Tour the Christmas Trees and Holiday Lights of San Francisco
Good For
- City Sophistication
- Family Time
- Photo Ops
- Sightseeing
- Something Different
Why Go
In a place as vibrant as San Francisco, there are many ways to experience the city. Whether you live here or are visiting, we have put together a holiday touring itinerary that will show the city in a new light.
The first stop in any holiday-themed tour of San Francisco is Union Square. The 83′ tall Christmas tree is impressive, but there’s more. Enjoy ice skating, Winter Walk, and the famous puppies in the windows at Macy’s. Add in the shops and restaurants nearby, and you can easily spend the whole day here.
A few blocks from Union Square is a 23′ tree and life-size gingerbread house at the luxurious Fairmont Hotel. If you want to splurge, you can even book a dinner inside the gingerbread house! Across the park from the hotel is the peaceful Grace Cathedral and its 15′ World Tree of Hope, decorated with over ten thousand origami cranes. Over at the Civic Center Plaza, you will find a 50′ noble fir Christmas Tree. The tree with an illuminated City Hall in the background is an iconic photo.
Our tour then takes a detour to view individual houses at 68 Castro St and 49 Eagle St, where the owners go way above and beyond the usual house decorations. After viewing the homes, drive to “Uncle John’s Tree” at McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park. The park has been lighting up this tree every year since 1929, and it’s considered the city’s official Christmas tree.
Finally, we conclude the tour with the Entwined art installation in Golden Gate Park. This immersive and dazzling “forest of light” is a spectacular public art display.
Whether you’re a longtime resident, entertaining out-of-town guests, or traveling to the city, this city tour is a memorable way to celebrate the season.
Suggested Itinerary
While you don’t necessarily have to do the whole tour at night, we recommend timing it so that you at least see Entwined after sunset. If you’re visiting for a few days or more, add a holiday-themed show to your itinerary, like the San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker, the San Francisco Symphony’s Charlie Brown Christmas, or the ACT Theater’s A Christmas Carol.
Things to Do
- Take pictures of the tall Christmas trees in Union Square, the Fairmont Hotel, Grace Cathedral, Civic Center Plaza, and McLaren Lodge.
- Marvel at the lights and decorations at 68 Castro St and 49 Eagle St.
- Lose yourself in the “forest of light” at the Entwined art installation.
- Enjoy a holiday show like the San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker, the San Francisco Symphony’s Charlie Brown Christmas, or the ACT Theater’s A Christmas Carol.
- Was that not enough Christmas trees? There are impressive trees at Pier 39 (there’s a light show every half hour from 5-10pm), Chase Center (home of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors), and the Presidio.
When to Go
Most trees and decorations are put up by the first week of December and stay up until Christmas.
Cost
It’s free to view the Christmas trees, the house decorations, and the Entwined art installation.