Location: Berkeley
Top Things to do in Berkeley
Things to do in Berkeley, California (CA): The Best Points of Interest & Landmarks
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.
Restaurants in Berkeley
1. Sphere Within Sphere Sculpture
2. Fourth Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 362 reviews
GAP free shopping street, with plenty of unique shops and artists studios selling their wares.
Reviewed By gaylem113 - Chicago, United States
Great for a stroll near the harbor in this quasi-industrial area. No shortage of coffee, restaurants, shops and arts, including a cooperative with working artist onsite.
3. The Rotary Peace Grove Lookout
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
4. Centennial Drive
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By Pfitzgerald1946 - Berkeley, United States
Centennial Drive begins at the CAL football stadium and continues to Grizzly Peak Boulevard near the top of the Berkeley Hills. If you have a good road bike and you are in very good shape, try the challenge of pedalling up without getting off your bike. The reward will be an entrance to the rolling hills of beautiful Tilden Park. Assuming you are driving from the stadium going up the hill, on your right are the women's softball fields and the famous rugby field. CAL's men's team has been the best team in the country almost every year for a long time. Further up is Strawberry Canyon Aquatics Center. For five dollars you can swim and lay out. It is a great spot to take kids or to meet people. Another quarter mile or so up the road is a small parking lot to the right which is the beginning of Berkeley's most popular running path. It is a fire road that goes up rather steeply for almost two miles and then more gradually for another 2+ miles. Most people run or hike as far as a bench with a great view of San Francisco, the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. Continuing up the road another quarter mile gets you to the renowned University of California Botanical Gardens. A visitor to the area should try to find time to check it out for its diverse collection of plants from all over the world. Continuing past the parking lots to the botanical gardens you will arrive at the high security Berkeley Lab with cyclotron and nuclear research. From here you will go up the incredibly steep stretch of Centennial Drive to the Lawrence Hall of Science, a great museum with enough educational stuff for kids to keep them busy for days. Just past the entrance to the museum is a parking lot with one of the best views in the entire Bay Area . Continuing up the hill to Grizzly Peak, you can now enter Tilden Park with its lake for swimming, golf course, hikes, merry-g0 round and other adventures
5. Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By ipeguy - Berkeley, United States
This group provides tours of different neighborhoods in Berkeley, focusing on local architecture and historic buildings. We liked their tour of the area near the Claremont Hotel and their booklets on Thousand Oaks and other neighborhoods.
6. Sather Tower
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 140 reviews
Reviewed By 716sachink - Plainview, United States
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.
7. Doe Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By permia
We saw two marvellous reading rooms, both with highly decorative styles. Heyns Reading Room has a monumental painting, befitting its subject of Washington Rallying the Troops at Monmouth, by Emanuel Leutze. A hand carved wooden ceiling exhibiting the highest craft work is exquisite. The second reading room we visited is exceptionally comfortable with welcoming sofas and atmospheric lighting. It too has a most ornate white patterned ceiling.
8. South Hall
9. Shattuck Avenue
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 163 reviews
The heart of trendy Berkeley.
Reviewed By mini - Fremont, United States
We had a good time taking a walk on Shattuck Avenue. This is a nice street with various cafes, restaurants, and some shops. We had a superb dinner at Agrodolce Osteria. Food was amazing; service was too.
