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

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 December
Estimated hotel price
£111
1 night at 3-star hotel
Oakland in December
Estimated hotel price
£111
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 Air New Zealand, Air Canada, SWISS and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest flight to Oakland from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 10h 55m.

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 Sixt and Turo, 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 Air New Zealand, Air Canada, SWISS and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest flight to Oakland from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 10h 55m.

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 Sixt and Turo, among others, in San Francisco.

Airports near Oakland

STSSanta Rosa Sonoma County
SFOSan Francisco
SJCSan Jose

Airlines serving Oakland

Lufthansa
Good (8,032 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,526 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,008 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,419 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,399 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,964 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,222 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,595 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,762 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (922 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,572 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,801 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,096 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,196 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,400 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (408 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,346 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,445 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,262 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Oakland

Average rates range from around £135 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £232 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 Moxy Oakland Uptown.

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)
£97+
View
Executive Inn & Suites Oakland
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£98+
View
The Westin San Francisco Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£140+
View
Embassy Suites by Hilton San Francisco Airport Waterfront
4 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£124+
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Courtyard by Marriott Oakland Airport
3 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£80+
View
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina
4 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
£80+
View

Hiring a car in Oakland

Hiring a car in Oakland costs £42 per day, on average, or £127 if you want to hire it for 3 days. 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 Dollar branch at 7600 Earhart St, which is 10 km from the city centre.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 1% more expensive than at San Francisco.

Expect to pay £0.95 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 £11.36 and £15.15. Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Oakland, while also 30% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Oakland costs £42 per day, on average, or £127 if you want to hire it for 3 days. 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 Dollar branch at 7600 Earhart St, which is 10 km from the city centre.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 1% more expensive than at San Francisco.

Expect to pay £0.95 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 £11.36 and £15.15. Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Oakland, while also 30% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car hire deals in Oakland

Full-size

5 adults, 2 Bags

£24/day

Full-size

Standard

5 adults, 3 Bags

£24/day

Standard
Find car hire in Oakland