10 Things to do in San Francisco at Christmas

With all the charm of Christmas and very pleasant temperatures, San Francisco has everything for you to live a truly unique experience.

The city is full of color to welcome one of the most anticipated holidays for everyone. With ice skating rinks, charming decorations and even a festival of lights that reaches the boats in the bay, there is a lot to see and do in San Francisco at Christmas time. Come with me to discover it!

Attend one of the most typical ceremonies of the holiday season: the lighting of the traditional tree in Union Square. Every year Macy's offers the city of San Francisco this imposing tree, almost 26 meters high, full of decorations and LED lights.

The ceremony takes place one day after Thanksgiving Day and the tree remains lit every night until the beginning of January. Located in the heart of downtown, Union Square is the busiest place. It is advisable to arrive at least an hour before the event to get good seats.

After the tree lighting ceremony, you can visit the stores around Union Square and do some holiday shopping. Although if you are looking for discounts, remember that the Friday after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, with really deep discounts.

Practical information

• Location: Union Square
• Price: free
• When: 1 day after Thanksgiving Day.

And if we are talking about classic Christmas stories, another of everyone's favorites and a must every year is A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. Performed countless times throughout the world, it is one of the plans that you must include in your stay in San Francisco.

Every year, this classic work of world literature is brought to the theater at the Golden Gate Theatre, and each time it sells out, so keep in mind to buy your tickets in advance.

This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the true spirit of Christmas, with Mr. Scroodge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, in this timeless tale of redemption. And if ghost stories are your thing, you can't miss booking a ghost tour of San Francisco.

Practical Info

• Location: at the Golden Gate Theatre
• Price: to be confirmed
• When it takes place: from December 8, approximately

Christmas in San Francisco is celebrated with and without children. Whether you are traveling alone, with friends or as a couple, you can't miss out on the nightlife in one of the city's most vibrant neighborhoods.

I am referring, of course, to the South of Market (SOMA) or the traditional LGBT Castro neighborhood, where you can also book a guided tour. They are two perfect places to dance, drink and enjoy the most colorful and raucous of San Francisco. There's so much to see and do in San Francisco at night.

With events like the BRUT Christmas Party, one of the classic LGBT Christmas celebrations, you'll get a taste of the real SF nightlife. And with drag shows and other entertainment, you'll experience a different kind of Christmas, where there may even be a drag Santa.

Christmas festivities reach the waters of San Francisco Bay and enjoying the majestic spectacle of the Lighted Boat Parade has become a holiday classic.

Parallel to the waterfront, from Pier 39 to the Marina Green, you will see the procession of about 100 boats decorated with the most beautiful Christmas lights. A unique spectacle to see from the San Francisco Yacht Club, Fisherman's Wharf and other restaurants along the bay.

Thanks to its colorful and varied boats, it is one of the best things to do in San Francisco with children. And if you're already there, you can't miss the opportunity to book a San Francisco cruise, as you may be lucky enough to see the spectacle from the water.

Practical info

• Location: from Pier 39 to Marina Green
• Price: free
• When: usually held in the middle of the month, when it starts to get dark.

When it comes to magic and Christmas, the name Walt Disney almost always has a lot to do with it. In the city of San Francisco you will find the emotional Walt Disney Family Museum, who was the creator of some of the most famous cartoons of all time.

In this space, dedicated to the life and career of the great Mr. Disney, you can see more than 200 unpublished images and traces of his story, narrated by Walt himself. At Christmas, there are also a series of screenings dedicated to this holiday, and the famous film Christmas with Walt, which brings together various television specials.

Booking a ticket to the Walt Disney Museum is a perfect plan for young children, who can get in touch with the father of their favorite characters.

There are many things you can do in San Francisco in winter, but without a doubt one of the best is to enjoy one of the many ice rinks that open for the season.

Ice skating has always been one of the favorite plans at this time of the year and both adults and children have a great time while spinning in an environment full of Christmas decorations, music and all the magic of the holidays.

San Francisco has several options for this activity, but the most classic are the ice rinks of Yerba Buena, Union Square and Embarcadero Center, where thousands of people gather every year. In addition, they also offer places to drink a hot beverage and savor delicious pastries.

Yerba Buena Ice Rink

• Location: 750 Folsom Street
• Price: to be confirmed
• When: all season

Union Square ice rink

• Location: 333 Post Street
• Price: $19 (includes skate rental)
• When: all season

Embarcadero Center

• Location: Embarcadero Center
• Price: to be confirmed
• When: all season

Experience one of the most classic Christmas stories of all time, The Nutcracker. This is one of the top 10 things you should definitely do in San Francisco at Christmas.

The city's ballet has been performing this work since 1944 no less! Ideal to enjoy with children, this magical story is the perfect show for this time of year.

This classic piece was composed by Tchaikovsky and has become an essential part of Christmas. Seeing The Nutcracker is an adventure. At the venue you can also enjoy some traditional seasonal sweets and hot drinks.

Practical Information

• Location: at the War Memorial Opera House
• Price: from 41 U$S
• When: in December. Days vary each year.
• Tip: if you go with small children and arrive half an hour before the start of the performance, you will be able to take pictures with the characters.

Can you imagine a life-size gingerbread cookie house? In San Francisco, in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel every year this amazing little house is built full of decorations, all of them edible.

You can visit it together with your children and take the pictures you want in this charming gingerbread house. Also included every year are some typical scenes of the city, such as the Golden Gate Bridge or Lombard Street, all also made of edible material.

Its construction takes no less than 520 hours, that's why they start working in October. More than 8,000 cookie bricks and kilos of delicious frostings give shape to this charming Gingerbread House.

Practical information

• Location: at the Fairmont Hotel
• Price: free
• When: throughout the month of December
• Recommendation: it is one of the best things to see and do in San Francisco during the month of December, as Santa Claus also goes to meet them.

During the holiday season you can enjoy the city of San Francisco under different lights. Every year one of the most amazing events you can imagine takes place in the San Francisco Financial District, the Let's Glow San Francisco.

Using the main and most emblematic buildings as a canvas, different national and international artists perform an incredible projection on them, filling the space with light, color and texture. An event that has been held every year, and that allows you to enjoy the city and its architecture.

These projections last approximately 5 minutes each and mainly allude to winter and Christmas. A beautiful show to enjoy with the family, combining art and technology in a unique way.

Practical information

• Location: in the San Francisco Financial District
• Price: free
• When: one of the first days of December.

To experience a magical Christmas in San Francisco, with all the charm of the bay in the background, come to Pier 39, one of the most important commercial spaces in the city. As you can imagine, just like Union Square, the waterfront also dresses up to welcome Santa Claus.

Every year, San Francisco's most famous pier celebrates Christmas with a giant tree of almost 20 meters, full of decorations and lights. Also, between November 28 and December 5 you can witness the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah here.

At Pier 39 you can find special menus with classic Christmas flavors, such as Pumpkin Bread Pudding, a delight, and you can also do all your Christmas shopping at incredible discounts.

Practical Info

• Location: Pier 39 Shopping Center.
• Price: free
• When: The lighting ceremony takes place at the end of November.

Here are some good practical recommendations for your trip to San Francisco for Christmas. I hope you find them useful.

What kind of weather can I expect in San Francisco for Christmas?

The weather in San Francisco during the month of December is cool. With temperatures ranging from 8 to 14 degrees Celsius.

What should I pack to travel to San Francisco for Christmas?

You won't need an extreme coat, I recommend that you include sweaters, light and thick jackets, as well as some scarf.

A key tip is to bring comfortable shoes, as San Francisco is great for walking around.

Is it expensive to vacation in San Francisco?

Yes, unfortunately I must tell you that San Francisco is ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the United States. But well, there is no need to panic and its prices are not prohibitive.

Besides, if you look hard enough, there are always options for all budgets. Having a tight budget doesn't mean you can't have a good time. Regarding accommodation, avoid staying in the most central areas or those with a lot of tourists.

What is the best way to get around the city of San Francisco?

San Francisco has a great public transportation network. From buses and cabs, to cable cars and streetcars, the city allows you to get around the way you prefer.

The cable cars and streetcars, while serving as a means of transportation, have become a tourist attraction, so you won't see too many locals using them. Because of this, they are usually included in the tourist passes in San Francisco. I encourage you to book the San Francisco City Pass, the most practical and with which you can have unlimited rides on the city's streetcars.

Absolutely! The city dresses up with thousands of decorations, lights, cultural events, parades, exhibitions and festivities. Few cities experience Christmas like San Francisco.

In addition, there are options to enjoy with family, alone, with friends or as a couple. With a very active nightlife, going out at night in San Francisco is a real party, and the bay has everything for you to live an unforgettable vacation.

So don't hesitate, experiencing Christmas in the most famous city on the West Coast of the United States is a great idea.