When to go · San Francisco, United States
Best time to visit San Francisco
The sweet spot is September, August and July — averages 18°C, only 1 rainy days, peak-season crowds and peak prices.
September and October are the warmest, clearest months — the local summer. June–August is fog season and colder than visitors expect.
Cool Mediterranean, moderated by fog: mild all year (12–20°C), with a dry summer and rain concentrated November–March. Bring a jacket in any month.
The short answer
18°C · 1 rainy days · high season
17°C · 1 rainy days · high season
16°C · 0 rainy days · high season
Hardest months: January and December. averages 11°C, 11 rainy days, few other visitors.
Month by month
| Month | Avg temp | Rain days | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11°C | 11d | low | Chilly |
| February | 12°C | 10d | low | Chilly |
| March | 13°C | 9d | mid | Mild |
| April | 14°C | 6d | mid | Mild |
| May | 15°C | 3d | mid | Mild |
| June | 16°C | 1d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| July | 16°C | 0d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| August | 17°C | 1d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| September | 18°C | 1d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| October | 17°C | 4d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| November | 14°C | 8d | mid | Mild |
| December | 11°C | 11d | mid | Chilly |
Verdicts are read off the three columns to their left — temperature distance from 21°C first, then rainfall, with crowds breaking ties. Averages, so any given week can differ.
If you'd rather go cheap than perfect
January and February are low season in San Francisco — thinner crowds, and the months where accommodation is easiest to book late. Budget travellers already work to about $80–150 a day here; low season is where the accommodation share of that goes furthest.
Book the month you picked
Fares move with the same seasons as the crowds — the quiet months above are usually the cheap ones to fly.