San Francisco
City in United States
San Francisco is a city in the United States with a population of about 809,000 as of 2023. Located 3,919 km from Washington, D.C., the city is known for landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Transamerica Pyramid.
What to see
The city features iconic landmarks that define its skyline. Visitors can view the Golden Gate Bridge or visit the Transamerica Pyramid. Other notable locations in the city include the Golden Gate and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
When to go
San Francisco experiences distinct seasonal changes in temperature and rainfall. The wettest months are December and January, each with about 142 mm and 138 mm of rain respectively over 10 days. Rainfall decreases significantly in the spring, with April seeing 40 mm over 5 days. For the driest weather, visit between June and September. These months have very little rain, with zero rainy days recorded in June and July, and temperatures ranging from highs of 21 °C to 22 °C and lows of 12 °C to 13 °C. Winters are cooler, with daily highs around 13 °C and lows of 7 °C.
Getting there
The primary gateway to the city is San Francisco International Airport, which is located 18 km from the city.
Top sights in San Francisco
Weather by month
The warmest month is September, with an average high of 22 °C. The wettest is December, with about 142 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 13 |
| Average low, °C | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 7 |
| Rainfall, mm | 138 | 129 | 97 | 40 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 36 | 88 | 142 |
| Rainy days | 10 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for San Francisco (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Golden Gate
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art