10 Things to do in San Francisco at Christmas

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

The city is bursting with colour to welcome one of the most eagerly awaited holidays of the year. With ice skating rinks, charming decorations and even a festival of lights that reaches the boats in the bay, there is so much 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. Each year, Macy's offers the city of San Francisco this imposing tree, almost 26 metres tall, filled with 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 spot. 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 shops around Union Square and do some Christmas shopping. But if you're 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.

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

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

It's a great opportunity to get into the real Christmas spirit, 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 out on booking a ghost tour of San Francisco.

Practical information

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

Christmas in San Francisco is celebrated with and without children. Whether you're travelling alone, with friends or as a couple, you can't miss out on a night out in one of the city's nightlife hotspots.

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

With events like the BRUT Christmas Party, one of the LGBT community's classic 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 take to 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'll see a procession of over 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 colourful 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 chance 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, the creator of some of the most famous cartoons of all time.

In this space, dedicated to the life and career of the brilliant 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 the 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 will be able to get in touch with the father of their favourite characters.

There are many things to do in San Francisco in winter, but one of the best is to enjoy one of the many ice rinks that open for the season.

Ice skating has always been a favourite at this time of year, and adults and children alike have a great time as they spin around in an environment filled with 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 in Yerba Buena, Union Square and Embarcadero Center, where thousands of people gather every year. There are also places to enjoy a hot beverage and 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 a real adventure. Here 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 come with young children and arrive half an hour before the start of the performance, you can have your photo taken with the characters.

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

You can visit it together with your children and take pictures of 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.

It takes no less than 520 hours to build, which is why they start work in October. More than 8,000 biscuit bricks and kilos of delicious frostings give shape to this charming Gingerbread House.

Practical information

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

During the holiday season you can enjoy the city of San Francisco in a whole new light. 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, colour and texture. An event that has been taking place 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 for the whole family to enjoy, 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.

For a magical Christmas in San Francisco, with all the charm of the bay as a backdrop, head to Pier 39, one of the city's most important shopping areas. As you can imagine, just like Union Square, the waterfront also dresses up to welcome Father Christmas.

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

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

Practical information

• Location: Pier 39 Shopping Centre.
• Price: free
• When: The lights switch-on ceremony takes place at the end of November.

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

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

The weather in San Francisco during the month of December is cool. Temperatures range from 8 to 14 degrees Celsius.

What should I pack for my Christmas trip to San Francisco?

You won't need extreme warmth, I recommend you include jumpers, light and thick jackets, as well as a scarf.

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

Is it expensive to holiday in San Francisco?

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

Besides, if you look hard enough, there are always options for all budgets. Being on a tight budget doesn't mean you can't have a good time. As far as accommodation is concerned, avoid staying in the most central areas or areas with a lot of tourists.

What's the best way to get around San Francisco?

San Francisco has a great public transport network. From buses and taxis, to cable cars and trams, the city allows you to get around the way you want to.

The cable cars and trams, 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 often included in San Francisco sightseeing passes. I encourage you to book the San Francisco City Pass, which is the most practical and gives you unlimited rides on the city's trams.

Absolutely! The city is decked out in thousands of decorations, lights, cultural events, parades, exhibitions and festivities. Few cities experience Christmas like San Francisco.

And there are options to enjoy it 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 holiday.

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