Things to do & places to visit in Berkeley, California, United States

The counter-culture, flower power center of the 60s, bohemian Berkeley has evolved into a culinary and cultural travel scene. Shift into low gear and people-watch along quirky Telegraph Avenue while checking out the bookstores and cafes. After strolling through the UC Berkeley campus, the Berkeley Rose Garden and the Downtown Arts District, head into the hills for an outdoor adventure in Tilden Park or cruise down to the waterfront park, where the San Francisco skyline sparkles across the bay.

Berkeley city in California, United States. Timezone: America/Los_Angeles, current date and time: Friday, May 03, 2024, 19:46.

Top things to do (23)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Berkeley Repertory Theatre (131 reviews)
- Lovely theater
Friday: 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Theaters

Lovely theater. Nice and smallish. Clean and comfortable. Traveled from Dallas to see Swept Away. Everyone was so nice! The musical was great. Within walking distance of a delicious pizza place. See more..
5.0 Monterey Market (44 reviews)
- This is the place for your fruits and veggies!
Spent < 1 hour Farmers Markets

Monterey Market has had the freshest, most flavorful produce around. During citrus season, they carry a large range of options for your table. They have the largest range of mushrooms I’ve seen anywhere. If you are curious about trying some different produce, this is the place. I have always found staff to ge very helpful. See more..
4.5 University of California, Berkeley (936 reviews)
- Always Great to Visit
Educational sites

California's most prestigious public university is the home of liberalism and revolution. See more..
4.5 Tilden Regional Park (548 reviews)
- Love Tilden (and Wildcat Canyon)
Friday: 5:00 AM - 10:00 PM Parks

Tilden is one of Berkeley's oldest and most popular parks that offers a variety of family-fun activities like pony rides and carousels. See more..
4.5 UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (484 reviews)
- Spend a day among trees and flowers.
Friday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Gardens

Past Strawberry Canyon is the 34-acre Botanical Garden, which holds about 13,000 species of plants. The species are organized according to regions of the world, and the garden has a great collection of native Californian plants. Bring a picnic basket and enjoy the collections, Garden Store, and Plant Deck. Be sure to check out the glasshouses, Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden, and Redwood Grove. The Garden is open from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day of the year except the first Tuesday of each month, Thanksgiving Day, December 24 and 25, December 31, January 1, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Online advanced admission tickets are required for all visitors, including Garden Members. See more..
4.5 Berkeley Marina (288 reviews)
- A Great Place for an "Easy" Walk
Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Marinas • Neighborhoods

One of the recommended windsurfing launch spots. See more..
4.5 Lawrence Hall of Science (182 reviews)
- Great view of Berkeley
Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Science Museums • Educational sites

The Lawrence Hall of Science is UC Berkeley's Public Science Center. Join us and discover your inner scientist through fun and hands-on explorations in engineering, physics, astronomy, and more! Visit the Hall's Science on a Sphere® and take control of a planet on a 6-ft diameter globe, meet an animal friend in the Animal Discovery Room, and design, build, and test your own creations in Design Quest. Looking for even more ways to explore science? Add a Planetarium or National Geographic 3D Theater show to your visit (Planetarium and 3D Theater admission is extra). See more..
4.5 Tilden Park Little Farm (153 reviews)
- A Good Time for the Family!
Parks

Be sure to bring plenty of celery and/or lettuce! There are animals to feed! This is a sweet farm with adorable animals that you can feed and pet. See more..
4.5 Sather Tower (143 reviews)
- Third Tallest Bell-and-clock tower in the world
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Observation Decks & Towers

It is the third-tallest bell-and-clock-tower in the world. It has clocks on its four faces on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley. It is more commonly known as The Campanile for it’s resemblance to the Campanile di San Marco in Venice. It is a recognizable symbol of the university. It’s current 61-bell carillon, built around a nucleus of 12 bells can be heard for many miles. It was given by Jane Sather in memory of her husband, banker Peder Sather. Certainly worth a photo stop, while visiting UC Berkeley. See more..
4.5 Indian Rock Park (116 reviews)
- Come see the rhyolite
Parks

Like few places in the world, the San Francisco Bay area has amazing exposures of interesting geology. Indian Rock Park is an outcrop of rhyolite right in the middle of residential Berkeley Hills. This brand of rhyolite is officially known as the Northbrae Rhyolite. It erupted, about 11.5 million years ago. This spot is popular for rock climbers, and anyone interested in some quick fun and a beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay. Indian Rock Park is one of three Rock parks here in the Berkeley Hills within an easy walking distance. While parked at Indian Rock Park, walk-up Indian Rock Road to see Mortar Rock Park and Grotto Rock Park. See more..
4.5 Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (94 reviews)
- Hans Hofmann Exhibition
Friday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Art Galleries • Theaters • Art Museums

One of the best exhibitions I've ever attended at an art museum. I was in heaven. Yes, I do love Hofmann's abstracts and this was my first opportunity to get up nice and close (not too close!) and see all of his masterful brush strokes. We visited on July 4, which just so happened to be a free day :) with only moderate crowds. There are other interesting things to see at this museum, but we were here for Hans. And it did not disappoint. A++++++++ We also had a delicious lunch upstairs in the cafe! Highly recommend! See more..
4.5 Greek Theater (90 reviews)
- Historical place at UC Berkeley
Theaters

The Greek Theater at the Berkeley campus of the University of California, is the University's premier open-air cultural venue, positioned at the foothills of a mountain overlooking the city of San Francisco. This amphitheater has a capacity for up to 8500 people and has a semicircular format with concrete bleachers distributed in 17 seating planes that surround a central area with folding chairs, both aimed at the Greco-Roman style construction that inspires it name. In its staircase there is a wooden stage that exists permanently for use in diferent local presentations. It is a place widely used for graduation ceremonies in general, as well as for lectures and conferences by personalities that have the potential to attract a large audience. See more..
4.5 Grizzly Peak (88 reviews)
- Great Scenic Drive!
Mountains

Grizzly Peak is a summit in Berkeley Hills which one crosses while driving in or out of the city. It is close to the Tilden Regional Park and provides a beautiful view of the nature in and around. It is a great place to drive, trek/hike or cycle enjoying the scenic view. We enjoy our drive through the Peak whenever we visit Berkeley and take photos of the unique view it provides of the Golden Gate Bridge and the surrounding Bay Area. See more..
4.5 César Chávez Park (71 reviews)
- Nice hiking park beside the bay
Parks

Beautiful park for hiking. Lots of nice trails. A little windy some days and perfect on other days. Lots of dogs in the park using a great time. See more..
4.5 Adventure Playground (51 reviews)
- Great!
Playgrounds

Great for kids who like to build stuff, climb, and/or ride a zip line (in other words, most kids). Agree with previous reviews that if you are a hovering or very nervous parent, this may not be for you. If you can relax on the edges, help little kids, or help the staff, it is a wonderful place. My 13 year old was at the edge of the recommended age for this place, but spent a couple very happy hours here, building. Her creation started as a box and ended up a bird house, but the key was that she got to build it on her own, with no parental or teacher direction. She did meet very kind people staffing the park, and I met great people from all over the Bay area. Tip: start by collecting nails from the ground in order to trade them in for a hammer (or paint or a saw). (There are boards with instructions about this too.) Parents can help dig dirt back onto the top of the landing pile at the end of the zip line (or in other ways--ask the staff where they need help.) See more..
4.5 Lake Anza (42 reviews)
- Stroll Around
Bodies of Water

We took a long stroll around much of this forested lake up in the park above the city. Very busy in the summer when you can go swimming. See more..
4.5 Regional Parks Botanic Garden (36 reviews)
- Enjoyable in every season
State Parks • Parks • Gardens

I suspect that more visitors go to the UC Berkeley botanical garden than to this garden specializing in the plants of California. This one is a gem. I like strolling the paths to look at all the native plants from different parts of the state. I also enjoy the garden for its diverse birdlife, whether warblers in spring or sparrows in fall and winter. In the winter of 2016-2017, when the Bay Area had a lot of rain, the creek was running strong. You could go here in every season and enjoy the garden, which is beautifully maintained. The garden is part of the East Bay Regional Park District. You can check out the garden page on the EBRPD website. It lists the many native plants by the season when they bloom. See more..
4.5 Codornices Park (26 reviews)
- Fun slide ☀️
Spent 1-2 hours Parks

Great slide great little park I grew up in this area when I was a kid I slide on this slide many fun fun memories ,I amazed it still around See more..
4.5 Berkeley Visitor Information Center (25 reviews)
- Music, food, culture, hiking information. Ask for Axel!
Friday: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Visitor Centers

Visitor Information Center is your go-to resource for what to do, where to stay and dine, and how to get around town. FREE Maps, visitors guides (in foreign languages too), tips and more! Come in and chat with our destination experts for insight on the best things to do and see, as well as their personal favorites. Berkeley's Visitor Information Center is located at 2030 Addison St., suite 102, one block north of the Downtown Berkeley BART Station. Open weekdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (closed daily 1-2 pm for lunch), the See more..
4.5 Blake Garden (25 reviews)
- A hidden treasure
Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Gardens

Italian-style garden located in front of the Blake House on the University of California campus. See more..
4.5 Aftel Archive of Curious Scents (18 reviews)
- hidden gem that serves as a reminder of the specialness of Berkeley
Friday: Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums • Libraries

A small museum devoted to natural aromatics and artifacts. Smell more than 300 essences -- & take 3 samples home. Touch & smell raw botanical materials that become perfume essences, pour over turn-of-the-century perfume books, compare 100-year-old essences to their modern counterparts. Every item in the Archive is authentic & original, some dating back hundreds of years. Open Saturdays. We require all visitors to wear masks during the entire visit and be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. See more..
4.5 Berkeley Fire Trails (18 reviews)
- Great place for hiking, cycling and workout
Spent 1-2 hours Parks

Awesome place for workout and great view from hill If you are looking a nearby medium hiking/workout place in Berkeley then Clark Kerr Fire trail is the one. Its quite, full of nature, easy trail to find the track and nice sitting place with great view of golden gate and bay area. If you are fond of cycling then this could be best but choose southeast route. Choose a clear day to hike if you want to see further till golden gate and bay area. See more..
4.5 Eastshore State Park (14 reviews)
- Plenty of parking and great views of the bay.
State Parks

I enjoyed walking along the shore and watching the wildlife and people watching. The sunsets from the water level were great! See more..
4.5 Panoramic Hill (6 reviews)
- Beautiful views, serene trail
Hiking Trails

This is a great hike close to the Berkeley campus. You get great views of the city and the Bay. We drove up Panoramic Way to avoid the very steep early parts of the trail. Our hike was pretty leisurely and completed within 2 hours. See more..
4.0 Shattuck Avenue (166 reviews)
- Fun Walk and Great Dinner on Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA
Points of Interest & Landmarks

The heart of trendy Berkeley. See more..
4.0 Berkeley Municipal Rose Garden (136 reviews)
- A Great Way to Spend an Afternoon in Berkeley.
Gardens

I went a few times to visit the Rose garden, and it was always a great experience. It is smaller than it looks on the picture, but it has a great variety of roses. You can walk and sit and smell the roses, then walk some more sit soak in the fresh and fragrant air, feel the sun on your skin, enjoy the peace and quiet, and leave the place refreshed. The rose garden is up the Berkeley hills and after you visit it, you can enjoy hiking a bit and admire the great trees on the other side of the road. You can get there by car, which is the easiest way, but also you can walk up the quaint streets of Berkeley and brows the little gardens and the interesting plants, people grow in their yards. It is uphill and great cardio exercise. See more..
4.0 Golden Gate Fields (88 reviews)
- The Ultimate Place for College Kids to go to
Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Horse Tracks

Golden Gate Fields is Northern California’s premier destination for live horse racing. Located along the San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, CA fans are treated to some of the most thrilling sights and sounds in the world. Come experience the heart and hoof pounding action of live horse racing today. See more..
4.0 California Memorial Stadium (47 reviews)
- An engineering marvel
Spent More than 3 hours Arenas & Stadiums

Did you know that this huge stadium can withstand 6 feet of lateral movement and simultaneous 2 feet of vertical movement during an earthquake - given that it is sitting on the Hayward Fault? See more..
4.0 Gilman Brewing Company (27 reviews)
- We Love Beer
Friday: 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM Breweries

Always looking for new places to enjoy a great glass of beer. Gilman fits the bill as I enjoy IPA's and my husband the dark beers. Also, a nice place to chill and play games. In regards to parking it's limited to the street. In regards to food although there is no resteraunt they do serve sandwiches. See more..
3.0 Telegraph Avenue (207 reviews)
- Wonderful place to visit and spend some time
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Almost as if we haven't lost a moment of time... Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley is still so reminiscent of the 60's that you will feel as if you have traveled back in time when you visit Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. The shops and eateries are a mix of quintessential hippie-dom mixed with the current U.C. Berkeley modern day student. Both seem to blend together in a medley that makes shopping and eating here almost a cultural or historical trek as well as a great shopping one. See more..