Looking for the best things to do in Oakland? Sunnier and more diverse than its neighbor across the bay, Oakland has a booming food scene, a beautiful urban lake, and redwoods in the hills. Locals point to Lake Merritt, the waterfront at Jack London Square, the Oakland Museum of California, and the dining of Temescal and Uptown.
Things to do in Oakland
Lake Merritt
The tidal lagoon at the city’s heart — a 3-mile loop for walking and running, gardens, birds, boating, and the lively Grand Lake and Lakeshore districts nearby.
Jack London Square & Uptown
Waterfront dining and nightlife at Jack London Square, and the restored art-deco Fox and Paramount Theatres and bars of Uptown (home of the First Fridays art walk).
Redwoods in the Hills
Redwood Regional Park and Joaquin Miller Park offer old-growth-feel redwood trails and bay views minutes from downtown.
Food, Art & Family
The Oakland Museum of California, Chabot Space & Science Center, the Oakland Zoo, and one of the best, most diverse food scenes in the Bay Area (Temescal, Fruitvale and beyond).
Things to do in Oakland at night
Uptown and Jack London Square lead for bars, music and dining, with Temescal and Grand Lake close behind — a lively, diverse night out and a quick BART ride from SF.
Free things to do in Oakland
- The Lake Merritt loop and gardens
- Redwood trails at Joaquin Miller and Redwood Regional Park
- The First Fridays art walk and Uptown murals
What Oakland locals actually recommend
The best food across the neighborhoods, redwood trails, the lake spots — that comes from people who live here. On Neighborhood Nurturers’ Oakland community, real neighbors answer “what should I actually do this weekend?” Join your Oakland neighbors free →
The Oakland angle
The best days here mix the well-known spots with the places only locals frequent. Half the fun of a full day out in Oakland is stringing it together with the places nearby. Lake Merritt is the landmark most people orient around, but neighbors will tell you Jack London Square and Mountain View Cemetery are where the town really shows its character, with Redwood Regional Park worth a look if you have the time. Use those as your reference points and this guide slots neatly into a day that feels like Oakland, not a checklist.
Keep exploring Oakland
If this was useful, these companion guides cover Oakland from angles that pair naturally with it: Free things to do in Oakland, Best restaurants in Oakland, undefined Oakland. Together they add up to a full weekend without leaving town.
Ask a Oakland neighbor
The best tips never make the guidebooks — they come from neighbors who know which spot is worth it this week. That is what the Oakland community on Neighborhood Nurturers is for. Ask Oakland locals what they would do, or join free and get honest answers from people who actually know Oakland.
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in Oakland?
Walk the Lake Merritt loop, enjoy the waterfront at Jack London Square, visit the Oakland Museum of California, catch First Fridays and the historic theaters in Uptown, and hike the redwoods at Redwood Regional and Joaquin Miller Parks.
What is Oakland known for?
Its diversity and food scene, Lake Merritt, Jack London Square, the redwoods in its hills, a vibrant arts scene (First Fridays), and being a sunnier, more affordable neighbor to San Francisco.
What are free things to do in Oakland?
The Lake Merritt loop and gardens, the redwood trails at Joaquin Miller and Redwood Regional Parks, and the First Fridays art walk are all free.
Is Oakland worth visiting near San Francisco?
Yes — for the food scene, Lake Merritt, Jack London Square, and the redwoods, plus better weather, all a quick BART ride from SF.