Oakland, CA

Travel Guide

Oakland
Oakland
Oakland
Oakland
Oakland

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

Downtown Oakland

Downtown Oakland

3.5/5(348 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
Downtown Berkeley

Downtown Berkeley

4/5(148 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

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
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
North Berkeley

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
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
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 Apr 26 to Apr 27
$129 total
Apr 26 - Apr 27
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! (4,499 reviews)
Clean room, kind and helpful staff.

Reviewed on Apr 21, 2026

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina
Claremont Resort & Club

Claremont Resort & Club

5 out of 5
41 Tunnel Road Berkeley CA
$319 nightly
The price is $362 total per night from May 10 to May 11
$362 total
May 10 - May 11
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this luxury hotel in Berkeley. Enjoy 3 outdoor pools, 3 restaurants, and 3 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,006 reviews)
Excellent

Reviewed on Apr 20, 2026

Claremont Resort & Club
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
$130 nightly
The price is $146 total per night from Apr 26 to Apr 27
$146 total
Apr 26 - Apr 27
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! (1,179 reviews)
Hotel was nice. Had everything you needed and centrally located. The only complaint is that it was very loud. You could hear people in the rooms next door and in the hallways. All during the night the room doors would slam shut. So it was hard to sleep, but other than that it was good.

Reviewed on Apr 20, 2026

Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge
See all 1,352 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 (2,945 reviews)
The check in experience was horrible so much that we ended up leaving the hotel and not checking in. We received a key, the key did not work, went back to the front desk and got another one. When we entered the room, there was a couple in the room having sex and they yelled at us to get out. There ...

Reviewed on Apr 21, 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 a garden and patios. Popular attractions San Francisco Bay and Jack London Square are located nearby.
10/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
I really enjoyed my stay on the boat. Quiet, serene with ducks, geese and other birds to listen to. Finding it was easy as the host had very specific directions and descriptions. I liked being able to use the dock showers as boat shower are always too small. There's even a sitting area above with ...

Reviewed on Mar 30, 2026

Luxury Yacht Stay. A spacious floating getaway awaits you!
Garden Apartment Located in a Wonderful Old Victorian Home

Garden Apartment Located in a Wonderful Old Victorian Home

Alameda CA
Stay at this apartment in Alameda. Enjoy a garden, laundry facilities, and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions San Francisco Bay and Jack London ...
10/10 Exceptional! (187 reviews)
Beautiful accommodation with everything you need. Ideal for two people, gorgeous rear outdoor space though we didn’t have time to enjoy it. Plenty of street parking. Marty the owner who lives upstairs is a wonderful host, brought us extra toiletries. Very clean in a lovely neighborhood.

Reviewed on Apr 19, 2026

Garden Apartment Located in a Wonderful Old Victorian Home
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

Jack London Square

4.5/5(397 reviews)

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
University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

4.5/5(1,414 reviews)

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
Oakland Zoo

Oakland Zoo

4/5(7 reviews)

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
Greek Theater

Greek Theater

4/5(76 reviews)

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
Berkeley Marina

Berkeley Marina

4.5/5(80 reviews)

A world-class playground complex, a labyrinth of nature trails and a solar calendar are among the highlights that make this stunning marina stand out.

Berkeley Marina
Oakland Coliseum Firework Show

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

4/5(211 reviews)

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

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Things to do

Golden Gate Bridge at night

San Francisco Night Tour

$53
per adult
78% of travellers recommend
San Francisco Night Tour
San Francisco City Lights Cruise

California Sunset Cruise (2-hours)

$58
per adult
94% of travellers recommend
California Sunset Cruise (2-hours)
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)
Alcatraz Visit with Night Option and SF Bay Cruise

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
SF: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

SF: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Entry Ticket

$15
per adult
88% of travellers recommend
SF: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Entry Ticket
San Francisco: Skip-the-Line 1-Hour Bay Cruise by Boat

San Francisco Bay Cruise

$39
per adult
92% of travellers recommend
San Francisco Bay Cruise
See all activities in Oakland

Cities near Oakland

Alameda

Alameda

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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