Updated for 2023!
Are you planning to visit San Francisco in winter and wondering about things to do in San Francisco when it rains? Are you a local resident looking for Bay Area rainy day activities? You are in the right place! In this article I put together all the best things to do in San Francisco when it rains and all the fun and educational Bay Area rainy day activities suitable for both kids and adults.
Out of all things to do in San Francisco when it rains what comes to mind first? Of course, the most famous of museums, such as Exploratorium and California Academy of Sciences. My best advice for you for Bay Area rainy day activities is the following: do NOT go to Exploratorium or California Academy of Sciences when it rains.
Why so? Because every single article about San Francisco would advise you and many thousands of other readers to do just the opposite and so when you arrive you will find out that a gazillion of San Francisco residents and tourists simultaneously decided that visiting Exploratorium or California Academy of Sciences is the perfect Bay Area rainy day activity.
We made this mistake once a couple of winters ago. Exploratorium was packed to capacity, we had to wait in line to enter and to try all their hands on activities. It was horrible. In fact, the best time to visit Exploratorium or California Academy of Sciences is on a very warm sunny day when the rest of the people head to the beach.
So here is my complete list of best things to do in San Francisco when it rains created by a savvy traveler and a local Bay Area resident.
Things to do in San Francisco when it rains: MUSEUMS FOR ALL AGES
Visiting local museums is a great Bay Area rainy day activity, just don’t go to the overly popular ones. There are lots of hidden gems in Bay Area that are waiting for you to be discovered.
De Young Museum, San Francisco
De Young is a popular museum but it is never as crowded as Exploratorium or California Academy of Sciences. Plus, it has a perfect place for kids to explore and do cool hands on activities that is overlooked by most visitors. For more information please, check out my earlier article about De Young Museum with kids.
USS Hornet Sea Air and Space Museum, Alameda
Most of attractions on board USS Hornet aircraft carrier are located indoors (the only outdoor exhibit is the flight deck). So taking USS Hornet Tour is a perfect Bay Area rainy day activity. You will love this tour if you are a fan of history, space exploration, Hollywood or ghost hunting. USS Hornet tour is fun and educational for both kids and adults.
Space themed museums and attractions, various locations
Did you know that there are many different space exploration attractions and museums in Bay Area? These are really great to visit in and around San Francisco when it rains because not many people know about them. My favorites list includes both museums and planetariums around Bay Area. There are also space observatories on the list but these are not the best on overcast days. Just take a note of them for a clear day. You can learn more in my article about space themed attractions in San Francisco Bay Area.
Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco
Visiting Walt Disney Family Museum is a fantastic rainy day activity in Bay Area, and not just for Disney fans. It tells a story of a man behind the empire. It gives you insights of how cartoons are created. You can try several hands on activities related to creating a sound track for a movie and much more. And an additional bonus – it is never crowded unless there is a special event going on. Both adults and kids will enjoy Walt Disney Family Museum.
Oakland Museum of California, Oakland
Spending a day at Oakland Museum of California is one of the best educational Bay Area rainy day activities. The museum’s permanent exhibits are divided into three main categories: art, history and natural sciences. In addition to these main exhibits Oakland Museum of California hosts a variety of exciting temporary exhibitions and numerous community events throughout the year. The variety of the events and exhibitions covers the diversity of the population of California. For example, you can come tot eh Museum to celebrate el Dia de Los Muertos as well as the Chinese New Year and many other special occasions.
Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco
Aquarium of the Bay is not a museum per say but for the purposes of this article we can put it in this category. It is a small aquarium, compared to the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, but learning about local marine life is a great thing to do in San Francisco when it rains. Our most favorite exhibits at the aquarium are an octopus, jelly fish and all hands on activities.
Things to do in San Francisco when it rains: MUSEUMS FOR KIDS
There are several museums for kids in San Francisco Bay Area. The most famous ones are: Children’s Creativity Museum in San Francisco, Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose and Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito. Right off the bat I can tell you that you should not to go to Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose when it rains. It is overrun by crowds the same why as Exploratorium. Once we went there in bad weather and had to wait in line, in the rain, over 30 minutes just to enter. San Francisco and Sautalito museums will be less crowded for sure. However, your best bet is Randall Museum of Science Nature and the Arts.
Randall Museum, San Francisco
Randall Museum is a lesser known but very cute museum. This venue features habitat-based live animal exhibits; changing interactive exhibits focused on science, nature, and the arts; permanent exhibits exploring ocean ecology, geology, and railroads; a working model railroad; a toddler playroom; art and ceramic studios; and a wood shop. The Randall Museum also offers classes in science, art, ceramics, technology, and woodworking. And the best part? – the entrance is FREE of charge.
Things to do in San Francisco when it rains: GAMES
Musee Mecanique, San Francisco
If you like arcade games you will find that playing a couple or a dozen at Musee Mecanique is a fantastic thing to do in San Francisco when it rains. This museum, which is privately owned, does not charge an admission fee. What you pay for is the games that you play. The museum collection consists of over 200 coin-operated mechanical musical instruments and antique arcade machines in perfect working condition.
Urban Putt, San Francisco
Do you think golfing is a great Bay Area rainy day activity? It could be if you are golfing at this unique indoor high-tech 14-hole miniature golf called Urban Putt. We went there with kids and we all absolutely loved it. This venue has a bar and a restaurant on site so you can kill two birds with one stone.
The Escape Game, San Francisco & San Jose
The Escape Game will hide you from the rain AND also give your brain good exercise in a fun way. This is basically an escape room experience located in San Francisco and San Jose. You can choose different escape adventures with various themes and difficulty levels, suitable for adults and older kids.
Things to do in San Francisco when it rains: MUSICAL VENUES
The most well-known San Francisco musical venues are Davies Symphony Hall (the home of San Francisco Symphony), San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Opera. To get last minute tickets to these venues when you know it is going to rain may be problematic and most likely expensive.
Instead, consider their close neighbor, San Francisco Jazz. SF Jazz has lots of events, both musical and educational. Once a month they organize special concerts for kids. And the price of a kid’s ticket is only $5.
Things to do in San Francisco when it rains: BOTANICAL GARDENS
There are many botanical gardens in San Francisco Bay Area, two of which are actually located indoors, which should put them on the top if your list of things to do in San Francisco when it rains.
Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco
Conservatory of Flowers is housed in a beautiful building in Golden Gate Park that was built in 1897. It is the oldest wood and glass conservatory in the country. It showcases about 2,000 species of tropical plants from around the world from orchids to Corps Plant that only blooms once a year and it is quite an event at the Conservatory.
Shelldance Orchids Gardens, Pacifica
Shelldance is a nursery of various tropical plants but no purchase is required to come in and enjoy its beautiful collections of orchids, bromeliads, succulents and other unique plants. There are 4 greenhouses all in all to walk around and view the plants.
Things to do in San Francisco when it rains: HISTORICAL MANSIONS TOURS
Filoli Estate and Gardens, Woodside
Filoli estate consists of the main house, gardens and the nature preserve with hiking trails. The Filoli House is a perfect example of the Georgian Revival tradition and is one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century in the U.S. It has an area of more than 54,000 square feet and 56 rooms. Noted for its elegant interiors, the House is now an interpretive museum exhibit for an extensive collection of 17th- and 18th-century English and Irish antiques. You can partake in a guided tour of the house and may be after you are doe and it stops raining you can visit Filoli’s gorgeous gardens.
Winchester Mystery House, San Jose
How about chasing ghosts for a Bay Area rainy day activity? Winchester Mystery House commissioned by the heiress to the wealth empire created by “The Gun that Won the West” is a sight to behold. At 24,000 square feet it has 160 rooms, 47 staircases and fireplaces, 17 chimneys and 2000 doors. You can see right off the bat that the numbers of doors vs rooms do not match. These doors lead to mysterious corridors and staircases that are notorious for paranormal activity.
Travel Channel’s famous television presenter, Josh Gates, filmed an episode of his “Legendary Locations” series at Winchester Mystery House. Visit if you dare!
Ardenwood Historic Farm/Patterson House, Freemont
Patterson House is part of the Ardenwood Historic Farm, which is a working farm in the East Bay. It was built by the Patterson family in 1850s. It is a great example of a historic farm house that is open to public for guided tours on Thursdays-Sundays. It is especially beautiful during the holiday season with a multitude of Christmas decorations throughout the house.
For detailed information about this local attraction check out my article about fun in Freemont, including Ardenwood Historic Farm.
Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate, Oakland
Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate built in 1899 is a great place for historic tours but unfortunately the house is open for tours only March-September, when it rarely rains. But if it does rain March-April, definitely check it out. The estate consists of several buildings and gardens. The center piece in the Mansion, which is a fine example of Neoclassical-Revival architectures. The 37-room mansion features a Tiffany-style dome, wood paneled public rooms, 10 fireplaces and inlaid parquet floors.
Things to do in San Francisco when it rains: STANFORD CAMPUS
Stanford University campus is a half an hour or so drive from San Francisco and it has several great indoor attractions that are predominantly FREE. These include Cantor Art Center, Anderson Collection, Memorial Church and Hoover Tower.
The first two attractions will please art lovers of all ages. Cantor Art Center has lots of old classics, including a huge collection of Rodin sculpture. Anderson Collection shows off modern art.
Memorial Church has amazing glass mosaics that are must see and if you get to the top of Hoover Tower you can enjoy a phenomenal view of entire Stanford campus.
Also check out my article about all attractions on Stanford campus.
Things to do in San Francisco when it rains: COOL EXPERIENCES
Boudin Bakery Tour, San Francisco
Boudin Bakery Museum and Tour is a Bay Area rainy day activity that is unique to San Francisco. Boudin Bakery has been a San Francisco institution since 1849 well known for its sour dough bread. The Museum shows off the history of the bakery alongside the history of San Francisco. During the bakery tour you can witness how the famous bread is made. At the end of your visit don’t miss the opportunity to tastes Boudin Bakery’s delicious creations.
Big Bus Tour, San Francisco
Take a city tour by Big Bus. The lower deck of the bus is completely covered so you will be absolutely dry while you are having a guided tour of San Francisco. The company offers 3 different tours between 1 and 2 hours in length (2 day tours and 1 night tour). San Francisco Big Bus Tour cover more than a dozen best attractions in town, such as Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, Chinatown, etc.
iFly, Union City
Have you ever dreamed of flying like a bird? Well, now you can at iFly indoor skydiving experience. iFly has a specially designed wind tunnel for such an experience. You will always be with a trainer in the tunnel, so don’t get scared. Kids ages 6+ also can participate in this activity.
Kittea, San Francisco
Do you love cats? Then a stop at Kittea is a perfect Bay Area rainy day activity for you. You can spend one hour in a company of about a dozen adorable cats (which are available for adoption, by the way) while drinking some nice hot tea. Feel free to pet and play with the cats – that is what they are there for.
Go Karts, multiple locations in Bay Area
If you are a fan of speed and driving there are many opportunities for you to enjoy racing in San Francisco Bay Area. Please, not that most Go Karts places have 8+ age limitations
Things to do in San Francisco when it rains: INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS
There is no better Bay Area rainy day activity for kids then running some steam off at indoor playgrounds. Here is a list of good indoor playground in San Francisco Bay Area:
Rock’n Jump – multiple locations
Pump It Up –multiple locations
Imagination Playhouse – San Francisco
Play Haven – San Francisco
Peek-a-Boo Factory – San Francisco
Diddalidoo – San Bruno
La Petit Playhouse – Redwood City
Planet Granit – Belmont
Additional tips for Bay Area rainy day activities
To save lots of money on ticket prices on top attractions consider purchasing San Francisco CityPASS which covers 5 top attractions and 3 days Muni Bus and Cable Car passport.
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