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

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.

Article

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 November
Estimated hotel price
$265
1 night at 3-star hotel
Oakland in November
Estimated hotel price
$265
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 05m.

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 Europcar and Hertz, 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 05m.

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 Europcar and Hertz, among others, in San Francisco.

Airports near Oakland

Airlines serving Oakland

Lufthansa
Good (8,256 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,576 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,244 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,087 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,457 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,255 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,627 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,649 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (977 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,667 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,286 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (2,007 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,194 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,538 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (433 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,718 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,431 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,507 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,380 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Oakland

Average rates range from around $315 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $488 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Westwind Lodge and Continental Lodge. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Oakland, with prices from $107 to $1,008 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.

Elmhurst - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakland-Airport By IHG, Oakland Airport Arena Hotel and Harris Motel. The average nightly price for a double room in Elmhurst is $198.

Elmhurst - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakland-Airport By IHG, Oakland Airport Arena Hotel and Harris Motel. The average nightly price for a double room in Elmhurst is $198.
Most popular hotel in Oakland by neighbourhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Oakland

Most booked hotels in Oakland

Oakland Marriott City Center
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$228+
Executive Inn & Suites Oakland
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$214+
Embassy Suites by Hilton San Francisco Airport Oyster Point
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$298+
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakland-Airport By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$224+
Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco Airport North
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$200+
Best Western Plus Grosvenor Airport Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
$231+

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 $2.27 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 $27.14 and $36.18. 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 (Kia Sportage or similar) is, on average, 46% 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 $2.27 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 $27.14 and $36.18. 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 (Kia Sportage or similar) is, on average, 46% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.