Oakland California Temple & Visitors' Center

An amazing quiet little sanctuary in the Oakland hills with flowers, waterfall, fountains and the majestic temple building itself. We love to go around dusk and watch the sunset, which can easily be seen from the parking lot. Or also you can climb the stairs through the gates and past the waterfall and have a panoramic view of the bay, the bridges and city from the second story. Although the temple itself is not open to the public, the Visitor’s Center is open to everyone. The Christus statue is always a highlight. The spring flowers are amazing. At Christmas, the lights are incredible and musical programs are presented most every evening in December. For something different to do, it’s a perfect place to walk around the grounds, enjoy the view and stop by to see what’s currently going on in the Visitor’s Center. Great art exhibitions too.

The grounds and garden area is beautiful and it really just felt different from other places that I've been to. On the inside of the visitors center which is the building that's west of the temple, they were able to give us a tour and talk to us a little more the temple and more about the beliefs of their church. It was a different experience but it really helped me feel close to Jesus Christ and it felt peaceful and quiet, Overall great time, would recommend for families or people that just want to go and check it out of curiosity.

Such a cool place to visit if you are in the area. The architectural design of the building is awesome to witness up close and everyone that is on location there to answer your questions are extremely nice and welcoming. The garden surrounding the building is placed up on the upper deck and taking a walk around that was delightful. The view is incredible and you can see the entire city of SF and the Golden Gate Bridge on a good clear day. The whole vibe is extremely peaceful and it has never been too overcrowded every time I have visited. The surrounding countryside behind the building up the hill is beautiful too and full of amazing trails to hike afterwards. A great half day trip if you are looking for something different to check out. Just make sure to go into the “Visitor’s center” where you can ask all the questions you want about the building and the religion there. The people there are incredibly nice and it is very interesting and educational. Also, just as a heads up, you cannot actually enter the building itself, just the grounds. But it is still well worth the trip! Would definitely recommend checking out!

My daughter and I visit this location frequently. The Sunsets are amazing and the visitor center leaves you feeling spiritually full. No matter your beliefs or background, you will benefit from this visit. If its your first date or engagement photo opp, this is the place to be. If you just want a place to take the family to see the views or want to learn more about why this building is here, this is the place for you. Make sure to come back and visit at Christmas time when the lights are strung.

The Oakland Temple is a wonderful place to visit any time of year! The beautiful gardens, gorgeous fountains, and stunning views of the bay area are remarkable. Not only will you be amazed visually, but there is an incredible feeling of peace and joy felt on Temple Hill. The Christus statue in the Visitor's Center is remarkable. On a clear day, the views from on top of the Oakland Temple terrace are breathtaking and you can see all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. As a photographer, it a perfect place to take a photograph of either a killer bay area sunset, the stunning Oakland Temple itself, the beautiful gardens, a family portrait or a simple selfie. I have lived in the Bay Area for over 23 years and I always walked away from my visit on Temple Hill feeling uplifted, grateful and amazed by its spirit of peace and beauty. It will be a highlight of your trip to Oakland and the San Francisco Area.

We took a friend to see the Oakland Temple earlier this month. First, we walked the grounds of the Temple. There is a spectacular view of San Francisco bay from the southwest corner of the parking lot but if you really want to be dazzled, go up to the rooftop garden of the Temple! It's open to anyone. The grounds are so peaceful, you'll forget you're in a major metropolitan area. It's free to visit; there is plenty of parking and visitors are welcome. If you just want to sit and meditate, there are benches and quiet music playing on the grounds. After walking around outside the Temple, we went into the Visitors' Center. Public restrooms and water make this a nice stopping spot even if you're not interested in learning more about the Temple. Inside, we were greeted by two Sister missionaries who offered to show us around and asked if we had any specific things we'd like to see. They were wonderfully accommodating and were willing to answer any questions we had. They represent the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and want to share their beliefs but are extremely respectful of differing faiths. We enjoyed a video and a presentation on families. Also, if you have any interest in your family's history, go downstairs to the Family Search Library. We got a quick tour, just enough to make us want to come back and spend some time there. While we were there, we saw lots of families. The Visitors Center welcomes everybody. If you have a couple of hours and want to find peace in a busy city, go to the Oakland California LDS Temple. We couldn't have been happier with our visit.

What a special place this is. Spiritual, beautiful buildings and gardens, and spectacular views. It is a delight to see everyone who comes to enjoy the grounds and the Visitors' Center. We took our neighbors to go inside during the open house - they were delighted with the experience and we featured on their Christmas newsletter which was fun.

The family search center was really nice and one could search for vital statistics records on deceased relatives with help from one of the volunteers. The computers are more modern than the ones in the salt lake search center! They even gave away a free pencil and magnets of the Oakland temple! You can’t go inside the temple itself without your recommend, but one can walk the grounds and see the visitor center for free! And the venue sometimes hosts musical performances.

We visited the Oakland Temple grounds during the open house period just after it was remodeled and open public tours. We took a tour first thing in the morning on a weekday and it was amazing to see the beautiful artwork and materials that make this building truly a House of the Lord. Everyone was very nice and happy to see us and explain what the Temple is used for. They also answered all of the questions that were asked. I really enjoyed how well kept the grounds were and the amazing view of the San Francisco bay. We brought our whole family and I hope my kids remember that experience forever.

This beautiful building can be seen as a light on top of the hill for miles out in the Bay. Although you may not be able to get into this "Temple", the views of the Bay are spectacular, the grounds are beautiful with flowers and water fountains that gives refuge to the soul. There is a Visitor Center there that greets guests and give frequent tours. They often have free musical performances, not only during Christmas but throughout the year. The theater structure across from the Visitor Center often has free performances from dance groups, choirs, musicals and an orchestra. That theater seats 1,600 guests, I have been lucky enough to perform there and have enjoyed other performances there too. I think this is a place worth exploring.