San Francisco in December
Two distinct Decembers: a wet, empty first half, then a fortnight where Union Square and the Ferry Building are as full as any August afternoon.
Is December a good time to visit San Francisco?
December is a middling month in San Francisco — crowds around 58/100. Not the worst, but January is noticeably calmer.
Book things to do
Tours and tickets in San Francisco, from our booking partner.
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Free cancellationWhat’s on in December
- Christmas and New Year — Union Square at its busiest
- Ice rink and holiday windows downtown
Best days in December
Weekdays are almost always calmer than weekends.
Tue is normally the calmest day of the week.
Best hours in December
The daily rhythm, hour by hour.
The 9:00 AM window is usually the calmest of the day.
Weather in December
Typical highs, lows and wet days.
How December compares
Every month in San Francisco, ranked by how calm it is.
Quieter alternatives
If your dates are flexible, these months are calmer in San Francisco.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good month to visit San Francisco?
December is a middling month in San Francisco — crowds around 58/100. Not the worst, but January is noticeably calmer.
How crowded is San Francisco in December?
San Francisco sits at roughly 58/100 in December on our crowd scale, which is 7 points below the yearly average. The quietest month is January.
What is the weather like in San Francisco in December?
Expect highs around 14°C and lows near 8°C in December, with about 11 wet days across the month.