What to do in San Francisco when it rains
Rainy days suit San Francisco: trade the streets for its galleries and museums, a sheltered market, and a café where you can watch the weather go by.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art 151 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
- Exploratorium Pier 15 Embarcadero at, Green St, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
- Cable Car Museum 1201 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
- Asian Art Museum 200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
- Musée Mécanique Pier 45, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
- Randall Museum 199 Museum Way, San Francisco, CA 94114, USA
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art 151 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts 701 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
- Minnesota Street Project 1275 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
- 111 Minna Gallery and Event Space 111 Minna St, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- Peak Design SF Store 529 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
- Museum of 3D Illusions 55-61 Jefferson St, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- PIER 39 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
- Ferry Building 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- The Painted Ladies San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
- Coit Tower 1 Telegraph Hill Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
- Union Square San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
- One Maritime Plaza 300 Clay St, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- Ferry Building 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- Whole Foods Market 1765 California St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA
- Trader Joe's 10 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
- Trader Joe's 788 Laguna St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
- Trader Joe's 555 9th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
- Whole Foods Market 399 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- Tartine Bakery 600 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
- The Grove Restaurant & Bar 690 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
- The Mill 736 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
- Zuni Café 1658 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
- McDonald's 1100 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
- The Coffee Movement 1030 Washington St, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- PIER 39 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
- Metreon 135 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
- Embarcadero Center 2 Embarcadero Ctr, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
- Japan Center Malls 1737 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
- One Montgomery Tower 1 Montgomery St #800, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA
- Anchorage Square Mall 500 Beach St, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.