United States
San Francisco in May
🌷 SpringPleasant and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: light layers
Why May scores 9.3What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.5
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (18°C highs / 11°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 9.7°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~18 mm rain)
- Air quality9.1
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~10 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| May | Aug | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.3 Excellent | 9.5 Excellent |
| Season | 🌷 Spring | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 18° / 11° | 20° / 13° |
| Rain | 18 mm | 2 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 10° | dew pt 12° |
| PM2.5 | 10 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: San Francisco weather-station normals. Rainfall: San Francisco weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Memorial Day 29–31 May · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore San FranciscoEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyHilly Northern California city on a peninsula, known for the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz and distinctive neighbourhoods.
Bay to BreakersDate variesUsually a Sunday in May
A long-running footrace famous for runners in costumes.
Why go: Roads along the route close.
Where: From the bay to Ocean Beach
Coming up later
San Francisco PrideDate variesUsually the last weekend of June
One of the largest Pride celebrations in the world.
Why go: Very crowded; transit is busy.
Where: Market Street and Civic Center
Fleet WeekDate variesUsually early October
Navy ships visit and the Blue Angels perform air shows over the bay.
Why go: Good viewing from Marina Green.
Where: Waterfront
Chinese New Year Festival and ParadeDate variesLunar calendar — usually February, date moves each year
One of the largest Chinese New Year parades outside Asia.
Why go: Crowded; arrive early for a good viewing spot.
Where: Chinatown and downtown
Golden Gate Bridge
The red Art Deco suspension bridge at the entrance to the bay, which can be walked or cycled.
💡 Summer is often foggy and cool; bring layers.
Alcatraz
A former federal prison on an island in the bay, reached by ferry.
💡 Tours often sell out; book ahead.
Cable cars
Historic cable cars running on steep streets between downtown and the waterfront.
Golden Gate Park
A large park with museums, gardens and the Japanese Tea Garden.
Chinatown
One of the oldest Chinatowns in North America.
Mission District murals
Streets such as Balmy Alley are covered in murals.
Sourdough bread
Tangy bread with a long history in the city.
💡 Bakeries
Dungeness crab
Sweet Pacific crab, usually in season from winter.
💡 Fisherman's Wharf and seafood restaurants
Mission burrito
A large burrito packed with rice, beans and meat, wrapped in foil.
💡 Mission District taquerias
Cioppino
A tomato-based seafood stew created by Italian fishermen in the city.
💡 Seafood restaurants
Dim sum
Cantonese small plates.
💡 Chinatown and the Richmond District
Ghirardelli chocolate
Chocolate from a company founded in San Francisco in the 1850s.
💡 Ghirardelli Square
Sourdough bread
Loaves to take home.
💡 Bakeries
Wine
Wine from nearby Napa and Sonoma.
💡 Wine shops
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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