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. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Oakland has to offer.

Activities & attractions in Oakland

North Oakland is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in Oakland. These include popular favorites 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.

Oakland in May

Estimated package price

$151

2 travelers

Flight to Oakland

3 nights at hotel

$151

2 travelers

Flight to Oakland

3 nights at hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Oakland in August, when the average temperature is 66.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 73.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 44.6 °F, with an average temperature of 51.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 4.8″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Oakland, with an average rainfall of 0″.

Temperatures

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Plane

Oakland is served by 2 airports: Oakland Airport (OAK) and San Francisco Airport (SFO). The closest to downtown Oakland is Oakland Airport, which is located 7 miles from the city center. Further away is San Francisco Airport, 14 miles from the center of Oakland. Oakland Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from United Airlines, Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Oakland departs from Ontario and takes around 1h 27m.

Car

Another option to get to Oakland is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 7 miles from Oakland. You’ll find branches of Europcar and Turo, among others, in San Francisco.

Plane

Car

Another option to get to Oakland is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 7 miles from Oakland. You’ll find branches of Europcar and Turo, among others, in San Francisco.

Airports near Oakland

OAKOakland

SFOSan Francisco

SJCSan Jose

Airlines serving Oakland

Good (8,202 reviews)

Good (1,560 reviews)

Good (8,181 reviews)

Good (4,480 reviews)

Good (2,048 reviews)

Good (8,511 reviews)

Good (3,258 reviews)

Good (1,647 reviews)

Good (3,737 reviews)

Good (949 reviews)

Excellent (3,660 reviews)

United Airlines

Good (10,105 reviews)

Scandinavian Airlines

Good (1,956 reviews)

LOT

Good (1,212 reviews)

Air Canada

Good (11,509 reviews)

Good (1,506 reviews)

Good (1,455 reviews)

Good (1,427 reviews)

Good (431 reviews)

Excellent (1,585 reviews)

Where to stay in Oakland

Average rates range from around $176 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $290 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Moxy Oakland Uptown and Civic Center Lodge. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Oakland, with prices from $53 to $566 per night. North Oakland is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Oakland are about 80% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Oakland by neighborhood

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, 1098 reviews)

$167+

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Hampton Inn Oakland Downtown-City Center

3 stars

Excellent (8.5, 438 reviews)

$129+

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Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport

4 stars

Excellent (8.4, 2548 reviews)

$168+

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Executive Inn & Suites Oakland

3 stars

Excellent (8.3, 1588 reviews)

$145+

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Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront

4 stars

Excellent (8, 2149 reviews)

$139+

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Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge

3 stars

Excellent (8, 1289 reviews)

$165+

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Renting a car in Oakland costs $56 per day, on average, or $168 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Oakland is the Dollar branch at 7600 Earhart St, which is 6 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 23% cheaper than airport locations in Oakland.

Expect to pay $4.35 per gallon in Oakland (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $52.24 and $69.65. The most frequently booked car type in Oakland is Standard (Chevrolet Blazer or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Jeep Cherokee or similar) are, on average, 52% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 23% cheaper than airport locations in Oakland.

Best car rental deals in Oakland

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$31/day

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$32/day

Find car rentals in Oakland

Oakland Tourism | Oakland Guide

You're Going to Love Oakland

Activities & attractions in Oakland

Activities

Tours

Shopping

Other activities

Where to Eat in Oakland

When to visit Oakland

How to Get to Oakland

Plane

Car

Plane

Car

Airports near Oakland

Airlines serving Oakland

Where to stay in Oakland

Where to stay in popular areas of Oakland

Most booked hotels in Oakland

Renting a car in Oakland

Best car rental deals in Oakland