Local Information

How To Get Here:

The University of California, Berkeley is located in the city of Berkeley, east of San Francisco Bay. The East Bay is accessible by air, train, car, and public transit.

By air: The Berkeley campus is served by the Oakland (OAK) and San Francisco (SFO) airports.  The Oakland airport is closer and may be less expensive depending on the airline.  Both airports connect with downtown Berkeley via the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train system (see below), although from Oakland a short bus connection (called AirBART) is necessary.  A number of companies also provide shuttle service from the airports to Berkeley.

By car:

From northbound Highway 101 (San Francisco/Daly City): Follow Highway 101 North, then take I-80 East/Bay Bridge. Once across the bridge, stay to the left. Exit at University Avenue and continue east for approximately two miles to the campus.

From westbound or eastbound I-80: Exit at University Avenue and continue east for approximately two miles to the campus.

From westbound Highway 13: Highway 13 becomes Tunnel Road as it enters Berkeley, and then changes to Ashby Avenue near the Claremont Hotel. Turn right onto College Avenue, which will take you to campus.

From westbound Highway 24: Travel through the Caldecott Tunnel and take the Telegraph Avenue exit. Turn right onto Telegraph and continue north for approximately two miles to the campus.

From northbound I-880 (San Jose, Hayward, Oakland International Airport): Follow I-880 East. Stay in left center lanes for I-80 East (to Berkeley). Take the University Avenue exit and continue east for approximately two miles to campus.

From westbound I-580: Exit I-80 East (to Berkeley, Sacramento). Take the University Avenue exit and continue east for approximately two miles to campus.

By train: Amtrak has service to the Bay Area into Emeryville and Oakland (Jack London Square), both about three miles from the campus. The Capitol, a commuter line between San Jose and a bit north of Sacramento, stops in Berkeley as well.

By bus: AC Transit is the municipal bus system that serves much of the East Bay, with service to San Francisco.

By BART: BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is the Bay Area's light rail system. It provides service to communities both east and west of San Francisco Bay. In coordination with the local bus systems, it also provides access to and from the Oakland and San Francisco airports.

Links to specific information and schedules for regional public transportation

Public transportation trip planner

Accommodations:

Berkeley has many hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfasts. Following is a sampling of places to stay in the Berkeley vicinity. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Campus Parking Facilities:

Parking is at a premium in Berkeley, and parking regulations are strictly enforced both on and around campus and in city lots. University parking facilities and campus spaces are reserved weekdays for University faculty, staff, and student permit holders, and open to the public evenings and weekends. Public parking lots are either metered or attended, but all are fee lots. They include:

University of California Student Union Garage, located on Bancroft Way just west of Telegraph Avenue.

Center Street Garage, located at 2025 Center Street between Shattuck Avenue and Milvia Street (nearest parking to University Hall).

Sather Gate Garage, located on Durant Avenue between Dana Street and Telegraph Avenue (south side of campus). Enter from Channing Way or Durant Avenue.

Street parking: Posted regulations are strongly enforced year round. Please note restrictions for football and other special days. Many areas also require specific permits.

On-Campus Dining:

(note: light refreshments will be provided at the conference)

The Faculty Club
Open to the public, the Faculty Club serves three meals a day on weekdays. The salad bar is especially popular, and there's a pleasant pub.

Café Muse
The Art Museum's café, open daily for lunch. Some patio seating.

Jimmy Bean's Fifo Café
Tasty meals weekdays at the Haas School of Business.

International House Café
Enjoy bay views from the glassed-in patio or eat in the I-House cafeteria. Open every day until midnight.

The Golden Bear
On Sproul Plaza at the César Chavez Center, open weekdays.

Pat Brown's Grill
In the Genetics and Plant Biology Building, enjoy light fare from early morning to late afternoon on weekdays.

Ramona's
Eat weekdays in Wurster Hall.

The Terrace
Enjoy outdoor meals on the rooftop terrace of the Bechtel Engineering Center from early morning to late afternoon on weekdays.

Nearby Restaurants:

Telegraph Avenue Area

Café Intermezzo
2442 Telegraph Ave, just south of Dwight Way
Decent sandwiches and giant salads; very crowded at peak hours but worth the wait. Entrees $5-$7.

Café Milano
2522 Bancroft Way, just east of Telegraph Ave
Good sandwiches and soups, and a funky two-story atmosphere. A “student hangout.” Entrees $5-$8.

Gypsy’s Trattoria Italiano
2519 Durant Ave, #A, between Bowditch and Telegraph Ave
Consistently rated the best Italian food in Berkeley by students for the last seven years. Entrees $7-$10.

Smart Alec’s Intelligent Food
2355 Telegraph Ave, on the corner of Telegraph and Durant
Fairly healthy burger/fry joint with superb garlic fries. Entrees $6-$8.

College Avenue Area

Adagia
2700 Bancroft Way, at College Ave.
Organic and sustainable California and Mediterranean food. Menu changes daily.  Appetizers around $10; entrées $12-$25.

Shen Hua
2914 College Ave., just south of Russell St.
Attractive décor and tasty Chinese food; often busy and a bit loud. Entrées around $15.

La Méditerranée
2936 College Ave., just south of Russell St.
Popular Mediterranean restaurant. Soups and salads around $5; average entrée $10.

Holy Land
2965 College Ave., just south of Russell St.
Kosher Jewish and Middle Eastern food. Matzo ball soup $4.50; entrées $6-$16. Delicious mint lemonade, when available. Closed at sunset Friday and on Saturday.

Manpuku
2977 College Ave., just south of Ashby St.
Cheap sushi, ramen, yaki soba, etc.

House of Curries
2984 College Ave., just south of Ashby St.
Indian and Pakistani food. Tasty spicy curry, free chai, a little dodgy, authentic, cheap. If you ask for your curry mild, they will laugh at you. Entrées $6-10.

Yak and Yeti Kitchen
2985 College Ave., just south of Ashby St.
Organic Nepalese food. Entrées around $12.

Gordo Taquería
2989 College Ave., just south of Ashby St.
Reliable burritos.

Trattoria La Siciliana
2993 College Ave., just south of Ashby St.
Delicious Sicilian food, enormous menu, dodgy service. Pasta $10-15; entrées $12-25. Reservations recommended.

Rick and Ann’s
2922 Domingo Ave. (near Claremont and Ashby)
Good-quality organic California cuisine, highly recommended for breakfast. Pancakes, soups, and salads around $5. Sandwiches and entrées $7-15.

Mitama
3201 College Ave. at Alcatraz
Good Japanese food, a bit expensive.

Flavors of India
3211 College Ave. at Alcatraz
Delicious and curiously non-sketchy Indian food. Entrées around $10.

Oliveto Café and Restaurant
5655 College Ave. (Oakland)
Delicious Mediterranean and California cuisine. Menu changes daily. Café lunch $5-12; café dinner entrées $12-15. Upstairs menu is more expensive.

Campus Map:

View as image to enlarge.

Printable campus map and key (pdf files).