16 Places for Seasonal + Year-Round Ice Skating in the Bay Area

While the Bay Area may not become a winter wonderland itself, there are still plenty of places to strap on a pair of ice skates and pretend. Whether you and your kids are hockey fanatics, hoping to become figure skating pros, or looking for a new holiday tradition, our list has the seasonal and year-round spots for all that and more.

For even more fun during the winter, check out The 10 Essential Winter Activities in the San Francisco Bay Area and 25 Festive Holiday Events in the Bay Area.

San Francisco

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square

Seasonal, outdoor | Get directions

Photo courtesy of Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square

Nestled under the lights of the huge Union Square Christmas tree, this iconic spot is available for skating through January 15, 2018. General admission, including a skate rental, is $18 and $13 for children. The rink also offers rentable lockers and 90-minute ice skating sessions beginning every even hour. Get your tickets in advance by purchasing them online!

The Holiday Ice Rink

Seasonal, outdoor | Get directions

This holiday rink at the Embarcadero Center is surrounded by some of the city’s best shopping and dining through January 7, 2018. As the Bay Area’s largest outdoor ice rink, it’s the perfect place for a little holiday fun — and it has been for three decades!

’Tis the Season for Science Holiday Ice Rink

Seasonal, outdoor | Get directions

At Cal Academy, they go all out for the holidays. Their program, ‘Tis the Season for Science, includes indoor snow flurries, a hands-on polar-themed exhibit, and an all-new outdoor ice rink! Join the fun and add a 55-minute ice skating session to your Academy visit for just $12. Buy admission and skating tickets online here, and find more information on the rink and special programs here.

Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowling Center

Year-round, indoor | Get directions

Open every day of the year, this indoor facility offers a full schedule of skating lessons in addition to figure skating, hockey and daily public skating hours. Pricing range from $7 toddler tickets to $12 general admission and you can rent skates for just $5! Get all the details on public skating here.

North Bay

Snoopy’s Home Ice

Year-round, indoor | Get directions

Located in the heart of Sonoma’s wine country and just across the street from the Charles M. Schulz Museum, this picturesque rink has been a favorite amongst local and visiting families for over 45 years. For public skating, they offer admission between $7.50 and $9.50 as well as a $3.50 skate rental. Or, opt for Parent & Puppy practice or Coffee Club, a two-hour session for adults only which includes a half hour lesson, skate rental and refreshments from the Warm Puppy Café!

Vacaville Ice Sports

Year-round, indoor | Get directions

Birthday parties, public skating, ice hockey and figure skating — at Vacaville Ice Sports, they have it all! Prices for public skating range from $8 to $10 without a skate rental and $11 to $13 with a rental. Check the schedule before you head out and get ready for a fun day on the ice!

Peninsula

Winter Lodge

Seasonal, outdoor | Get directions

This Palo Alto rink has been a family tradition since 1956. For just $11 and a $5 skate rental each time, you can skate all the way through April 15. You can view the public skate schedule here, or check out the class options here, and you can even reserve space for your large group!

Nazareth Ice Oasis

Year-round, indoor | Get directions

Offering public skate hours nearly every day of the year, Nazareth Ice Oasis is one of the Peninsula’s favorite places to skate! Check out the schedule on the website where you can also find information on the Skating School, youth hockey programs, figure skating and more.  

East Bay

The Little Ice Rink

Seasonal, outdoor | Get directions

Photo courtesy of Alameda South Shore Center

The South Shore Center in Alameda offers 4,100 square feet of ice skating bliss from November through January 8, 2018. For the sixth year in a row, families will flock to Alameda for this seasonal favorite. And if you don’t feel comfortable on ice skates, you can add “Bobby” the seal and “Tommy” the reindeer skating aids which help with balance!

Oakland Ice Center

Year-round, indoor | Get directions

Operated by the San Jose Sharks of the NHL, this Downtown Oakland ice facility houses one NHL-sized ice rink and one Olympic-sized ice rink for ice hockey, figure skating, broomball, curling, speed skating, ice dancing and public skating. Public skate is offered every day of the week in addition to weekly Bucket Sessions and adult-only Coffee Club. Get all the information, including hours and pricing, here.

Walnut Creek on Ice

Seasonal, outdoor | Get directions

This Walnut Creek rink operates for the season from November 10 through January 15, 2018, so the whole family can enjoy a fun, outdoor skate adventure! General admission is $12 during the week, and $15 on weekends and during holiday periods which you can see here.

Dublin Iceland

Year-round, indoor | Get directions

Daily public skate sessions at Dublin Iceland are open to people of all ages and ability levels, but if you want to improve your ability level you can take a class in the Skating School! With discounted rates for groups, public skate admission is $4 for toddlers, $8 for youth and $9 for adults. Throw in a $3 skate rental and you’re ready to go!

Solar4America Ice at Fremont

Year-round, indoor | Get directions

Operated by the San Jose Sharks of the NHL, this Fremont facility offers everything from public skating to curling events and all the ice sports in between. Though they offer public skating hours throughout the year, you can stop by through January 7 for Holiday Ice and skate to your favorite, festive music!

South Bay

Downtown Ice

Seasonal, outdoor | Get directions

Photo courtesy of San Jose Downtown Association

Located in Downtown San Jose, this beloved rink is surrounded by a circle of illuminated holiday palm trees so you can really feel the California Christmas spirit! Get on the ice November 17 – January 15 for admission between $10 and $15.

Solar4America Ice at San Jose

Year-round, indoor | Get directions

This indoor center in San Jose is operated year-round by the San Jose Sharks of the NHL. Offering public skate hours every day of the week, you can get in for admission between $7 and $11.50. Add a $5 skate rental or check out the pricing page for details on discounted pre-purchase tickets, group rates and the Monday Night Special.

In 2018, don’t miss the US Figure Skating Championships hosted inside Solar4America Ice at San Jose December 29, 2017 – January 7th, 2018.

Holiday Ice Rink at Santa Clara Central Park

Seasonal, outdoor | Get directions

Special Ice and the City of Santa Clara are offering open skate in addition to classes and private events through January 15 at this festive outdoor rink. Children 3 years and under are admitted for free and youth, student and adult tickets are available between $10 and $15. You can also choose an all-day skating pass or a Frequent Skater Pass which gets you 12 admissions throughout the season! Get all the details here.

Enjoy your time on the ice!  

If you have a favorite Bay Area ice skating spot, let us know in the comments below.