Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Oakland travel guide

Oakland Tourism | Oakland Guide

You're Going to Love Oakland

With a population of 390.724, Oakland is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Oakland to see all of its attractions.

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Where to Eat in Oakland

North Oakland is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Oakland. These include popular favourites such as Namastey Patio (5500 College Ave), Daughter Thai Kitchen (6118 Medau Pl) and A16 Rockridge (5356 College Avenue). If you’re looking for affordable options, Bardo Lounge & Supper Club (3343 Lakeshore Ave) and Jaji (422 24th St) are great picks.

When to visit Oakland

Oakland in December
Estimated hotel price
$259
1 night at 3-star hotel
Oakland in December
Estimated hotel price
$259
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Oakland in August, when the average temperature is 19 °C, and the highest can go up to 23 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 7 °C, with an average temperature of 11 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 122 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Oakland, with an average rainfall of 0 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Oakland

Plane

Oakland is served by 2 airports: Oakland Airport (OAK) and San Francisco Airport (SFO). The closest to the city centre of Oakland is Oakland Airport, which is located 11 km from the city centre. Further away is San Francisco Airport, 22 km from the centre of Oakland. Oakland Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air New Zealand and other airlines departing from New Zealand. The shortest flight to Oakland from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 12h 05m.

Train

Located 9 km from the city centre, Oakland Coliseum is the busiest station in Oakland. Another popular train station is Oakland Jack London Square, located 1.2 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Oakland is to pick up a car hire from San Francisco, which is about 13 km from Oakland. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Budget, among others, in San Francisco.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Oakland, located 0.8 km from the city centre of Oakland. Oakland Jack London is also a commonly used station, and is 0.8 km from the city centre.

Plane

Oakland is served by 2 airports: Oakland Airport (OAK) and San Francisco Airport (SFO). The closest to the city centre of Oakland is Oakland Airport, which is located 11 km from the city centre. Further away is San Francisco Airport, 22 km from the centre of Oakland. Oakland Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air New Zealand and other airlines departing from New Zealand. The shortest flight to Oakland from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 12h 05m.

Train

Located 9 km from the city centre, Oakland Coliseum is the busiest station in Oakland. Another popular train station is Oakland Jack London Square, located 1.2 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Oakland is to pick up a car hire from San Francisco, which is about 13 km from Oakland. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Budget, among others, in San Francisco.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Oakland, located 0.8 km from the city centre of Oakland. Oakland Jack London is also a commonly used station, and is 0.8 km from the city centre.

Airports near Oakland

OAKOakland
SFOSan Francisco
SJCSan Jose

Airlines serving Oakland

KLM
Good (1,432 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,626 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,007 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,571 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,090 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,810 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,095 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,045 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,677 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,434 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,504 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,516 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (879 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,331 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,605 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,095 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,334 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,146 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,432 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,412 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Oakland

Average rates range from around $289 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $460 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Ramada by Wyndham Oakland Downtown City Center and Continental Lodge. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Oakland, with prices from $22 to $1,525 per night. North Oakland is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Oakland are about 71% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Oakland by neighbourhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Oakland

Most booked hotels in Oakland

See all
Oakland Marriott City Center
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$219+
View
Executive Inn & Suites Oakland
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$176+
View
Embassy Suites by Hilton San Francisco Airport Oyster Point
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$269+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Oakland Airport
3 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
$174+
View
Best Western Plus Grosvenor Airport Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
$160+
View
Comfort Inn & Suites San Francisco Airport North
3 stars
Good (7.2, Good reviews)
$118+
View

Hiring a car in Oakland

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Oakland is the Fox branch at 7600 Earhart Road, which is 9 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.52 per litre in Oakland (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $18.18 and $24.24. The most frequently booked car type in Oakland is Full-size (Chevrolet Tahoe or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate car hire (Ford Escape or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Oakland is the Fox branch at 7600 Earhart Road, which is 9 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.52 per litre in Oakland (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $18.18 and $24.24. The most frequently booked car type in Oakland is Full-size (Chevrolet Tahoe or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate car hire (Ford Escape or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Oakland

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$241/day

Supplier choice

Standard

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$245/day

Standard
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