Berkeley Tourism - Travel to Berkeley
Berkeley is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, in the United States.
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Understand Berkeley Tourism
Berkeley has a reputation for perhaps the most liberal city in the United States. Rooting from the Free Speech Movement of the 1960's, visitors will find an eclectic mix of people and things that often make one shake their head and say "Only in Berkeley." But to make the most out of your experience, don't let the hippies scare you. Berkeley's free-thinking environment has seen the birth of quality attractions, great food from many cultures, and of course the 30,000-person large University of California, Berkeley.
Get into Berkeley
Travel to Berkeley By Plane
- Oakland International Airport (OAK) is preferred. Take the AirBART shuttle to the Bay Area Rapid Transit Oakland Airport station, and then take a Richmond-bound train to the Downtown Berkeley station. Alternatively, you can use a rental car and drive up Interstate 80 to the University Avenue exit.
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is also convenient but will take a little longer. Similarly, take a BART train to Berkeley. Driving is a bit tougher, but is possible: take the US Highway 101 north across the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Take Interstate 80 north and exit University Avenue.
- San Jose International Airport is in the region but tougher. Rental car will probably be easiest, but public transit is possible. Consult the [www.511.org] website for more.
Travel to Berkeley By Train
- Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) offers excellent service to Berkeley from other parts of the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Amtrak offers service to Berkeley from other parts of the United States via the Berkeley station, Emeryville station, or Richmond station. Consult 511.org for details on how to get from the Amtrak stations to your destination; sadly the Berkeley station is in an out-of-the-way location of the city.
Travel to Berkeley By car
- From San Francisco, Berkeley is a simple 10-minute drive across the Bay Bridge and up Interstate 80 to University Avenue.
- From Sacramento, Berkeley is a 1-hour drive south Interstate 80.
- From Los Angeles and Southern California, Berkeley is a 7+ hour drive up Interstate 5, then west Interstate 580, and finally north Interstate 80.
Travel to Berkeley By Bus
- Greyhound offers bus service to nearby Oakland and San Francisco.
- Local bus service is provided by AC Transit. For specific itineraries, visit the [www.511.org] website.
Travel to Berkeley By Boat
- Good luck. There are ferries from Marin County and San Francisco to nearby Oakland, but are probably most useful as a scenic method of travel.
Get around in Berkeley
As in many other American cities, the car is king. Yet public transportation is prevalent and walking is an option downtown and near the university. The website [www.511.org] provides a trip planner for those wanting to use the local public transit (BART light rail and AC Transit buses).
See Berkeley
- University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, or "Cal"), Visitor Center, 101 University Hall (at the corner of University Avenue and Oxford Streets) - 90-minute student-led walking tours are offered seven days a week. (M-Sa at 10AM, Su at 1PM). Be prepared to climb the hilly campus terrain. If you're touring alone, the main attraction is a ride up the Campanile ($2 general admission), which offers sweeping views of the Bay Area. http://www.berkeley.edu/visitors/
- Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Drive (located in the hills of the Berkeley campus), 510-642-5132. Every day, 10AM-5PM. Offers many hands-on science exhibits, especially good for children. Nearby is the UC botanical garden. http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu
- Berkeley Pier. At the west end of University Avenue, near Interstate 80. Great views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the bay. Not recommended at night.
- People's Park. While not visually spectacular, a landmark of the 1960's Free Speech Movement.
- Tilden Park.
- Berkeley Rose Garden.
Do Berkeley
- Berkeley Repertory Theater ("Berkeley Rep"), 2025 Addison Street (near Shattuck; 2 blocks north of Berkeley BART station), 647-2949. Hours vary, normally Tu-Su 8PM-11PM, Sa-Su 2PM-4PM (matinee). With its consistently high-quality productions of contemporary and historical plays, the Berkeley Rep is one of the primary centers of theater on the West Coast. The theater is also very pleasant, in a modern way. $35-$55 (varies by night; half-price students and seniors, $20 under 30). http://www.berkeleyrep.org/
- Greek Theater, located in the UC Berkeley Campus on Gayley Road. http://cpinfo.berkeley.edu
- Berkeley Sauna, 1947 Milvia St (near University). (510) 845-8595. noon-22:00 Mon-Thu; noon-23:00 Fri, 10:30-23:00PM Sat, 10:30-22:00 Sun. Enjoy a soak in a hot tub, a steamy sauna, or a massage at this no frills, yet relaxing Downtown spa. $10 gets you a private sauna for as long as you can stand it, $15 for a 1/2 hour hot tub, or $60 for an hour of massage.
Learn
- The University of California, Berkeley is a world-class university consistently ranked as the number-one public university in the United States. See http://www.berkeley.edu/. Study abroad programs are available, and international students are housed in the fittingly-named International House at Piedmont Ave. and Bancroft Way. The University also offers summer courses and extension classes available to the general public. See http://www.unex.berkeley.edu/ for more.
- Vista Community College, 2020 Milvia St. near Shattuck Ave. http://www.vistacollege.edu/
- Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Rd. next to UC Berkeley.
Work
- Work-study programs are available through the University of California, Berkeley.
Buy
- Telegraph Avenue. Check out Cody's Books, Moe's Books, Rasputin Music, Ameoba Music, and the unforgettable dynamic streetlife. Several independent stores and some hobos to boot.
- 4th Street. Interesting upscale retail center with boutiques. Good food at Bette's Diner (American).
- College Avenue. The Elmwood district has interesting stores (College at Ashby Avenue) as well as Rockridge (College at California Highway 24, next to Rockridge BART rail station).
- Solano Avenue. More interesting stores and restaurants. Solano Avenue between The Alameda and San Pablo Avenue.
- Comic Relief. 2138 University (at Shattuck, Downtown). (http://www.comicrelief.net/). This is one of the best comics stores in the US, hands down. You can find everything from superheroes to comix to art books to action figures and DVD's, from European comics (in hardback!) to Japanese manga. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and they know their way around the comics industry.
Eat - Travel to Berkeley
Budget
- Top Dog, 2534 Durant, (510) 843-5967. A Berkeley institution, with locations on 3 sides of campus (Hearst, Durant Ave, and Center St.) Amazing hot dogs for $2.50 and walls filled with libertarian political writings. The Durant location is the original, and is, really the only one worth going to. Open until 2 am M-F, and until 3 am on Saturday and Sunday mornings. http://www.topdoghotdogs.com
- Saul's, 1475 Shattuck Ave., (510) 848-DELI. Sun-Thu 8:00am to 9:00pm, Fri-Sat 8:00am to 9:30pm. In the Gourmet Ghetto. A really good Jewish deli (well, about as good as you get in these parts) with outstanding pickles. http://www.saulsdeli.com
- Ozzy's Soda Fountain, 2900 College Ave., (510) 843-1300. Inside the Elmwood Pharmacy, lies a Berkeley treasure since 1921, a real old-style soda fountain with great shakes and sandwiches and breakfast food.
- Blondie's and Fat Slice pizza, Telegraph Avenue at Durant. $2.50 for a slice of pizza in the heart of Berkeley's southside. Has fed an uncountable amount of undergraduate stomachs.
- Arrinell's Pizza, Shattuck Ave. near University Ave. and Berkeley BART, "authentic" New York style pizza that attracts the faithful around the Bay Area. Spartan facilities, but $2.25 for a slice of Neapolitan and $2.50 for a slice of Sicilian.
Mid-range
- Zachary's, 1853 Solano Ave., (510) 525-5950. Sun-Thu 11am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10:30pm. No credit cards or checks accepted -- just cold hard cash. Just under $20 for a decently sized pizza. Pizza like you dream about. Available in deep-dish or regular. A second location is nearby in Oakland on College Avenue. A local and regional favorite with notoriously long lines. http://www.zacharys.com
- Tanaka, Shattuck at University. Superb Japanese food in a beautiful ambience. The head chef, Tanaka, is there most of the time and very friendly. Catch him in a good mood (i.e. Friday night) and you might get some free sake.
- Au Coquelet, 2000 University (Downtown at Milvia, between Shattuck and Martin Luther King), (510) 845-0433. Open till 1:30 AM Sun-Thu, and till 2 AM on Fri-Sat. The late-night student crowd and the weekend brunchers come to Au Coquelet to enjoy food, coffee, and a constantly revolving art show. You can get a delicious piece of pie here.
- Cha Am, 1543 Shattuck Ave (at Cedar), (510) 848-9664. Berkeley is known for good Thai cuisine, and Cha Am is one of the best. Eat delicious soups and more in a restaurant made up or many nooks and crannies, both in and out of doors.
- Venezia, 1799 University Ave, (510) 849-4681. Dinner Mon-Thu 5:30pm-9:30pm. Lunch Tue-Fri 11:30am-1:30pm. An high-quality, upscale, but not too expensive Italian restaurant with great décor. http://www.caffevenezia.com
- La Mediterranee, 2936 College Ave., (510) 540-7773. A fun pan-Mediterranean restaurant in the Elmwood District. http://www.lamediterranee.net
- Blue Nile, 2525 Telegraph Avenue, 510-540-6777. The ambiance is interesting, with pictures of Ethiopia and beaded curtains. The presentation isn't proper Ethiopian; you get individual plates, instead of all the food on one injera in the middle.
- Kabana, on the corner of University Ave. and San Pablo Ave., this great Pakistani restaurant is one of the anchors of West Berkeley. The daily specials are always good. Goat curry is outstanding.
- Toyo, 1463 Shattuck Ave., (510) 843-3768. Great Japanese food in a small restaurant in the Gourmet Ghetto.
- Spenger's Fish Grotto, 1919 Fourth Street (at University), (510) 845-7771. Spenger's is a Berkeley Institution, a huge Fish Market and wood-paneled restaurant that serves the fresh catch of the day in many many ways. Make a reservation for lunch or dinner, or sit at the bar and experience the colorful and competent bartenders. The crab cakes are delicious. http://www.spengers.com/
Splurge
- Chez Panisse, 1517 Shattuck Ave, (510) 548-5525. Chez Panisse is the origin of California Cuisine, and still is the best representation of the style that focuses on local produce in season. Named "Best Restaurant in America" in 2001 by Gourmet Magazine. Fixed price menus downstairs ($65 as of Jun 2004, reduced prices on Monday), which usually require a reservation a month in advance. It's worth it, though. The cafe upstairs offers more variety in a la carte form, and it's easier to get a table. Still, if your parents are paying, try to book downstairs. http://www.chezpanisse.com
Drink
- Acme Bar, new bar down the street from Lanesplitter. Great vibe. 2115 San Pablo Ave.
- Albatross, what a fantastic bar. It has several dart boards, a pool table, and lots of board games behind the bar. Sunday nights they run a trivia contest. 1822 San Pablo Ave.
- Beckett's, New Irish pub decorated to look like an old pub. Multiple floors, plenty of nooks, plenty of whiskey. 2271 Shattuck Ave
- Blake's, filled with undergraduate students. Telegraph & Durant.
- Brennan's, Working-class pub with cafeteria-style food. 4th & University.
- Jupiter, the inside of Jupiter smells like old beer. The backyard patio is fantastic, though. They have a huge selection of beer, including their own microbrews. 2181 Shattuck.
- Lanesplitter, This is a fantastic new bar on San Pablo Ave. Lots of great beers, a large backyard patio, and superb pizza. 2033 San Pablo Ave.
- Pyramid Brewery, massive brewery/restaurant, serving local Pyramid Ales. 901 Gilman St.
- Starry Plough, Relaxed atmosphere. The walls are decorated with fantastic anti-government posters. They have Irish dancing on Monday nights, and local bands during the rest of the week. 3101 Shattuck
- Thalassa, a billiards hall of grand proportion with a nice jukebox and a couple of pinball machines. Open from noon to 1 AM. 2367 Shattuck Ave @ Durant (near Downtown)
- Triple Rock. Good brewpub with light pub fare and shuffle board. 1920 Shattuck Ave.
Sleep - Berkeley Tourism
Budget
Mid-range
- Doubletree Hotel, 200 Marina Boulevard (in the Berkeley Marina, at the west end of University Ave.), (510) 548-7920. Hotel is in the marina. http://www.doubletree.com/
- The Faculty Club at UC Berkeley offers accommodations right on campus. See http://www.berkeleyfacultyclub.com/hotel/.
- Hotel Durant is great if you want to be next to the University of California campus. On Durant Avenue between College Avenue and Telegraph Avenue.
- Nearby Emeryville has a few more chain hotels such as Courtyard by Marriott, Holiday Inn, and Four Points by Sheraton.
Splurge
Contact
- Berkeley, like most of the East Bay, is in the 510 area code.
- Internet access is widespread. Many coffee shops offer wireless internet access; individual hotspots are listed on the Berkeley wiki. Public terminals are available at the UC Berkeley Doe library.
- Mobile phone coverage is generally understood to be excellent.
Stay safe - Berkeley Tourism
West and South Berkeley, especially near Oakland, can be unsafe at night. In 2001, Berkeley was reported to have the second-highest crime rate for large California cities, though many Berkeley crimes are drug-related. While the north side is quieter and generally safer, use common sense and avoid walking alone at night. Free night escorts are provided by the University of California police near campus: call 1-510-642-WALK.
Cope
Get out
External Links for Berkeley Tourism
- Convention and Visitor's Bureau
- City of Berkeley official website
- Berkeley business directory
- University of California, Berkeley official website
