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 among the most popular tourist destinations 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 Commis Dining Room (3859 Piedmont Avenue), Wood Tavern (6317 College Ave.) and SAFFRON KITCHEN (5940 College Ave). If you’re looking for affordable options, Yoshi's Oakland (510 Embarcadero West) and ACRE Kitchen and Bar (5655 College Ave.) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Burdell (4640 Telegraph Ave) and Mago (3762 Piedmont Ave) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Oakland.

When to visit Oakland

Oakland in December
Estimated hotel price
$266
1 night at 3-star hotel
Oakland in December
Estimated hotel price
$266
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 Lufthansa, United Airlines, 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.

Car

Another option to get to Oakland is to pick up a car hire from San Francisco, which is about 12 km from Oakland. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Europcar, among others, in San Francisco.

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 Lufthansa, United Airlines, 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.

Car

Another option to get to Oakland is to pick up a car hire from San Francisco, which is about 12 km from Oakland. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Europcar, among others, in San Francisco.

Airports near Oakland

OAKOakland
SFOSan Francisco
SJCSan Jose

Airlines serving Oakland

Lufthansa
Good (8,108 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,532 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,088 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,438 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,452 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,982 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,250 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,616 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (938 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,926 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,737 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,606 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,861 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,211 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,287 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,418 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,471 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (418 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,402 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,311 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Oakland

Average rates range from around $299 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $497 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 $93 to $626 per night. North Oakland is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Oakland are about 94% 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

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Oakland Marriott City Center
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$229+
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Embassy Suites by Hilton San Francisco Airport Oyster Point
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$278+
View
Executive Inn & Suites Oakland
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$194+
View
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakland-Airport By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
$212+
View
Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco Airport North
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$185+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Oakland Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$194+
View

Hiring a car in Oakland

Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Oakland is the Dollar branch at 7600 Earhart St, which is 10 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.00 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 $23.90 and $31.87. The most frequently booked car type in Oakland is Full-size (Ford Explorer or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Premium car hire (BMW X3 or similar) is, on average, 49% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Oakland is the Dollar branch at 7600 Earhart St, which is 10 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.00 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 $23.90 and $31.87. The most frequently booked car type in Oakland is Full-size (Ford Explorer or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Premium car hire (BMW X3 or similar) is, on average, 49% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Oakland

Standard

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$65/day

Standard

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$67/day

Economy
Find car hire in Oakland