San Francisco in January
Rainy and quiet
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
The short answer
January is one of the best months to visit San Francisco.
January is rainy and cool, but quiet and good value, and Lunar New Year events can start late in the month.
January in detail
What January actually feels like
- Weather
- 8–14°C
- Cool and mild, with rainy spells.
- Crowds
- Low–Moderate
- Quiet after the holidays.
- Prices
- $$
- Good value outside conferences.
+Lower prices and fewer visitors.
–One of the rainiest months.
My tip for January
Pack a rain jacket and plan indoor backups.
- Museums
- Food
How January compares
Against the other eleven months
3rd of 12 overall in San Francisco, 10th for weather, 1st for space, 1st for value. It is the emptiest month of the year; and it's also the best value.
See all twelve months for San FranciscoPlan around
What’s on in San Francisco in January
- Rainy season
- Most of the year's rain falls in these months, usually in storms that pass within a day or two.
November–March
Not set on January?
Even stronger months in San Francisco
Also good in January
Weather
Weather in San Francisco in January
In January San Francisco averages a high of 14°C (57°F) and a low of 8°C (46°F), with about 112 mm of rain or snow over 11 wet days. The warmest month is September (around 21°C) and the coolest is January (around 14°C); the wettest month is December.
- Average high
- 14°C
- 57°F
- Average low
- 8°C
- 46°F
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Wet days
- 11
Climate data: NOAA (downtown San Francisco, 1991–2020). Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows.
Quick answers
San Francisco in January: the questions people ask
- Is January a good time to visit San Francisco?
- January is one of the best months to visit San Francisco. It ranks 3 of 12 months in San Francisco overall (10 for weather, 1 for space, 1 for value). The main upside: Lower prices and fewer visitors. The main downside: One of the rainiest months.
- What is the weather like in San Francisco in January?
- Average highs are around 14°C and lows around 8°C. Expect about 112 mm of rain or snow over roughly 11 wet days. Cool and mild, with rainy spells. For comparison, the warmest month is September (around 21°C) and the coolest is January (around 14°C).
- Is San Francisco crowded in January?
- Crowds are low–moderate. Quiet after the holidays. January is the quietest month of the year.
- How expensive is San Francisco in January?
- Prices are at level 2 of 5 ($$). Good value outside conferences. January is also the best-value month.
- When is the best time to visit San Francisco?
- In the CrowdFreeViews month scores, September is the best month overall (January ranks 3 of 12). The quietest month is January and the best value is January.
Ready to book January in San Francisco?
Lower prices and fewer visitors.
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