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.
General campus walking tours for individuals and families
There are now many ways to tour the UC Berkeley campus — online, through a podcast in English or Spanish, or letting your phone guide you. (See our self-guided tour options.) But you'll get the richest experience by far through one of our free guided campus walking tours, led by expert student guides who know the campus and the nuances of student life.
Individuals and families of fewer than 10 people are invited to join our 90-minute daily public campus tour.
Make a free reservation for a campus tour.
Campus tours take place daily, seven days a week, rain or shine, excluding some university holidays and break periods. To learn more about what the tours do and don't cover, check out the Frequently asked questions.
Note: School groups, nonprofits, and any other groups of 10 or more must attend as a Reserved Group Tour.
Weekday and weekend tours, holidays, and disabled access
Weekday tours: Monday through Friday, the tours leave at 10 a.m. from the Visitor Center at 101 University Hall, 2200 University Ave, located at the corner of University Avenue and Oxford Street. [Google map]
An additional weekday afternoon tour, departing at 1 p.m. from the Visitor Center, will be offered from March 29 to April 30 only.
Weekday tours end at Sproul Hall, near the center of campus.
Weekend tours: All weekend tours depart from the Sather Tower, the clock tower also known as the Campanile, located at the center of campus. On Saturday, the tours begin at 10 a.m.; on Sunday, they start at 1 p.m.
Please note: Due to renovations on the Campanile this summer, weekend and holiday tours through November 15, 2009 will depart from the lawn in front of the main entrance of South Hall.
Holiday tours: Campus offices including the Visitor Center are closed on weekends and on the following holidays. We will offer a 10 a.m. tour departing from the Campanile on these dates:
Martin Luther King Day, January 19, 2009
Presidents' Day, February 16, 2009
Cesar Chavez Day, March 27, 2009
Memorial Day, May 25, 2009
Independence Holiday, July 3, 2009
Labor Day, September 7, 2009
Veterans Day, November 11, 2009
Thanksgiving Holiday, November 27, 2009
Disabled access: Electric-cart tours are available for visitors with impaired mobility, but reservations must be made two weeks in advance.