Video: Berkeley student Sarah Gold shows us Sproul Plaza, an exciting scene where the passions of today's students take Berkeley's history of student activism in new directions.
Tour the Berkeley Campus
Daily Public Tours for Individuals and Families
The UC Berkeley Visitor Center offers tours seven days a week, with reservation, all year (except for Thanksgiving and the winter holiday period). Led by expert student guides who know the campus and the nuances of student life, the campus tour is ideal for students interested in attending UC Berkeley or tourists wishing to learn more about the campus. Tours are conducted rain or shine free of charge.
School groups and organizations wishing to tour the campus must make a group tour reservation. Please see the Reserved Group Tour Page for more information.
Weekday Tours
All non-holiday weekday tours begin at 10:00 a.m. from the Visitor Center at 101 Sproul Hall. All tours require an online reservation.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions conducts weekday information sessions at 9:00 a.m. for prospective students who have not yet applied.
These sessions are scheduled in conjunction with the campus tour. Please see the Undergraduate Admissions website for more information. Admissions sessions are not available on weekends.
Residence hall tours are offered through Cal Housing Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters. Residence hall tours require a reservation at least 48 hours in advance. For more information on housing tours, please see the Residential & Student Services webpage.
Tours on weekends and university holiday begin at Sather Tower, also known as the Campanile, located in the heart of the UC Berkeley campus. Saturday tours begin at 10:00 a.m. from Sather Tower while Sunday tours begin at 1:00 p.m. Weekday holiday tours will begin at 10:00 a.m. from Sather Tower.
Holiday tours are scheduled for the following dates…
- Labor Day, September 5, 2011
- Veterans Day, November 11, 2011
- Day after Thanksgiving, November 25, 2011
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 16, 2012
- Presidents' Day, February 20, 2012
- Ceasar Chavez Day, March 30, 2012
- Memorial Day, May 28, 2012
- Independence Day, July 4, 2012
Please note that admissions presentations and residence hall tours are not available on weekends and holidays. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers online presentations throughout the year. For more information on residence halls, please see the Cal Housing website for more information and a virtual tour.
Spring 2012 Tours for Admitted Students
Newly-Admitted Freshmen
From April 1-30, 2012, Visitor and Parent Services will offer special tours for newly admitted freshmen. If you were unable to take the special newly-admitted freshmen tours, please see the information below for newly-admitted transfer students.
Students: Reserve a tour from the *Tour the Campus* or *Explore Your Campus* link on the main page of myBerkeley. Do not use the regular online tour reservation system to reserve a newly-admitted students tour. Please RSVP at least 24 hours in advance so we can ensure an appropriate number of guides.
Parents: Only your admitted student can make the reservation for these special tours. The compilation of April Services for Newly-Admitted Freshmen will help you plan your campus visit.
Newly-Admitted Transfer Students
During May 2012, all newly-admitted transfer students and their guests/families are invited to join a public walking tour of the campus of their choice, whether or not they have a reservation.
During May, tours will be offered as follows:
- Monday-Friday, 10:00 am, leaving from the Visitor Center in 101 Sproul Hall
- Saturdays, 10:00 am, leaving from Sather Tower
- Sundays, 1:00 pm, leaving from Sather Tower
- Memorial Day, Monday, May 28 at 10:00 am, leaving from Sather Tower.
If you can, please reserve your tour on our online reservation system, however, you will be able to join the tour of your choice even if you do not have a reservation.
When signing in for the tour on the day of your visit, please identify yourself as a newly-admitted student.
If you have any questions about admitted student tours, please write to the tour coordinator at tour@berkeley.edu.
