Christmas in San Francisco

By Robert Heaney
Published: July 18, 2024
San Francisco City Hall illuminated in festive colors

If you’re looking for a festive city break brimming with holiday spirit, it’s hard to beat Christmas in San Francisco. From delightful winter displays to enchanting traditional performances and a host of unique seasonal events, it’s hard to beat the festive wonder of the Bay Area at the holidays.

Festive Displays

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Union Square

No area is quite so quintessential to Christmas in San Francisco as Union Square. This teeming commercial hub transforms throughout the holiday season into the beating heart of all things Christmas in the Bay Area.

The San Francisco holiday season kicks off with the lighting of the Macy’s Christmas Tree in late November, traditionally taking place on the first Friday after Thanksgiving. Hundreds of locals and visitors alike come out to watch the event and embrace the festive spirit, as Union Square becomes a veritable winter wonderland brimming with seasonal spirit.

Running in parallel to the early Christmas festivities, Union Square is also host each year to the Bill Graham Menorah in celebration of Hanukkah. Each night of the Jewish festival of lights is marked by the lighting of a candle atop the giant candelabra, accompanied by a hearty gathering filled with live music and a great deal of merriment.

You’ll find all manner of ways to get into the holiday spirit around Union Square, whether it’s taking the kids to Macy’s to visit Santa Claus and awe at the frolicking, adoptable animals in the SPCA’s Holiday Window or showing off your moves on the Union Square Ice Skating Rink before grabbing some holiday deals at Westfield Shopping Center.

Fisherman’s Wharf

One of the Bay Area’s top attractions becomes ever more exciting throughout the holidays, hosting a number of festive events throughout the season.

Rivaling the main display on Union Square, Pier 39 goes a step further by lighting its Christmas tree multiple times an evening from late November to early January, synchronized to a fanfare of holiday music. In much the same way, the Pier also celebrates Hanukkah with its own giant menorah at the Entrance Plaza, lit up each night of the Jewish festival.

At the opposite end of Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square hosts its own diverse program of holiday celebrations, complete with the obligatory Christmas Tree display and Hanukkah festivities. In years past, the square has also been known to put on an outdoor cinema showcasing a number of popular holiday movies throughout the season.

Always a popular sight on the waterfront is the Fisherman’s Wharf Decorated Boat Parade, held each year in partnership with the St. Francis Yacht Club. Usually falling in mid-December, the parade sees local boats of all shapes and sizes adorned in festive lights and decor as they sail along the bay. Those who are particularly keen can pay to watch from the official starting line while enjoying a special holiday buffet.

Fairmont Hotel

If magical holiday displays and an exuberant seasonal atmosphere are what you’re looking for, be sure to visit the Fairmont Hotel at the top of Nob Hill. Each year, this luxury hotel goes all out on its holiday display, erecting a life-sized gingerbread house right in its main lobby. Large enough for adults to walk through, the charming display is made all the more enchanting by the miniature railway encircling the house.

Seasonal Events

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SantaCon

You’d better watch out, as Santa Claus is coming to town in his masses! For a day each December, Union Square and its surrounding streets, bars and venues get overtaken by a colossal procession of Christmas characters, most of which end up in quite the drunken state as the day rolls on.

This Santa-themed celebration comes complete with caroling, costume contests and stockingfuls of merriment. Though entirely free to enter, SantaCon asks that visitors bring unwrapped toy donations of any size and value to help local charity drives aimed at disadvantaged families across the city. And, of course, festive fancy dress is highly encouraged!

The Great Dickens Fair

For a series of weekends throughout the holiday season, the city hosts The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, complete with festive market stalls among an impressive replica of Victorian London. Visitors can enjoy various Victorian-themed events and pick up some treasures while exploring the world which so inspired the famous nineteenth-century writer.

New Year’s Eve

Seeing out the holiday season, the Bay Area is considered to be among the top five destinations in the United States to spend New Year’s Eve, and that certainly isn’t without merit. Like many cities, San Fran veritably lights up with activity for the twilight hours of the year, with many of its top restaurants, bars and venues filled to the brim with jovial revelers.

Throughout the night, the city hosts a number of popular live events and concerts to beckon in the turn of the new year. As the night reaches its peak, many flock to the waterside to watch as barges 1,000 feet out in the bay set off a magnificent firework display, illuminating their surroundings in a blaze of vibrant color. The most popular site to catch the show is typically just south of the Ferry Building near Pier 14.

Holiday Performances

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Known for its incredible entertainment scene, it should come as no surprise that San Francisco also hosts a variety of limited-time performances throughout the holiday season, many of which have become a staple of local holiday tradition. Tickets to any of these performances typically sell out fast, so you’ll want to keep a keen eye out when they become available.

Nutcracker Ballet

Step into the magical wonderland of toy soldiers in this classic ballet performance of the Nutcracker, performed by a kaleidoscope of over 150 dancers as they battle the King of Mice and dance through the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Accompanied by a fantastic live orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, this is a truly enchanting performance to catch during the holiday season.

A Christmas Carol

Perhaps one of the most popular Bay Area holiday traditions is to bag a ticket to a theater performance of Charles Dickens’ festive classic, A Christmas Carol. Each year, the American Conservatory Theater puts on their own delightful adaptation of the classic tale, with a bubbly cast, vibrant costumes and a host of spooky ghosts.

Robert Heaney
Go City Travel Expert

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Street sign pointing the way to Japantown, San Francisco
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Things to do in Japantown San Francisco

One of just three remaining Japantowns in the whole of the United States, this diminutive San Francisco neighborhood packs a mighty punch in spite of its small size. Squeezed into its six blocks, you’ll discover swathes of superb sushi, shabu-shabu and ramen restaurants, a riot of ultra-kitsch gift shops, Japanese sweets and more manga and anime merchandise than you can shake a samurai sword at. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Japantown San Francisco. Get to Know San Francisco’s Japantown Japantown radiates out from its central hub, the Peace Plaza, a major focal point for events and festivals throughout the year and a great place to just sit and watch the world go by. Towering over the plaza is the Peace Pagoda, a striking five-tiered concrete structure with a spire on top that was designed by Japanese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi and gifted to San Francisco by Osaka in 1968. It’s from here that you can start the Japantown History Walk, a short stroll through the district’s storied past, guided by 16 signs featuring maps, photographs and information. The walk provides a nice introduction to Japantown and will help you find your bearings. As well as the Peace Pagoda, it also takes in pedestrianized Osaka Way, Ruth Asawa’s beautiful Aurora and Origami Fountains and the colorful Sensu folding-fan sculpture. Shop ‘Til You Drop A visit to the Japan Center, a trio of malls crammed top to bottom with Japanese shops and restaurants should be considered an absolute must on any list of things to do in San Francisco’s Japantown. Start in the east mall, where the famous Japanese dollar store Daiso offers a mind-boggling variety of products at rock bottom prices (generally $1-2). Looking for kitsch Hello Kitty trinkets? Stationery supplies? Japanese fans? Beauty products? Bookends? Chopsticks? Kawaii (cute) Japanese designs? Then Daiso is surely the place for you. It’s also at this end of the mall that you’ll find one of Japantown’s most Instagrammed attractions: the arched red Moon Bridge. Head to the west mall for the iconic Kinokuniya Bookstore, a stalwart of San Francisco’s Japantown since the late 1960s. It’s here that you’ll find all things manga and anime: books, comics, DVDs, t-shirts, toys, tote bags, Studio Ghibli merchandise, you name it and they’ll probably have it here! There’s even an intricate artwork by legendary Japanese illustrator and cartoonist Katsuya Terada, painted at the entrance to the store during his visit in 2013. Upstairs, you can browse Japanese and English literature and attend occasional readings and signings; authors who have appeared at the store previously include Japanese historian David Keene and actor George Takei. Food, Glorious Food! After all that shopping you’re sure to have worked up a mighty appetite. Fortunately for you, the Japan Center also boasts some of the best eating in town. Head to the aptly named Restaurant Row in the west mall for a veritable smorgasbord of dining options. Restaurants here run the full gamut of Japanese specialties. There’s sushi, of course, and plenty of it. This is also the place to try okonomiyaki, delicious savory Japanese pancakes stuffed with fillings of your choice and topped with pickled ginger, mayonnaise and umami Japanese sauces. Ramen or noodles more your vibe? You’ll find both well represented here, too. For a real taste of Japanese culture, hit the shabu-shabu joints, where you cook your own beef and vegetables at the table before gobbling them up along with rice and a rainbow of zingy dipping sauces. Something sweet? Sophie’s Crepes is a dessert shop of some local renown, where freshly made crepes are served cone-style with fillings of your choice. Whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Green tea gelato with red bean paste and matcha sauce. Mandarin and Nutella. The only problem you’ll have here is deciding which to go for. Mosey over to Matcha Cafe Maiko which, as the name suggests, is your stop for everything matcha. There’s shaved ice, tea, and matcha lattes. Or try a crispy homemade cone piled high with soft serve matcha ice cream. For an ultra-decadent treat, you can also have yours topped with gold leaf! A Spot of R’n’R Tucked away behind an unassuming pair of wooden doors inside the sprawling Japan Center is the Kabuki Springs & Spa, where a traditional onsen-style Japanese bathhouse offers multiple methods of achieving a state of pure zen. Buy a day pass to access the steam room, sauna, muscle-soothing hot pool and bracingly cold plunge pool. There’s sea salt for body scrubs and green tea for maximum refreshment, and you’ll get a discount on your day pass if you also book a treatment at the adjoining spa, where a deluxe 80-minute Eastern Shiatsu massage might leave you so relaxed you’ll want to remain horizontal for the rest of the day. Cherry Blossom Festival The annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, held in honor of the photogenic pink blooms, is one of San Francisco’s most popular, drawing thousands of visitors to the neighborhood for its two-weekend run every April. This riot of color and sound celebrates all things Japanese. Highlights include taiko drumming, when men and women in traditional dress beat huge tribal drums in an effort to ward off evil spirits. There’s street food, ancient Japanese tea ceremonies, karate demonstrations, origami displays and Japanese folk music and dance, with many of the more popular performances taking place on the main stage at Peace Plaza. The festival culminates in a grand parade, when drummers, dancers, and beautifully decorated floats weave their way through cheering crowds between City Hall and Japantown, leading the way to a huge closing party in the shadow of the Peace Pagoda. Pro-tip for cherry blossom die-hards: some of the finest in San Francisco are found not in Japantown but at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. Save on things to do in Japantown San Francisco Save on admission to San Francisco attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Walkers on a hike to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
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Best Walks in San Francisco

San Francisco is a city to get lost in and the best way to achieve that is on foot. Sure, its many hills make for some steep climbs and descents, but you just know it's going to be worth it for those views: of the Downtown skyline, the glittering Bay, the soaring Twin Peaks, the majestic Golden Gate Bridge shrouded in summer fog. Former resident Jack Kerouac perhaps said it best in On The Road, when he waxed lyrical about ‘the city of San Francisco on her eleven mystic hills with the blue Pacific and its advancing wall of potato-patch fog beyond’. Step into your sensible shoes and take a stroll through the Golden City with us as we reveal our pick of the best walks in San Francisco. Haight Ashbury and Golden Gate Park Start your day with a (literally) breathtaking climb to the summit of Buena Vista Park. Enter from the south side and, as you crest this really rather steep hill, your efforts will be rewarded with the awe-inspiring views that gave the park its name. Pause here for a well-earned rest as you take in that buena vista of the Golden Gate Bridge and its namesake park. Afterwards, amble down into the Haight Ashbury district, where the bohemian spirit of the ‘69 summer of love can still be felt in the colorful wall murals and laidback coffee joints. Spend some time meandering around Haight and Central, where rows of Victorian houses in flamboyant hues – cornflower blue, flamingo pink, mellow yellow – make for perfect Instagram eye candy. Onwards to Golden Gate Park, where strolling in more or less any direction will reveal untold wonders. It’s here you’ll find some of the city’s best museums: the majestic de Young fine art museum with its eye-catching burnished copper skin and soaring tower, and the huge California Academy of the Sciences, which houses an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest and natural history museum beneath the rolling green hills of its living roof. Visit the Japanese Tea Garden where gently winding paths, tranquil ponds and a splendid five-tiered pagoda make for a lovely stroll. Dedicated walkers can skirt the shimmering Stow Lake and make for the far end of the park, where bison roam their paddock and the traditional Dutch Windmill is one of the park’s most photographed attractions. Lombard Street A short one, to be sure, but no list of the best places to walk in San Francisco would be complete without mentioning the most photographed street in the city. The steep, one-block section of Lombard that lies between Hyde and Leavenworth on Russian Hill is a rollercoaster ride of eight hairpin bends that’s said to resemble a playground slide. Stairs along both sides allow you to take your sweet time, admiring the street’s vibrant floral borders and quirky architecture and flooding your Instagram with as many snaps as you can. Chinatown and North Beach Start your Chinatown meander at Portsmouth Square, the heart of the neighborhood, where locals indulge in traditional pursuits including t’ai chi and Chinese chess, then head north into atmospheric lanes and alleyways that are alive with bustling markets, mah jong parlors and Chinese bakeries. Grab an egg-custard tart or three for sustenance as you wander to Waverly Place with its colorful flag-covered temple balconies, and Ross Alley, where workers in the tiny Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory assemble thousands of the crunchy future-predicting treats by hand every day. Head east along Jack Kerouac Alley to Columbus. This is Beat Generation territory, where Kerouac and fellow beatniks including Ginsberg and Cassady hung out in the 1950s, primarily at the Vesuvio bar and legendary City Lights bookstore. Hungry again already? Cannoli from the bakeries that line leafy Washington Square and its ornate, twin-spired church are some of the best in San Francisco. Suitably fortified, your steep climb up Greenwich Street to North Beach's iconic Coit Tower should just about be manageable. Finish with a walk down the Filbert Street Steps, where unusual wildflowers, chattering Telegraph Hill parrots and sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay Bridge and Treasure Island are all the reward you need. Mission Murals There are over 1,000 murals adorning San Francisco’s streets, with the highest concentration found in the trendy Mission district south of Downtown. You’ll find some of the best examples on narrow Clarion Alley, where local artists have covered seemingly every available surface with portraits, political art and tributes to the likes of George Floyd and Prince. Nearby Balmy Alley is no less colorful, with a large homage to great female artists including Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe among its 40 or so pieces. While you’re in the neighborhood, take a stroll down quirky Valencia Street with its eclectic mix of fab coffee roasteries and interesting shops (Pirate Supply Store, anyone?). Then grab a gut-busting ‘Mission Burrito’ from one of the long-established local taquerias and head up to Dolores Park for sunny skies and great views of the Bay and Downtown. The San Francisco Bay Shoreline Pick up some of the sweet stuff at historic Ghirardelli Square, where the legendary Ghirardelli Company’s chocolate and ice-cream emporium has all the supplies you need to fortify you for your shoreline walk. Join the paved path that weaves westwards along the coast towards the Golden Gate Bridge and watch boats bob along in the Bay, carrying eager tourists to Alcatraz and the Angel Island State Park beyond. Both should be visible from here, fog permitting. Follow the trail as it passes through the Maritime National Historical Park, passing the picturesque Fort Mason wharves, and continue to the Palace of Fine Arts as you enter the Presidio. Built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, this faux palace is a monumental beaux-arts beauty that’s surrounded by swan-filled lagoons and lush green foliage. It’s a great spot to pause and cram in some more of that delicious chocolate before rejoining the path up to Fort Point, a Civil War-era fort beneath the Golden Gate Bridge which is where your hike ends, unless... The Golden Gate Bridge Now you’re here, it would really be foolish – nay, rude – not to. For here’s where you’ll find some of the best views in all of San Francisco, not least the Downtown skyline and out shimmering azure blues of the Pacific. The best thing about walking the iconic red bridge is that you can go as long or short a distance across it as you like. But we recommend going the whole way to really make the best of its many vantage points. Head down into downtown Sausalito for a restorative beer and save your legs by taking the ferry back across to San Francisco. Save on attractions in San Francisco Save on admission to San Francisco attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
The San Francisco skyline seen from Yerba Buena Island
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San Francisco in September

Fall is one of San Francisco’s most alluring seasons. As the summer fogs abate, September promises clear skies and balmy temperatures ahead of the trees commencing their spectacular annual display of gold, copper and rust-red colors in October and November. Read on to find out why you should visit San Francisco in September. Visiting San Francisco in September Average Temperature: 55–69°F • Average Rainfall: 2 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 9 hours/day If San Francisco summers are known for their fogs, then September is a breath of fresh air. It’s now that San Franciscans put ‘Fogust’ firmly behind them and hit the beach, taking advantage of the warm, sunny conditions and azure skies to top up those California tans. Unusually, San Francisco's fall months are often warmer than summer, with temperatures tending to peak in the high 60s and low 70s in September. It’s a fine time to visit, but not just on account of the pleasant weather. With tourist season done and dusted the crowds, like the fog, have withdrawn and hotel prices have begun to ease. There are some fine festivals and events too, especially around Labor Day Weekend at the beginning of the month. Top tip: don’t be fooled by the balmy days – you’ll still want to layer up for evenings out. Think jeans and light sweaters for al fresco cocktails, and a jacket if it’s breezy. Things to do in September If you’re going to hit the beach in San Francisco, do it in September. Sure, those waters are no good for swimming due to the dangerous riptides and bone-chilling temperatures. But, if the sound of crashing surf sets your heart soaring, and you’re into Insta-perfect coastal vistas, the city’s beaches are great places to while away a few hours. Head to Ocean Beach for the city’s longest stretch of wild, rugged beach, where fine golden sands, rolling waves and rocky outcrops are the order of the day. Nearby Baker Beach is a fine spot for sunny strolls accompanied by what are arguably the best beach views in town. Flanked by cypress trees, native wildflowers and Mediterranean shrubs, it’s located on the edge of the Presidio with close-up views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands beyond. If you do fancy a dip on a hot day, make for the Aquatic Park cove in the Maritime National Historical Park – its calm clear waters are well protected and safe for swimming, and you’ll enjoy front-row seats for views of the historic ships docked over at Hyde Street Pier. Sticking with the seaside theme (it is ice cream weather, after all!), Fisherman’s Wharf stretches along much of San Francisco’s northern waterfront and offers a cornucopia of activities, including a host of old-fashioned seaside entertainments. Here’s where you’ll find major attractions like the USS Pampanito WWII submarine, the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and the aforementioned restored sailing ships at Hyde Street Pier. It’s also home to Pier 39, one of San Francisco’s must-visit attractions. Say hey to the resident sea lion colony then head to the Aquarium of the Bay, where another 20,000 sea critters (give or take) await you. The pier also boasts dozens of cafes and restaurants alongside thrill rides, VR experiences, old-school gaming arcades and even a carousel! Don’t miss the Musée Mécanique, an absolute labor of love that’s chock-full of arcade games, automata and other weird and wonderful devices of yore. Play classic pinball machines, find out where you rank on the kiss-o-meter (from amateurish to hot stuff), and try not to have nightmares after coming face to face with Laffing Sal, a cackling six-foot automaton with a missing tooth. After all that excitement, hop on a Bay cruise or head over to Alcatraz Island for a tour of its infamous penitentiary. What’s on in September? Sausalito Art Festival Labor Day can mean only one thing: the Sausalito Art Festival. If you needed an excuse to make the epic 30-minute walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, this is a good one. Once in charming Sausalito, you can browse some of the country’s finest contemporary art as well as enjoying fine wine, craft beer, gourmet food galore and lashings of live music and street entertainment. It’s one of the oldest and most prestigious open-air art festivals in the States and well worth the trip. Top tip: take the ferry back across the Bay to save your legs on the return journey! Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival San Francisco's most legendary purveyors of the sweet stuff, Ghirardelli, hosts an annual chocolate festival in September. The two-day event features enough chocolate-based entertainment to turn Willy Wonka green with envy, from chef demonstrations to those all-important chocolate-tasting sessions. There’s even an ice cream eating contest, in which participants compete to see who can guzzle down one of Ghirardelli’s ‘Earthquake’ sundaes in the fastest time. With one small catch: they’re not allowed to use their hands. In short: it's gooey, messy, chocolatey heaven. San Francisco Fringe Festival Organized by San Francisco’s EXIT Theatre group, the SF Fringe showcases (mostly) local talent across a few intimate downtown venues through September. Acts are selected by lottery, with those voted as best of the bunch going on to do encore performances at the end of the festival. Live Outdoor Entertainment San Francisco’s balmy September temperatures lend themselves well to lots of time spent outdoors. Handily, this is also the time of year to catch live shows in the city’s great parks, many of them absolutely free. Comedy Day is exactly what it sounds like: an afternoon of gratis chuckles in Golden Gate Park, courtesy of the city’s finest funnymen and women. Also in Golden Gate Park, the SF Opera traditionally kicks off its fall season with a free performance while, over in McLaren Park, the SF Shakespeare Festival performs one of the bard’s best-loved works, with a different play showcased each year. Save on attractions in San Francisco Save on admission to San Francisco attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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