San Francisco
San Francisco mixes steep hills, cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge with neighborhoods that feel very different from one another, under a climate that stays mild all year.
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San Francisco is a hilly city on the US West Coast, at the north end of the San Francisco Peninsula, with stretches of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay inside its limits. Visitors come for the steep streets, cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge, along with Alcatraz, a former high-security federal prison on an island inside city limits. Other stops include the crooked turns of Lombard Street, the Painted Ladies row of Victorian houses at Alamo Square Park, and Dungeness crab served at restaurants on Fisherman's Wharf.
The trip suits first-time visitors who want landmarks and neighborhood walks, from Chinatown and North Beach to the Mission District and Golden Gate Park. The climate is mild year-round, but summers can be windy and foggy, with fog coming in through the Golden Gate, so pack layers. Fog is lighter in late summer and early fall, and September is on average the warmest month. BART and Caltrain connect the city with the wider region, and cable cars, buses and light rail serve the hilly neighborhoods.
San Francisco in five
- Take BART from SFOBART runs from the international terminal to downtown in about 30 minutes, faster than a car at rush hour.
- Pack a jacket for summerJuly and August are often foggy and cool near the ocean. September and October are the warmest months.
- Book the Alcatraz ferry earlyFerries leave from Pier 33, and weekend and summer tickets sell out weeks ahead.
- Use Clipper on your phoneMuni buses, streetcars, cable cars and BART all take Clipper, including a card in your phone wallet.
- Leave nothing in the carCar break-ins are common at viewpoints and in tourist areas. Take bags with you, or skip the car.
Things to do in San Francisco
See all attractions in San Francisco
Need to know
- Airport
- SFO, about 30 min to downtown by BART
- Getting there
- Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC) are alternative airports
- Getting around
- Muni, cable cars and BART with Clipper; walk the hills
- Best base
- Union Square for a first trip, the Mission for food
- Time needed
- 3–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Cool, rainJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Rain, greenFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, green
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Mild, showersMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 111 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Mild, dryAprilClear
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, dry
- MayClear2 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Wind, some fogMayClear
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wind, some fog
- JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Fog in the westJuneClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fog in the west
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Foggy, coolJulyClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Foggy, cool
- AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Foggy, coolAugustClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Foggy, cool
- SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh21°Low14°Warmest, clearSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest, clear
- OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Warm, clearOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- NovemberClear7 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Cool, rain startsNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain starts
- DecemberRain10 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Cool, rainDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 168 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
Average daily high and low in San Francisco, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jun San Francisco Pride · Oct Castro Street Fair
Right now in San Francisco
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 14°
- Humidity
- 84%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
San Francisco
12:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°10°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue18°12°69%Tuesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Wed18°12°14%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Thu21°14°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri22°15°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat23°15°0%Saturday: Clear. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun23°16°0%Sunday: Clear. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 12:06 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Coming up
Every year
- JunSan Francisco PrideSan Francisco
- OctCastro Street FairSan Francisco
Day trips by train
- Muir Woodsabout 45 min by carOld-growth redwoods; parking or shuttle reservations are required.
- Napa Valleyabout 1.5 hours by carWineries and small towns; book tastings ahead.Read the guide
- Yosemiteabout 4 hours by carBetter as an overnight than a day trip.Read the guide
Before you go to San Francisco
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Rules for San Francisco, checked
- Travelers from visa waiver countries need an ESTA before they fly to the US. Check the entry rules on the official ESTA site (esta.cbp.dhs.gov).Source
- Never leave bags, electronics or other valuables in a parked car. Car break-ins are a common problem in San Francisco.
- Cable car fares and pass options change, so check current prices and payment rules on the SFMTA site (sfmta.com) before you ride.Source
Plan around San Francisco
The classic overnight trip, about 4 hours away
Read the guideNapa ValleyWine country about 1.5 hours north
Read the guideBig SurCliffs and coast road beyond Monterey
Read the guideMontereyAquarium and coast about 2 hours south
Read the guideSausalitoA ferry ride across the bay, with Muir Woods nearby
Read the guideAll of USAEntry rules, money and getting around
Read the guideGetting around the USARental cars, Amtrak and long drives
Read the guideSan Francisco FAQ
How do I get from SFO to downtown San Francisco?
Take BART from the international terminal, about 30 minutes to downtown stations like Powell Street.
What is the weather like in San Francisco in summer?
Often cool and foggy, especially near the ocean and the Golden Gate, with highs near 20 °C. Bring a warm layer even in July.
Where should I stay in San Francisco?
Union Square for transit on a first trip, North Beach for walking to the piers, or the Mission for food and sun.
Is San Francisco safe for tourists?
Most visitor areas are fine in daylight. Car break-ins are the common problem, so never leave bags in a parked car, and use a ride or transit for late returns from quiet blocks.
How many days do you need in San Francisco?
Three days cover Alcatraz, the Golden Gate and a few neighborhoods. Add a day for Muir Woods or Napa, or two if you want Yosemite.