SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING GUIDE.
New Years San Francisco 2023 to 2024
by Jill Loeffler •
Updated: September 1, 2023
San Francisco is one of the best places to celebrate New Year's Eve. You'll find a variety of celebrations from 21 and older pub crawls to theater performances.
On New Year's Eve, you can also take a cruise, catch some live music, or join friends for a night out on the town.
This year, New Year's Eve falls on a Sunday night.
You'll find plenty of activities on New Year's Day too. You can head out on a special New Year's Day cruise, visit a few of the famous San Francisco attractions, or lay low watching some great college football games.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Concerts, Live Music & Shows
There are several great shows on NYE in San Francisco.
You will find these concerts at venues all over town including The Warfield, The Fillmore, and The Independent. These are top shows scheduled so far this New Year's in San Francisco.
>> Additional NYE Live Music Performances
Fireworks Over the Bay
One of the largest events this New Years in San Francisco is the Fireworks display over the Bay.
This annual event is just to the south of the Ferry Building near the SF Bay Bridge. The show kicks off at 11:59 pm.
>> Tips to Attend the New Year's Eve Fireworks Display
New Year's Eve Cruises
A unique way to spend your New Year's is aboard a cruise on the SF Bay. It's one of the few places in the US you can enjoy this type of adventure on NYE.
You will find a variety of cruises from high-end dinner cruises to 21+ party boats.
>> Discover Additional Options for NYE
Holiday Attraction Schedule
Many attractions close early on New Year's Eve. As you plan your visit, make sure to check out my list of closing times for top SF attractions on New Year's Eve.
>> Holiday Attraction Schedules
21+ Parties & Events
One of the most popular ways to ring in the New Year in San Francisco is at a fun 21+ party. You will find dozens of options, many are at high-end hotels.
They feature a variety of music options, dancing, and a night full of fun and entertainment. My favorite part about them is that most charge a set fee and include drinks all night long.
>> Check Out the Top 21+ Parties for New Year's Eve
Additional Things to Do on NYE in SF
Theater Performances on NYE in San Francisco
This year, you'll find two large performances on stage on New Year's Eve.
Guys and Dolls
Tickets: Find Tickets
The first show is Guys and Dolls at the San Francisco Playhouse. The show starts at 2 pm and will last a couple of hours. This also leaves you plenty of time to head out for the night or stroll over to the waterfront for the fireworks show.
Potted Potter
Tickets: Find Tickets
Another afternoon theater option is Potted Potter. It's a parody that tries to fit all seven Harry Potter books into one show. It's best for those six and older. The NYE performance is at 2 pm at the Palace of Fine Arts.
NYE at the SF Jazz Center
Tickets: Find tickets for both performances
Head over to the new SF Jazz Center on New Years Eve for Monsieur Perine. This funky New Year's Eve Party includes two shows. The first is at 8 pm and is open to the public.
The second is at 10:30 pm. Both are dance floor shows.
>> SF Jazz Center's Official Website
Comedy Shows on NYE
SF brings in big name performers all year long and NYE always offers up some great options. You can catch an earlier show which will end well before midnight so you can still head out on the town.
You can also catch a show that runs through midnight to escape the chaos all around town.
>> Find a full list of performers on NYE here
Fresh Start Festival
The Fresh Start Festival is a three day outdoor music event at The Midway in San Francisco.
It starts on Saturday, December 30. It then continues with two additional full days of music on New Year's Eve and January 1. ,
NYE performers include Louis The Child, Elderbrook, Blu DeTiger, and more. On Monday, New Year's Day, you will find Kaskade Chris Lorenzo, Justin Martin, and others on stage.
This festival is a fun way to kick off the new year in style!
>> Find tickets for this year's festival
Best Deals on San Francisco Hotels
Don't pay full price for your room this holiday season. Start your search by checking out the great deals all throughout the city. You can save on your room rate and/or get discounts on popular amenities such as wifi, parking, breakfast, and more.
Click the links below to start saving today!
Booking: Find great deals all around San Francisco for your upcoming stay!
TripAdvisor: What's the #1 hotel in San Francisco? Read reviews & find hotel deals on TripAdvisor!
VRBO: In addition to hotels, you'll also find some great places to stay locally through VRBO. Book an apartment or a room and feel more like a local. Find some great places to stay on VRBO here.
Fancy Dinner Options
If you love heading out for a nice dinner to celebrate NYE in San Francisco, then you have many of great options. Here are a few places to check out this year. I recommend making your reservations ASAP, as they fill up quickly.
- Fairmont Nob Hill
- Tonga Room
- Foreign Cinema
- Michael Mina
- Zingari Ristorante
Make your reservations for these and other great places on OpenTable.com today.
Public Transit Hours
On New Year's Eve in San Francisco, you will find extended hours for BART, Caltrain, and SF's Muni.
BART
The last BART train to the East Bay leaves San Francisco around 1:30 am. Make sure to arrive early so you can get a spot on this last train heading east. The only train leaving SF will be the Yellow line, so if you need to get to Richmond, Berryessa, and Dublin, you will need to transfer.
The last BART train heading toward Millbrae will run through downtown SF at around 2:10 am.
They will also be running several extra trains to get people out of SF after the fireworks display.
Click here to visit their site to learn more about their NYE service.
On New Year's Day, BART will offer their regular Sunday service from 8 am until midnight.
Caltrain
Caltrain is offering additional trains to San Francisco before the fireworks and also later trains southbound after the fireworks. They have added on two additional northbound trains.
Additional trains will head out after the NYE fireworks display with the last train leaving at 2 am. Make sure to get to the Caltrain station as quickly as you can after the show as these trains fill up quickly.
Here are more details on their site.
Caltrain also offers free rides on NYE starting at 8pm and ending when the final special train arrives in San Jose.
SF Muni
SF's Muni offers free transit from 8 pm to 5 am. Here are a few additional details:
- Muni Metro hours will extend to 2:15 am between West Portal and 4th and King Streets and between West Portal and the Embarcadero
- Extra Owl Service for the following routes from 10 pm to 5 am: 5 Fulton, 7 Haight/Noriega, 22 Fillmore, 24 Divisadero, 25 Treasure Island, 38 Geary, 44 O'Shaughnessy, 48 Quintara/24th , 90 and 91 Owl and the N Owl bus routes
Do not tag your Clipper Card during these times or you will be charged the regular fee.
New Year's Day
If you didn't party too hard on New Year's Eve, you can also enjoy a number of fun activities the next day. Here are just some of the top things to see and do on New Year's Day in San Francisco.
Attractions Open on New Year's Day
On New Year's Day, you will find a number of attractions open including the Aquarium of the Bay on Pier 39, the SF Zoo, and the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. One special treat this day is that you will also get free admission into the gorgeous Botanical Gardens.
Learn More: Hours for All Top Attractions on New Year's Day
Tours & Cruises
Bay Cruise Adventure
- 60-minute ride around the SF Bay
- Cruise past Alcatraz Island, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Fort Point
- Ride under the Golden Gate Bridge - twice!
- Listen to narration along the way about the attractions and SF's history
- Several cruises between 10:15am and 5pm
- Find tickets for this cruise
Bike the Golden Gate Bridge
- Guided three-hour tour from SF to Sausalito
- Ride along the SF waterfront, up and over the Golden Gate Bridge, and on some small hills until you reach the seaside town of Sausalito
- Stop along the way for pictures and to learn more from your expert guide
- Ferry back to SF from Sausalito
- Reserve your spot today
Best Places to Watch College Football
One of my favorite things to do on New Year's Day is watch some college football. Here are some great sports bars where you can enjoy the games.
- Nickies: Lower Haight neighborhood; pub food available all day including beer battered fish & chips, mac & cheese and gourmet burgers; normally opens at noon; 466 Haight Street (between Webster & Fillmore Streets)
- Final Final: Marina District; fun, but often crowded sports bar; mostly locals; very limited food menu; 2990 Baker Street (at Lombard)
- Green's Sports Bar: Russian Hill/Nob Hill area; great place to watch football; bar only - no food; normally opens around 10am; 2239 Polk Street
- Kezar Pub: Haight Ashbury/Cole Valley; small, but popular sports bar near Golden Gate Park; full pub menu that includes wings, tacos and burgers - their Bangers and Mash is also amazing!; usually opens around 11:30am; 770 Stanyan Street
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group!
It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!
