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City guide

Berkeley, California

Berkeley is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Anglo-Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley.

Type CityPopulation 124,321

Why go

  • City in California, United States.

History

Berkeley is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Anglo-Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland and Emeryville to the south and the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington to the north. Its eastern border with Contra Costa County generally follows the ridge of the Berkeley Hills. The 2020 census recorded a population of 124,321.

Airports

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) 19 mi to the centre
San Francisco, CA 94128 — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 42 airlines (United Airlines, Virgin America, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines…) · direct flights to 104 destinations incl. Atlanta, London, Los Angeles, New York, Seoul… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 42 airlines, 104 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Oakland International Airport (OAK) 10 mi to the centre
Oakland, CA, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 12 airlines (Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines…) · direct flights to 34 destinations incl. Honolulu, Kahului, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 12 airlines, 34 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Buchanan Field (CCR) 13 mi to the centre
Concord, CA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
San Carlos Airport (SQL) 25 mi to the centre
San Carlos, CA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) 16 mi to the centre
Hayward, CA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor
Napa County Airport (APC) 24 mi to the centre
Napa, CA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Oakland Jack London Square Terminal
Ferry terminal · 5.4 mi from the centre · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor
Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle
Ferry terminal · 5.5 mi from the centre
Outdoor
Alameda Main Street Terminal
Ferry terminal · 5.9 mi from the centre · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor
Richmond Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 6.6 mi from the centre · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor
Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 6.9 mi from the centre · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor
Treasure Island Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 7.7 mi from the centre
Outdoor
Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor
Oakland Jack London Square - Alameda Main Street
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor
Oakland Jack London Square - San Francisco Ferry Building
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor
San Francisco Bay Ferry: San Francisco Ferry Building => Alameda => Oakland
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor
San Francisco Bay Ferry: Oakland => Alameda => San Francisco Ferry Building
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor
San Francisco Bay Ferry: San Francisco Ferry Building => Oakland => Alameda
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor
San Francisco Bay Ferry: Alameda => Oakland => San Francisco Ferry Building
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor
Alameda Main Street - Oracle Park (Seasonal)
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. We do not yet hold airport or rail details for Berkeley, California — check the official tourism sources below for the best routes in. By water: 6 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Oakland Jack London Square Terminal, 5.4 mi); routes include Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle, Oakland Jack London Square - Alameda Main Street, Oakland Jack London Square - San Francisco Ferry Building.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Berkeley, California. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Bus · Oakland, California · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Bus · San Francisco, California · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Bus · Oakland, California · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Bus · Fairfield, California · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)

Trains & rail

National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Phenom 300, Challenger 350 · Fractional and jet card programme centred on the US Midwest and East.
Helicopter, by-the-seat · Helicopters, seaplanes, jets via partners · By-the-seat helicopters Manhattan–JFK/Newark and the Hamptons; jet charter through partners.
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, light to ultra-long-range · Charter, management and FBOs at Van Nuys and Orange County; the original Hollywood jet operator.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.