San Francisco in February

By Robert Heaney
Published: July 18, 2024
San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge illuminated at night

Should you be willing to brave the regular windchill and rainfall of San Francisco in February, you’re bound to find yourself handsomely rewarded. In its winter low-season, the Golden City tends to be quieter than ever, leaving its top attractions and photo ops ripe for the picking.

Visiting San Francisco in February

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Average Temperature: 48 - 61°F • Average Rainfall: 10 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 9 hours/day

Continuing to plod through the winter months, San Francisco very much maintains its low-season character. Though you’ll still find plenty of tourists passing through the Golden City, this is one of the best times to explore some of its iconic sights and attractions without the need to battle with huge crowds. What’s more, many hotels tend to operate at somewhat of a discount on high-season rates, meaning you can often grab yourself quite the steal if you book sufficiently in advance!

Though famously somewhat cooler than its other California neighbors in the summer, San Francisco maintains a minimum baseline throughout winter. Though you’d be best advised to wrap up for February to combat the inevitable wind chill, temperatures typically flirt between cool and pleasantly mild throughout the month. You’ll also want to pack an umbrella for the likelihood of at least two days of rainfall per week.

Things to do in February

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Naturally, visiting San Francisco should come with the obligatory tour of some of its top monuments and landmarks. Take a stroll among the fiery beams of the world-renowned Golden Gate Bridge and sit back with a picnic in Alamo Square Park across from the iconic Painted Ladies. Be sure to also snap some photos of motorists attempting the twists and turns of the world’s most crooked road, Lombard Street.

If you’re keen on exploring the city from a new perspective, there are few better ways to do so than atop a popular Bay Cruise, sitting back as you drift by the picture-perfect skyline. And if you’re looking to zip around the city a little faster, a Hop-On, Hop-Off Big Bus Tour operates a convenient route via most of San Francisco’s top sights, accompanied by optional audio commentary in several major languages.

Families and the insatiably curious alike can easily fill a day or two exploring some of the Golden City’s brilliant educational centers. Electrify your senses with the interactive science exhibits at the Exploratorium – best experienced in the evening to avoid the rush of school groups. If that doesn’t quite scratch your itch, then perhaps the planetarium, aquarium, natural history museum and indoor rainforest of the California Academy of Sciences will do the trick.

Those looking to feed their inner art enthusiast should head to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, exhibiting contemporary art in its various mediums through the work of both well-established and lesser-known artists. In the same vein, complementing the large East Asian influence visible throughout the city, the Asian Art Museum exhibits over 17,000 art pieces from across the Asian continent.

If history is more up your alley, make your way to the California Historical Society to gain some fascinating insight into the history of both San Francisco and California as a whole. And to complement the fourth-largest Jewish population in the US, the Contemporary Jewish Museum explores various facets of Jewish pop culture, history and artistic expression.

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, exploring the life and work of the world’s most famous cartoonist. You’ll learn through over 40,000 square feet of engaging and interactive exhibits just how one man’s vision evolved into the family-favorite media empire we know and love today.

Some of the best areas to explore in San Francisco largely reflect the city’s large East Asian-descended population. Both Chinatown and Japantown stand as some of the most trendy neighborhoods throughout the city, characterized by traditional architecture from their respective countries alongside various authentic cultural eateries and retailers.

What’s On in February

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Chinese New Year

Given its significant Chinese-descended population and its claim to the most impressive Chinatown in America, it comes as little surprise that the San Francisco Chinese New Year celebrations stand as some of the largest and most vibrant in the world. Naturally, the exact month of this celebration differs depending on the year, so be sure to double check if you’re keen to join in.

Attracting a crowd of over three million observers from both near and far, the event is marked by various traditional markets, fairs, balls and cultural activities. Topping off the celebration is the famous Chinese New Year parade, featuring performers carrying flags, lanterns and drums along with a procession of colorful floats, not least of all the iconic 28-foot-long golden dragon.

Valentine’s Day

Whatever your perfect Valentine’s Day date night may look like, San Francisco has you covered. Whether you’re looking to take an intimate cruise through the bay, take a stroll through some of the city’s beautiful green spaces or wine and dine from a unique prix fixe menu under candlelight, there are few better places to treat that special someone to a date to remember.

SF Indie Fest

Independent cinema fans visiting San Francisco in February are in for a real treat, with almost two whole weeks of the month dedicated to the San Francisco IndieFest. The festival brings to the limelight the independent media usually overshadowed by stiff Hollywood blockbusters, celebrating independent and alternative films and the manpower that goes into them.

Throughout the festival, visitors can attend a variety of screenings from both around the world and around The Bay. Those keen to absorb as much of the alternative cinema atmosphere as possible can grab a pass covering the whole event, providing access to all screenings throughout the festival.

SF Beer Week

Rarely is there a whole week more refreshing in San Francisco than SF Beer Week. Featuring more than 30 San Francisco Brewers Guild members alongside dozens more Northern California craft breweries, this week-long event celebrates the city’s local beer venues by inviting visitors to explore different beers up and down the Bay Area.

Robert Heaney
Go City Travel Expert

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Solo Travel Tips in San Francisco

Traveling alone can be intimidating for some. You won’t have someone to read you the directions, someone to split that massive ice cream sundae with, or someone to frame that perfect Instagram photo of you by the pier. But relax! It’s easy to enjoy solo travel in a place like San Francisco. You’ll find that this city has everything from convenient public transit to many selfie-worthy spots. To make it even smoother for you, we’ve put together a quick guide to traveling solo in this fantastic American city. Should you be planning any solo travel in San Francisco, read these tips before your trip... 1. Use Public Transit San Francisco is a compact city, with many of its top attractions grouped together in neighborhoods like Golden Gate Park or Fisherman’s Wharf. You’ll still need to get between those neighborhoods, however, and that’s where public transit comes in. Driving by yourself is not only difficult but inadvisable in San Francisco, where parking is at a premium and directions are pretty confusing. Their Muni system, run by the SFMTA, has a trip planning feature that can help you navigate the city and figure out which routes to take. You’ll pay less than you would for repeated Uber rides, too. 2. Take a Bus Tour of the City Solo travel in San Francisco could feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unfamiliar with the city. The best way to familiarize yourself with the city and learn more about the top neighborhoods and attractions is with a bus tour. We like this hop-on hop-off tour option from Big Bus, which showcases everything from Chinatown to Fisherman’s Wharf to Union Square. Included with your ticket is a complimentary city map and a free walking tour of Chinatown. Just be careful when consulting the map in public—it may be better to look discreetly at a map on your phone. 3. Visit the Best Museums Museums are some of the best attractions for solo travel. You can truly tailor your explorations to your own tastes and no-one else’s—no need to worry about what your wife, your best friend, or your kids would rather be doing. So spend hours roaming the SFMOMA, snap endless selfies in the café at the de Young Museum, or film make short videos of tiny creatures in the indoor rainforest at the California Academy of Sciences. All of these are good options for folks traveling alone, with plenty to do and relaxed atmospheres with no pressure to be social. 4. Explore Different Restaurants We know dining alone can be intimidating, but this is the perfect opportunity to try that new fusion cuisine, or indulge in a little cheat day. Explore different culinary hotspots in San Francisco like the Richmond, the Mission, Hayes Valley, North Beach, SOMA, and Marina/Cow Hill. If you’d prefer to avoid sitting at a table by yourself, opt for a booth or a seat at the bar. Most restaurants these days serve their full menu to patrons at bar seats, and you don’t need to order anything alcoholic to sit there. 5. Allow for a Little Spontaneity While planning is key to a successful vacation, it’s equally true that a little flexibility can be invaluable. Sometimes plans change, sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate (especially relevant in San Francisco), and sometimes we just change our minds. So leave a little wiggle room in case you want to take in a baseball game after your tour of Oracle Park, do a little shopping in Union Square, or pop into a restaurant in Nob Hill for an afternoon drink and snack. Tip: if you’re looking for a good shopping area, read our guide to San Francisco shopping. 6. Find a Hotel in Union Square You’ll find hotels all over the city, but there are multiple factors to consider when traveling solo. While you won’t be splitting the cost with someone, it’s still important to think beyond price. Stay within your budget, certainly, but it’s often a better idea to spend a little more for a hotel that’s clean, safe, and convenient. We like Union Square as a place for those traveling alone—there is plenty of shopping, dining, and night life there, as well as easy access to mass transit. And be sure to choose a place with plenty of good reviews! 7. Try Something New So you’ve never been much of a wildlife person, or really seen a lot of historical pieces of art. Push your boundaries a little when traveling alone! Go see the impressive array of colorful marine life at the Aquarium of the Bay and reflect on the marvels of biodiversity. Stroll through the Asian Art Museum and wonder how such ancient work has been so carefully preserved. Hop on a cruise to see the Golden Gate Bridge, or just snap photos of the sea lions on Pier 39. Whatever you do, try to fit in at least one thing you wouldn’t normally do per day. 8. Take Lots of Pictures Our last tip is a simple one—take plenty of photos! As a solo traveler you won’t have someone with you who can help you remember the things you did and saw. And although programs, maps, and guidebooks can be helpful, they don’t tell the whole story of your amazing adventure. If you’re relying upon a smartphone, turn on your cloud storage. For those with a digital camera, be sure to bring extra memory cards (or one with a lot of storage). Don’t forget any chargers, either! Save on Things to do in San Francisco While Traveling Solo Make the most of your solo travel in San Francisco with Go City You can save up to 60% vs buying your tickets individually. Plus, you’ll get included admission to the city’s best museums, tours, cruises, and more. Share Your Adventure with Us Tag @GoCity in your vacation photos and we'll feature you on our page. Follow the Go City Instagram and Facebook pages for competitions, special offers, and events and inspiration for your chosen destination, too.
Katie Sagal
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Best Time to Visit San Francisco

It’s tough to crack down on an objective best time to visit San Francisco, owing to its vast wealth of evergreen attractions and its plethora of fantastic cultural events taking place throughout the year. Preferences vary vastly between tourists, so we’ve outlined each season to help you figure out the best time to plan your ideal Bay Area city break. Spring (March – May) Average Temperature: 48 - 63°F • Average Rainfall: 4 - 10 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 9 – 11 hours/day Entering into its first shoulder season of the year, San Francisco maintains a modest but steady flow of traffic throughout spring. Busier than winter but quieter than summer, this is an ideal time to experience everything that the city has to offer without the larger crowds. What’s more, you can often still cash in on some fairly decent off-peak hotel prices, too. Though the weather in the Bay Area certainly begins to chipper up throughout spring, this is still by and large a season you’ll want to wrap up for. Temperatures typically flirt between cool and pleasantly mild throughout, with some fairly regular sunshine offering some decent city exploring conditions. Just make sure to be mindful of the windchill by the Bay, and packing an umbrella certainly isn’t a bad call either. Things to do in Spring You’d be hard pressed to find a better time than spring for exploring some of San Francisco’s quirkiest neighborhoods. Both Chinatown and Japantown offer some of the city’s most enchanting cultural insights, characterized in large part by some charming traditional East Asian architecture and a variety of authentic eateries and stores. Also particularly popular to explore is Fisherman’s Wharf, a vast waterfront complex offering all manner of entertainment. Among its best attractions are the Pier 39 shopping district, the classic Musée Mécanique penny arcade and the Madame Tussauds wax museum. Keep an eye out for the local colony of playful, barking sea lions, too! What’s On in Spring Springtime sees the Bay Area veritably blooming with cultural events, never more literally than during the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival held in Japantown throughout April. This is also a season brimming with appreciation for the arts, best represented among the fantastic film screenings of the San Francisco International Film Festival. Also popular in spring are St. Patrick’s Day, host to a day of drinking and merriment as locals and visitors embark on epic bar crawls and revel at the annual St. Patty’s Day parade. If that wasn’t enough partying for you, then the massive Carnaval celebration most certainly will be, comprising two days straight of live music, dancing and drinking as locals in vibrant fancy dress take over the city streets. Summer (June – August) Average Temperature: 52 - 72°F • Average Rainfall: 0 - 2 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 12 hours/day As with most northern-hemisphere destinations, summertime sees San Francisco at its busiest. Though it’s rarely ever truly quiet throughout the year, the city takes on even more of a bustling and electric atmosphere in the summer months. Naturally, you’d be best advised booking your flights, hotels and venues sufficiently in advance so as not to miss out. San Francisco’s bayside location keeps the city’s climate in somewhat of a goldilocks zone, never too cold but rarely warmer than a certain degree. That being said, the Bay Area’s weather is at its most idyllic in summer, with temperatures averaging between mild and warm, complemented by very regular sunshine and rare rainfall. Things to do in Summer The idyllic climate throughout summer lends itself perfectly to exploring some of the Bay Area’s fantastic green spaces. Enjoy the vast open space of Golden Gate Park along with its gorgeous Botanical Garden and serene Japanese Tea Garden, or admire the spectacular floral displays of the Conservatory of Flowers after a relaxing picnic in Mission Dolores Park. San Francisco’s picture-perfect landscape is truly a sight to behold from the right vantage point. Head up Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill for some unobstructed panoramic views right down into the Bay, or if you’re looking for a romantic way to spend a summer’s evening, catch the sunset over the city skyline from the Twin Peaks summit. What’s On in Summer Much like the rest of the nation, summertime means festival season for San Francisco. June sees the city come together for the likes of the annual Pride Parade and the North Beach Festival, while the San Francisco Jazz Festival and Fillmore Jazz Festival see the Bay Area embrace somewhat of a classier vibe. Lighting up the skies in the name of independence, San Francisco’s Fourth of July celebrations are truly a force to be reckoned with. All across the Bay Area, neighborhoods erupt in festivity as live music, partying and firework displays abound, most notably along the waterfront at Fisherman’s Wharf. Fall (September – November) Average Temperature: 50 - 70°F • Average Rainfall: 2 - 7 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 8 - 11 hours/day Unlike many comparable destinations, San Francisco maintains much of its peak-season popularity throughout fall, owing largely to its continued pleasant weather and the wealth of fantastic cultural events taking place throughout the season. While you’re sure to find the city somewhat quieter than in summer, you’ll still want to book your chosen hotels and attractions in advance to avoid any potential disappointment. In much the same way, the Bay Area typically maintains its relatively idyllic summertime weather throughout fall. Though you can expect a touch more rainfall depending on when exactly you choose to visit, most of the season offers temperatures somewhere between mild and pleasantly warm. Things to do in Fall With the Bay Area’s weather still so pleasant throughout fall, there are few better times to explore some of the city’s top sights. Take some stellar shots of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, often cloaked in its trademark scarf of fog, then take a load off in Alamo Square Park while admiring the famous row of Victorian-style Painted Ladies. History buffs and the morbidly curious alike should be no stranger to Alcatraz Island, once the site of one of the nation’s highest-security prisons. If you have the heart for it, you 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 American history. What’s On in Fall Fall is perhaps the most culturally-rich season of the year for San Francisco, dominated in large part by a huge variety of film festivals. The United Nations Association Film Festival, SF International Festival of Short Films and Japan Film Festival are just a few of the events screening award-winning films throughout the city, with an event for just about every topic and area of interest. Outside of the arts, the Bay Area is also host to the exceptionally popular Fleet Week event, dominated by a number of thrilling air shows, special boat tours and parades on the Bay. The San Francisco International Auto Show is a huge draw for motorheads from up and down the country, while thousands flock to the nearby city of Oakland to revel in celebration of the Día de los Muertos. Winter (December – February) Average Temperature: 46 - 61°F • Average Rainfall: 10 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 6 - 9 hours/day Though never truly quiet, winter offers a moment of respite for San Francisco. With the exception of the holiday season, when the Bay Area takes on a whole new lease of festive life, the low-season months are the perfect opportunity to experience many of the city’s top attractions at their quietest. Visit after the holidays, and you’ll even get to benefit from low-season hotel rates, often at quite a hefty discount on peak time prices. As you might expect, winter is typically the coldest period for San Francisco. Though its bayside location protects it from any drastic temperatures, you’ll certainly want to pack for the weather, particularly to combat the windchill and semi-regular rainfall. That isn’t to say you can’t also get some great weather throughout the season, as you’re sure to find yourself with at least a few particularly pleasant days ideal for exploring the city. Things to do in Winter Should you find yourself in San Francisco in December, the holiday season festivities are truly a sight to behold. Explore the traditional displays at Union Square, the heart of all holiday activity in the Bay Area, and admire the adorable animals up for adoption in the annual SPCA Holiday Window. Once you’re finished showing your moves at the Square’s Ice Skating Rink, grab yourself some holiday deals at the likes of Macy’s and Westfield Shopping Center. For an escape from some of the season’s chillier weather, head to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. This vast 400,000-square-foot complex houses both an enchanting aquarium and a four-story indoor rainforest populated by all manner of exotic flora and fauna, not to mention the impressive natural history museum and digital planetarium to boot. What’s On in Winter Winter in San Francisco kicks off with a whole host of festive events. Alongside a whole host of magical holiday displays, the city is also host to The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, complete with festive market stalls among an impressive replica of Victorian London. Also popular in San Francisco holiday tradition are the enchanting performances of A Christmas Carol and the Nutcracker Ballet. Not quite satisfied with the holiday season festivities alone, the Bay Area also quite literally lights up for New Year’s Eve, as thousands of revelers flock to see out the year with an impressive firework display out on the Bay. Following swiftly afterwards, San Francisco’s Chinese New Year celebration is among the largest and most vibrant in the world, drawing in millions to awe at the annual parade and its trademark 28-foot-long golden dragon.
Robert Heaney
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10+ things to do in San Francisco for adults

Culturally rich, diverse in population, and filled with an array of attractions to explore, it's easy to see why San Francisco is one of the most popular vacation spots in the US.
Katie Sagal

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