Overview
Though it was a booming industrial center during World War II, the subsequent decades were not kind to Richmond, California. After the war, deindustrialization hit hard. The shipyards closed. Desperation set in. A reputation for violent crime kept visitors away.
But in the 21st century crime has gone down, and a revitalization has begun. Richmond still isn't on any tourism shortlists, but its historic sites, nature, and strategic location between the East Bay and Marin County do attract some interest to this often-overlooked part of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Areas of note include the charming and historic Point Richmond neighborhood on the bay in the southwest of Richmond, as well as the World War II sites at the southern edge of the city. This article also covers Richmond's near-enclave of San Pablo.
6 sights · 4 things to do · 6 places to eat · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Richmond
Little Point Richmond
Lots of intricate little fairy houses in and around the trees lining both sides of the street. A mysterious and delightful public art installation to add some magic and whimsy to your day.
Marina Bay
Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline
Beautiful park in the Point Richmond neighborhood. The west side has quiet, easy walks along the bay and a picturesque lagoon. The east side has hilly hiking trails characteristic of the Bay Area, with great views of Mar…
Golden State Model Railroad Museum
The Golden State Railroad Museum consists of 10,000 square feet (1,000 square meters) of detailed, intricate O, HO, and N scale train tracks. You will find 3 large railroad tracks, constructed and owned by the EBMES, wit…
Point Richmond Historic District
A number of historic buildings and the friendly, pint-sized Point Richmond History Museum.
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
Consists of Rosie the Riveter Memorial in Marina Bay Park, a visitor center in the Oil House, the Ford Assembly Plant, a museum and WWII shipyard, preserving and interpreting the stories and places of America's home fron…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Nov. Summer highs reach about 76°F; winter lows dip to about 43°F. Wettest: Dec and Feb. (climate data from nearby Berkeley)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CCR Buchanan Field, Concord — 16 mi away. Directions
- OAK Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, Oakland — 16 mi away (major hub). Directions
Richmond is served by I-80 from San Francisco, Vallejo and Sacramento, I-580 from Berkeley, Marin County and Oakland and Richmond Parkway skirting most of town as a bypass.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Little Point Richmond, Point Richmond Historic District, Masquers Playhouse
- Lunch Golden Gate Bistro
- Afternoon Golden State Model Railroad Museum, Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline
- Dinner Lara's Fine Dining
Day 2
- Morning Marina Bay, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, S.S Red Oak Victory Ship
- Lunch Anh Restaurant & Bar
- Afternoon San Pablo Lytton Casino, Point Richmond Music Festival
- Dinner Angelo's Gourmet Delicatessen
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Richmond is served by I-80 from San Francisco, Vallejo and Sacramento, I-580 from Berkeley, Marin County and Oakland and Richmond Parkway skirting most of town as a bypass.
Public transportation is provided with an inter-modal transit center comprising BART and Amtrak, with local buses run by AC Transit. BART connects Richmond directly to Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, and other parts of the Bay Area. (See also Bay Area public transit.) The Golden Gate Transit 580 bus runs from the San Rafael transit center in Marin.
The San Francisco Bay Ferry serves Richmond Ferry Terminal at 1453 Harbour Way S, several times per day from San Francisco.
Place Amtrak
Three Amtrak routes service Richmond: the California Zephyr, the Capitol Corridor, and the Gold Runner. It is in the same building as the BART station. There is no ticket service, no baggage checking, and no luggage assistance.
Get around
Some attractions are served by bus, but others aren't.
See
See Little Point Richmond (Fairy Houses)
Lots of intricate little fairy houses in and around the trees lining both sides of the street. A mysterious and delightful public art installation to add some magic and whimsy to your day.
See Marina Bay
See Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline
Beautiful park in the Point Richmond neighborhood. The west side has quiet, easy walks along the bay and a picturesque lagoon. The east side has hilly hiking trails characteristic of the Bay Area, with great views of Marin to the west, the industrial and residential landscapes of Richmond to the east, Oakland and San Francisco to the south, and the San Pablo Bay to the north. If it's a clear day, you can even see Mount Diablo poking up above the ridge. The park also includes Keller Beach, a small strip of sand on the bay.
See Golden State Model Railroad Museum
The Golden State Railroad Museum consists of 10,000 square feet (1,000 square meters) of detailed, intricate O, HO, and N scale train tracks. You will find 3 large railroad tracks, constructed and owned by the EBMES, with models of various landmarks along California's railroad system. Also has some informational signs about railroad engineering and construction. The more you look, the more there is to notice. Fun for small kids or if you're into model trains. Open Saturdays and Sundays, but the trains usually only run on Sundays.
See Point Richmond Historic District
A number of historic buildings and the friendly, pint-sized Point Richmond History Museum.
See Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
Consists of Rosie the Riveter Memorial in Marina Bay Park, a visitor center in the Oil House, the Ford Assembly Plant, a museum and WWII shipyard, preserving and interpreting the stories and places of America's home front response to World War II.
Do
Do S.S Red Oak Victory Ship
Launched in 1944, and commissioned as the USS Red Oak Victory ship, the Red Oak is the only vessel built by the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, California that is being restored. This last remaining Boulder Class Victory saw service in the World War II, Korea and Vietnam has the distinction of being the only ship operated by both military and civilian personnel during career.
Buy
Downtown Point Richmond has many shops and cafes.
Eat
Eat Americana Pizza & Taqueria
Good take-out food, generous portions, good prices. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diners Club, ATM. 24-hour delivery free with minimum $15.00 purchase
Eat Angelo's Gourmet Delicatessen
Neighborhood deli with an extensive selection of good-quality sandwiches, with prices much lower than comparable delis in the Bay Area.
Eat Anh Restaurant & Bar
Harborside restaurant serving Vietnamese, Thai, and Korean dishes. Accessible via the San Francisco Bay Trail. Indoor and outdoor seating available.
Eat Golden Gate Bistro
Local breakfast and lunch spot in the industrial area north of Marina Bay. Well-known in the area for their breakfast burritos, breakfast potatoes and watermelon lemonade. Order at the counter under the awning, seating is outdoor patio dining only. Patio has a foosball table.
Eat Lara's Fine Dining
Italian-American and seafood restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.
Eat Goldpie
Goldpie was called "the East Bay's most exciting new pizza-pop up" in 2026 by Luke Tsai, KQED food editor. It is a pop-up pizza place in the parking lot of 7 Stars Holistic Healing Center. The pizza is all hand made, and cooked on-site. Lots of options, and they can make custom pies if you're vegan or vegetarian.
Sleep
Stay Extendedstay America
Stay safe
Richmond has a reputation for high levels of crime. The safest parts of Richmond consist of Marina Bay and Point Richmond south of I-580, the Hilltop area north of San Pablo and much of East Richmond on the other side of I-80 or San Pablo Avenue at the most. Areas to exercise caution, and to avoid at night, are the Iron Triangle and Central Richmond near Cutting, McDonald and Barrett Avenues. These regional segments of Richmond are the reason behind its horrible reputation. In fact, the city used to rank with Compton as one of the worst cities in California statistically when it came to crime rate. However, these days it's a lot safer, even if it's not the most well-to-do city in the Bay.
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