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 World Tree of Hope, decorated with more than 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 1543 Felton St, 249 Cordova St, and 49 Eagle St, where the owners go waay 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. We conclude the tour with the free Photosynthesis light show at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Spread out a blanket and enjoy music to go along with the visuals.
For the 2025 holiday season, there’s an additional must-see show in Golden Gate Park: Lightscape at the Botanical Garden. This is a mile-long walking tour through the garden as it’s lit up with more than one million twinkling lights! Since it will take you at least 45 minutes to enjoy this event, consider doing it separately from the tour above.
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, note that the Photosynthesis light show at the Conservatory of Flowers does not start until after sunset. Lightscape at the Botanical Garden starts at 5pm, and you should purchase tickets in advance. 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.
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 1543 Felton St, 249 Cordova St, and 49 Eagle St.
- Take in the Photosynthesis light show at the Conservatory of Flowers.
- Walk through Lightscape at the Botanical Garden.
- Enjoy a holiday show like the San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker.
- Was that not enough Christmas trees? There are impressive trees at Pier 39 (there’s a light show every half hour from 5-10pm) and the Chase Center (home of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors). The lighting of the 55′ tree in the Presidio is on pause in 2025, but the trees at the new, very popular Tunnel Tops park are lit up.
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 Photosynthesis light show. Lightscape general public tickets start at $32 for adults and $20 for youth.