What to Do in Berkeley CA for First Timers
Getting To and Around Berkeley
Berkeley is easy to explore without a car. For our visit, we flew into Oakland International Airport and hopped on BART, which took us to Downtown Berkeley (and our hotel).
AIRPORTS: There are three international airports to fly into.
- Oakland International Airport (OAK) is the easiest and closest to fly into. You can hop on BART and get off at one of three stations in Berkeley.
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – Another good option if flights are more accessible from your home. BART will also take you to town.
- San Jose International Airport (SJC) – You won’t be able to make it to Berkeley via BART, but it’s another option if you rent a car.
BART, or the Bay Area Rapid Transit, has three stations in Berkeley: Downtown Berkeley, North Berkeley, and Ashby Stations. If you’re flying into OAK or SFO, it’s a great option since you can ride it to town. It’s also a great way to get to and from San Francisco, Oakland, Walnut Creek, and Concord.
We didn’t use it once we arrived in town, but it made transferring to and from the airport easy. PRO TIP – If you have an iPhone, add the Clipper card to your wallet to quickly reload your card.
GETTING AROUND BERKELEY: Berkeley is a walkable city. Once we arrived, we mainly explored on foot and used ride-share for a couple of further away places.