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
£109
1 night at 3-star hotel
Oakland in December
Estimated hotel price
£109
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 11h.

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 Turo 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 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 11h.

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 Turo and Europcar, among others, in San Francisco.

Airports near Oakland

OAKOakland
SFOSan Francisco
SJCSan Jose

Airlines serving Oakland

Lufthansa
Good (8,223 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,565 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,194 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,480 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,055 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,529 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,257 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,646 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,731 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,656 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (951 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,124 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,965 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,210 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,539 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,515 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,433 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,460 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (431 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,587 reviews)
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Where to stay in Oakland

Average rates range from around £127 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £213 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 holiday rental options in Oakland, with prices from £39 to £415 per night. North Oakland is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Oakland are about 63% 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

See all
Oakland Marriott City Center
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£123+
View
Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£130+
View
Executive Inn & Suites Oakland
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£108+
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Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£121+
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Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£101+
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Courtyard by Marriott Oakland Airport
3 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£78+
View

Hiring a car in Oakland

Hiring a car in Oakland costs £41 per day, on average, or £123 if you want to hire it 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 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, 11% more expensive than at San Francisco.

Expect to pay £0.85 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 £10.12 and £13.50. The most frequently booked car type in Oakland is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Nissan Pathfinder or similar) is, on average, 16% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Oakland costs £41 per day, on average, or £123 if you want to hire it 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 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, 11% more expensive than at San Francisco.

Expect to pay £0.85 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 £10.12 and £13.50. The most frequently booked car type in Oakland is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Nissan Pathfinder or similar) is, on average, 16% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Oakland

Economy

2 adults, 2 Bags

£20/day

Economy

Compact

4 adults, 2 Bags

£23/day

Compact
Find car hire in Oakland