Should You Visit San Francisco at Christmas Time?
In a word, yes!
San Francisco during the Christmas season is very festive. There are several neighborhoods where you can see trees, lights and other seasonal fun. Following you’ll discover some of the places to visit in San Francisco during Christmas.
Union Square
Union Square transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season. The giant Christmas tree with its sparkling lights is the centerpiece of bustling downtown shopping areas. The atmosphere makes it the perfect place to kick off your festive adventure.
- Ice Skating – Next to the tree in is the Square’s ice skating rink. Grab a pair of skates and glide a few laps under the lights of the city
- Winter Walk – Stockton Street, on the west side of Union Square is closes off two blocks to traffic, and offers merchants selling holiday goods, food trucks with hot chocolate and other treats, as well as the windows of Macy’s with pets from the SPCA.
- St. Francis Hotel – Just inside the lobby you’ll find the massive annual gingerbread castle built by the chefs of the hotels. It’s always impressive.


Nob Hill
Nob Hill is at the top of California Street. Here you’ll find Grace Cathedral, which is lovely and worth a peak inside. It’s stained glass window are a meant to be like the windows in Sainte Chapelle in Paris. And the doors are a replica of Baptistry Doors in Florence, Italy. The top of Nob Hill was where the railroad and banking magnets of the late 1800s. They built their mansions here. It is now the home of a several luxury hotel that are ideal stops on a San Francisco Christmas tour.
- Fairmont Hotel – The hotels create a nearly life-sized “gingerbread” house. It is also a great place for afternoon tea.
- Mark Hopkins Hotel – The Mark Hopkins has lovely Christmas decorations inside and out, but the real draw is the top floor restaurant, Top of the Mark. You can have tea or drink. If you want to have afternoon tea, a reservation is recommended. There can sometimes be a line for drinks as well, but the later afternoon, can reward you with a sunset.



Ghirardelli Square
You can ride the cable car here from Union Square if you choose. Once here, there is a nice tree, lots of lights.
- Stay warm with a hot chocolate from the iconic San Francisco chocolate maker, Ghiradelli.
- Walk around and enjoy the shops.
- Take the views of the Golden Gate Bridge
Pier 39
The Christmas Tree is alive with lights and synchronized to holiday music. The waterfront area sparkles during the holidays. You can also:
- Sea Lion Spotting: Say hello to the resident sea lions amid the festive decor.
- Holiday Cruises: Take a bay cruise to see the city’s holiday lights from the water.
Filoli Gardens
If you have time to go down the peninsula, Filoli Garden is a must for its holiday lights. It is about 30 minutes outside San Francisco, but worth the trip. The entire gardens are glittering. You can wander the gardens taking in the different displays and sip on hot chocolate or cider as well. It is a quintessential Christmas destination.
Note: You should make a reservation to make sure you get a chance. You can go as early as 5pm and it is still dark enough to enjoy the lights.




Notable Mentions

The tall tree of mostly reddish lights at 555 California Street.
Cable Cars get dressed up too.

You could also sign up for the holiday tours around the city. See the tour options in the Travel Resources section.