This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Company Logo - Home Link

Things to Do in San Francisco in January

BOOK MY SPOT NOW!
Walking Tours
Bus Tours
Alcatraz
Things To Do
Discounts
Travel Guide
Private Tours
Contact

This post highlights the best events and things to do in San Francisco in January.

We include evening activities, free as well as family-friendly events, updated for 2023.

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY

In this section, we cover our top ten things to do in San Francisco in January. 

For more ideas on popular things to do, be sure to check out our more popular posts:  

Some of the items in this post are included for free with the purchase of a tourist discount pass.

If you've already researched and found the best discount pass for your purposes, it can be purchased here:

All Inclusive Go City | Explorer Go City | Day Pass San Francisco Sightseeing | Flex Pass San Francisco Sightseeing.

1.  Go to a Concert

Many talented musicians play in the Bay Area throughout the year, and you'll find some of them with concerts in January.

Here are a few of the more notable performances you might want to see:

If you want to find out more about who’s playing in the city by the bay this month, make sure to check this list of San Francisco concerts.

3. Attend a Sporting Event

San Francisco is home to several great sports teams, and many of them will be playing in January.

If you’re a fan of basketball or hockey, there will be several great games to attend this month.

Football

Basketball

Hockey

For even more great sporting events to attend, check this list of San Francisco sports tickets.

3. Attend the Bay Area Monster Jam

If you're a fan of motorsports, chances are you're quite familiar with Monster Jam.

This show features a variety of monster trucks competing in several different events including racing and stunt driving.

Visitors can expect to see popular monster trucks such as Max-D Fire, Grave Digger, Time Flys, Wildflower, and Obsessed.

Ticket holders will have the opportunity to vote on which trucks performed the best!

If you or your children love monster truck stunts and racing, consider taking the family to this show/

The show takes place in Oakland on January 7th, and tickets can be purchased here.

4. Take a Walking Tour

Spend a couple of hours or the better part of the day on one of our many pay-what-you-want walking tours throughout the city!

Check out our schedule to see what we offer when you are in town.

These are just some of the great walking tours available in the Bay Area, but you can find even more in our post about San Francisco walking tours.

5. See a Stand-up Comedy Show

If you’re in need of a good laugh, there will be several opportunities to see stand-up comedy in San Francisco throughout the month of January.

Here are some of the biggest names performing stand-up in the Bay Area this month:

You’ll find even more great activities after dark in our things to do at night section.

To find more comedy nights and performances, click here.

6. Save Money With a Tourist Pass

If you’re planning to visit a lot of different attractions and enjoy several interesting activities while in San Francisco, there are multiple tourist passes which offer discounts on tours, museums, entertainment and more.

The easiest option is a build-your-own-pass service which will allow you to save 20% off tickets when you purchase 2 or more. 

While this isn’t the best deal you can get from a tourist pass, it’s a great way to save money on activities that are already pretty affordable ($5-$10).

Alternatively, you can also get an all-inclusive pass which includes dozens of popular attractions that you can visit over the course of a specific amount of time (1, 2, 3, or 5 days).

This type of pass offers the best opportunity to save money (up to 60% off), but you really have to use it for as many activities as possible to get the most out of it.

Finally, there are also flex passes that allow you to pay one flat price for a set number of activities (3, 4, or 5). This pass is best reserved for the most expensive attractions.

Here are a handful of the most popular services included with these tourist passes:

  • Hop on Hop off Bus Tour
  • California Academy of Sciences
  • Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
  • Walt Disney Family Museum
  • California’s Great America
  • San Francisco Bay Cruise
  • Ripley’s Believe it or Not
  • Aquarium of the Bay
  • Madame Tussauds
  • San Francisco Zoo
  • Oracle Park Tour
  • And more!

Depending on which type of pass you choose and how you use it, you should be able to save between 20% - 60% off general admission prices.

For more information, please read our post about San Francisco tourist passes.

If you're already planning to buy a discount pass, you can purchase one here: All Inclusive Go City | Explorer Go City | Day Pass San Francisco Sightseeing | Flex Pass San Francisco Sightseeing.

7. See the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra has a variety of weekend evening performances available throughout the month of January. 

See shows that feature some of the greatest composers of all time, as well as some very talented musicians and conducters.

In addition to classical music, the symphony will also be performing the score of Jurrasic Park along with the film on January 6th and January 7th, 2023.

There will be a variety of shows to see at Davies Symphony Hall from January 6th - 31st. Click here for the full calendar.

For even more ideas on nighttime activities, make sure to check out our section on things to do at night.

8. Celebrate MLK Day

Honor the iconic Civil Rights activist with a number of events happening around Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. 

Here are a few activities in and around MLK day you might like to experience in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.

There are multiple family-friendly activities and events leading up to the national holiday.

Note that the march ventures over the Lefty O’Doul Bridge near AT&T Ballpark and goes through downtown.

9. Check Out the Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair

On the weekend before Chinese New Year, there will be a Flower Market Fair held in Chinatown to celebrate the event.

During this fair, visitors will have an opportunity to pick up flowers, fruits, candies and more to celebrate the new year in style.

In addition to everything on sale, there will also be Chinese magicians, acrobats, folk dancers and opera to enjoy in the market as you shop the more than 120 booths.

While the items available for sale obviously aren’t free, it won’t cost a dime to attend the Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair!

For more activities that won’t cost you anything, please check our free things to do section.

10. Take Part in the Hot Chocolate 15k/5k

The perfect race for those who enjoy running and chocolate! This race begins and ends in Golden Gate Park.

Runners will not only receive chocolate offerings at the end of the race but will also be able to visit sweet stations along the route that will be handing out marshmallows, M&Ms, and chocolate chips among other treats!

While it will cost money to enter the race, you can always come and cheer on the contestants for free.

This could be a fun activity for the whole family. You can find more ideas for things to do with the kids in our family-friendly section.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY

If you look in the right places, there are always free things to do in San Francisco.

Some of the items we’ve mentioned like MLK Jr Day events and the Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair are free of charge!

Be sure to read our post on 51 things to do for free in San Francisco just about any time of year.

We'll give you just a few examples of some ideas you'll find in this post:

  • Visit a Free Museum
  • See the Painted Ladies
  • Enjoy Open Mic Comedy
  • Get Free Chocolate at Ghirardelli Square
  • See Bison in Golden Gate Park

Here are a few more free activities to enjoy in January.

See San Francisco’s Redwood Grove 

Did you know there is a small Redwood Park in the heart of San Francisco?

Make your way to the centrally located Transamerica Pyramid and check out the grove that is adjacent to the building. 

This is a great spot to relax for a bit and get a nice photo of these stunning trees, and it won’t cost you a dime to enjoy the natural beauty!

Free Day at the Botanical Gardens

Spend some time on New Year’s Day at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens located in Golden Gate Park.

Golden Gate Park Botanical Conservatory San Francisco

This living museum covers 55 acres in the park and features thousands of plant species.

The second Tuesday of every month, in this case New Years Day and January 9th, you can enjoy entry free of charge. Visit their website for hours.

Learn about all free, and sometimes free, museums in San Francisco.

Hike the Lands End Trail

Walking this beautiful trail will give you beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge, take you through cypress trees and wildflowers, and will swing you around to the historic Sutro Baths and Cliffhouse. 

This is a perfect half-day adventure for active people who enjoy the outdoors, and it’s a great way to get some exercise!

Learn more at the National Park Service.

THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN JANUARY

San Francisco is a great city for night time activities!

Below are just some ideas for things to do at night in January.

If you want even more ideas for evening activities aside from what’s listed below, check out our main things to do at night post.

Here are a few examples of nighttime activities included on that post:

  • Take an Alcatraz Night Tour
  • See the San Francisco Bay Lights
  • Visit a Museum After Dark
  • Go on a Night Bus Tour

Note that some of these things can be found on the following passes: All Inclusive Go City | Explorer Go City | Day Pass San Francisco Sightseeing | Flex Pass San Francisco Sightseeing.

SF Sketchfest 

This multi-day annual event is a great way for San Francisco to showcase some of its best sketch comedy groups.

The numerous shows offered will include stand-up, sketch, improv, and alternative comedy. This event will be taking place from January 20th through February 5th, 2023.

Tickets can be purchase here and the schedule can be found here.

Grab a Cocktail at the Top of the Mark

Located on the 19th floor of the Intercontinental, Top of the Mark is a chic bar that offers sweeping views of San Francisco. 

Enjoy a glass of wine or (pricey) hand-crafted cocktail and let yourself indulge in the twinkling lights of the City by the Bay.

This could be a fun and romantic activity for any couple, and it’s a great way to enjoy an incredible view of the Bay Area.

Go to Glowfari in Oakland 

Oakland Zoo will be taking the holidays into overtime with their annual Glowfari display.

Guests can expect plenty of colorful light displays, laser light shows, Christmas trees and even gondola rides.

ZooLights Information

  • Where: Oakland Zoo
  • Dates:  January 1st, 4th-8th, 11th-15th, 18th-22nd, 25th-29th, 2023
  • Times: 5pm - 9 pm
  • Tickets: Adults $24 | Children (2-14) $20 | Seniors (65-75) $20 | Under 2 and over 76 Free
  • Parking: Free

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN JANUARY

There are loads of family friend activities and attractions in the City by the Bay!

Some of the items we’ve listed in other sections, such as the Botanical Gardens and Sesame Street Live are fun for people of all ages! 

For more ideas, check our post covering things to do with kids in San Francisco.

Take a look at a few examples of the activities included on this post:

  • Go to a Kid Friendly Museum
  • Take the Kids Ice Skating
  • Go on an Oracle Park Tour
  • Experience an Escape Room

Here are a few more family-friendly activities for January. 

Walk the Golden Gate Bridge

On a clear day, walking the Golden Gate Bridge can not only offer stunning views but serves as an exhilarating experience for anyone. 

Take in the sweeping cityscape views and marvel at this extraordinary piece of architecture. 

Click here for all the information you need to walk the bridge. Best of all, this activity doesn’t cost a dime!

Visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

Tucked away at one end of Ross Alley in Chinatown, the sweet smells alone will lure you to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. 

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

This tiny factory still produces handmade fortune cookies daily. It’s fun to watch them being made and buy some to take home with you!

Our Chinatown Walking Tour includes this stop, though you should also come back for a full visit.

For more family fun, check out our full post on things to do with kids.

Celebrate the Arrival of the Sea Lions

Sea Lions have been visiting Pier 39 at of Fisherman's Wharf since shortly after an earthquake hit San Francisco in 1989.

For over 30 years the city has celebrated this return with a special event.

In years past there were activites such as walking tours and "decor" such as 30 statues painted in honor of these wonderful aquatic friends

The dates haven't yet been released for 2023, but the event is usually around mid-January.

Note that the Pier's nightly Tree Lighting Musical Moments will come to life every half hour from 5pm to 10 pm through January 8th, 2023.

RELATED POSTS:

About The Author

Britt

Britt is a San Francisco Bay Area native, and has spent 25 years in this magical city. He has traveled to over 30 countries, and has never found a place he loves as much as this one! If you come to San Francisco, you might join one of Britt's tours of the city. A graduate of the University of Maryland and University of Southern California, he has been leading tours for Free Tours by Foot since 2015.
Updated: November 21st, 2022
Back to Top
cross