San Francisco in December: a seasonal travel plan

Weather at a glance

Daytime high

13.9 °C

Nighttime low

6.9 °C

Monthly precipitation

111.4 mm

Days with at least 1 mm

10.2

Daylight

9.6 h

2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.

Early, middle and late month

What this month is like

San Francisco, United States. In december, the average daytime high is 13.9 °C and the night-time low is 6.9 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.

There are 10.2 wet days on average, with about 111.4 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

How to plan the day

Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.

Average daylight is 9.6 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.

What to pack

Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

Precipitation and an alternative plan

There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.

What to pack

Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.

Compared with neighbouring months

Average daytime high: previous month — 17.6 °C, December — 13.9 °C, next month — 13.9 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 6.2, 10.2 and 10.4.

Things to do

San Francisco stretches along the bay over more than forty hills, so a view opens at the end of almost every street and cable cars climb the steepest slopes. The city is compact: the waterfront and Golden Gate Park are walkable from each other, though the gradients deserve planning.

Golden Gate Bridge

Walk the bridge from Crissy Field to the southern tower and return through the Presidio, where the bay and Alcatraz come into view. Fog often sits over the water in the morning and clears towards midday.

Alcatraz

Ferries leave Pier 33 for the island, and the visit takes half a day: cell blocks, the yard and the city seen from the water. Book the crossing in advance for a specific departure time.

The Mission murals

In the Mission, the walls along Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley are painted with murals, and Valencia Street is lined with taquerias and bookshops. Stop for a mission burrito halfway through the walk.

Where to stay

North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf

North Beach keeps its Italian cafés and the church of Saints Peter and Paul, while Fisherman's Wharf has the ferry docks and a view of Alcatraz. It is crowded and expensive, but every waterfront sight is close.

The Mission

The Mission suits anyone who wants a lively district of bars, coffee shops and murals with no evening commute. Streets stay loud late, and Downtown is a BART or bus ride away.

Haight-Ashbury

Haight-Ashbury around the Haight and Ashbury crossing is the old hippie quarter, now full of vintage shops and bookstores. It is calmer than the centre and close to Golden Gate Park, though some streets empty after dark.

Getting there and around

From SFO the BART line runs directly into Downtown and reaches Powell Street in about half an hour; trains from Oakland cross the bay on the bridge. Within the city, Muni buses and trolleybuses do most of the work, while the historic cable cars on the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines climb to Nob Hill. The steep gradients make walking tiring, so plan routes downhill where you can.

Three days in San Francisco

Waterfront and Alcatraz

Start at the Ferry Building market, then take the ferry to Alcatraz. After returning, walk to Pier 39 to see the sea lions on the wooden docks, then ride the cable car from Ghirardelli Square.

Bridge and Presidio

Rent a bike or walk across the Golden Gate Bridge towards Sausalito. Return by ferry to the landing beside the Ferry Building, which leaves the evening free for the waterfront.

Mission and Haight

See the murals on Balmy Alley in the morning and have breakfast at a taqueria on Valencia Street. In the afternoon climb to Haight-Ashbury and cross Golden Gate Park to the ocean.

Weather throughout the year

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Frequently asked questions