San Francisco has some rainy days in the forecast, which is great for our environment but not always so great for our plans.
If you’re feeling shipwrecked at home, we’re sure these indoor activities will still make the most of your rainy day in San Francisco. Whatever you end up doing, make sure you stay safe, stay dry, and have fun.
Do you know where to go secondhand shopping in the Bay Area? We asked our Instagram followers for their recommendations, and they didn’t disappoint! Read our roundups of vintage clothing stores and thrift shops recommended by locals.
Looking to shake up your usual rainy day plans in San Francisco? It could be as simple as finding a great pinball machine! There’s something for everyone at these awesome arcade bars in the Bay Area. See the full list of local arcade bars here.
The immensely popular Candlelight concert series is turning heads right now in San Francisco! Hear your favorite songs on strings, including tributes to The Beatles, ABBA, and Vivaldi. The Bay Area’s top musicians perform in an intimate setting surrounded by thousands of flickering candles, making for an unforgettable musical experience. Get tickets now!
If you still want to get a taste of nature while hiding from the rain, the Conservatory of Flowers is the perfect destination. The beautiful conservatory is located in Golden Gate Park, not a far walk from the de Young and California Academy of Science. The conservatory has a vast plant collection, including aquatic plants, lowland tropics, and more. You can visit from 10 am to 4:30 pm, Thursday through Tuesday.
Grace Cathedral has been transformed with a beautiful light show, featuring large-scale light projections. The show blends with the cathedral’s architecture and is accompanied by an original score. Tickets for the show often sell out, so we recommend booking yours soon.
Every San Franciscan knows that the historic Ferry Building is home to dozens of exciting vendors and events. Check out the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, or pick up fresh baked goods from any number of bakeries inside, such as Craftsman and Wolves, Recchiuti Confections, and Miette Patisserie.
Have you heard of this amazing roller disco near the Painted Ladies? When it comes to indoor activities in San Francisco, Church of 8 Wheels is the ultimate hidden gem, hosting San Francisco’s most avid skaters within a 120-year-old abandoned church. You can zoom around the rink before a backdrop of stained-glass windows featuring Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Disco music and neon lights bring the party to this unconventional skating experience.
Club Fugazi’s Dear San Francisco is one of the city’s most unique live shows, taking guests on a journey through local history through the use of heart-pounding acrobatics and unbelievable physical feats. The venue’s intimate setting allows you to see the stunts up close, making for one of the most memorable indoor activities San Francisco has to offer.
We love San Francisco for its vibrant culture, history, and resources, but it’s no secret that living here costs a pretty penny. Whether you’re a college student on a budget or a bargain hunter wanting to see the sights, this list of free admission days will certainly help you get started.
Each month in San Francisco, countless local museums refresh and replace their temporary exhibitions. It’s never a bad time to take stock and plan ahead to see some of these wonderful displays before they’re gone. See our running list for the latest exhibitions to put on your radar.
San Francisco’s Japantown is a significant historical district and a rare sight in the US. There are only three remaining Japantowns in the US, and SF is home to the oldest and largest of them. The 6-block neighborhood is a cultural hub for the Japanese-American community as well as a destination for delicious food, drinks, and nightlife. Japantown is a great place to visit on a rainy day in SF because many of its popular sights are indoors.
Musée Mécanique is one of the world’s largest private collections of coin-operated mechanical instruments and one of the most unique museums in San Francisco. The collection was started by SF native Edward Galland Zelinskey, who bought his first coin-operated game when he was just 11 years old in 1933. Since then, it’s grown to include over 300 antique arcade artifacts, coin-operated pianos, slot machines, animations, and more. Zelinskey passed away in 2004, but his magnificent collection is still free for the public to enjoy at Pier 45. It’s one of the best budget-friendly indoor activities in San Francisco.
Arcana is a stunning plant store and “shared living room” in SF’s Mission District. Whether or not you have a green thumb, you’ll love this lush urban greenhouse founded by an Iranian asylum seeker, queer activist, artist, and SF standout Naz Khorram. Check it out for wine tasting, live entertainment, events, and more.
The Aquarium of the Bay is home to over 20,000 marine animals, including sharks, octopus, jellyfish, otters, and more. Enjoy walk-through tunnels and other exciting exhibits as you learn all about these fascinating creatures.
Many a San Franciscan loves to curl up with a good book and sip on a cup o’ joe from one of SF’s legendary coffee shops. Not sure where to find your next good read? These famous bookstores around the city are musts for any local bookworm.
San Francisco is home to a unique theater that is solely focused on sound: Audium features over 100 speakers and has several artist residencies throughout the year. The theater is pitch black during a show, focused solely on the sound, and is a truly one-of-a-kind indoor experience in SF.
A homey, roaring fire is a hot commodity on a rainy day in San Francisco. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite fireplaces in San Francisco, ranging from outdoor patios to neighborhood bars to fine dining restaurants.
Here, we’ve rounded up our favorite San Francisco movie theaters, from large chains like AMC and Regal to smaller indie theaters like the Roxie. With so many great things to stream these days, sometimes we forget the allure of watching a new release in theaters. But we promise that these local SF cinemas will take your movie-watching experience up a notch.
SF Rec & Parks opened new free pickleball courts at the Palace of Fine Arts. Three brand new courts are available Tuesday through Sunday mornings, from 9:30 am to 11:00 am. Players can easily reserve the courts via the Rec and Parks online system.
The California Academy of Sciences is perfect for a stormy day, offering a memorable experience as one of the city’s most famous and unique museums. Visit for an exciting combination of creative exhibits including a four-story indoor rainforest aflutter with free-flying birds and butterflies, a state-of-the-art planetarium, a comprehensive natural history museum, and a captivating aquarium all housed under a living roof.
San Francisco is known for its famously chilly weather, but it is also home to some world-class saunas and spas. From Finland to Mexico, saunas have been used for thousands of years. Beloved for their health and therapeutic benefits, they are especially popular in colder climates. Whether you’re looking for a quiet spa day by yourself or to sweat it out with the whole squad, there’s a sauna for every occasion. See the full list of SF spas here.
From the unique design of Japan Center Malls to the fun indoor experience at Stonestown Galleria, it’s easy to spend a day at these popular local shopping centers. Catch up on your shopping list while you wait for the rain to stop.
We love getting a drink with friends as much as anyone else, but sometimes, it’s nice to switch up the routine. These SF escape rooms elevate your typical city outing with collaborative, entertaining puzzle games. Read our list for tons of options ranging from family-friendly to downright terrifying.
Mini golf is another fun indoor activity in San Francisco that you can find around the city. From the Mission‘s brand-new Holey Moley course at Urban Putt’s old location to the adorable SF-themed course at Subpar in Fisherman’s Wharf, here are some of our favorites. Our list of five includes four indoor courses in or near SF.
California Historical Society online resources
The California Historical Society has an extensive digital library featuring everything from old menus to photos from the Spanish-American War. Browse endless documents and photographs from throughout the state’s history and connect with San Francisco, or any other city, on a new level.
At-home experiments with the Exploratorium
If you’re looking for something to do, the Exploratorium is a fantastic place to visit any day of the year. But if you can’t go in person, they have plenty of activities to try on their website, including Tinkering at Home. Explore lights and shadows, create your own wild contraptions, or animate a short film with items around your house. They have options for all ages.
Virtual tours with the Asian Art Museum
Not many people know that the Asian Art Museum has a decent virtual library of expert-led tours available for anyone to peruse. The 20-minute videos are hosted by museum curators who take you through world-famous collections, revealing stories behind the art that you might even miss on an in-person visit to the museum.
We are exceptionally lucky to have the San Francisco Public Library system, which serves the community in countless immeasurable ways. Registering for a library card is one of the best things you can do to expand your resources because it gives you free access to more than just books — think online classes, job and career services, and audiobooks. Read our article about free things you can do with an SF Public Library card for ideas.
Who’s hungry? San Franciscans with a sweet tooth have it easy in this glorious city because SF bakeries absolutely do not mess around. We wanted to get to the bottom of where San Franciscans get their baked goods, so we posted an Instagram poll asking for recommendations. Here are the results.
If you’re a coffee fiend like 90% of Bay Area residents, you’ll know that there is no shortage of high-quality coffee in San Francisco and beyond. Here are some essential spots recommended by locals, but see our full list of Bay Area coffee shops for more inspo.
Experience an elegant afternoon tea service at these beautiful restaurants, tea rooms, and cafes. Our list includes both traditional tea services and more modern, reimagined versions to bring a bit of whimsy to your rainy day in San Francisco. See the full list of our favorite afternoon teas here.
The Buena Vista Cafe is one of Fisherman’s Wharf’s most popular foodie landmarks. It’s credited as the first place to serve Irish Coffee in the United States, starting in 1952, and now serves up to 2,000 Irish Coffees every single day. Stop in for a warm and boozy drink if you’re feeling a little chilly.
The beloved Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar is one of the longest continually running tiki bars in the States. It’s basically everything a tiki bar should be: an explosion of deliciously kitsch tropical décor with all the themed, lethal cocktails you could hope for, not to mention a live band that floats around on a boat in the plunge pool!
We’re lucky to live right near wine country, meaning that Bay Area wine bars have their pick of some of the best wineries in the world. Whether you’re looking for a classy ambiance with a highly curated selection or a laid-back environment where you can find a perfect bottle to take home, we’ve got you covered!
A steaming bowl of ramen is perhaps the most comforting and filling food we can think of! San Francisco, with its plethora of delicious and authentic Asian food, is one of the best places to enjoy this amazing dish.
You don’t have to be a kid to know that hot chocolate is one of the most underrated drinks on any cafe’s menu. As we head into the fall and winter seasons, it’s a great time to compile some spots to visit next time you’re craving this delicious drink!
