Visiting San Francisco is a pleasure any time of year, although like many other cities, visiting at Christmas has its own appeal. It rarely snows in the city; instead you can expect temperatures to be in the 50s and to probably experience the fog which the city is known for.
Union Square is sometimes considered the center of the city, and if you’re visiting San Francisco at Christmas, it’s the place to be. The stores around the square put on spectacular and creative window displays, and the lobby of the historic Westin St Francis Hotel is filled with elaborate castles made entirely from sugar. Outside in the square, there’s an ice skating rink, seasonal food trucks and of course, a Christmas tree.
Another popular place to visit during the festive season is Pier 39, home to some of the city’s best shops all year round. The entrance to the pier is home to a 60 foot Christmas tree, and you can enjoy synchronized lights and Christmas music there most evenings during December. Other places around the city to see large Christmas trees include the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel, the Presidio and underneath the dome in City Hall. Santa typically appears in several places around San Francisco over the Christmas season, including Japantown, the Westfield shopping center and Macy’s in Union Square.
For many, Christmas just isn’t complete without attending a performance of that seasonal classic, the Nutcracker Perhaps the best performance is by the SF Ballet, although various other venues in and around the city also put on less lavish productions. Several city venues usually put on performances of Handel’s Messiah over Christmas, and the American Conservatory Theater shows A Christmas Carol every year, typically from late November through Christmas Eve. Not surprisingly, many more popular shoes are sold out quickly and it pays to buy tickets as far ahead as possible.
And for others, Christmas just wouldn’t be complete without a display of dazzling Christmas lights. Some of the best can often be enjoyed by simply driving around the suburbs, although in the city itself, there are several worth seeing. Each December, City Hall is decorated in red and blue lights, while the SF Zoo offers lights as well as a full program of events and activities. Other must see light displays include those at the Conservatory of Flowers, and at the Embarcadero Center, where four buildings are transformed into Christmas gifts.
San Francisco isn’t short of more unusual Christmas activities. Just south of the city in Daly City, the Dickens Christmas Faire takes you back to Victorian England, while the city’s Ritz Carlton hotel offers a teddy bear tea party for kids. The Santa Skivvies run is a one mile run through the city’s Castro neighborhood; it benefits local charities and participants in festive costumes or just their underwear are welcome. And for a unique view of the city and many of the light displays during December, several companies offer boat tours, which often depart from the Fisherman’s Wharf area.
And while you are at it, make sure to go out and get the best brunch San Francisco offers!
