Tip of the Golden Gate Bridge peaking out above a cloud of fog

San Francisco in April

By Robert Heaney

At the peak of spring, the increasingly more pleasant weather of San Francisco in April complements a host of hotly-anticipated cultural events. If you’re looking to experience the best of the Bay Area in the absence of the summertime crowds while also cashing in on everything the season has to offer, this is the trip to beat.

Visiting San Francisco in April

Image of Grass, Neighborhood, Lawn, Boy, Child, Male, Person, Adult, Female, Woman, City, Handbag, Suburb,

Average Temperature: 50 - 63°F • Average Rainfall: 6 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 10 hours/day

Now in the penultimate month of its early-year shoulder season, San Francisco maintains a steady flow of traffic throughout April, though still in relatively small numbers. As with much of spring, this is an ideal time to experience the charms of the Golden City without too many crowds, while also cashing in on some off-peak hotel prices when booking sufficiently in advance.

With spring now in full swing, it’s likely you’ll start to see San Francisco’s weather begin to chipper up. Temperatures throughout April tend to flirt somewhere between cool and pleasantly mild, bridging on some warm days if you’re really lucky. That being said, windchill by the Bay is still something to wrap up against, and you’ll want to pack an umbrella for the potential for at least one day of rain per week.

Things to do in April

Image of Tower, Landmark,

No trip to San Francisco would be complete without an obligatory tour of some of its most iconic sights. Taking pride of place are the crimson beams of the world’s most recognizable bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, followed swiftly by the attractive Painted Ladies lining Alamo Square Park.

Though you can certainly explore many of the city’s sights and attractions on foot, you can save yourself some energy with a Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour. Operating a central route via many of the Golden City’s most popular destinations, the tour allows visitors to board and alight at their leisure. To sweeten the pot, the tour also offers audio commentary in a selection of major languages, rich with valuable local insight into some of the city’s most interesting history and culture.

Particularly popular around this time of year is Japantown where, alongside its usual charming architecture, restaurants and stores, many can enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival. In a similar vein, San Francisco’s Chinatown stands as the largest and most popular in the country, where you can explore a host of traditional stores and restaurants and even stop in at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory to watch employees hand-fold one of the nation’s favorite after-dinner treats.

To make the most of the improving weather, why not take a particularly pleasant day to explore some of San Francisco’s fantastic green spaces? Golden Gate Park makes for a wonderful picnic spot if you can manage to find a free space, while Mission Dolores Park remains more of a serene experience and offers stellar views over the city skyline.

If you’re keen to feed your inner history buff, few experiences match up to a visit to Alcatraz Island. Take a trip into the center of the Bay to explore the hostile remoteness of this former high-security military prison and breathe in the chilling atmosphere of its now empty halls and cell, once home to some of the nation’s most notorious criminals.

Whether you’re visiting with kids or looking to embrace your inner child, the delightful exhibits of the Walt Disney Family Museum are bound to bring about a smile. Over 40,000 square feet of engaging and interactive exhibits explore the life and work of the world’s most famous cartoonist, documenting the evolution of his vision into the family-favorite media empire we know and love today.

What’s On in April

Image of Dress, Fashion, Formal Wear, Gown, Face, Head, Person, Photography, Portrait, Adult, Bride, Female, Wedding, Woman, Accessories,

San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM)

Now the longest-running and most hotly-anticipated film festival in the US, SFFILM champions the world’s finest films and filmmakers with a refreshingly intimate program of marquee premieres, international competitions, compelling documentaries, live music performances and star-studded red carpet events.

For a little over a week each April, visitors to SFFILM can catch a stellar lineup of screenings across many of the Bay Area’s finest venues. Promoting the works of both established names and promising newcomers, the festival offers a wide range of genres and perspectives, bringing light to stories from around the world and helping raise upcoming filmmakers to the limelight.

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

For the last two weekends in April, San Francisco’s Japantown erupts in celebration of the humble cherry blossoms lighting up much of Northern California. Mirroring the globally-renowned tradition of Hanami in Japan, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival typically draws in around a quarter of a million visitors each year.

A rich schedule of cultural programs, live entertainment, art and crafts, traditional food and drink and a grand parade all come to a head in celebration of springtime. Having run each year since the late 1960s, the festival serves primarily to honor the rich heritage and diversity of the Japanese American community in sharing a cultural snapshot with visitors from both near and far.

Earth Day

Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day has grown exponentially as more and more each year into the globally recognized event we know today. San Francisco’s Earth Day brings together a host of environmentally-minded local and national artists, musicians, speakers and performers to frontline an electric, open-air celebration to promote climate-positive action.

Throughout the event, visitors can enjoy an all-star lineup of psychedelic, funk, rock, and global beats while exploring the various different zones of the festival. Family-friendly workshops range from recycled art classes to making solar rockets to yoga and meditation demos, while representatives from a variety of major environmental organizations head talks on making a positive global impact.

Art Market San Francisco

Art aficionados visiting San Francisco in April should take a trip to the Bay Area’s principal contemporary and modern art fair. Over the course of a weekend, Art Market San Francisco hosts over 70 established galleries alongside innovative newcomers from across the country, exhibiting a stellar collection of contemporary and modern artworks in a variety of different forms.

Robert Heaney

Continue reading

Lanterns over the street in Chinatown, San Francisco
Blog

Things to do in Chinatown San Francisco

San Francisco’s sprawling Chinatown covers no less than 24 square blocks, measuring around a half mile north to south and a quarter mile east to west and forming part of the busy Downtown neighborhood. It’s also the oldest Chinatown in North America, established here way back in 1848 when it blew Western minds with that first life-changing taste of aromatic Chinese dumplings. There’s more than enough to see and do within this historic enclave’s storied streets and alleyways to fill an entire day, allowing you time to soak up the unique atmosphere and experience a slice of San Francisco as it used to be. So what are you waiting for? Pass through the Dragon Gate and join us on our stroll through the best things to do in Chinatown San Francisco. Enter the Dragon There are two distinct sides to Chinatown: the touristy and the non-touristy. You’re a tourist though, right? So that seems like the logical place to start. Of the two major thoroughfares running north to south through Chinatown, Grant Street is the one you’re looking for – specifically the much-photographed Dragon Gate – the imposing southern entrance with its three gates in traditional pailou style and its duo of fearsome Chinese lions. Wait your turn for the essential Chinatown selfie before stepping through to begin your Chinese adventure proper. Immediately you'll find yourself transported to a different world, a world where red and gold paper lanterns sway overhead, ornate street lamps line the sidewalks, and the intoxicating scents of sizzling Szechuan shrimp and hoisin roast duck (more about the food later, snack fans!) fill the air. Soak it up as you wander along Grant Avenue, camera in hand, to the intersection of Grant and California. Here, to the clang and clatter of San Francisco’s iconic cable cars, is where you’ll find Chinatown’s other most-photographed structures: Sing Chong and Sing Fat, a pair of towering pagoda-style buildings facing off across the street, and Old St Mary’s Church which bears an ominous ALL CAPS warning beneath its grand clock: "SON, OBSERVE THE TIME AND FLY FROM EVIL" Avenues and Alleyways But the real magic happens when you get off the main drag and begin to explore the other side of Chinatown. Even the second major thoroughfare, Stockton Street, has a more authentic feel. So once you’ve bagged your souvenirs – waving lucky cat, paper lantern, bamboo backscratcher – from the gift shops on Grant, head over to the colorful markets on Stockton for a real taste of China. And we mean that literally: the produce markets here hawk everything edible, from dried fruit to live crabs and great bundles of bok choy. Wander into the side streets and back alleys and you’ll discover a whole world of Chinese culture. Think tiny mah jong parlors, laundry strewn window to window on makeshift washing lines above the street, bakeries crammed with egg custard tarts and Chinese donuts, and cute old-fashioned shops selling all manner of snacks, trinkets and esoteric Chinoiserie. Me Want Cooooookies! Discover what your future holds at the tiny Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory on Ross Alley. Here, you can watch the crack cookie team in action as they assemble thousands of the crunchy fortune-telling treats by hand every single day. Photos are permitted for a small fee, and you can buy bags of cookies in a variety of flavors to take away. Go green tea for maximum authenticity, or chocolate-coated for the ultimate cookie indulgence. But be warned: there may well be an expanding waistline in your future. Nearby Waverly Place was once home to two notorious brothels. Now the most colorful thing here is the buildings, rows of Insta-perfect shops and dwellings painted in a rainbow of garish greens, baby pinks and turmeric yellows, complete with elaborate balconies. It’s also where you’ll find the Tin How Temple. Founded way back in 1852, it’s the oldest Taoist temple in the United States. Intrepid explorers can visit by locating number 125 Waverly Place and climbing the steps to the third floor. Inside, incense burns, candles flicker in the gloom, paper lanterns hover overhead and dozens of small statues of Chinese deities crowd the space. Worshippers pray silently and leave offerings of fruit and bread at Tin How’s shrine. Next, head round the corner for a snap in front of the Old Chinese Telephone Exchange, a beautifully overstated red, green and gold pagoda-style building on Washington Street, now staffed by bank employees who gaze on with bemusement at the constant flow of selfie-takers on their doorstep. Then onwards to Portsmouth Square: this rather nondescript place is nevertheless the heart of Chinatown, and it’s here you can pause to watch the world go by and see elderly locals indulge in good old-fashioned pursuits like t’ai chi and Chinese chess. Food, glorious food! Confucius say: he who comes to Chinatown and does not eat the food did not really come to Chinatown. Ok ok, so we made that quote up, but it’s a truth universally acknowledged that the best dim sum in the States is to be found in the narrow lanes of this thriving San Francisco neighborhood. Our advice? Dive in! There are a number of hole-in-the-wall takeaway joints as well as (usually) tiny, cramped premises for those who want the full authentic Chinatown experience. These are the places for life-altering culinary experiences, where you can gorge on delicate shrimp and chive gyoza, fluffy BBQ pork dumplings and crispy sesame balls to your heart’s content. The food is so good and the prices so cheap that there’s every chance you’ll stick around for seconds. And probably thirds. Just don’t expect the ‘have a nice day’ level of attention you'll be used to from elsewhere in San Francisco. Service here often feels brusque and impatient, but lean into it at eateries like the City View Restaurant and Chinatown stalwart the Hang Ah Tea Room and you’ll soon discover it's all part of the charm, and easily one of the most fun things to do in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Save on things to do in Chinatown 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
Golden Gate Bridge viewed from the Bayside
Blog

2 Days in San Francisco

One of the most popular cultural hotspots in the US, San Francisco has a little bit of something for everyone. With its globally-recognized landmarks, stunning waterfront landscape and wealth of charming activities and venues, the Bay Area is a fantastic destination for a short city break. Though two days in San Francisco is more than enough time to enjoy some of the city’s best sights and attractions, you’d be hard pushed to fit in absolutely everything. To help you make the most of your visit, we’ve outlined some of the most popular and worthwhile things to do, along with their average visit durations, to help you draw up your ideal two-day itinerary. Top Sights Golden Gate Bridge Recommended Visit: 10 minutes to see, 30 minutes each way to cross Considered the world’s most recognizable bridge, nothing is quite so quintessential to the Bay Area’s brand as the towering crimson beams of the Golden Gate Bridge. Often sporting an impressive scarf of thick fog, the mile-and-a-half-long titan is truly a sight to behold, particularly if you can catch it illuminated against a clear night sky. Alamo Square Park Recommended Visit: 15 - 30 minutes Aside from offering a pleasant space of open greenery on the edge of the city’s Western Addition, Alamo Square Park is most popular as the location of the iconic Painted Ladies. Standing vibrantly against the muted backdrop of the San Francisco skyline, this row of colorful Victorian- and Edwardian-style houses line the eastern side of the park and serve as one of the city’s most popular photo ops. Golden Gate Park Recommended Visit: 30 minutes - 2 hours Should you find yourself with a couple hours to spare and some particularly pleasant weather, the colossal Golden Gate Park to the east of the city serves as a fantastic spot for a leisurely stroll or a lunchtime picnic. Housed within the park grounds are also the gorgeous displays of the San Francisco Botanical Garden and the serene landscape of the Japanese Tea Garden. Alcatraz Island Recommended Visit: 2 - 3 hours History buffs visiting San Francisco will be no stranger to Alcatraz Island, home to the nation’s most infamous former high-security prison. Those with the stomach for it can take a boat tour out into the Bay to explore the hostile grounds and chilling cells that once held some of the most notorious criminals in history. Popular Neighborhoods Fisherman’s Wharf Recommended Visit: 1 - 3 hours Easily one of the most popular areas of San Francisco is the charming Fisherman’s Wharf waterfront complex. Regular haunt to a colony of playful, barking sea lions, you can spend anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours exploring the various quaint stores, engaging activities and bayside eateries on offer here. Take some time to discover the various retailers and restaurants of Pier 39, and awe at the striking wax models housed within Madame Tussauds. Rediscover your inner child among the exhibitions at the Cartoon Art Museum, before playing with the 300-plus coin-operated arcade games and amusements housed within the Musée Mécanique penny arcade. Chinatown Recommended Visit: 1 - 2 hours Just beyond the iconic Dragon’s Gate at its entrance, Chinatown comprises a bustling maze of streets and alleys brimming with quirky stores and traditional Chinese eateries. Among the stunning ornate architecture, you’ll find everything from bakeries to souvenir shops to karaoke bars, alongside the famous Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory where you can catch one of the nation’s favorite after-dinner treats in the making. Japantown Recommended Visit: 30 minutes - 2 hours Also known as Nihonmachi, San Francisco’s Japantown is a compact historic enclave in much the same vein as Chinatown. Built up around a central courtyard plaza housing the striking 5-tiered Peace Pagoda, Japantown comprises various large complexes housing a number of charming Japanese-style stores, restaurants, karaoke bars and day spas. Galleries & Museums California Academy of Sciences Recommended Visit: 2 - 3 hours Found within Golden Gate Park, the multifaceted California Academy of Sciences is a true architectural and cultural marvel. The mighty 400,000-square-foot venue is home to a vast aquarium and a four-story indoor rainforest filled with all manner of exotic flora and fauna, not to mention the incredible natural history museum and digital planetarium to boot. Exploratorium Recommended Visit: 2 - 4 hours Both families and curious adults alike sing the praises of the Exploratorium, whose incredible array of interactive exhibits offer visitors a hands-on learning experience at the intersection of science and art. Dance with your own shadow, touch a tornado, capture a wave and even stop time as you explore the hundreds of wonderful installations spread throughout the museum. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Recommended Visit: 2 - 4 hours With a central focus on 20th and 21st century art in its various forms, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art comprises 10 floors of everchanging and innovative exhibits. Over 30,000 art pieces make up the museum’s permanent collection, covering everything from painting and photography to sculpture and architecture. Asian Art Museum Recommended Visit: 1 - 3 hours Opened in the mid-1960s, the Asian Art Museum is widely considered one of the most important museums in San Francisco. The museum’s extensive collection comprises sculptures, paintings, ceramics, carvings and architectural fragments from various major Asiatic cultures and spanning multiple historical eras, with some pieces dating back over 6,000 years. Walt Disney Family Museum Recommended Visit: 2 - 4 hours Whether you happen to be visiting with kids or not, the delightful exhibits of the Walt Disney Museum are sure to bring a smile to your face. Explore the life and work of history’s most famous cartoonist through over 40,000 square feet of engaging and interactive exhibitions detailing the evolution of the family-favorite media empire we know and love today. Getting Around Big Bus Tour With San Francisco as sprawling as it is and only two days to explore, you’ll likely want to find a comfortable and efficient way to get around. Operating a main route that passes by many of the city’s top sights, a Big Bus Tour offers passengers the chance to hop on and off more or less at their leisure, complemented by optional audio commentary in a number of major languages to boot. Cable Cars Originally introduced in the late 1800s to help locals combat the many challenging hills on which the city stands, San Francisco’s remaining cable cars serve as a great way to explore the city in historic fashion. The Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason routes offer the most scenic journeys and pass by a number of major attractions, with tickets available to buy on-board. Boat Tours If you’re looking for a great way to sit back while admiring the stunning San Francisco landscape, nothing quite compares to a Cruise on the Bay. Most tour operators will have you sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and alongside Alcatraz Island, with a fly-by of the area’s best waterfront sights and landmarks such as Angel Island and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Robert Heaney
Friends group playing guitar in San francisco
Blog

10+ things to do in San Francisco with teens during your California vacation

It's a great city for introducing your kids to the rewards of travel, and there's plenty of excitement around every corner. No matter how uninterested teenagers may seem at first, with this endless list of San Francisco attractions and activities, there's sure to be something that your teen will enjoy.
Katie Sagal

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

Thick check Icon