Oakland
Oakland is a city across the bay from San Francisco, known for Lake Merritt and the Jack London Square waterfront. Go for the lake and the ferry links, or use it as a base for a Bay Area trip.
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Oakland sits on the east shore of San Francisco Bay and is the largest city in Alameda County. Lake Merritt, a saltwater lagoon near downtown, has a walking loop of about 3.1 miles around the water. Jack London Square, on the waterfront, is named for the writer Jack London, who grew up in Oakland. Oakland's Chinatown sits downtown.
Oakland suits a trip that pairs a few days in the East Bay with a visit to San Francisco. BART trains run under the bay between the two cities, and ferries leave from Jack London Square for the Ferry Building. Downtown has the 12th Street BART station, so a stay there keeps transit close. The climate is mild for much of the year. Plan two to three days for the lake, the waterfront and a few neighborhoods, with a day trip into San Francisco if time allows.
Oakland in five
- Use BART to reach San FranciscoBART trains connect downtown Oakland with San Francisco in a short ride, and run from the Bay Area's airports. Check the BART site for fares and last-train times before late nights out.San Francisco
- Compare Oakland and San Francisco hotel ratesNightly prices differ by event dates, so check both before you book. Oakland suits visitors who want parking, a quieter street and a BART ride into the city.Northern California
- Walk Lake Merritt, then eat nearbyThe lake loop makes an easy morning walk, with cafes and restaurants on its edges and in the Uptown and Grand Lake areas. Evenings feel livelier on weekends.
- Take the ferry from Jack London SquareSan Francisco Bay Ferry runs from Jack London Square, and the crossing adds skyline views to a day plan. Check the ferry's site for schedules and fares.
- Visit the hills if you have a carThe Oakland hills have regional parks and redwood groves a short drive from downtown. Without a car, use AC Transit buses or a rideshare.Berkeley
Things to do in Oakland
See all attractions in Oakland
Need to know
- Airport
- Oakland (OAK); San Francisco (SFO) is the main alternative
- Getting there
- BART or Amtrak Capitol Corridor; ferry from San Francisco
- Getting around
- BART, AC Transit buses, ferries and rideshare
- Best base
- Downtown, Uptown or Jack London Square
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days, or longer as a Bay Area base
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Cool, greenJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, green
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Mild, rainFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Mild, wildflowersMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wildflowers
- AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Mild, clearAprilClear
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- MayClear2 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Mild, fog startsMayClear
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, fog starts
- JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Warm, foggy morningsJuneClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, foggy mornings
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Warm, breezyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, breezy
- AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, breezyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, breezy
- SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh21°Low14°Warm, clearSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Clear, mildOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, mild
- NovemberClear7 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Cool, rain returnsNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain returns
- DecemberRain10 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Cool, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 169 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Oakland, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Oakland
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
18
- Feels like
- 17°
- Humidity
- 52%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
Oakland
04:03 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today19°9°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue18°11°72%Tuesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 72%.
- Wed20°9°12%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Thu23°12°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri24°12°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat26°13°0%Saturday: Clear. High 26°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun26°14°0%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 26°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 12:14 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Coming up
Every year
- JunSan Francisco PrideSan Francisco, a day trip
- OctCastro Street FairSan Francisco, a day trip
Day trips by train
- San Franciscoabout 15 to 30 minutes by BART or ferryThe main sights and the Golden Gate, with the East Bay as a quieter base.Read the guide
- Berkeleyabout 15 to 20 minutes by BARTCampus walks, bookstores and the hills on the north side.Read the guide
- Napa Valleyabout 1 hour by carWine country, best with a driver or a guided day trip.Read the guide
Before you go to Oakland
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Rules for Oakland, checked
- Check whether you need an ESTA or a visa before flying to the US. Look up the rules on the US State Department's travel.state.gov, and apply for an ESTA only on the official CBP site.Source
- Declare food, plants and animal products on your customs form. Check the CBP travel page for current rules before you pack.Source
- Load a Clipper card or buy a BART ticket before you pass the gates, and tap out at your exit. Check current BART fares before you travel.Source
- Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance.
Plan around Oakland
A BART ride across the Bay
Read the guideBerkeleyA university town just north
Read the guideNapa ValleyWine country north of the Bay
Read the guideMontereyA coast stop south of the Bay
Read the guideNorthern CaliforniaWine, redwoods and Sierra corridors
Read the guideAll of the USAStates, parks and cities in one planning hub
Read the guideOakland FAQ
Is Oakland worth visiting?
Yes, especially for food, Lake Merritt, Jack London Square and a more local feel than central San Francisco. It is a good base if you want easy access to the city by BART.
Should I stay in Oakland or San Francisco?
San Francisco for first-time sightseeing on foot. Oakland if you drive, want a quieter street or plan East Bay and wine country days. BART makes the other city easy to reach either way.
How do you get from Oakland Airport to downtown Oakland?
BART connects the airport with downtown Oakland and San Francisco, and rideshares and taxis are available. Check the BART site for the airport connector's current fare and schedule.
Is Oakland safe for tourists?
Visitor areas such as Lake Merritt, Jack London Square and Uptown are busy, and normal city precautions apply. Do not leave belongings in a parked car, and check local advice for the neighborhoods you plan to visit.
How many days do you need in Oakland?
One full day covers the lake, Jack London Square and a restaurant dinner. Two days adds the hills, a museum and a ferry or BART ride to San Francisco.