Neighbourhood guide

Oakland

Lake Merritt, Jack London Square, the Fox, the hills

Oakland has 11 places on the map. It runs from Jack London Square on the estuary up past Lake Merritt to the parks and science centre in the hills.

Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park sit in the middle of the city. Children's Fairyland is at 699 Bellevue Avenue beside the lake, the Oakland Museum of California is at 1000 Oak Street, and the Fox Theater is at 1807 Telegraph Avenue in Uptown.

Jack London Square is the waterfront end. Up the hill are the Oakland Zoo, Chabot Space and Science Center, Redwood Regional Park and Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, and Rockridge Market Hall is at 5655 College Avenue.

11 places

See Oakland on the interactive map

What to see

Lake Merritt, the Oakland Museum of California and Jack London Square cover the flat part of the city. The Morcom Rose Garden blooms from Mother's Day in May through October 31, according to the city.

The hills hold the Oakland Zoo, Chabot Space and Science Center, Redwood Regional Park and Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.

Where to eat and drink

Rockridge Market Hall is a marketplace of eight owner-operated food shops on College Avenue. Jack London Square lists its restaurants in a directory on its site.

Good to know

The zoo and Redwood Regional Park are east of the core map area, so they sit under day trips. Check each official page for hours and closures.

Nearby neighbourhoods

Berkeley Campus, Telegraph, Tilden, Addison Street 11 places · 7.8 km away

Financial District and Embarcadero, San Francisco

Financial District and Embarcadero Ferry Building, the Exploratorium, Embarcadero Center, Tadich Grill 9 places · 15.2 km away

SoMa and Yerba Buena SFMOMA, Yerba Buena Gardens, Salesforce Park, Oracle Park 11 places · 15.6 km away

Potrero Hill and Dogpatch, San Francisco

Potrero Hill and Dogpatch Galleries, a craft museum, pizza and a small park 7 places · 15.6 km away

The best of Oakland

Lake walk Lake Merritt Start at Lakeside Park.

Museum Oakland Museum of California A museum and garden on Oak Street.

Waterfront Jack London Square Estuary, marina and Heinold's saloon.

Evening show Fox Theater Check the venue's calendar.

With kids Children's Fairyland A storybook park by the lake.

Things to do in Oakland

Lake Merritt in Oakland with the city and hills across the water

Park Lake Merritt A lake in the middle of Oakland, run by the city as part of Lakeside Park. The city's Lakeside Park page covers the park and its amenities.

Terraced concrete and garden of the Oakland Museum of California, Oakland

Museum Oakland Museum of California A museum and garden at 1000 Oak Street that covers California art, history and natural science.

The Jack London Square arch sign lit at dusk over the waterfront plaza in Oakland

Landmark Jack London Square A waterfront and marina area on the Oakland estuary with restaurants, shops, the Amtrak station and Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon.

The tall vertical Oakland sign on the Fox Theater in daylight

Nightlife Fox Theater A concert venue at 1807 Telegraph Avenue in Uptown Oakland, operated by Another Planet Entertainment.

Park Children's Fairyland A storybook-themed park at 699 Bellevue Avenue beside Lake Merritt, with rides, live shows and animals aimed at young children.

Park Morcom Rose Garden A city rose garden in North Oakland. The city says the roses bloom from Mother's Day in May through October 31.

Day trip Oakland Zoo A zoo in the Oakland hills at 9777 Golf Links Road. It says it houses more than 850 native and exotic animals.

Museum Chabot Space and Science Center A space and science centre on Skyline Boulevard in the Oakland hills.

Day trip Redwood Regional Park A redwood forest in the hills a few miles over the ridge from downtown Oakland, with a main entrance on Redwood Road.

Market Rockridge Market Hall An indoor marketplace at 5655 College Avenue in Rockridge, made up of eight owner-operated food shops.

Park Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve A regional preserve on the ridge above Oakland, with its main staging area at 6800 Skyline Boulevard.

What's on in Oakland

Local events in the next 30 days, read from the ward, park and organiser pages each one links to.

Dana DeKalb: No Lifeguard on Duty Exhibition
12 Nov 2026 to 16 Jan 2027 · Transmission Gallery
A solo exhibition by Dana DeKalb at Transmission Gallery in Oakland.
Free · 12:00 to 17:00 · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur
Artist's Reception: Tiffany Schmierer, Aggregate Vision Exhibition
Sat 14 Nov · Transmission Gallery
An artist's reception for Tiffany Schmierer's Aggregate Vision at Transmission Gallery.
Free · 13:00 to 16:00 · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur · Artist’s Reception - Tiffany Schmierer: Aggregate Vision
MEASURED TENSION: A Group Exhibition of Prints Exhibition
Sat 14 Nov · Dictee Art & Exhibitions
A group exhibition of prints by five artists using digital collage, monoprint and linocut at Dictee Art & Exhibitions.
Free · 11:00 to 15:00 · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur · MEASURED TENSION - A Group Exhibition of Prints
Opening Reception: Dana DeKalb, No Lifeguard on Duty Exhibition
Sat 14 Nov · Transmission Gallery
An opening reception for Dana DeKalb's solo show No Lifeguard on Duty at Transmission Gallery.
Free · 13:00 to 16:00 · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur · Opening Reception - Dana DeKalb: No Lifeguard on Duty
Spotlight Sundays: Japanese American Legacies of Resistance Activities
Sun 15 Nov · James Moore Theater, Oakland Museum of California
A Sunday program at the Oakland Museum of California's James Moore Theater on Japanese American legacies of resistance, linked to the BeHere / 1942 exhibition.
10 USD · 13:00 to 14:30 · Map · Source: Oakland Museum of California
In Eternal Hands Classical and opera
Fri 20 Nov · Oakland Symphony
Oakland Symphony programme titled In Eternal Hands, first of three November 2026 performances.
Map · Source: Oakland Symphony
Nicole Irene Anderson: Land Figures Exhibition
21 Nov 2026 to 9 Jan 2027 · Johansson Projects
A solo exhibition of landscape paintings and drawings by Nicole Irene Anderson at Johansson Projects in Oakland.
13:00 to 17:00 · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur · Nicole Irene Anderson // Land Figures
Nicole Irene Anderson: Land Figures Exhibition
26 Nov 2026 to 14 Jan 2027 · Johansson Projects
A solo exhibition of landscape paintings and drawings by Nicole Irene Anderson at Johansson Projects.
13:00 to 17:00 · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur · Nicole Irene Anderson // Land Figures
Oakland Turkey Trot Sports
Thu 26 Nov · Lake Merritt
A Thanksgiving morning run at Lake Merritt in Oakland.
Map · Source: Visit Oakland events
Andrea Brewster: Draft Exhibition
Sat 28 Nov · Mercury 20 Gallery
An exhibition of woven and printed work by Andrea Brewster at Mercury 20 Gallery.
Free · 12:00 to 17:00 · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur

Show all 21 events

Holiday Tree Lighting at Jack London Square Illumination
Sat 28 Nov · Jack London Square
A free tree lighting ceremony at Jack London Square in Oakland.
FREE · Map · Source: Visit Oakland events
Joy to the Town Holiday Market Market
Sat 28 Nov · Jack London Square
A free holiday market at Jack London Square in Oakland.
FREE · Map · Source: Visit Oakland events · 3rd Annual Joy to The Town
2026 FM Annual: I Left My Heart In Oakland Exhibition
4 Dec 2026 to 30 Jan 2027 · FM Gallery
A group show of new work by the studio members of FM Oakland.
Free · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur · 2026 FM Annual: “I Left My Heart In Oakland”
FM Annual Opening Reception Exhibition
Fri 4 Dec · FM Gallery
An opening reception for the 2026 FM Annual group show at FM Gallery.
Free · 17:00 to 22:00 · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur · 2026 FM Annual: “I Left My Heart In Oakland” RECEPTION
Oddly Familiar Opening Reception Exhibition
Fri 4 Dec · Oakland Photo Workshop
An opening reception for the Oddly Familiar photography exhibition at Oakland Photo Workshop.
18:00 to 21:00 · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur · Opening Reception: Oddly Familiar Exhibition
Oddly Familiar: EBPCO Members' Exhibition Exhibition
4 Dec 2026 to 17 Jan 2027 · Oakland Photo Workshop
A members' photography exhibition at Oakland Photo Workshop.
18:00 to 17:00 · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur · Oddly Familiar, 2026 EBPCO Members’ Exhibition
Open First Friday: Hindsight is 20/20 Exhibition
Fri 4 Dec · Manna Gallery
A group exhibition of six East Bay artists at Manna Gallery on First Friday.
Free · 17:00 to 20:00 · Map · Source: Oakland Art Murmur
OUSD Winter Arts Market Market
Sat 5 Dec · Junior Center (East Bay Creative Lab)
Winter arts market listed by the East Bay Creative Lab, whose events are held at 558 Bellevue Avenue in Oakland.
Map · Source: East Bay Creative Lab
Alameda Point Antiques Faire Market
First Sunday of the month. Next: Sun 6 Dec · Alameda Point, 3900 Main Street, Alameda
Antiques and collectibles faire held on the first Sunday of each month at Alameda Point.
$5 to $20 by entry time · Sun 06:00 to 15:00 · Map · Source: Alameda Point Antiques Faire
Black Sunday Holiday Shopping Experience Market
Sun 6 Dec · Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts
A holiday shopping event hosted by the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce at the Kaiser Center.
Map · Source: Visit Oakland events · 9th Annual Black Sunday Holiday Shopping Experience
Hella Plants Holiday Market Market
Sat 12 Dec · Oakland
A holiday plant market in Oakland.
Map · Source: Visit Oakland events · Hella Plants Holiday Market Oakland - Bay Area

All 21 local events in Oakland

Stay in Oakland

Browse live availability and compare prices around the neighbourhood.

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