San Francisco · United States
July
Peak tourism, peak prices, and peak fog — the month most visitors regret choosing.
Worth considering
#12 of 12 months
There are better months for San Francisco — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
17.5°C
Low
12°C
Rain
1mm
Sun
7.5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How July scores in San Francisco
Weather
Average
Value
Below average
Crowds
Below average
Events
Good
Atmosphere
Very good
What you gain in July
- ↑July 4th fireworks over the bay, with barges positioned near the Embarcadero firing simultaneous displays visible from the waterfront, Crissy Field, and the hills of Marin, is a genuinely spectacular experience. The fireworks are synchronized and large-scale — significantly more impressive than most American cities. Positioning on the northern waterfront or on the Marin side of the bridge gives the best views.
- ↑Despite the fog, July has essentially no rain — the Bay Area's Mediterranean climate delivers a completely dry summer, which means outdoor plans are never rained out, just potentially fogged in until midday. Afternoon fog burn-off creates a distinctive golden light that photographers and filmmakers specifically seek.
- ↑The Embarcadero and Fisherman's Wharf area are at their most vibrant, with summer menus and the city's largest restaurant operation in full swing. For those who don't mind tourist density, the crab and sourdough combination at the wharf is a legitimate San Francisco experience.
What you sacrifice
- ↓July is statistically the foggiest month in San Francisco. The western neighborhoods — where the best parks, ocean beaches, and residential character live — can see fog from morning until mid-afternoon. Temperatures average 17–18°C at the high end; on foggy days the actual experience feels like 13–14°C with a cold wind off the Pacific. This is simply the reality of the city's location, and it surprises the majority of July visitors.
- ↓Peak hotel prices: a room averaging $200 in January can easily exceed $400–450 in July, and desirable neighborhoods like Union Square, Nob Hill, and the Marina are often sold out weeks in advance. Airbnb prices follow the same pattern.
- ↓Alcatraz sells out the entire month well in advance. Botta-designed SFMOMA has queues. The Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point parking lot fills by 8am on weekends. The city functions, but the infrastructure is running at capacity.
How July compares to October (best month)
| Factor | July | October ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 4 | 9 |
| Value | 3 | 6 |
| Crowds | 3 | 6 |
July in other destinations
Lisbon (25.9°C)Barcelona (28.4°C)Tokyo (30.5°C)Bali (29.8°C)Santorini (25.7°C)Paris (23.5°C)New York (28.5°C)Marrakech (36.3°C)Amsterdam (21.6°C)Maldives (30.2°C)Rome (30.2°C)Bangkok (31.8°C)Istanbul (27.9°C)Vienna (25.6°C)Seoul (28.6°C)Dubrovnik (28.3°C)Rio de Janeiro (25.1°C)Kyoto (31.8°C)Phuket (31.5°C)Cape Town (16.8°C)Prague (26°C)Amalfi Coast (31°C)Mexico City (23°C)Medellín (29°C)Fiji (26°C)London (24°C)Sydney (16°C)Iceland (14°C)Tulum (32°C)Dubai (42°C)Singapore (32°C)Hoi An (34°C)Chiang Mai (31.5°C)Miami (33.3°C)Florence (32.2°C)Queenstown (7.5°C)Madrid (32.8°C)Porto (27°C)Edinburgh (19°C)Copenhagen (22°C)Budapest (28°C)Kraków (24°C)Tbilisi (31°C)Palawan (30°C)Hanoi (33°C)Osaka (33°C)Goa (30°C)Cusco (19°C)Buenos Aires (14°C)Mykonos (29°C)Zanzibar (26°C)Sri Lanka (30°C)Costa Rica (25°C)Cancun (32°C)Krabi (32°C)Athens (33°C)Seville (36°C)Cartagena (31°C)Siem Reap (31°C)Havana (32°C)Split (30°C)Taipei (35°C)Kuala Lumpur (32°C)Valletta (32°C)Ho Chi Minh City (32°C)Hawaii (31°C)Cappadocia (32°C)Dominican Republic (31°C)Jamaica (32°C)Tanzania (22°C)Seychelles (26°C)Nepal (27°C)Jordan (36°C)Azores (26°C)Bora Bora (26°C)Los Angeles (27.9°C)Cairo (38.5°C)Kenya (23.4°C)Jaipur (34.2°C)Las Vegas (41.4°C)Madeira (27.5°C)Vancouver (23.4°C)Muscat (40.2°C)Lima (17°C)Cinque Terre (28°C)Kotor (31°C)Tel Aviv (31°C)Santiago (13°C)Bogotá (19°C)Bruges (22.5°C)Penang (32.5°C)Lombok (30.2°C)Cape Verde (28.8°C)Fez (37.8°C)Kerala (29°C)Kigali (25°C)Hong Kong (31°C)Oslo (24°C)Auckland (13°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within San Francisco, not across destinations. Methodology →