Oakland Hotels

One of the most diverse cities in the US, Oakland has done it hard in recent decades, and still has a few pock marks on its cheeks. But these days it seems to be feeling alive all over again, with a bustling, gussied-up downtown and a thriving club and restaurant scene.

Pick a month of the year and there's always a festival or street party on somewhere in San Fran. Unless a bit of fog or a brisk morning perturbs you, you can't go too wrong. The best months to come are either side of the summer peak season, with the September to November period being particularly festive.