December brings so many magnificent Christmas trees to San Francisco, it’s hard to keep track. We decided to round up the best ones so you can catch them all before the season ends! Whether you’re totally feeling the Christmas spirit or you could just use some holiday cheer, these San Francisco holiday tree displays are worth seeking out. Scroll to the bottom for a map to point you in the right direction.
1. Macy’s Tree at Union Square
Of course, Union Square’s Macy’s Christmas tree is one of the most recognizable ones in the entire Bay Area. The red and gold decorations and glowing red star are iconic, and it’s impossible to miss at 83 feet tall. While you’re there, be sure to check out the ice rink, which is hosting plenty of fun skating events throughout the holiday season.
🗓️ Open now through Jan. 1, 2024
📍 Union Square, 333 Post Street
2. Pier 39
Pier 39 has one of the Bay Area’s most impressive live tree displays, with last year’s tree measuring over 60 feet tall. It’s adorned with elaborate specialty lights which glimmer with shifting colors every night. Enjoy these tree lighting moments nightly from 5-10pm as part of Pier 39’s HapPIER Holidays events.
🗓️ Open now through Jan. 7, 2024
📍 Pier 39, Embarcadero
3. Fairmont Hotel
The Fairmont Hotel is best-known for their amazing 2-story gingerbread house adorning the lobby. But don’t forget to enjoy their absolutely beautiful 23-foot Christmas tree, decorated with colorful baubles and thousands of glittering lights! There’s also a holiday train, smaller “trees” made from stacks of champagne bottles, and more.
🗓️ Open now through Jan. 1, 2024
📍Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St
4. 555 California
This 80-foot tree is one of San Francisco’s tallest ones, standing proud alongside the skyscraper at 555 California. You can see it while enjoying a cocktail at The Vault Garden, which is one of SF’s favorite Christmas pop-up bars every year.
🗓️ Open now through Jan. 6, 2024
📍 555 California St
5. Palace Hotel
The Palace Hotel has one of the most beautiful lobbies in the city, made even more impressive with its ornate Christmas tree displays placed throughout the common areas. See them among the hotel’s gorgeous golden chandeliers, captivating skylight, and marble columns for a truly luxurious photo op. Guests often enjoy a holiday tree or brunch in this luxe ambience.
🗓️ Open now through Jan. 2, 2024
📍 Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery St
6. Thrive City tree at Chase Center
This blue and gold tree dedicated to the Golden State Warriors is the tallest in the Bay Area, towering 90 feet over Thrive City at Chase Center. It opens on Nov. 29 with a festive lighting ceremony from 5-7pm with live music and seasonal food and drink. Every night thereafter guests can enjoy the tree accompanied by nightly “snowfall” at 6pm, music, and great ocean views. This year they’ve also added a new free ice skating rink on select dates between Dec. 9-26.
🗓️ Open now
📍Thrive City, Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way
7. Ritz-Carlton
One of San Francisco’s most majestic hotels is the Ritz-Carlton, which always displays a glittering holiday tree right in front of the entrance. Each year during the holidays it hosts the popular Teddy Bear Tea series, a tradition in which children are invited to enjoy a delicious spread of hot chocolate, scones, and sweets while watching a lively sing-along holiday show. Additional events include a Christmas Day feast and a New Year’s Eve champagne toast and balloon drop.
🗓️ Open now
📍Ritz-Carlton, 600 Stockton St
8. Presidio
The Presidio has decorated their 55-foot-tall Norfolk Island pine tree for the holidays every year since 1991, but their holiday tree tradition dates back even further to 1957. The display goes up every year on the first Friday of December, which this year falls on the first of the month.
🗓️ Open now
📍Lincoln and Funston Blvds, Presidio
9. World Tree of Hope at Grace Cathedral
Grace Cathedral is home to the largest origami Christmas tree in the world. They partner with Rainbow World Fund to decorate it with over 17,000 handmade origami cranes and stars, each of which is inscribed with wishes and hopes for the future. You can send your wish to be inscribed on a crane for free and added to the tree. Visit to see the installation process through November or attend the lighting celebration on Dec. 4., in which SF’s famous drag nuns The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will bless the tree.
🗓️ Open now through Jan. 5, 2024
📍 Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St
10. Civic Center
This 50-foot tree is the temporary centerpiece in Civic Center Plaza, where you’ll find City Hall decked out in red and green lights to complete the picture for much of December. The tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 6 will feature festive performances with the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees, magician Josh Farenbaugh, and Santa himself. Wander beneath billowing snow flurries while browsing the Maker’s Market and enjoying seasonal drinks from a full bar. Another Planet Entertainment will lead this year’s children’s toy drive.
🗓️ Opening Dec. 6, 2023
📍Civic Center Plaza, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place
11. Uncle John’s Tree at Golden Gate Park
This 100-foot-tall Monterey Cypress at McLaren Lodge is known affectionately as “Uncle John’s Tree” in honor of Golden Gate Park’s famous superintendent, John McLaren. It dates back all the way to 1880! See the tree adorned with hundreds of colorful lights, as it has been every Christmas since 1929 as the city’s official Christmas tree. It’s great for photo ops with the toy train alongside it.
The 94th lighting ceremony will take place on Dec. 7, 2023. From 4-8pm, SF Rec & Parks will pull out all the stops on JFK Promenade with carnival rides, arts and crafts, cookie decorating, live entertainment, and more.
🗓️ Opening Dec. 7, 2023
📍 In front of McLaren Lodge, 501 Stanyan St, Golden Gate Park
12. Neiman Marcus
The Neiman Marcus department store at Union Square is quite well-known for its beautiful windows and luminous rotunda. They capitalize on the impressive entrance hall with this huge “tree,” which is really a cone-shaped light display, suspended from the ceiling. Check it out for some unconventional holiday cheer.
🗓️ Open now
📍 Neiman Marcus, 150 Stockton St
13. City Hall
This beautiful golden tree is lighting the top of an impressive grand staircase inside of San Francisco City Hall. If you’ve never been inside this extraordinary building, now is the time to see it! Doors are open to the public Monday-Friday from 8am-8pm.
🗓️ Open now
📍 City Hall, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place