat Festival, to enjoy the boat races and the Fringe Festival to embark on a journey of the avant-garde exciting indie theatre. Who doesn’t love chocolate? Step in into the Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival and for a two-day run forget about the calories you intake at this special, one of its kind charity event. There is a call out for the leather lovers at the Folsom Street Fair, that celebrates freedom and diversity.

San Francisco in October

Weather
Another fantastic month to visit the Golden Gate city is in October. With the fog out of the way, the city stays warm, making sure you spend time at the beach and go skinny dipping in the water. As the tourists have mostly cleared out by now, everything is less crowded and easily accessible. Pack the light layers for evenings, but don’t forget your swimming costume.

Events & Festivals in October
As the skies clear out, people move out to the beach to participate in the giant sand sculpture festival, the Sand Castle Classic. Music never leaves San Francisco, and even in October, the city bustles with the free music event, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass at the Golden Gate Park. Besides, what is October without Halloween and a little bit of culture? Celebrate The Italian Heritage (Columbus Day) Parade, along with the Columbus to the Washington Square and the big Pumpkin Festival, with some of the world's largest pumpkins! While at it, enjoy the feature of the Blue Angels accompanied with a boat parade at the Fleet Week.

San Francisco in November

Weather
Winter rains start to set in during this month, but it's not unlikely to find clear skies with warm weather. The clear skies ensure the weather stays comfortable, but November is the city’s wettest month. So if you want to explore the city on foot, do pack your rain gear.

Events & Festivals in November
Even though the tourists decline around this time, the streets and markets are filled with the locals shopping for Thanksgiving, especially around Black Friday. It is another month that’s famous for humpback whale watching, but what sets November apart is the Dungeness Crab Festival. As November is the commercial fishing season in the bay area, all restaurants serve fresh crab! The whole city feels like a time wrap, with Thanksgiving around the corner and Charles Dickens celebrations of the Christmas past.

San Francisco in December

Weather
One of the coldest months, with the least amount of sunshine, December is packed with continuous rains in the Golden Gate City. There is no snowfall unless you happen to head out to Lake Tahoe to celebrate Christmas, but you will need loads of warm clothes to beat the winter chill.

Events & Festivals in December
Celebrate Christmas Eve at the Treasure Island viewing the decorated Embarcadero Center which comes to life with its fairy light decor. Moreover, if you missed out the Dicken’s time wrap celebration in November, you can catch it now at the Cow Palace. A 5K race known as the Run Wild and another one, the Santa’s Skivvies Run are famous this time of the year, wherein a lot of Santas can be seen running in their costumes and hats for a good cause. If you happen to spend the New Year's Eve in San Francisco, head to any one of the numerous parties this city hosts and make sure not to miss out on the fireworks behind the Ferry Building at the end of Market Street.

San Francisco in August

Weather
The weather in August fares the same as July. There is a lot of fog and the water’s cold. However, August is a much more unpredictable month than July, and if you are lucky enough, you might end up with a few bright sunny days too, and if not, just an unending overcast for days altogether. So make sure to pack your shorts, but don’t fall short on the woollens as the cold winds are out to get you.

Events & Festivals in August
A treat to the music lovers yet again, San Francisco hosts the Outside Lands Festival in August. A deadly combination of music, food and wine, this festival holds the headline for days in the city newspaper and is celebrated at the Golden Gate Park. The Japantown too comes forward, stealing away the limelight this month, with its Nihonmachi Street Fair, that celebrates traditional music, dance and strangely enough a muscle car show, all in the spirit of the Asian-Pacific American life.

San Francisco in Shoulder Season

Springtime comes bearing warm days and cloudless skies, during the months of March through May. Beat the tourist rush to the bay area, when the hotel prices are still reasonable. Even though a dive into the ocean may seem difficult, considering the temperature, but the springtime is nonetheless the best time to explore the city on foot, while it prepares for the St.Patrick's Day.

San Francisco in High Season / Peak Season

June through August marks the peak season in the Golden Gate city, where tourists from all around the world make their way to enjoy the summertime festivities. Even though it's summer in the bay area, the temperatures hover around 19 degrees. The skies aren’t always calm but are also accompanied by chilly winds and the occasional fog. However, since summers, see numerous fairs and festivities, the city peaks to life and so do the room rents! Anyone looking for budget travel, should steer clear of San Francisco during these months or should book their hotel rooms, months in advance to ensure availability and getting some early bird discounts.