10 Things to Do in San Francisco in January

Although it may not seem like it, January is a really fun month to visit San Francisco. Gone are the days of Christmas celebrations and lights everywhere, but the joy of the new year is felt in every corner of the city.

So, to the list of things to see and do in San Francisco on a regular basis, you can add events such as the Chinese New Year celebration and various art festivals, major commemorations, parades and even food festivals.

In southern San Francisco, during the month of January, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of grey whales. It is common to see them at other times, but especially in January when they come to the South Bay.

January is the breeding season for gray whales, so you will not only see the adult whales, but also their calves.

This is a truly beautiful and natural spectacle not to be missed if you visit San Francisco in January when the temperatures start to drop and winter sets in. After the whale watching you can book a cruise around San Francisco Bay to finish off your sightseeing.

Interesting details

• Location: from Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf.
• How to get there? By any bus route that takes you directly to the pier.
• Cost: Free to visit the harbour.
• Date and time: Check the official website of the American Cetacean Society.

Restaurant Week is a week-long event where you can try some of San Francisco's best-known restaurants at a special price.

To find out which restaurants will be participating in the event, you should go to the official website of the event.

During this Restaurant Week you will have the chance to try different foods, some very typical of San Francisco and other more international options. As for the chefs who prepare each of the dishes, they are professionals of international stature.

Interesting details

• How to get there: the address is that of each of the participating restaurants.
• Cost: Entrance to the restaurants is free, but there is a base price for consumption, which is known close to the date of the event.
• Date and time: The last week of January and is usually available for lunch and dinner.
• If you're left wanting more? Book a food tour of San Francisco and discover the best food tours in the city

While this is an activity you can do any time of the year, one of my favourite times to go to the Zoo is January because the number of visitors decreases considerably.

If you want to have an even better experience, I recommend going between 10:00 and 14:00. At this time of day, the number of people inside the zoo is even lower and you will have the opportunity to see how the keepers feed the animals.

If you book tickets to the San Francisco Zoo: during the first days of January, hopefully you will still be able to see the Christmas lights that usually decorate the place during the Christmas season.

Interesting details

• Location: Sloat Blvd &, Upper Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
• Cost: from £22.
• Hours*: daily from 9:30am to 4:30pm.

Other animals that start arriving in large numbers in San Francisco harbour in January are the sea lions. The arrival of these species is a real spectacle if you are a nature lover.

The inhabitants of the areas near the pier have a deep respect for these animals and do not miss the opportunity to show off the spectacle to visitors.

This is an excellent opportunity to take lots of pictures of you enjoying one of the most traditional activities in San Francisco Bay.

Details of interest

• Location: Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf, where the Sea Lion Pier is located.
• How to get there? It's easy to locate the pier because of the amount of activities you'll see in the area.
• Cost: Completely free.
• Date and time: Visit the official website of the Marine Life Conservation Institute.

You'll love the FOG Design+Art exhibition if you have a real affinity for art and especially design. Held at Fort Mason in the Festival Pavilion, it showcases a wide range of designs from galleries across the country.

You'll see works of art made from felt, glass, bronze and even ceramics. The theme can change according to the inspiration of the artists participating in the exhibition, so you're sure to be amazed by each of the representations.

If you like this type of art, I also recommend you book tickets for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It is one of the largest in the United States and has both modern and contemporary works.

Interesting details

• How to get there? By bus you have to get off at Chestnut St. & Laguna St. which is the closest station to get to Fort Mason.
• Cost: from €175.
• Date and time: Thursday to Saturday of exhibition week from 11:00 to 19:00. Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00.

San Francisco is a really warm city with a fairly short winter season, so going ice skating is not always an option, considering that seeing snow in the city is extremely rare.

However, that's what the city's ice rinks are for, and in January, being the off-season, there are fewer tourists on site.

Ice skating is definitely one of the must-see and do things to do in San Francisco in winter

Interesting details

• Where to go? The Union Square rink is the most recommended and is open until 15 January.
• How to get there? You can use public transport to get to the heart of Union Square, between Geary and Powell Streets.
• Cost: from $18 euros.
• Date and time: until 15 January between 10am and 11pm daily.
• Tip: Book online as there may not be immediate availability in Union Square.

Since 1860, the arrival of Chinese New Year in San Francisco has been synonymous with a huge celebration that spans the entire month of January and even the first days of February.

Although the Chinese New Year may change its date from year to year, either in January or February, in San Francisco the celebration always begins in January.

This celebration has to be included among the interesting things to see and do in Chinatown, a neighbourhood where you can find a festive atmosphere throughout the month, as well as have the opportunity to see and learn about Chinese traditions more closely and taste their extensive cuisine.

Interesting details

• How to get there You can go by public transport or, if you are staying near the neighbourhood, take a walk there.
• Cost: free, but there is a charge for consumption, depending on what you want to eat.
• Date and time: Throughout January, every day from morning to evening.

Carmen's Traveller Tip

The colourfulness of this celebration is one of the things that gets me most about it and that's why I recommend you include it in your list of things to see and do in San Francisco with children, because they tend to enjoy the great amount of colour and the parades.

If you are a chocolate lover but also love healthy living, exercise and running marathons, then this is definitely a must do activity in San Francisco in January.

Just coming out of the holiday season, the Hot Chocolate Run offers you the opportunity to run 5, 10 or 15 kilometres and then eat lots of chocolate.

The whole family can participate and children from 8 years old and up can participate accompanied by adults. And if you don't want to participate, you can always go to the chocolate exhibition where you can find chocolate in all its forms.

Details of interest

• Starting point: usually at the Golden Gate
• How to get there? By public transport on any of the lines leading to the Golden Gate or by private car.
• Cost: varies from year to year, so I recommend you visit the official website. The exhibition is free of charge.
• Date and time: Friday and Saturday at the beginning of the month. The race starts at 7:00, while the exhibitions start on Friday at 15:00 and Saturday at 10:00.

Martin Luther King's birthday is January 15, and the people of San Francisco celebrate this date annually to pay tribute to the legacy of America's living civil rights fighter.

This is one of the celebrations that I recommend you don't miss because of the colourful parades, the musical concerts that are usually held in commemoration of MLK and the historical importance that the locals give to it.

Also, if you love music and concerts, you can't miss the annual concert held in his honour.

Interesting details

• Location: Yerba Buena Gardens
• How to get there Go to Mission Street between 3rd and 4th Street on South of Market Street.
• Cost: Free.
• Date and time: during the second week of January, from morning to evening hours.

SF Sketchfest is a comedy festival that has become a real tradition since it started in 2002.

Of course, in order to have fun with the comedy shows, you need to be able to speak English. But in case you don't, this show also offers a variety of musical options for you to enjoy the atmosphere.

Some of the musical offerings propose artists on stage performing as soloists, playing some instruments or any other kind of musical activity. But in case you know the language, you can also enjoy the improvisation show that is so popular during this festival.

Interesting details

• Location: in the Brava Studio on Mission Street
• How to get there? By public transport stopping at Hampshire St. & 24th St. station.
• Cost: some events are free, but for others you have to buy tickets and I recommend you do so on the official website.
• Date and time: from the first to the third week of January in the evening.

Although San Francisco is a city characterised by very short winters and warm temperatures most of the year, winter tends to bring low temperatures ranging from 8º to 14º Celsius.

In January specifically, the city is leaving winter behind, so temperatures usually hover between approximately 9º and 15º.

January is the off-season, so the city's tourist numbers tend to be very low compared to the Christmas or holiday season.

Barring weather conditions, January would be an ideal time to visit the city and see its most popular attractions, given the low crowds at these sites.

It's often rainy in San Francisco in winter, so the essential things to pack in your suitcase are clothes that will keep you warm and waterproof clothing that will protect you from the rain at all times.

In addition, I would recommend bringing:

• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the wind, which tends to blow strongly in January in the city.
• Closed-toed shoes and boots are a must if you're planning to visit San Francisco in January.