Oakland, CA

Travel Guide

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
Oakland featuring modern architecture

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.

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
Berkeley showing a river or creek, a sunset and general coastal views

Downtown Berkeley

4/5(147 area reviews)

Take time in Downtown Berkeley to visit attractions like Historic Berkeley and Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. 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
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
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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
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South Berkeley

While you're in South Berkeley, take in top sights like Telegraph Avenue and jump on the metro at Ashby Station to see more of the city.

South Berkeley
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina

4 out of 5
200 Marina Blvd, Berkeley, CA
$144 nightly
The price is $166 total per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
$166 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star 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! (3,082 reviews)
Review
"Our stay was average. Think the hotel could be cleaner. They did give us a discount on parking but it's still a ridiculous charge. They were very prompt at delivering a toiletry we had forgotten."

Reviewed on Jul 15, 2025

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina
The Marina Inn on San Francisco Bay

The Marina Inn on San Francisco Bay

2.5 out of 5
68 Monarch Bay Dr, San Leandro, CA
$96 nightly
The price is $110 total per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
$110 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this golf hotel in San Leandro. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,997 reviews)
"."

Reviewed on Jul 12, 2025

The Marina Inn on San Francisco Bay
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
$128 nightly
The price is $143 total per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
$143 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Emeryville. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,193 reviews)
"Great"

Reviewed on Jul 8, 2025

Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge
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 (2,759 reviews)
"Everything could use a fresh paint job otherwise kept up nicely."

Reviewed on Jul 11, 2025

Coral Reef Inn & Suites
Charming baseball themed 2-story building with cable TV, wi-fi & stereo system.

Charming baseball themed 2-story building with cable TV, wi-fi & stereo system.

Berkeley
Stay at this vacation home in Berkeley. Enjoy laundry facilities and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Berkeley Marina and Greek Theater are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (2 reviews)
"Cool & quirky place the size of a warehouse! Tons of baseball memorabilia and history. Dave’s a really cool dude! Highly recommend staying and something that’s completely different for a change."

Reviewed on Jun 14, 2025

Charming baseball themed 2-story building with cable TV, wi-fi & stereo system.
Beautiful and Lush Hidden Wisteria Getaway

Beautiful and Lush Hidden Wisteria Getaway

Alameda
Stay at this cottage in Alameda. Enjoy a garden, patios, and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions San Francisco Bay and Oakland Arena are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (270 reviews)
"The cottage was an amazing place to call home for a week. The place was beautiful, very clean, fully equipped with everything we needed, and very cozy. It felt safe, comfortable and was nice ans quiet."

Reviewed on Jul 12, 2025

Beautiful and Lush Hidden Wisteria Getaway
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

Things to do

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.

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