Oakland Transport

Oakland has a reasonable local transport network, with local buses and a good regional train system, which serves many of the key attractions. There are plenty of taxi companies serving the city, and self-driving here is also a good option.

By train

The BART train network is useful, especially for day trips to San Francisco; there are services throughout the day, with the last train back to Oakland leaving San Francisco at 00:15. BART has a number of stops at areas of interest to tourists, such as Rockridge, Fruitvale and Lake Merritt (for Oakland Museum). For Chinatown you should take the train to 12th Street/City Centre station from where its a three-block walk to Chinatown.

By bus

AC Transit operates the public bus service in Oakland and Berkeley. It is useful for short hops around town, to the downtown area, Jack London Square or the Grand Lake district, but at times you can wait a while for a bus.

Taxis

There are dozens of taxi companies operating around the city and this can be a convenient way to travel if you don't want to use the public bus or train service. Your hotel will be able to advise you on a reputable firm to use.

By Car

Driving in the Oakland area is popular for visitors and is relatively straightforward. Parking in the city is generally easy, and you can usually park on the street, the exception being Jack London Square, or some parts of downtown Oakland. Apart from rush hours from 07:00 to 10:00 and 16:30 to 18:30, traffic isn't too bad.

Tourist services

There are a number of companies providing tours for visitors to the city, such a bus tours around the city or boat trips to enjoy some of the stunning scenery. BART offer a number of discounted tickets, which can be useful if you think you will be using the train for numerous journeys. Children under the age of five can travel for free, and those aged from five to twelve can also get significant discounts on passes.

From the airport

The airport is located just four miles outside the city so transport to and from the airport is generally quick and easy. There are shuttle buses to take you to the BART station to connect to the regional train network, and there are two AC Transit routes serving the airport, line N in the daytime and evening, and line 50 during the night.