San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge illuminated at night

San Francisco in February

By Robert Heaney

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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Things to do in The Mission San Francisco

Located just south of Downtown, San Francisco’s Mission district – or just plain Mission for short – is a colorful and eclectic neighborhood that’s brimful of vibrant murals, fantastic Mexican-inspired cuisine and epic party zones like Valencia Street, with its buzzing bars and clubs. It also happens to be home to the oldest surviving structure in town, the beautiful 18th-century Misión San Francisco de Asís, aka Mission Dolores. Join us as we take a journey through the best things to do in the Mission San Francisco. Check Out the Mission Murals One of the very first things you’ll notice on a visit to the Mission is the colorful street art that adorns nearly every available surface. Some of the best and most Instagrammable examples can be found in Clarion Alley, a narrow lane with countless murals by local artists, many with political themes, as well as fine tributes to the likes of Prince (Rest in Purple). You’ll find other thought-provoking and often controversial pieces in Balmy Alley, where homages to Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe are among the 40-odd pieces. Visit San Francisco’s Oldest Building Some might consider the survival of Mission Dolores for well over 200 years to be the act of some higher power. It has, after all, remained standing relatively unscathed through the devastating earthquakes of 1906 and 1989. Next to the adobe mission – a small sugar-white church with a colonnaded facade that has remained largely unchanged since the late 1700s – stands the comparatively youthful Mission Dolores Basilica. It’s an elaborate confection, built in 1918 in the California Churrigueresque style and cuts a striking figure next to its diminutive sibling. Catch Some Rays in Dolores Park A couple of blocks south of Mission Dolores, its namesake park is a lush oasis on a typically steep San Francisco gradient that makes for quite excellent views over Downtown and the bay. It’s a lovely place for picnics and people-watching that’s often one of the sunniest spots in town, thanks to the Mission’s unique microclimate. There are tennis courts and soccer fields should you be that way inclined, as well as a kids’ playground to keep the little uns entertained. Go Shopping on Valencia Street Valencia Street’s eclectic medley of (mostly) independent stores makes for a fun wallet workout. Here, thrift stores toting one-off vintage fashions rub shoulders with high-end designer boutiques, and you can pick up a bargain used Kerouac or Ginsberg at Dog Eared Books or find that elusive vinyl LP from legendary local bands like Faith No More and Sly and the Family Stone in Stranded Records. It truly is a street that caters for all needs, as evidenced by the Pirate Supply Store, a non-profit organization that furnishes Jack Sparrow types with eye patches, scurvy medication, whale feed and a dazzling array of seafaring apparel. Get Stuck into a Mission Burrito Thanks to its large Mexican community, the Mission is your number one destination in SF for the best tacos and tortillas in town. The Mission Burrito is renowned California-wide for its farm-fresh ingredients and steamed flour tortilla – a method of baking that give the wraps greater flexibility to contain their frankly obscene amounts of filling. Crammed to bursting point with beans, rice, meat, salsa, cheese, sour cream, guacamole and shredded lettuce, this belly-busting beast would stop King Kong in his tracks. Get yours from legendary local Mexican restaurants including Taqueria La Cumbre and Taqueria El Faro, both of which claim to have invented the monster snack back in the 1960s. I Scream, You Scream... Whaddya mean you’re still hungry? Well, we guess even after devouring a burrito the size of Dwayne Johnson’s bicep there’s always room for ice cream... For the coldest, sweetest treat in the neighborhood, make for the Bi-Rite Creamery on 18th, right next to Dolores Park. This cute little cafe was founded by a pair of pro-bakers so you can be sure your handmade, small-batch ice-cream will contain the squishiest snickerdoodles and crunchiest peanut brittle, as well as using seasonal local fruits and honey. Signature flavors include Japanese black sesame with Bay Area Bee Company honey and a dairy-free pina colada rum with caramelized pineapple pieces. Yum. Catch a Show at The Chapel It’s not difficult to see why California Home+Design named The Chapel as one of its 10 most beautiful music venues in the entire state. This century-old former funeral home boasts soaring vaulted ceilings with original beams and a chapel-like interior that looks every bit as good as the acoustics sound. 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Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
The Coit Tower in North Beach, San Francisco
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Things to do in North Beach San Francisco

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Ride the Cable Car to Lombard Street Hands down one of the best ways to sightsee in San Francisco, the cable car from North Beach meanders south to Downtown via the much-Instagrammed Lombard, a steep street that’s said to resemble a playground slide thanks to its eight (count ‘em!) hairpin bends and vibrant floral borders. Revel in the squeal of the cables and clang of the bell as you clatter through town on these colorful wooden landmarks. Bag a spot on the left-hand side of the car (as you leave North Beach) for the best views of Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay. And don’t forget to hold on tight! Climb the Filbert Street Steps In the market for heart-pumping physical exertion and breathtaking bay views? The Filbert Street Steps have you covered! These (mostly) wooden steps run from Sansome Street to the corner of Filbert and Telegraph Hill. They’re steep and there are around 400 of them so this is not an experience for the faint of heart. But those who do take up the challenge are rewarded with a climb that reveals beautiful wildflowers, chattering Telegraph Hill parrots, quaint cottages and sweeping views across the water to the San Francisco Bay Bridge and Treasure Island. On reaching the top, walkers still able to feel their legs can climb another 100 or so stairs to reach the landmark Coit Tower. Make Yourself Dizzy at Coit Tower The 360-degree views from the top of Coit Tower are among SF’s finest and, although the climb to the tower itself is a steep one, once inside there’s an elevator to whiz you up to the top – phew! From way up here, you can expect to see Lombard Street snaking west, as well as – deep breath – Nob Hill, Twin peaks, Alcatraz, the Ferry Building and the Golden Gate Bridge. And that’s just for starters. Equally mesmerizing are some of the original fresco murals that grace the tower’s interior, depicting various industries and newsworthy events from the 1930s, when this art deco monolith was constructed. Have a Giggle at Cobb’s Comedy Club If you enjoy having your funny bone tickled – and let’s be honest: who doesn’t? – mosey on down to Cobb’s Comedy Club on Columbus. This stalwart of the San Francisco comedy scene has been part of the fabric of North Beach since it moved here from Fisherman’s Wharf in 2002, and has hosted big names including Dana Carvey, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle and Anjelah Johnson down the years. There are shows most evenings and a menu serving the likes of nachos, fried chicken, cocktails and beer. Spend the Day in Fisherman’s Wharf Neighboring Fisherman’s Wharf takes in the whole of San Francisco’s northern waterfront and is one of the city’s most popular areas. 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Some even come dipped in chocolate or with extra toppings for an ultra-decadent treat. Have a Drink in the King of Dive Bars A visit to Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe – or Specs as it’s more commonly known – must surely rank as one of the most enjoyable things to do in North Beach San Francisco. This beloved dive bar of over half a century’s standing is bursting with local characters, fantastic beers and lively conviviality, as well as a vast and eclectic collection of artifacts from around the world. This includes tribal masks, a taxidermy mongoose having a fight with a cobra and the, ahem, mummified reproductive organs of a male walrus. A trip to this historic dive bar – once frequented by Thelonius Monk – should be considered essential. Tour Alcatraz at Night Alcatraz cuts a forbidding figure as it emerges out of San Francisco Bay’s famous fog. For maximum spine-chilling effect, take the ferry over to America’s most notorious former prison in the evening for an after-dark tour you’re unlikely to forget in a hurry. On arrival, you’ll be taken to the cellhouse, where audio guides are available and you can learn about former residents including Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly as you peer through the metal bars into their tiny, cramped cells. Enjoy the spectacle of Golden Gate Bridge all lit up at night as your ferry departs for the return journey. Save on things to do in North Beach 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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