100 Things to Do in Oakland

Complete our 100 Things to Do List

Welcome to your ultimate guide to Oakland, California - where culture pulses, neighborhoods thrive, and adventure waits. From the historic charm of Lake Merritt and the architectural wonders of the Grand Lake Theater, to world-class museums like the Oakland Museum of California and the vibrant street art in Chinatown, this curated list of 100 things to do in Oakland offers something for every traveler.Whether you're exploring family-friendly attractions like Children’s Fairyland, savoring local eats on the Oakland Vegan Trail, catching live music at Paramount Theatre, or hiking under towering redwoods, you're in for a great experience that captures the very soul of “The Town.”

Arts & Culture
Family-Friendly
Food & Drink
Indoor Activities
Outdoor Activities

Arts & Culture

1. Celebrate art, fashion, music, cuisine and culture at the annual Oakland Style Week

2. Check out Oakland's hip vintage shopping scene for a timeless style, vinyl records, and other classic wares

3. Find a unique exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California (Lake Merritt)

4. Let your truest self shine at the annual Oakland Pride Parade & Festival (Downtown)

5. Be creative, be open, be present, be free, and celebrate the Black experience and community at the annual Black Joy Parade (Downtown)

6. Go to the Laurel StreetFair World Music Fest, a festival full of hope, rhythm, art, makers & crafters, cuisine, and folkloric traditions (Laurel)

7. Giddy up to the annual Black Cowboy Parade in October, and learn about the contributions of POCs in the settling of the West

8. Celebrate the Day of the Dead at the Fruitvale’s Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival

9. Gallery hop with a vibe on 25^th Street during Oakland Art Murmur's First Fridays (North Lake/KONO)

10. Honor, and educate yourself on Black history at the African American Museum and Library (Downtown)

11. Immerse yourself in Black Panther Party history at the Black Panther Party Museum (Downtown)

12. Visit the Women of the Black Panther Party Mural by muralist Rachel Wolfe-Goldsmith (West Oakland)

13. Honor the history of our local ancestors at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park (Fruitvale)

14. Grab some swag to rep the Town from Oaklandish and Dope Era

15. Witness the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ before a Saturday evening film at the Grand Lake Theater, one of the coolest theaters in the world (Variety thinks so too)

16. Enjoy the sounds of music and theater with sweeping views of the bay at Woodminster Amphitheatre (Oakland Hills)

17. Celebrate at the annual Oaktoberfest and learn about the Dimond District’s rich German history (Dimond)

18. Catch an unforgettable show or learn a cultural art at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center - (Chinatown)

19. Ring in the New Year at the annual Lunar New Year Bazaar in Chinatown

20. Engage in a local, cultural exploration of the beautifully diverse Fruitvale neighborhood, located in East Oakland

21. See the best dragon murals by Three Thirty Three Arts on a walking tour in Chinatown

22. Honor the champions of humanity at the Remember Them bronze statues (Uptown)

23. Stroll down Temescal Alley for a sampling of Oakland’s hip creative shops

24. Learn choreography suspended in mid-air with BANDALOOP, a company with classes that seamlessly weave climbing technology and dance (West Oakland)

25. See world famous comedians or music from international pop stars, R&B legends, and esteem symphonies at the Art Deco Paramount Theater (Uptown)

26. Sing along to live piano and guitar music at The Alley (Grand Lake)

27. Learn about Hoover-Foster's multi-generational Black history by taking the Black Liberation Walking Tour

28. See your favorite music performances live at the Oakland Arena (East Oakland)

29. Take in architectural greats like the Oakland Mormon Temple and Cathedral of Christ the Light 

30. Visit Oakland’s architectural past at  Preservation Park (Old Oakland)

31. Groove to live reggae, roots, and world music at The New Parish (Uptown)

32. Hangout on Telegraph Ave during Oakland's First Fridays and explore our creative community through arts, food, music and more! (KONO)

Family-Friendly

33. Catch an Oakland Roots game at the Oakland Coliseum, a historic stadium which hosted a 2025 World Cup game and the 1973 World Series (East Oakland)

34. Be delighted by an inspiration for Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Children’s Fairyland (Lake Merritt)

35. Mingle with the monkeys, and sit back for a gondola ride with a view of the expansive Oakland Zoo

36. Cheer for the Oakland Ballers game at a home game at Raimondi Park (West Oakland)

37. Munch on food truck treats and see the latest exhibits at Oakland Museum of California’s Off the Grid event every Friday (Lake Merritt)

38. Spend the night under the stars at  Chabot Space and Science Center (Oakland Hills)

39. Spend a few hours putting to get a hole-in-one at Metropolitan Golf Links, Lake Chabot Golf Course, or Montclair Golf Course.

40. Retrace Amelia Earhart’s flight route at the  Oakland Aviation Museum (Airport District)

41. Write your own future with custom fortunes at a  cookie factory tour in Chinatown

42. Play retro classics and discovery the history of video games at The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (Old Oakland)

43. Lace up and roller skate on the waterfront at Brooklyn Basin

44. Bird watch at Lake Merritt’s Rotary Nature Center, the country’s oldest wildlife refuge

45. Stroll through the beautiful maze of roses at  Morcom Garden of Roses (Grand Lake)

46. Relish in a moment of peace on the  Kaiser Rooftop Garden (Downtown)

47. Savor some souvlaki at the annual Oakland Greek Festival (Oakland Hills)

48. Relive the sweet ending from the movie Up! with a cone at Fenton’s Creamery (Piedmont Ave)

49. Travel presidential style with a cruise on the USS Potomac, FDR’s “Floating White House” (Jack London)

50. Bring the kids and experience all that Oakland has to offer during the holiday season!

Food & Drink

51. Check out one of Oakland's James Beard recognized eateries like Wahpepah’s Kitchen or Tarts de Feybesse.

52. Have an unforgettable culinary experience at Oakland's Michelin-starred Sun Moon Studio, Commis or Pomet.

53. Eat a divine meal at one of Oakland’s 25 MICHELIN-rated restaurants including Bombera, Jo's Modern Thai, Parche and many more.

54. Dine at Burdell - named the Best Restaurant in the U.S. by Food & Wine (Temescal)

55. Enjoy the vibrant vegan food scene in Oakland and explore the Oakland Vegan Trail

56. Indulge in a variety of Dim Sum at Ming's Tasty or Peony Seafood in Chinatown

57. Check out our Oakland Burger Trail and taste your way through some of the most mouthwatering burgers in Oakland

58. Explore exclusive menus, special offers, and unique activations celebrating the city’s culture and cuisine during the annual Oakland Restaurant Week

59. Groove to live Jazz music while enjoying modern Japanese cuisine at  Yoshi’s Jazz Club Oakland (Jack London)

60. Grab a cocktail and draft beer in the funky Old West at Heinold’s First & Last Chance Saloon (est. 1880!), where Jack London did some writing (Jack London)

61. Grab a drink from the bubbly, vibrant, carefree White Horse, the continuously operating oldest gay bars in the America (Temescal)

62. Get buzzing with a one of a kind coffee tasting at The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room (Uptown)

63. Stuff your face with tacos any day of the week from Fruitvale taco trucks like Taqueria Sinaloa or Aguachiles el Tamarindo

64. Make something that lasts! Learn to make pickles, kombucha, cheese, jams, sourdough, & much more at Preserved (Temescal)

65. Delight in cocktails al fresco along the dock at  Lake Chalet on Lake Merritt

66. Enjoy delicious soul food, and sip bottomless mimosas on the weekends at Home of Chicken and Waffles  (Jack London)

67. Drink local brews at  Drake’s Dealership taproom at The Hive Oakland (Uptown)

68. Grab a post-concert drink at Bar Shiru or sister bar Gold Palm, and for those looking for something special, slip into their semi-secret bar, Moonglow (Uptown)

69. Fill your belly with mouth-watering BBQ from Everett & Jones, Smokin'Woods and Horn BBQ

70. Indulge in the cheesy goodness of Oakland’s own Mac n Cheese restaurant, Homeroom (Temescal)

71. Make a stop at Prescott Market in West Oakland for delicious bites and drinks - perfect for fueling up before an Oakland Ballers game or unwinding after.

72. Trek the Oakland Ale Trail, and enjoy sips of the finest Oakland breweries

73. Bring a couple friends to Agave Uptown for a menu celebrating authentic Oaxacan Mexican cuisine, and tequila tasting! (Uptown)

74. Pair Ethiopian grown, heirloom spices with original cocktails made with African spirits at Café Colucci North Oakland)

75. Sip on the island drink with Oakland roots! Kick off your sandals, and grab a Mai Tai from The Kona Club

76. Celebrate Happy Hour at Plank in Jack London Square for their spacious beer garden, bocce courts, and bowling/arcade

77. Catch a game with shuffleboard, popcorn, and cocktails at Kingfish Pub & Cafe - a 1922 boat shop turned watering hole (Rockridge)

78. Pick up wine, cheese, and other gourmet goodies from Market Hall, and then take a stroll through the Rockridge neighborhood

79. Peruse fresh produce and local goods at the Grand Lake and Temescal Farmers Markets

80. Start your Uptown bar-hopping adventure with a delicious fresh-squeezed greyhound from Cafe Van Kleef

Indoor Activities

81. Get a classic straight razor shave at the Temescal Alley Barbershop

82. Cozy up on a couch with your favorite movie snacks and drinks at New Parkway Theater (Uptown)

83. Try your hand at rock climbing at the Great Western Power Company climbing gym (Uptown)

84. Hit the Town, and explore the nightlife with some creative cocktails, cool spaces, and live music

85. Learn to juggle at the Kinetic Arts Center (West Oakland)

86. Get your game on at Pickle Athletics (Temescal)

87. Build jewelry, glass work, and forge art with metal at The Crucible, Oakland’s own industrial arts school (West Oakland)

Outdoor Activities

88. Stand with giants, and find some peace in the Redwood Regional Park

89. Catch the iconic cranes in action at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park (West Oakland)

90. Walk the labyrinth at Sibley Volcanic Preserve in the Oakland Hills

91. Test your balance with a stand-up paddleboard lesson at California Canoe and Kayak (Jack London)

92. Cruise the Bay as you travel to and from Oakland and San Francisco via the San Francisco Bay Ferry

93. Visit the permanent home of the oldest bonsai tree in the U.S. at the Bonsai Garden near Lake Merritt

94. Fall in love again with Valentine's Ideas & Romantic Spots in Oakland

95. Take an evening drive along Skyline Boulevard for an amazing view of the sun setting over the Bay

96. Explore the Secret Stairs of the East Bay as you wander through the city

97. Soak in incredible Bay Area views from the top of Mountain View Cemetery (Piedmont)

98. Lace up your running shoes for the annual  Oakland Marathon & Running Festival

99. Picnic lakeside and then rent a paddle boat for two at the Lake Merritt Boating Center (Lake Merritt)

100. Captain a kayak on the Oakland Estuary, and paddle over to Oakland’s Local German beer garden, Brotzeit Lokal

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