Northeast of San Francisco, beyond the Bay Bridge, lies Oakland, a city that, with its 400,000 inhabitants, is among the largest and most important cities in the bay. Thanks to its proximity to San Francisco, Oakland is one of the best and most practical choices if you’ve decided to seek accommodations outside of San Francisco to save money instead of paying the steep prices for hotels in the city.
The BART metro lines connect the city to San Francisco, which is easily accessible in less than 20 minutes. If you haven’t already made your choice about where to spend the night, I suggest you read our articles on where to stay in San Francisco and where to stay outside of San Francisco. You’ll find valuable tips and pros and cons for selecting San Francisco or other locations nearby.
But Oakland is more than just a place to stay overnight! Over time, the city has developed its own charm, with lively neighborhoods, various tourist attractions and tours of all kinds. Let’s find out what are the things see in Oakland and how to get to San Francisco.
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Things to See in Oakland
A lake that can even be navigated on a gondola, a lively harbor, historic theaters, great museums, a planetarium, a zoo and children’s park, a wide range of gastronomy and excellent craft breweries and walking or kayaking tours – Oakland can really surprise everyone! Here are the points of interest in the downtown area and the city’s tourist districts:
Jack London Square
If you love literature, inevitably, the starting point for exploring the city can only be Jack London Square. After that, you can go on a pilgrimage to Webster Street, where you will find the famous Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon, a place established in 1883 where London used to write. Take a picture with the statue of White Fang and Jack London’s Cabin, the reconstruction of the cabin described in the stories about the Gold Rush in Klondike.
The Port and the USS Potomac
Next, I suggest you take a walk around Embarcadero and see the USS Potomac, the floating “White House” that was inhabited by US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It was on this boat, which is 164 ft long, that in 1941 the president organized a secret conference to draw up the basic terms of the Atlantic Charter. Today it can be visited and it is open to the public. The Potomac Visitor Center is located at 540 Water Street and, if you are interested, you can book in advance a bay cruise aboard the only remaining presidential yacht.
Chinatown and Old Oakland
Close to Downtown and within walking distance, you’ll find Chinatown and Old Oakland, two interesting parts of Oakland.
- Chinatown: The Chinatown in Oakland isn’t as big as the one in San Francisco, but this neighborhood is still very charming. Go to the local market on Friday morning and early afternoon.
- Old Oakland: This is one of the city’s historic neighborhoods with 19th-century buildings and Victorian-style houses. Here you’ll get a taste of Oakland’s past… and you will also find a wide selection of restaurants and clubs where you can enjoy excellent food.
Oakland Museum of California
At 1000 Oak Street, at the intersection with 10th Street, there is the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA). The museum was opened in 1969 and is dedicated to the history and art of California and also to the ecology and natural history of the state. This is one of the most interesting museums in the city and I recommend you to visit it. The nearest BART stop is Lake Merritt Station.
Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt is one of the most important and popular areas in Oakland. Its circumference is over 2.5 miles and it is surrounded by lush gardens. Many people come here, including joggers, cyclists, those who want to spend an afternoon with their family in the fresh air and those who love having picnics. On Saturday mornings, the Grand Lake Farmers Market is a must-see for those who love markets. Other activities you can enjoy on the lake include rowing, pedal boats and even riding gondolas. That’s right. There is a gondola rental service to sail on Lake Merritt while listening to classical Italian music!
Oakland Zoo and Fairyland
Oakland also has activities for children. If you’re traveling with your family, you can choose to spend a day at Oakland Zoo or, if you have young children, Fairyland.
- The Oakland Zoo is located at 9777 Golf Links Road and is home to over 700 animals. The zoo is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and the ticket price varies depending on the day (you can check it here). Children under two years old and adults over 75 years old enter for free. Since it is a little out of the way, I suggest that you visit it if you have a car. Keep in mind that parking costs $12 if booked in advance or $15 if paid on-site.
- Fairyland is an amusement park with lots of rides, shows and even some animals. The Open Storybook Puppet Theater is the oldest puppet theater still active in the United States. The amusement park is located at 699 Bellevue Avenue, which is practically on the lake. It is open Friday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, weather permitting. Admission costs $16.
Oakland Parks
Oakland is famous for its parks and lush hills surrounding the city. Oakland Hills is an area that is easily accessible and has a beautiful network of parks, all of which are free and generally very well preserved. Out of all the parks, I would like to point out:
- Redwood Regional Park, located at 7867 Redwood Rd, is characterized by giant redwoods and trails often veiled by a thick mist that creates a very enchanting atmosphere. The entrance to the park is free and it is open every day from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm. In this park, there is also the Chabot Space and Science Center, which I will tell you about shortly.
- Joaquin Miller Park has trails that ideal for those who love hiking or horseback riding. The park offers scenic views of Downtown Oakland and the San Francisco Bay. On clear days, you can also see San Francisco. The Woodminster Amphitheater hosts concerts in the park, as well as shows and successful musicals, for example, “Chicago” and “Shrek the Musical”.
Other interesting parks that are great for picnics and birdwatching include Temescal Regional Park, the Huckleberry Botanical Regional Preserve, the Anthony Chabot Regional Park, and the Wildcat Canyon Regional Park.
Chabot Space and Science Center
The Chabot Space and Science Center is located at 10000 Skyline Boulevard and includes a science museum, a planetarium, and an observatory. On Friday and Saturday evenings, weather permitting, you can attend evening events to watch the stars through the telescope.
Buy tickets for the Chabot Space and Science Center
Transportation from Oakland to San Francisco
Oakland also has a good public transportation service to nearby cities, especially to San Francisco, so you won’t have any difficulty traveling between the two cities.
You can reach San Francisco from Oakland:
- Car: Without traffic, it will take you about 15 minutes via I-80 E. Remember that finding free parking in San Francisco and Oakland is not easy.
- BART Metro: It will take you about 15-20 minutes on the BART yellow line to get to the Montgomery stop in San Francisco from 12th Street, the best stop in downtown Oakland. The red line is not as popular but still takes the same time from Montgomery to 12th Street.
- Bus: It will take between 20 and 30 minutes on the Greyhound bus to get to Oakland. The bus station in San Francisco is located at 200 Folsom Street while the Oakland Bus Station is located at 2103 San Pablo Avenue.
- Ferry: It will take about 30 minutes from the San Francisco Ferry Building to the Oakland Jack London Square terminal by ferry. Ferries to Oakland also depart from Pier 41 in San Francisco. The ferries from Pier 41 to Oakland are less frequent and the journey takes about 45-50 minutes.
To travel around Oakland, I recommend using the Free Downtown Shuttle, a free bus that runs from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and crosses the entire city from north to south along Broadway.
Where to Stay in Oakland
Click on the link below for tips to find accommodations in the safest as well as the most convenient areas in Oakland for visiting both Oakland and San Francisco.
Where to stay in Oakland when visiting San Francisco
Is Oakland Dangerous?
Let’s conclude the article by answering a question that many people ask themselves when organizing their stay in this part of the bay: Is Oakland dangerous? Understandably, this question is asked because everyone knows about the bad reputation of the most dangerous neighborhoods in San Francisco. It is natural to be concerned even when considering visiting Oakland, which is on the outskirts of San Francisco.
Oakland is full of attractions and it is a place where there is no lack of fun and things to do, but as is the case of every big city in the world, it is essential to have some common sense and to be more careful in the evenings in order to stay safe and have a good experience.
Oakland’s crime rate is pretty high, so if you decide to stay here, I suggest you choose a hotel in the downtown area or one of the tourist areas listed in this article, preferably near a metro station.
Oakland is actually on the East Bay, and therefore not ‘northwest’ of SF as claimed here.
Yes, sorry. This is a typo.