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.
Where to Eat in Oakland
North Oakland is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Oakland. These include popular favourites such as Perle Wine Bar (2058 Mountain Blvd), Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine (4929 Shattuck Ave) and Namastey Patio (5500 College Ave). If you’re looking for affordable options, Soi4 Bangkok Eatery (5421 College Ave) and The Fat Lady Bar & Restaurant (201 Washington St) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Duende (468 19th Street) and Calavera Mexican Kitchen & Agave Bar (2337 Broadway Oakland Hive) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Oakland.
When to visit Oakland
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.
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 Air Canada, Lufthansa, Air New Zealand and other airlines departing from New Zealand. The shortest flight to Oakland from New Zealand departs from Christchurch and takes around 13h 10m.
Train
Located 1.2 km from the city centre, Oakland Jack London Square is the busiest station in Oakland. Another popular train station is Oakland Coliseum, located 9 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 Thrifty and Dollar, 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.
Airlines serving Oakland
Where to stay in Oakland
Average rates range from around $279 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $359 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn Oakland Downtown-City Center and Ramada by Wyndham Oakland Downtown City Center. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Oakland, with prices from $22 to $1,482 per night. North Oakland is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Oakland are about 41% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Oakland
Most booked hotels in Oakland
Hiring a car in Oakland
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo and Europcar 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 $1.64 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 $19.68 and $26.23. The most frequently booked car type in Oakland is Economy (Jeep Wrangler or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard car hire (Honda Accord or similar) is, on average, 35% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.