There are a lot of perks to planning a trip to San Francisco in March. The biggest one is that it’s the shoulder season, which means you should expect lower crowd levels, and there’s less of a chance that some of San Francisco’s biggest attractions will be sold out.
The only real downside to coming in March? You should expect some rain and fog throughout your trip. But as long as you’re prepared for the weather, you’re sure to have an amazing vacation all the same.
Visiting San Francisco in March and wondering what to do? We’ve compiled a list of the best things to do in San Francisco in March to help you out! From St. Patrick’s Day festivities to beautiful blooms, this list will help you see the best of this bustling city as spring arrives.
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The 15 Best Things to do in San Francisco in March
1. See the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade is typically held in advance of the holiday and is one of the best events in San Francisco in March. During the parade, you’ll marvel at the colorful costumes, delightful floats, and talented acts from Irish dance troupes and bands. It’s a fun, family-friendly activity that helps you celebrate the season.
2. Celebrate with the United Irish Cultural Center
The United Irish Cultural Center holds several fun activities in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. In addition to the block party that typically occurs the day after the parade, you can also head to the cultural center on the day of the holiday itself.
Previous versions of this celebration saw guests enjoying live Irish bands, local schools presenting Irish dancing, several bars, and a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner.
3. Go On a St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl
If you’re interested in even more of a party scene for St. Patrick’s Day, check out the LepraCon Pub Craw, one of the most fun things to do in March in San Francisco. This two-day pub crawl invites you to gather at more than 20 bars for drink specials, music, and more party fun, as well as cruise around on the LepreCon Party Bus.
4. Take in a Warriors Game
While you used to need to head to Oakland to see the Golden State Warriors play, you can now check them out at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Cheering on the 2022 championship team on their home turf is a great activity in San Francisco in March.
5. Go Whale Watching
Whale watching is one of the best things to do in San Francisco in spring. From December to May, you have a good chance of seeing gray whales, but you’ll get much more than that with your trip.
You might just see other animals, including humpback whales, dolphins, and seals. Plus, you can take in the view of landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge from your San Francisco Bay whale watch tour.
6. Enjoy the California Academy of Sciences After Dark
Looking for an adults-only thing to do in San Francisco in March? While the California Academy of Sciences is great fun for the whole family during the day, Thursday evenings bring about NightLife, an adults-only party with a unique theme every time.
You can enjoy seeing the museum, joining in cultural discussions, dancing to live music, drinking specialty cocktails, and much more.
7. Explore the Exploratorium After Dark
Like the California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium also offers an adults-only party that’s one of the best events in San Francisco in March.
Also taking place on Thursday evenings, Exploratorium: After Dark lets you play on the museum’s more than 650 interactive exhibits while you listen to expert discussions, dance along to the DJ’s beats, and sip specialty cocktails.
8. Escape the rain in the Japanese Tea Garden
Over in Golden Gate Park, you’ll find one of the most beautiful places to be in San Francisco in spring. Even if it’s a little rainy, the Japanese Tea Garden is a stunning sight. And you can always hide out from the rain underneath the covered tea house.
Even better, if you’re visiting San Francisco in March, you’ll be there in time to see the cherry blossoms bloom in the garden, painting it a beautiful pink.
9. See ‘Entwined’ Before It Disappears
For the holiday season, the art installation “Entwined” is returning to Peacock Meadow in Golden Gate Park, featuring a stunning display of glowing trees and gardens illuminated by hundreds of LED lights. Past iterations of “Entwined” have been called “Entwined: Elder Mother,” with the display centered around the Elder Mother tree.
10. Enjoy a Free Concert at the Golden Gate Bandshell
March in San Francisco marks the return of free concerts at the Golden Gate Bandshell. There are over 100 performances from March until November, from salsa to rock to jazz. It’s a fun, family-friendly, and free thing to do in San Francisco in March.
11. See Magnolias at the San Francisco Botanical Garden
Magnolia season at the San Francisco Botanical Garden kicks off in mid-January, but if you’ll be in San Francisco in March, the season will still be going strong. Take in the sight of more than 200 blooming magnolia trees, painting the branches pink, white, silver, and magenta. It’s one of the most lovely things to see in Golden Gate Park in March.
12. See Tulips at Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden
For more beautiful blooms in Golden Gate Park, head to Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden. Surrounding a historic Dutch windmill, the tulips of this too-often-forgotten garden are most often in full bloom in March, making this month one of the best times to visit. This colorful sight is a can’t-miss attraction!
13. Pick Flowers at Flower Bulb Day
Early March typically brings about the return of Flower Bulb Day, where more than 80,000 tulips will cover Union Square. This delightful community event brings people together to celebrate spring in San Francisco. While you can come and simply enjoy walking among the flowers, you can even pick your own bunch to take home with you.
14. Take the Ferry to Alcatraz Island
Since you’re visiting San Francisco in March during the shoulder season, you should take advantage of the reduced crowd levels at some of San Francisco’s biggest attractions. One of the must-do things in San Francisco is taking a trip to Alcatraz Island.
When you take a tour of Alcatraz, you can enjoy a scenic ferry ride to the island that was once known for being an inescapable prison, followed by a tour of the island and the long-defunct prison itself.
Alcatraz is a fascinating place because there’s so much history here, from stories of attempted escapes to how the gardens came to be. Plus, it offers some of the most amazing views of the San Francisco Bay.
15. Hike Land’s End
Speaking of amazing views, Land’s End provides one of the most incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge. When you follow this hiking trail, you’ll check out historic landmarks, tons of natural beauty, panoramas of the bridge, and much more.
There you have it! The 15 best things to do in San Francisco in March. What are your favorites? Let us know in the comments!
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