Winter in San Francisco is a fun time to year to visit the city. As such a popular tourist destination, there isn’t really an “off-season” for visiting, but this might very well be your best chance at visiting the best restaurants, walk across the Golden Gate, and hop on a boat to Alcatraz without absolutely enormous hoards of tourists.
You never know whether you’re going to get bright blue skies or foggy days without any visibility, but the risk is usually worth the reward when you can stroll along Ocean Beach watching the most stunning sunset you’ve seen all year.
The best way to enjoy all of the great things to do in San Francisco in winter is to pack well. Be prepared for four seasons in a day, bring your umbrella and your sunglasses, and hope for the best.
What is the Weather Really Like in San Francisco in Winter?
Before we jump into the packing list, let’s talk about the weather. San Francisco’s winters (December through February) are mild compared to most of the U.S., but like I mentioned, they’re unpredictable.
- Temperatures usually range from the mid-40s to the mid-60s°F (7–18°C). It’s rarely freezing, but it feels colder when the wind kicks up.
- Wind & Fog are a signature part of SF winter, especially near the water and in the mornings/evenings. Even a 60°F day can feel chilly.
- Rain is more common than in summer, but it usually comes in showers, not all-day downpours.
- Microclimates are real. It might be sunny and calm in the Mission, then foggy at Ocean Beach 20 minutes later.
Translation: Don’t pack for one weather condition. Pack for several, and plan to layer.
When I walked across the Golden Gate Bridge in late December, I had comfortable sneakers on, jeans, a sweater and coat, my beanie and sunglasses!
What to Pack for San Francisco in Winter
1. Warm Base Layers
It’s best to start most days with a good base layer like a lightweight long-sleeve made of merino wool or silk. If you get caught in a midday rain shower, you are really going to regret wearing a cotton t-shirt underneath your sweater.
You might not wear the long sleeve base layer every day, especially if you plan to do any walking up those hills (you’ll really work up a sweat!) or if it looks like the sun is going to be out all day. The sun feels much warmer here, even in the winter months, than in most other parts of the US.
A few of my favorite budget-friendly base layers are this silk long john set, and these thin base layers from UNIQLO are always a winner, whether you’re in San Francisco, New York, or London in winter.
2. Easy to Layer T-shirts
For those warmer days or when you plan to do a lot of walking across the Golden Gate Bridge or around the hills of Alcatraz, you may not want to commit to a long-sleeve underlayer. In this case, I recommend a few lightweight t-shirts.
My closet is full (almost exclusively, I’m not embarrassed to admit) of J.Crew classic jersey t-shirts. Again, UNIQLO is a good budget-friendly option for good quality basic t-shirts and other layers.
Bundle up so that you can enjoy incredible winter sunsets at Ocean Beach.
3. Sweaters
The best thing to do for packing for winter in San Francisco is to pack two sweaters. One thin lightweight merino wool sweater, and one thicker option made of a wool blend or fleece for when it’s a cold, windy, rainy day.
With a nice thin sweater like this merino wool option from J.Crew, you can layer over one of your base layers, depending on how cold it is, and still feel warm without feeling bulky.
For something thicker, I love going to vintage shops when I travel or am about to go on a trip and see what cool, vintage, chunky knits I can find. Almost all of my thick sweaters have come from thrift stores. It’s a great way to find affordable big-ticket items like cashmere or 100% wool sweaters. In a pinch, you can check out ThredUp or trusty UNIQLO.
4. Pants/Skirts/Dresses
The beauty of what to pack for San Francisco is winter is that you can style yourself however you want. The weather is never so cold that a cute maxi-skirt and a pair of tights won’t keep you warm. It’s casual enough that a pair of jeans can be worn day and night.
When I’m packing for winter in a colder climate, I wouldn’t even consider jeans, unless they had a wide enough leg to wear long johns underneath. But the weather in San Francisco doesn’t get that cold. A pair of jeans of whatever style you like best will layer perfectly with everything else.
The beauty of jeans is that they go with whatever you pack. I usually bring one pair of black jeans and one pair of dark blue jeans, and then mix and match them with all of the tops that I bring for my trip. Swap out your comfortable walking sneakers for a cute pair of Chelsea boots, and you’re ready for dinner and drinks.
You’ll want comfortable walking shoes for all of these stairs and hills!
5. Outer Layers
You can’t visit San Francisco in winter without bringing a waterproof jacket. The North Face, Columbia, and Patagonia are trusty options for great quality waterproof outerwear that doesn’t totally break the bank and will last you for years.
I’ve had this lightweight Columbia rain jacket for over a decade, and it’s still going strong. I layer with my North Face packable Thermoball, which is water-resistant if it gets really chilly.
You’ll also want to make sure to pack a warm hat, a scarf, and gloves for those chilly mornings or evenings. If you like to be outdoors as much as I do, you can still enjoy the beauty of a morning walk in San Francisco; you’ll just want to bundle up for it a little bit more than you need to at midday.
6. Comfortable Walking Shoes
Despite the hills, San Francisco is actually a very walkable city. On my recent trip there in December, I easily clocked up 15,000-20,000 steps per day. And that was using the buses to get up the hills and between the neighborhoods that were further apart.
My favorite shoes for a city like San Francisco in winter are the Vessi Weekend sneaker. They are incredibly comfortable to walk in, they look like cute white sneakers, and they are 100% waterproof. So if you get caught in a downpour or the sidewalks are full of puddles, your feet and socks will stay perfectly dry all day long.
For more support, the Vessi Pacific sneaker is also a nice option and comes in a few colors. I wrote about my experience with several pairs of their shoes in a full Vessi sneaker review.
I wore a beanie most days on my recent trip to San Francisco in winter, even on the sunny days because it was very windy!
7. An Umbrella
Do yourself a favor and get a good quality umbrella before your trip. One that you can pack down into your suitcase and has a good strength rating.
It gets windy in San Francisco, and there’s no better way to ruin your day than to use a cheap umbrella in the wind and rain. I have had this umbrella for a few years now, and it is a lifesaver both in the Pacific Northwest and during my trip to San Francisco in winter.
8. Foldable Day Bag
Supermarkets and most other stores around San Francisco don’t give you bags, so if you want to buy anything at all, you’re going to want to pack a few of your own (or you’ll end up buying them once you get there, and they probably won’t be as nice!).
I swear by my Zomake foldable backpack. I have had it for almost a decade, and it is still going strong. It folds up easily and I use it as a day bag for hiking, as a grocery bag when I am staying at an Airbnb and go to the local store, and as a day bag around the city when I accidentally buy too many books at a cute bookstore of which there are many in San Francisco (Green Apple Books on the Park should not be missed!).
If you aren’t big into backpacks, I also love these foldable shoulder bags that you can fit into your pocket or into your purse. They come in fun colors, and you can stick them in the washing machine if you spill on them.
9. Reusable Water Bottle
The tap water in San Francisco leaves a little bit to be desired, but Washington spoils me with delicious tap water.
It’s not undrinkable, but if you are used to filtered water or better-tasting tap water, you may want to pack a Brita water bottle or a Lifestraw. They tend to make the water a little bit more palatable.
Otherwise, I love my Nalgene bottle for traveling. Since it’s plastic, it doesn’t add any extra weight as a metal bottle does, and I can fit enough water to last me about half the day.
The trolley is a fun way to get up and down the big hills in San Francisco!