Here’s a San Francisco Christmas list of places to see lights and displays by yours truly.
Everything is easily walkable and accessible by Muni, the city transportation system. If you are curious about the going rates for taking Muni rides, you can find more info on fares: https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/fares. You can also take an Uber or Lyft, or even a driverless car Waymo!
Alright, let’s get started on the best places to see the festivities.
BEST Spot to Sit to See the Macy’s Christmas Tree in Union Square
Go to Union Square San Francisco for a gorgeous view of the ice skating rink and Christmas tree!
Pro tip: go to the Starbucks on the 4th floor in Macy’s to grab a cup of something (coffee) and head over to 6th floor where there are lounge-y seats near the escalators. On that specific day, we walked 14,000 steps yesterday so boyfriend and I needed to find a place to sit down.
On each floor, there’s usually 2 seats on the left and 2 seats on the right. You can even charge your phones since there are outlets. It’s such a gorgeous view so I can’t imagine what it’d look like at night!
Bathrooms are in the basement floor, and if you’re feeling up for it, you can also grab a cup of clam chowder soup at Boudin’s (which is located on the same level).
BRUNCH and Walk to a Fresh Gingerbread House
Here’s what an ideal Saturday morning walk would look like. First, you’ll get lunch at MyMy’s, a premier brunch spot in Nob Hill. The location is 1500 California St, San Francisco, CA 94109. They’re open every day from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, but double check if it’s on holiday.
There is a wait, so go early when it opens or 30 minutes after. The place itself is quite small, so if you’re going with a bigger group than four, expect to wait a bit longer. Everything on the menu is pretty solid, but I really liked their pistachio latte and brunch potatoes. I’m a sucker for great brunch potatoes, and they crisp theirs to perfection.
Then after eating a delicious brunch meal, you can walk up a couple blocks to The Fairmont hotel where you can see their massive 23 feet tall Christmas tree, decorated with beautiful ornaments. It’s all free access.
I recommend walking through the front main entrance to get the ultimate experience! When you walk in, there’s the gorgeous sky high Christmas tree and the gingerbread house located in the back. It is famously big and also free to walk through.
The Gingerbread House at The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco
No, you can’t eat the house though I’m sure a lot of us were tempted, even the adults. On the side bar, they sell champagne flutes if you’re feeling buzzy and festive.
68 Castro Street House San Francisco
Then we set off to see the famous 68 Castro Street House. From Powell Station, you can take the Muni to the house by taking the N line and getting off at Duboce Street and Noe Street. From then on, you have to walk a block up the hill to get to the house. It’s not a tough walk up, but just be warned!
We went during sunset and took a couple photos. There’s a bench conveniently in front of the house, so take many photos! Also, be a neighbor to others and help others take photos too. Then we walked back to the Castro Muni station by walking all the way down Castro street and took the muni back home.
Happy holidays!
You can watch the quick version of my Christmas walking tour below on my Instagram.
