Alcatraz Island in San Francisco

San Francisco in May

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak

With spring drawing to an end ready to usher in San Francisco’s busy summer season, May is a fine time to visit the Golden City, thanks to its mild climate and the kicking off in earnest of the city’s colorful festival season. If it’s pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and affordable accommodation you’re after, May in the Bay could well be for you.

Visiting San Francisco in May

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Average Temperature: 51–64°F • Average Rainfall: 3 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 10 hours/day

Daytime temperatures in May reach average highs in the mid-60s, meaning it's still cool enough to explore the city on foot. So the chances of looking like you’ve just stepped off a treadmill in those essential hilltop selfies are vastly reduced. There’s also little or no need to remember to pack an umbrella. April showers having apparently purged the clouds of their cargo for the foreseeable future, you can expect a mere three days of rain on average in May.

Better yet, hotel prices have yet to rise for peak season and it’s another month before the tourist hordes descend, meaning shorter queuing times at the big attractions. What more can we say to convince you to spend May in San Francisco? Read on...

Things to do in May

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Of course no visit to the Golden City would be complete without seeing the bucket-list attractions. The Golden Gate Bridge will be at the top of most itineraries and May is as good a time as any to visit. Better, perhaps, as the summer fogs are yet to roll in and shroud it. Top tip: wrap up warm if you’re planning to stroll out to the middle of the bridge for those picture-perfect Bay views – it can be breezy and teeth-chatteringly chilly up here at the best of times, so stick on your thermals and a fleece. Or two.

Bay cruises are another great way to get a different perspective on the famous San Francisco skyline, and May’s clear blue skies will make for some fine photo opportunities. Most cruises will take in the Pier 39 sea lion colony, the historic waterfront, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. You can also just get straight to the notorious island penitentiary, should you so desire, with a cruise and tour of the facility.

Those rolling historic landmarks that are San Francisco’s painted wooden cable cars can get really busy, and we mean sardines-in-a-can busy, in summer. You’ll likely still find queues in May, but nothing like during peak season. It’s worth the short wait to travel in style, as the bell rings out and your carriage rattles over the San Francisco hills, affording splendid views of the Bay, loopy Lombard Street and the ultra-luxe hotels in swanky Nob Hill, depending which of the three lines you take.

And if the weather gets a little too cool for your liking, duck into any number of world-class museums around the city. Art museums including SFMOMA in the heart of downtown and the striking, copper-clad de Young in Golden Gate Park are among the best in the country. Golden Gate Park is also where you’ll find the California Academy of the Sciences which contains – beneath its living rooftop – a planetarium, an aquarium, a rainforest dome and a huge natural history museum. Embarcadero icon the Exploratorium is the place for interactive art and science exhibits: step into a tornado, get lost in the fog and see the San Francisco skyline modeled from thousands of tiny toothpicks.

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What’s on in May?

Memorial Weekend

May sees San Francisco’s festival season crank up a gear as Mother’s Day and Memorial Weekend give locals all the excuse they need to celebrate. Memorial Weekend is the biggie, with a major ceremony at the National Cemetery in the Presidio to honor and remember America’s veterans. Expect a reflective but celebratory tone that includes music, parades, speeches and a 21-gun salute.

Down in the trendy Mission district, it’s all kicking off as the two-day Carnaval Festival rolls into town. This riot of color and sound celebrates the arts and traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean through lively street performances, flamboyant costumes and some of the best street food this side of the Mexican border. Beer and cannabis gardens help you stay mellow and there is, of course, a grand parade through the streets.

Cinco de Mayo

Also held in The Mission (we’re sensing a pattern here), the Cinco de Mayo festival celebrates Mexican and Central American culture and is held annually on – as the name suggests – the 5th of May. Families bring picnics and deckchairs to immerse themselves in the action in and around Valencia Street, where food vendors hawk spicy treats and live bands get the party started with mariachi, salsa, merengue music and more. There are costumed dancers, artists, magicians and street performers galore, and even a petting zoo to keep the kids entertained.

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Bay to Breakers

Bay to Breakers is a 12k fun run that usually takes place on the third Sunday of May. Weaving its way east to west from the Embarcadero to Ocean Beach, it takes in nine of the city’s neighborhoods. Fun-loving San Franciscans have gamely established a tradition for donning fancy dress during the race, which means you can expect to see overgrown chickens, shambling pantomime horses and huge conga-lines in which teams of 13 or more runners tether themselves together for the duration of the race. In other words: it’s great fun.

Get involved yourself: it includes many fun sections like Golden Gate Park, where you might even get to spot the resident buffalo. On the other hand, Hayes Street Hill is an absolute beast that rises over 200 feet above sea level and will challenge even the most seasoned runner. If all that sounds a bit much, you can always just find a nice spot on the sidelines and enjoy all of the fun with none of the exertion.

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Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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The San Francisco cable car
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Things to do in San Francisco in the Morning

San Francisco’s cool and often foggy mornings are manna for budding photographers in search of magnificently moody Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge shots. But there are plenty more things you can do in San Francisco in the morning, from munching breakfast burritos in The Mission to hitting top attractions like Pier 39 and the Exploratorium before the tourist hordes get there. Read on for our faves.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Flowers in bloom on a sunny day in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Blog

San Francisco in July

July sees San Francisco’s tourist season get into full swing, with schools on vacation planet-wide and the city’s fine weather and funky festivals drawing in the crowds from here, there and everywhere. It’s peak season and therefore the priciest time of year to visit, but a trip to San Francisco in July still has much to recommend it. Visiting San Francisco in July Average Temperature: 54–66°F • Average Rainfall: 0 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 10 hours/day Umbrellaphobes, rejoice! July is one of San Francisco’s driest months with an average of, um, zero days’ rainfall, meaning the chances of being poked in the eye by an unruly golf umbrella or – worse still – looking on helplessly as the cable car pulls away with your precious bumbershoot still on board, are close to non-existent. What you can expect is mild weather with plenty of sunshine, tempered by occasional fresh sea winds and a healthy dose of the Bay area’s famous fogs. It’s why the locals often refer to this time of year as ‘no sky July’. But don’t let that put you off! Sure, San Francisco may not be the place to get that perfect California summer tan, but those all-enveloping mists have their own curious charm, and the city’s great parks and museums, abundance of July festivals and all-round party atmosphere more than make up for any minor weather-related downsides. Top tip: the Golden City is deep into tourist season in July, so make sure to book your hotels and Airbnb accommodation well in advance to secure the best rates possible. Things to do in July No trip to San Francisco at any time of year would be complete without setting foot on the world’s most photographed bridge. It’s worth doing this two ways in July. First: choose a clear day to take a walk the Golden Gate’s entire length, starting in the Presidio and finishing with lunch in downtown Sausalito. As you stroll across this rust-red icon (the bridge’s official color is actually ‘international orange’, fact fans) you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the Bay and the rolling waves of the vast Pacific, meaning ace selfie opportunities galore. For a truly otherworldly experience, keep an eye on local forecasts and pay the bridge a second visit when it's shrouded in dense fog. You won’t be able to see much, but ghostly close-up snaps of the bridge’s soaring towers will make you the envy of all your friends. Pro-tip: you can also simulate this experience in the interactive Fog Bridge exhibit at the Exploratorium, a fantastic museum of arts and sciences on the Embarcadero. The bridge’s big green namesake, Golden Gate Park, lies a few miles south, sprawling west from the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood to the sands of Ocean Beach, itself a lovely spot for sunbathing (when not foggy) and surfing – professionals only though, please; the riptides here are notoriously dangerous. Back in the park, there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied for an entire July day. Visit the Japanese Tea Garden for a gentle stroll along paths that meander past koi ponds, bonsai groves and impressive bronze statues. Look out for the impressive five-tiered pagoda and pause for a refreshing jasmine tea and a moment of zen in the pavilion. Golden Gate Park is also home to two of San Francisco’s finest museums. The vast California Academy of the Sciences is home to a huge natural history museum, an aquarium, a rainforest and a planetarium, while the de Young Museum showcases fine art from the US and beyond, all housed in a striking copper-clad building with a 144-foot observation tower boating 360-degree views of the park, as well as downtown San Francisco, the Bay and the Marin headlands. What’s on in July? Fourth of July Fireworks July is a great time to visit San Francisco if you’re into fireworks, great live music and... running. Sounds like a strange combination, but hear us out. First up, those fireworks. Fourth of July is cause for celebration across the States, and San Francisco is no exception. The city puts on two major displays in Fisherman’s Wharf, with the event at Pier 39 being the biggest and best. There’s live music along the waterfront until, at the appointed hour, the spectacular display commences, with hundreds of colorful fireworks set off from a series of barges in the Bay. This event is free, so don’t miss it! Fillmore Jazz Festival One of the biggest free jazz festivals on the west coast, the Fillmore Jazz Festival showcases local and international talent on two main outdoor stages. There’s great street food too, as well as smaller live music events in and around Fillmore’s legendary clubs and theaters. This part of town is synonymous with great jazz music – in its heyday it attracted acts of near-mythical status including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker – so you just know the acts performing at this festival are going to be outstanding. And, like the best jazz, the shows are completely free. Catch a Baseball Game July is a great time to catch the San Francisco Giants in action at the Oracle Park stadium in SoMa, with the Major League Baseball season in full swing. Catch them against the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and, if you’re lucky, their arch rivals the Los Angeles Dodgers. And, if bats and balls don’t float your boat, perhaps a bit of opera will: the stadium also hosts live simulcasts of performances from the famous War Memorial Opera House, throughout summer. The San Francisco Marathon You’ll need to apply well in advance if you want to take part in this one but, if you’re a runner, it’s a great way to see many of the city’s attractions at sunrise while getting some extra miles in. The race starts and ends at the Embarcadero, taking in many of the city’s big attractions, including Fisherman's Wharf, Coit Tower, the Presidio and the mural-filled Mission district. It even crosses the Golden Gate Bridge (hence the early start to allow the bridge to reopen to regular pedestrians by 9AM). You can also take it down a notch by entering the half marathon or 5 and 10k events, while braver souls limber up for the challenging ultra-marathon: double the distance at a thigh-numbing 52.4 miles. Phew! 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 Coit Tower in North Beach, San Francisco
Blog

San Francisco in June

June marks the beginning of San Francisco’s busy summer season, with fine weather, feel-good vibes and festivals galore. Read on for our guide to visiting the Golden City in June... Visiting San Francisco in June Average Temperature: 53–66°F • Average Rainfall: 1 day/mth • Average Sunshine: 10 hours/day San Francisco summers are curious beasts. One minute you’re basking in glorious sunshine and considering dipping your toes in the Bay’s cool waters and the next a damp, chilly fog has enveloped you and you're wondering why you even bothered slapping on all that sunscreen. Seriously though, if it’s wall-to-wall sunshine and a California suntan you’re after you might be better off heading a little further south to the golden sands of LA and San Diego. But if a pleasant (and interesting) climate in the high 60s floats your boat, there’s much to recommend San Francisco in June, from street parties to the massive Pride Parade – one of the biggest and best on the planet. And hey, that fog is as much a part of San Francisco’s character as the Golden Gate Bridge, the 49ers and crusty sourdough bread. Lean into it and you might even learn to love it; at the very least your Insta feed will be the envy of all your friends. Top tip: June is San Francisco’s busiest season, so book your vacation as far in advance as possible to get the best rates on your desired accommodation. Things to do in June With such pleasantly mild weather, June is a great time to explore San Francisco on foot without breaking a sweat. Ok, ok, you’re going to sweat a little: have you seen the size of some of those hills? Pro-tip: you can always save your aching legs by ascending the steeper sections on a bus or – better yet – one of the city’s iconic old-fashioned cable cars. If the near-vertical climb to the top of Buena Vista Park doesn’t take your breath away, the views when you get there certainly will. Expect sweeping panoramas that include the Golden Gate Bridge and – on a clear day – the dramatic cliffs of the Marin Headlands. Even in the fog, the view from up here is nothing short of astonishing, as the towers of the famous rust-red bridge rise up out of the rolling pea-souper. Head over to Alamo Park to ogle the Painted Ladies, a picture-postcard row of pastel-colored Victorian houses with the skyscrapers of the downtown financial district gleaming incongruously in the background. There are many more colorful buildings – flamingo pink, oxblood red, mellow yellow – to check out on a walk from here to Golden Gate Park via the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. This lovely part of town wears its strong links to the ‘67 summer of love proudly on its sleeve. Pop some flowers in your hair and get in the groove as you make your way into the park and over to Hippie Hill, now a popular spot for picnicking. And now for something completely different. Over on the Great Highway in view of the crashing surf of the Pacific, you’ll find San Francisco Zoo and Gardens. There are over 100 acres to explore here, containing no fewer than 2,000 critters. Spot giraffes, zebras and Marabou storks in the African Savanna exhibit, catch the penguins and grizzly bears at feeding time, meet ferociously cute red pandas and go on an Australian Walkabout with wallaroos and kangaroos. There’s bountiful plantlife here too, with plenty of native Californian and exotic vegetation to discover. Look out for the windswept cypress trees and rare swamp gum eucalyptus. What’s on in June? North Beach Festival Every month is party month in San Francisco, but perhaps none more so than June, when a veritable explosion of street festivals hit town. The area around Grant Avenue and Columbus is the venue for the bustling North Beach Festival, a two-day extravaganza that includes – deep breath – live local bands and tribute acts, poetry jams, comedy stages, artisan art and craft stalls, wine and beer gardens, street performers and, of course, those all-important gourmet food vendors. And with Grant Avenue also happening to be Chinatown’s main thoroughfare, you can be sure the snacks are going to be really, really good. In fact, we defy you not to make straight for those sweet fluffy BBQ pork buns before doing anything else. Street Parties Galore! The Juneteenth event on Fillmore Street ceebrates the abolition of slavery in the States with music, food and much more. Stick around until 4th of July weekend for this historic boulevard’s other great knees-up: the Fillmore Jazz Festival. Meanwhile Haight Street and Union Street both also host their own vibrant street fairs in June, meaning there’s very little chance of boredom setting in. San Francisco Pride Saving the best for last, San Francisco’s Pride parade and festival is one of the biggest and best celebrations of LGBTQ+ people on the planet. Usually taking place on the very last weekend of the month, in commemoration of the Stonewall riots, the festival's focal point is the Civic Center area, where dance stages, fetish booths and drag performers provide the entertainment and the streets are fairly festooned with beautiful rainbow flags. On Sunday morning, a colorful, joyous parade weaves its way west along the huge boulevard that is Market Street, starting in the morning and culminating in much singing, dancing and merrymaking late in the afternoon. If you’re game, you can continue the party into the wee small hours in the lively bars and clubs of the Mission and Castro districts, where even the crosswalks have rainbow stripes. Note that the Castro is the beating heart of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community, so it’s fair to say that you can expect loooong queues wherever you go on this particular weekend. 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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