Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Berkeley travel guide

Berkeley Tourism | Berkeley Guide

You're Going to Love Berkeley

With a population of 112,580, Berkeley is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Berkeley deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Article

Where to Eat in Berkeley

If you’re looking for affordable options, Chez Panisse Cafe (1517 Shattuck Avenue) and Rivoli Restaurant (1539 Solano Ave) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen (2261 Shattuck Ave) and Eat @ Thai (1181 University Ave) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Berkeley.

When to visit Berkeley

Berkeley in December
Estimated hotel price
$170
1 night at 3-star hotel
Berkeley in December
Estimated hotel price
$170
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Berkeley in July, when the average temperature is 62.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 69.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 42.8 °F, with an average temperature of 50 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 5″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Berkeley, with an average rainfall of 0″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Berkeley

Plane

When flying to Berkeley, you’ll arrive at Oakland Airport (OAK), which is located 11 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Berkeley include Southwest, Alaska Airlines and British Airways. The shortest domestic flight to Berkeley departs from Las Vegas and takes around 1h 37m.

Train

The train station in Berkeley is called Berkeley, and is located 1.6 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Berkeley is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 9 miles from Berkeley. You’ll find branches of Turo and Payless, among others, in San Francisco.

Plane

When flying to Berkeley, you’ll arrive at Oakland Airport (OAK), which is located 11 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Berkeley include Southwest, Alaska Airlines and British Airways. The shortest domestic flight to Berkeley departs from Las Vegas and takes around 1h 37m.

Train

The train station in Berkeley is called Berkeley, and is located 1.6 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Berkeley is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 9 miles from Berkeley. You’ll find branches of Turo and Payless, among others, in San Francisco.

Airports near Berkeley

SFOSan Francisco
SJCSan Jose
SMFSacramento Intl

Airlines serving Berkeley

KLM
Good (1,405 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,518 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,982 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,468 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,772 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,023 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,997 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,994 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,477 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,383 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,657 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (863 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,349 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,537 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,282 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,134 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,161 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,333 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,038 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,387 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Berkeley

Where to stay in Berkeley

Average rates range from around $234 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $276 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Sens Hotel & Vanne Bistro Berkeley and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Berkeley By IHG. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Berkeley, with prices from $66 to $566 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Berkeley are about 42% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Berkeley by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Berkeley

Most booked hotels in Berkeley

See all
Residence Inn By Marriott Berkeley
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 222 reviews)
$228+
View
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Berkeley By IHG
2 stars
Excellent (8.6, 598 reviews)
$161+
View
Oakland Marriott City Center
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1065 reviews)
$127+
View
Hotel Shattuck Plaza
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1203 reviews)
$161+
View
Claremont Resort & Club
5 stars
Excellent (8.2, 664 reviews)
$276+
View
Hampton Inn & Suites Oakland Airport-Alameda
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, 491 reviews)
$126+
View

Renting a car in Berkeley

Renting a car in Berkeley costs $64 per day, on average, or $128 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 7% cheaper than airport locations in Berkeley.

Expect to pay $3.48 per gallon in Berkeley (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $41.79 and $55.72. The most frequently booked car type in Berkeley is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Toyota Camry or similar) are, on average, 50% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Berkeley costs $64 per day, on average, or $128 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 7% cheaper than airport locations in Berkeley.

Expect to pay $3.48 per gallon in Berkeley (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $41.79 and $55.72. The most frequently booked car type in Berkeley is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Toyota Camry or similar) are, on average, 50% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Berkeley

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$26/day

Compact

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$28/day

Supplier choice
Find car rentals in Berkeley

Berkeley Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Berkeley city guide for the best Berkeley travel tips. To help you organize your Berkeley trip ideas, this Berkeley visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.