Dubbed as the Brooklyn of San Francisco, this charming metropolis is famous for its exceptional nautical background, picturesque bay and urban vistas, and distinctive cuisine and wine offerings. It is also a hub for a lively arts community and a multicultural, energetic, avant-garde, and creative population. Oakland’s gastronomy and wine experience are continuously growing, bringing a vibrant and vibrant visual presence to the city.
In downtown Oakland, young locals are drawn not only by the vibe but also by the city’s cheaper rents. Single-pour coffee bars, cutting-edge art galleries, and cocktail lounges are among the businesses attracting them. Chefs—both established big names and new-gen stars—are also coming to the East Bay, with many choosing to operate in Art Deco or sleek hipster-chic settings.
Oakland is famous for its urban lifestyle, and there are so many things to do in order to experience it to your heart’s content. From shopping at curated boutique chains that carry locally produced goods, to watching shows at the legendary theaters, to visiting the Oakland Cannabis Trail to have fun nightlife like no other, you are sure to have a memorable time in the city. Read the list below to learn more about all the exciting attractions Oakland has to offer.
The 93 Most Popular Things To Do In Oakland, California
93. Mount Caroline Livermore
5.0 (1 review)
92. Sequoia Bayview Trail
3.0 (2 reviews)
Credit: Artem Russakovskii, Google Maps
91. Wildcat Creek
4.5 (2 reviews)
90. Stonewall-Panoramic Trail
5.0 (3 reviews)
89. Bay Bridge Trail
4.8 (5 reviews)
Credit: Frank Schulenburg, License, Wikimedia commons
88. Jewel Lake
4.2 (6 reviews)
87. Sottomarino Winery
4.2 (6 reviews)
Credit: Sottomarino Winery, Google Maps
Location: 400 California Ave San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 967 4200
Web Address: http://sottomarinowinery.com/
86. Sol Rouge Winery
4.0 (8 reviews)
Credit: Sol Rouge Winery, Google Maps
Location: 29 Avenue G San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 756 2254
Web Address: http://solrouge.com/
85. Essig Museum of Entomology Research
4.8 (9 reviews)
Credit: Russell Juma, Google Maps
Location: Valley Life Sciences Bldg 1170 Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 643 0804
84. VIE Winery
4.0 (9 reviews)
Credit: VIE Winery, Google Maps
Location: 448 Clipper Cove Way San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 756 1791
Web Address: http://viewinery.com/
83. East Bay Regional Park District
3.5 (11 reviews)
Location: 2950 Peralta Oaks Ct Oakland CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/
82. Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
4.3 (16 reviews)
Credit: Seimen Burum, Google Maps
Location: Valley Life Sciences Bldg 3101 UC Berkeley Road Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 642 3567
81. Alameda Museum
4.7 (20 reviews)
Credit: Alameda (Calif.). Board, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2324 Alameda Ave Alameda CA
Tel: 510 521 1233
Web Address: https://alamedamuseum.org/
80. Mills College Art Museum
4.7 (29 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 5000 MacArthur Blvd Oakland CA
Tel: 510 430 2164
Web Address: http://mcam.mills.edu/
79. Bay Farm Island
4.6 (30 reviews)
Credit: Martin Mbuthia, License, Wikimedia commons
78. Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art
4.7 (35 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1928 Street Marys Road PMB 5110 Moraga CA
Tel: 925 631 4379
Web Address: https://stmarys-ca.edu/museum
77. Christ Church East Bay
4.8 (36 reviews)
Credit: USGS photographer, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2138 Cedar Street Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 644 4949
Web Address: http://christchurcheastbay.org/
76. Pardee Home Museum
4.7 (38 reviews)
Credit: RadioNn, License, Flickr
Location: 672 11th Street Oakland CA
Tel: 510 444 2187
Web Address: http://pardeehome.org/
75. Dashe Cellars
4.6 (49 reviews)
Credit: Dashe Cellars, Google Maps
Location: 1951 Monarch St Hangar 25 Alameda CA
Tel: 510 452 1800
Web Address: http://dashecellars.com/
74. Joyce Gordon Gallery
4.8 (50 reviews)
Credit: telephone rings, Google Maps
Location: 406 14th Street Oakland CA
Tel: 510 465 8928
73. Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
4.1 (56 reviews)
Credit: Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, Google Maps
Location: 102 Anthropology and Art Practice Building Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 643 1191
72. Museum of Children’s Arts
4.5 (57 reviews)
Credit: Pedro Ribeiro Simões, License, Flickr
Location: 1221 Broadway LL 49 Oakland CA
Tel: 510 465 8770
Web Address: http://mocha.org/
71. Camron-Stanford House
4.5 (58 reviews)
Credit: Californiathegreat, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1418 Lakeside Dr Oakland CA
Tel: 510 874 7802
Web Address: http://cshouse.org/
70. Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center
4.4 (58 reviews)
Credit: OOLLEE INC, Google Maps
Location: 4901 Breakwater Ave Hayward CA
Tel: 510 670 7270
Web Address: http://haywardrec.org/
69. Alameda Naval Air Museum
4.4 (70 reviews)
Credit: U.S. Navy photo, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2151 Ferry Point Alameda CA
Tel: 510 522 4262
Web Address: http://alamedanavalairmuseum.org/
68. Lake Temescal
4.4 (74 reviews)
Credit: Tichnor Brothers, Publisher, License, Wikimedia commons
67. Grizzly Peak
4.8 (90 reviews)
Credit: Joe Parks, License, Wikimedia commons
66. East Bay Regional Park District – Public Safety
4.6 (92 reviews)
Location: 17930 Lake Chabot Road Castro Valley CA
Tel: 510 881 1833
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/about/police/contact
65. Lake Anza
4.5 (101 reviews)
Credit: Ken-ichi Ueda, License, Flickr
64. Red Oak Victory
4.7 (107 reviews)
Credit: Rupert Clayton, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1337 Canal Boulevard Berth 5 Richmond CA
Web Address: http://redoakvictory.us/
63. Riggers Loft Wine Company-R&B Cellars
4.6 (114 reviews)
Credit: Riggers Loft Wine Company-R&B Cellars, Google Maps
Location: 1325 Canal Blvd Richmond CA
Tel: 510 233 2065
Web Address: http://riggersloftwine.com/
62. Museum of Paleontology
4.4 (131 reviews)
Credit: Wally Gobetz, License, Flickr
Location: 1101 Valley Life Sciences Bldg Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 642 1821
61. Piedmont Funeral Services and Mountain View Cemetery
4.2 (144 reviews)
Location: 5000 Piedmont Ave Oakland CA
Tel: 510 658 2588
Web Address: https://mountainviewcemetery.org/
60. Bonsai Garden
4.8 (165 reviews)
Location: 650 Bellevue Ave Oakland CA
Tel: 510 763 8409
Web Address: http://bonsailakemerritt.com/
59. Lafayette Reservoir
4.6 (206 reviews)
Credit: Michelle Roach, License, Flickr
58. Lake Chabot
4.7 (211 reviews)
Credit: Scan NYPL, License, Wikimedia commons
57. Leona Canyon Regional Open Space Preserve
4.6 (213 reviews)
Location: Campus Drive and Keller Ave Leona Trail Oakland CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/leona
56. Peralta Hacienda Historical Park
4.2 (227 reviews)
Location: 2465 34th Ave Oakland CA
Tel: 510 532 9142
Web Address: http://peraltahacienda.org/
55. The Campanile
4.7 (265 reviews)
Location: Sather Tower Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 642 6000
54. San Mateo-Hayward Bridge
4.2 (267 reviews)
Credit: Ken Lund, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Foster City CA
Tel: 510 783 2121
Web Address: http://dot.ca.gov/
53. Oakland Aviation Museum
4.5 (294 reviews)
Credit: Mys 721tx, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 8252 Earhart Road Oakland CA
Tel: 510 638 7100
Web Address: https://oaklandaviationmuseum.org/
52. Lawrence Hall of Science
4.5 (309 reviews)
Credit: melystu, License, Flickr
Location: 1 Centennial Dr Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 642 5132
Web Address: http://lawrencehallofscience.org/
51. Regional Parks Botanic Garden
4.8 (329 reviews)
Credit: Jack Wolf, License, Flickr
Location: 1550 Wildcat Canyon Road Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 544 3169
Web Address: http://nativeplants.org/
50. Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt
4.4 (398 reviews)
Location: 5500 Claremont Ave Oakland CA
Tel: 510 238 7275
Web Address: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/opr/s/Parks/OAK029768
49. Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve
4.7 (447 reviews)
Credit: Mike Linksvayer, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 7087 Skyline Blvd Oakland CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/huckleberry
48. Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve
4.8 (458 reviews)
Credit: Seglea, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Claremont Ave Berkeley CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: https://ebparks.org/parks/claremont-canyon
47. Skyline Gate Staging Area
4.7 (460 reviews)
Credit: Robin Brown, Google Maps
Location: 8490 Skyline Blvd Oakland CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/redwood
46. Sulphur Creek Nature Center
4.7 (475 reviews)
Credit: Sulphur Creek Nature Center, Google Maps
Location: 1801 D Street Hayward CA
Tel: 510 881 6747
Web Address: https://haywardrec.org/1991/HARD-Nature-Centers
45. Tilden Park Merry Go Round
4.7 (490 reviews)
Credit: Whitney Roeder, Google Maps
Location: Central Park Drive & Lake Anza Road Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 559 1004
Web Address: http://tildenmerrygoround.org/
44. Kennedy Grove Regional Recreation Area
4.7 (538 reviews)
Credit: Nizar Nassar, Google Maps
Location: 6531 San Pablo Dam Road El Sobrante CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/kennedy
43. Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove
4.6 (549 reviews)
Credit: Joaquim Braz, Google Maps
Location: 1252 McKay Ave Alameda CA
Tel: 510 544 3187
Web Address: https://ebparks.org/parks/visitor-centers/crab-cove
42. Pacific Pinball Museum
4.8 (555 reviews)
Location: 1510 Webster Street Alameda CA
Tel: 510 769 1349
Web Address: https://pacificpinball.org/
41. Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area
4.4 (594 reviews)
Credit: Steve Yun, Google Maps
Location: 18627 Cull Canyon Road Castro Valley CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: https://ebparks.org/parks/cull-canyon
40. Hayward Regional Shoreline
4.6 (624 reviews)
Location: 3010 W Winton Ave Hayward CA
Tel: 510 783 1066
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/hayward
39. Mosswood Park
4.1 (654 reviews)
Location: 3612 Webster Street Oakland CA
Tel: 510 597 5038
38. Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline
4.4 (655 reviews)
Credit: Wayne Hsieh, License, Flickr
Location: 1600 Neptune Dr San Leandro CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: https://ebparks.org/parks/oyster-bay
37. San Pablo Reservoir
4.5 (661 reviews)
Credit: Earth Science Remote, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 7301 San Pablo Dam Road El Sobrante CA
Tel: 510 223 1661
Web Address: https://ebmud.com/recreation/east-bay/san-pablo-reservoir
36. Kennedy Park
4.4 (661 reviews)
Location: 19501 Hesperian Blvd Hayward CA
Tel: 510 881 6700
Web Address: https://haywardrec.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Kennedy-Park-1
35. The Cathedral of Christ the Light
4.7 (679 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2121 Harrison Street Oakland CA
Tel: 510 832 5057
Web Address: http://ctlcathedral.org/
34. Roberts Regional Recreation Area
4.7 (691 reviews)
Credit: Buzzlovestravel, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 10570 Skyline Blvd Oakland CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/roberts
33. Codornices Park
4.7 (700 reviews)
Credit: Angel Hou, Google Maps
Location: 1201 Euclid Ave Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 981 6700
Web Address: http://ci.berkeley.ca.us/Parks_Rec_Waterfront/Trees_Parks/Parks__Cordornices_Park.aspx
32. The Gardens at Lake Merritt
4.6 (728 reviews)
Credit: Sage Ross, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 666 Bellevue Ave Oakland CA
Web Address: http://gardensatlakemerritt.org/
31. Albany Bulb
4.7 (774 reviews)
Location: 1 Buchanan Street Albany CA
Tel: 510 524 9283
Web Address: http://albanyca.org/index.aspx
30. Morcom Rose Garden
4.7 (780 reviews)
Credit: Calibas, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 700 Jean Street Oakland CA
Tel: 510 597 5039
Web Address: https://oaklandca.gov/topics/morcom-rose-garden
29. Redwood Valley Railway (Tilden Steam Train)
4.9 (876 reviews)
Credit: Redwood Valley Railway (Tilden Steam Train), Google Maps
Location: 2481 Grizzly Peak Blvd Orinda CA
Tel: 510 548 6100
Web Address: https://redwood-valley-railway.business.site/
28. Middle Harbor Shoreline Park
4.4 (970 reviews)
Credit: Oleg Alexandrov, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2777 Middle Harbor Road Oakland CA
Tel: 510 627 1634
Web Address: http://portofoakland.com/port/seaport/middle-harbor/
27. Knowland Park
4.7 (971 reviews)
Location: 9777 Golf Links Road Oakland CA
Tel: 510 615 5566
Web Address: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/government/o/opr/s/Parks/index.htm
26. Dimond Park
4.5 (971 reviews)
Credit: Jennifer Zilliac, Google Maps
Location: 3860 Hanly Road Oakland CA
Tel: 510 482 7831
Web Address: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/government/o/opr/index.htm
25. Temescal Regional Recreation Area
4.6 (979 reviews)
Credit: Ken-ichi Ueda, License, Flickr
Location: 6502 Broadway Terrace Oakland CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/temescal
24. Anthony Chabot Regional Park
4.7 (1,093 reviews)
Credit: Alan Rockefeller, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 9999 Redwood Road Castro Valley CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/anthony_chabot#trailmap
23. Don Castro Regional Recreation Area
4.4 (1,096 reviews)
Credit: Sigrette Bell, Google Maps
Location: 22400 Woodroe Ave Hayward CA
Tel: 510 544 3073
Web Address: https://ebparks.org/parks/don-castro
22. Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline
4.5 (1,122 reviews)
Credit: Becky Matsubara, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1 Swan Way Oakland CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: https://ebparks.org/parks/martin-luther-king
21. Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
4.7 (1,205 reviews)
Credit: Sarah Stierch, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Oakland CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/sibley/
20. Tilden Nature Area
4.8 (1,316 reviews)
Location: 600 Canon Dr Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 544 2233
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/tilden
19. Berkeley Rose Garden
4.6 (1,440 reviews)
Location: 1200 Euclid Ave Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 981 6637
Web Address: https://cityofberkeley.info/contentdisplay.aspx
18. Hayward Japanese Gardens
4.6 (1,696 reviews)
Credit: Ramkumar Menon, Google Maps
Location: 22373 N 3rd Street Hayward CA
Tel: 510 881 6700
Web Address: https://haywardrec.org/facilities/facility/details/japanese-gardens-100
17. Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
4.8 (1,753 reviews)
Location: 2701 Isabel Street Richmond CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/pt_isabel
16. McLaughlin Eastshore State Seashore
4.4 (1,777 reviews)
Location: Berkeley CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/eastshore#about
15. Angel Island State Park
4.7 (1,846 reviews)
Location: Tiburon CA
Tel: 415 435 1915
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
14. Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park
4.6 (2,169 reviews)
Credit: Bryan Goff, Google Maps
Location: 1414 Harbour Way S #3000 Richmond CA
Tel: 510 232 5050
Web Address: http://nps.gov/rori
13. Joaquin Miller Park
4.7 (2,204 reviews)
Credit: Midnightdreary, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3300 Joaquin Miller Road Oakland CA
Tel: 510 615 5566
Web Address: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/opr/s/Parks/JoaquinMiller/
12. The Greek Theatre
4.7 (2,228 reviews)
Credit: melystu, License, Flickr
Location: Hearst Greek Theatre 2001 Gayley Road Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 871 9225
Web Address: http://thegreekberkeley.com/
11. USS Hornet – Sea, Air and Space Museum
4.8 (2,595 reviews)
Location: 707 W Hornet Ave Alameda CA
Tel: 510 521 8448
Web Address: https://uss-hornet.org/
10. Lake Chabot Regional Park
4.7 (3,010 reviews)
Credit: Wayne Hsieh, License, Flickr
Location: 17600 Lake Chabot Road Castro Valley CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/lake_chabot
9. Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
4.5 (3,959 reviews)
Location: 8th St Otis Dr Alameda CA
Tel: 510 544 3175
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
Our Top picks
8. Angel Island
4.5 (210 reviews)
Credit: Brocken Inaglory, License, Wikimedia commons
7. Chabot Space & Science Center
4.4 (259 reviews)
Credit: Daniel Olsen, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 10000 Skyline Blvd Oakland CA
Tel: 510 336 7300
Web Address: http://chabotspace.org/
6. Lake Merritt
4.6 (650 reviews)
Credit: Unknown author, License, Wikimedia commons
5. Children’s Fairyland
4.5 (1,293 reviews)
Location: 699 Bellevue Ave Oakland CA
Tel: 510 452 2259
Web Address: http://fairyland.org/
4. University of California Botanical Garden
4.8 (1,601 reviews)
Location: 200 Centennial Dr Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 643 2755
3. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
4.8 (2,870 reviews)
Credit: CatDancing, License, Flickr
Location: 7867 Redwood Road Oakland CA
Tel: 888 327 2757
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/redwood
2. Tilden Regional Park
4.8 (3,399 reviews)
Credit: brianriceca, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2501 Grizzly Peak Blvd Orinda CA
Tel: 510 544 2747
Web Address: http://ebparks.org/parks/tilden
1. Oakland Zoo
4.6 (10,526 reviews)
Credit: D Coetzee, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 9777 Golf Links Road Oakland CA
Tel: 510 632 9525
Web Address: http://oaklandzoo.org/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Oakland, California! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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