Oakland, CA

Travel Guide

Lake Merritt featuring a pond
Lake Merritt featuring a pond
Chabot Space and Science Center featuring an observatory and interior views
Oakland Zoo which includes views
Oakland showing interior views and a park

Farmers markets, a multicultural culinary scene, stunning art deco architecture and an exciting zoo make Oakland a must-visit location for Bay area visitors.

Visit Oakland to discover one of America’s most beautiful theaters or explore the country’s first wildlife refuge. Enjoy waterfront dining and shopping inJack London Square or relax in one of the city’s many live music bars.

Oakland is the third-largest city in the San Francisco Bay area. Once infamous as home to the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang, the city has reinvented itself and now combines historical treasures such as City Hall with modern wonders like theChabot Space & Science Center.

Learn about the city’s past in the Oakland Museum, which features historical exhibits, a display on California’s ecology and a rooftop sculpture garden. Discover the stories of Oakland’s black population in the African American Museum & Library.

Take a walk or a jog aroundLake Merritt, a saltwater lagoon in the middle of the city. This was also the first nature reserve in the United States. The city has about 260 sunny days a year, making it a great place for outdoor enthusiasts.

Families will enjoy theOakland Zoo, while couples and friends can attend a live performance in the splendidParamount Theatre. Go to Jack London Square and stop in at the saloon where the novelist used to drink. This waterside square has a Sunday farmers market in addition to its fine dining and shopping.

Oakland’s creative side is highlighted at the annual August Art + Soul, a festival featuring musical performances, arts and crafts, food and more. Take advantage of the monthly event known as the First Friday Arts Festival, when galleries stay open late, performers line the streets and pop-up food stalls offer a variety of delicious treats.

Get around on the Bay Area Rapid Transportation (BART) rail system or use the good network of buses. Some BART stations, most notably the one on 16th Street, are attractions in themselves, showcasing interesting architecture and ornate facades.

Oakland’s warm weather, arts and multiculturalism give you the best ingredients of the modern California city.

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Where to stay in Oakland

Lake Merritt featuring a pond

Downtown Oakland

3.5/5(342 area reviews)

Central business district with a mix of residential, retail, and office spaces, Downtown Oakland offers an Entertainment District, historic theaters, Oakland Museum, and outdoor retail mall. Easily accessible via BART and AC Transit.

Downtown Oakland
Aerial View Oakland Inner Harbor Port City Downtown Skyline

West Oakland

2.5/5(2 area reviews)

Major West Coast port and trade center, this bustling area boasts the busiest port in Northern California, surrounded by a picturesque landscape of coastal terrace prairie, oak woodland, and north coastal scrub.

West Oakland
Unless you're on one of the aquatic teams, all you can do here is admire it. Speiker complex across the street has a great pool for adults-only lap swim, and day passes for general public available. #BVSBlue

Downtown Berkeley

4/5(147 area reviews)

Take time in Downtown Berkeley to visit attractions like Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive and UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall. You might also appreciate the abundant dining options, and you can hop on the metro at Downtown Berkeley Station to see more of the city.

Downtown Berkeley
Aerial view of the Albany Waterfront Trail, Berkeley, California, USA. The image shows the marshland and Berkeley skyline in the background.

Albany

The seaside views and shopping are a few reasons travelers visit Albany. Want to see more of the surrounding area? Golden Gate Fields and Berkeley Marina are a few top sights nearby.

Albany
Piedmont showing street scenes and outdoor art

Piedmont

You'll enjoy the lake views and architecture in Piedmont. You might want to make time for a stop at Davie Tennis Stadium or Piedmont Sports Field.

Piedmont
Gourmet Ghetto

North Berkeley

4/5(14 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in North Berkeley, Historic Berkeley and Aftel Archive of Curious Scents are top sights worth seeing.

North Berkeley
See our Where To Stay guide
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina

4 out of 5
200 Marina Blvd Berkeley CA
$112 nightly
The price is $129 total per night from Mar 8 to Mar 9
$129 total
Mar 8 - Mar 9
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Berkeley. Enjoy free WiFi, a marina, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (4,326 reviews)
Beautiful property close to everything and walkable

Reviewed on Mar 3, 2026

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina
Oakland Airport Executive Hotel

Oakland Airport Executive Hotel

3 out of 5
150 Hegenberger Rd Oakland CA
$69 nightly
The price is $80 total per night from Mar 8 to Mar 9
$80 total
Mar 8 - Mar 9
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Oakland. Enjoy free WiFi, room service, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
5.6/10 (2,255 reviews)
The condition of the room was completely unacceptable and far below what was advertised. Upon arrival, we found the room to be filthy and unsanitary. There was trash throughout the hotel, dirty walls, blood stains on the floor, and a strong, unpleasant odor. The toilet seat had yellow stains, the ...

Reviewed on Mar 4, 2026

Oakland Airport Executive Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge

Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge

3 out of 5
1800 Powell Street Emeryville CA
$146 nightly
The price is $164 total per night from Mar 6 to Mar 7
$164 total
Mar 6 - Mar 7
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this hotel in Emeryville. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,156 reviews)
Yes. Everything was nice and clean and the staff had great customer service

Reviewed on Feb 19, 2026

Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge
See all 1,390 properties in Oakland
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Coral Reef Inn & Suites

Coral Reef Inn & Suites

2.5 out of 5
400 Park St Alameda CA
Book a stay at this business-friendly aparthotel in Alameda. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
6.8/10 (2,921 reviews)
The room had a balcony on it and when I went check if the sliding Door was locked I discovered it didn't have a lock at all. Dead baby critters on the bathroom floor. Kids running up and down the hallway at 10:00 Pm. Loud Eastern Indian Music playing in the parking lot. The carpets in the hall had ...

Reviewed on Mar 3, 2026

Coral Reef Inn & Suites
Luxury Yacht Stay. A spacious floating getaway awaits you!

Luxury Yacht Stay. A spacious floating getaway awaits you!

Alameda CA
Stay at this houseboat in Alameda. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Jack London Square and Oakland Arena are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (2 reviews)
Colton was an excellent host!!!!! His communication was quick and professional! The boathouse is s great thing to experience if you haven't done so! For the age of the boat it still was in excellent condition! The view of the water is absolutely stunning!!! Just bring extra blankets or comforter ...

Reviewed on Feb 9, 2026

Luxury Yacht Stay. A spacious floating getaway awaits you!
Beautiful and Lush Hidden Wisteria Getaway

Beautiful and Lush Hidden Wisteria Getaway

Alameda CA
Stay at this cottage in Alameda. Enjoy a garden, patios, and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions Oakland Arena and Jack London Square are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (338 reviews)
Great vibe at this place

Reviewed on Feb 21, 2026

Beautiful and Lush Hidden Wisteria Getaway
See all properties in Oakland
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Getting around Oakland

If you’ve ever visited the Bay Area you’ll be familiar with BART, the Bay Area Rapid Transit, a train system which connects Oakland, San Francisco and beyond, out as far as Pittsburg. If you’re staying in downtown Oakland, renting a bike is a great way to go. This is one of the country’s most cycle-friendly cities, and numerous companies offer bike pick-up and drop-off rentals across town. Visit the Bay Area Rapid TransitOpens in a new window website.Browse Oakland rental cars.

Best time to visit

While Oakland does not have the perennial sunshine which you may associate with other parts of California, it still enjoys pleasant and mild weather for most of the year. If you visit in winter, you’ll find cheaper hotel rates but you’ll want to pack an umbrella, as it often rains. The busiest and most expensive times are spring and summer, with temperatures averaging in the mid 60s F (18 C) in August.

Popular places to visit

Jack London Square which includes a bay or harbor and a statue or sculpture

Jack London Square

Shop, dine and stroll to your heart’s content in this waterside square, named after the novelist who spent his childhood here.

Jack London Square
Unless you're on one of the aquatic teams, all you can do here is admire it. Speiker complex across the street has a great pool for adults-only lap swim, and day passes for general public available. #BVSBlue

University of California, Berkeley

Enjoy the collegiate vibe when you visit University of California, Berkeley, during your trip to Berkeley. Attend a sporting event or discover the beautiful sunsets in this vibrant area.

University of California, Berkeley
Greek Theater

Greek Theater

President Theodore Roosevelt and the Dalai Lama are among the iconic figures who have graced the stage of this neoclassical open-air bowl.

Greek Theater
Oakland Zoo featuring night scenes, signage and zoo animals

Oakland Zoo

Watch alligators being fed, ride a train through the Australian outback and see a herd of elephants on the African savannah at this animal park.

Oakland Zoo
Oakland Coliseum Firework Show

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Catch an event at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum during your trip to Oakland. Experience the entertainment choices and acclaimed art scene in this walkable area.

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Fox Theater

Fox Theater

Find a school, a restaurant and a concert venue in this historic complex where Dylan, Green Day and B. B. King have played.

Fox Theater

Things to do

Bridge 2 Bridge Tour: Golden Gate Bridge to Bay Bridge

San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise (90-minutes)

$48
per adult
94% of travellers recommend
San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise (90-minutes)
San Francisco City Lights Cruise

San Francisco City Lights Cruise (2-hours)

$58
per adult
94% of travellers recommend
San Francisco City Lights Cruise (2-hours)
Alcatraz San Francisco Bay Cruise with Night Option

Alcatraz Visit with Night Option and SF Bay Cruise

$139
per adult
94% of travellers recommend
Alcatraz Visit with Night Option and SF Bay Cruise
All California Self Guided AI Audio Tour for 7 Days SF to LA

All California Self Guided AI Audio Tour for 7 Days SF to LA

$9
per adult
All California Self Guided AI Audio Tour for 7 Days SF to LA
Alcatraz Island Prison Tour Package

Official Alcatraz Island Prison Tour with Free App Audio Packages

$86
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Official Alcatraz Island Prison Tour with Free App Audio Packages
San Francisco: Kids Thrill Zone Combo at PIER 39

San Francisco: Kids Thrill Zone Combo at PIER 39

$34
per adult
San Francisco: Kids Thrill Zone Combo at PIER 39
See all activities in Oakland

Reviews of Oakland

3.6
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
261
5 - Excellent 17%
4 - Good
623
4 - Good 40%
3 - Okay
501
3 - Okay 32%
2 - Disappointing
110
2 - Disappointing 7%
1 - Terrible
75
1 - Terrible 5%

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveler

I hated this hotel

3/5 - Okay

BayAreaTraveler

Crime rate and overall city’s cleanliness needs to be addressed.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

This is my hometown I love Oakland

5/5 - Excellent

Johanna

I loved the food and the Golden State Bridge and the museum.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Food’s always a highlight and the Fox theater

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Oakland is a very interesting place. The city itself needs to be cleaned up quite a bit but overall it's somewhere interesting to visit.

Cities near Oakland

Rosenblum Cellars

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Aerial Panorama of Urban Area and Open Space in East Bay, Northern California

Richmond

Low clouds drift over vineyards in the Tri-valley region of Northern California, just east of San Francisco Bay. This beautiful area, Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore, is home to many wineries.

Dublin

Lake Chabot Regional Park. Autumn landscape.

Castro Valley

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