Overview
Union City is a city of 70,000 people (in 2020) in the southern part of the East Bay portion of the San Francisco Bay Area region of California. It is bordered to the north by the city of Hayward and to the south by the city of Fremont. It is part of the Tri-Cities area, which consists of Union City, Fremont, and Newark.
1 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Union City
Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park
Dry Creek Cottage was a popular summer home of Edith, Mildred, and Jeanette Meyers, three sisters of Alameda who were very active locally during the early and mid 1900s. Dry Creek/Pioneer is adjacent to Garin Regional Pa…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Nov. Summer highs reach about 76°F; winter lows dip to about 41°F. Wettest: Jan and Feb. (climate data from nearby San Leandro)
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.
- SQL San Carlos Airport, San Carlos — 11 mi away. Directions
- OAK Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, Oakland — 11 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
There is a variety of different (fast food) restaurants inside Union Landing.
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.
Understand
History
When California began to experience incredible growth in the 1950s, Southern Alameda County developed quickly and the city of Hayward began to eye the townships to its south for potential annexation. To preclude such an event, a citizen's committee petitioned for incorporation; and on January 13, 1959, the City of Union City came into being, binding together the four townships of Union City/New Haven/Alvarado/Decoto. Tom Kitayama, who served on the citizen's committee, became its first mayor. He was the first Japanese American to hold public office in California, just 14 years after the end of World War II.
Get in
Public transportation
- AC Transit buses bring you in from other parts of the inner East Bay.
- BART trains bring you to the Union City BART Station from Fremont to the south and from Hayward, San Leandro, Oakland and Richmond to the north, as well as San Francisco to the west.
- Dumbarton Express buses bring you in from Palo Alto via Dumbarton Bridge.
Get around
Cycling, walking, and taking public transportation are all alternatives to driving, although traffic isn't bad relatively speaking and free parking is plentiful.
Place Union City Transit
Operates four bus routes, which are coordinated with BART trains, AC Transit, and the Dumbarton Express to areas outside the city. Main transfer points are at the Union City BART Station and the Union Landing transit facility. Fares are $1.75 adults, $1 youth, $0.75 seniors.
See
The Union Landing shopping center is also home of the Century 25 movie theater.
Do
Cycle, run, or walk your dog on the Alameda Creek Trail which extends from the hills to the bay. One side of the trail is paved and the other is mostly unpaved.
Do Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park
Dry Creek Cottage was a popular summer home of Edith, Mildred, and Jeanette Meyers, three sisters of Alameda who were very active locally during the early and mid 1900s. Dry Creek/Pioneer is adjacent to Garin Regional Park and shares a visitor center in Hayward. A network of hiking trails gives the chance to see raptors and coyotes, and the High Ridge Trail has extensive views of the bay. If you see cattle grazing, keep your distance.
Buy
Shop Union Landing
A shopping center and hang out spot. The shopping center contains mostly "big box" stores.
Shop Union Square Marketplace
A strip mall without much in the way of atmosphere, but its location across from the BART station makes it a convenient place for a snack, meal, or convenience store purchase. Anchored by Safeway and Dollar Tree, with some restaurants, coffee, bubble tea shops.
Eat
There is a variety of different (fast food) restaurants inside Union Landing.
Eat Golden Bay Seafood Harbor 金海湾渔港 (formerly Mayflower Seafood Restaurant)
Very popular Chinese restaurant. Avoid the weekend lunch hour, when it is packed. Come early (before 11:30AM) during the weekdays to experience probably the best dim sum in the Tri-cities.
Eat Birdhaus Beer Garden and The Lone Crow
Islander cuisine and event venue
Sleep
Go next
The Tri-City area includes Union City, Newark, and Fremont. Go south and visit Newark and Fremont.
Nearby
Hayward
City / town · 37 listings · 3 mi away
Newark
City / town · 17 listings · 6 mi away
Castro Valley
City / town · 6 listings · 7 mi away
Fremont
City / town · 45 listings · 7 mi away
San Leandro
City / town · 67 listings · 9 mi away
Foster City
City / town · 8 listings · 10 mi away
Redwood City
City / town · 24 listings · 10 mi away
Dublin
City / town · 11 listings · 11 mi away
My experience
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