Do More Than Just Study With Berkeley Global
Calm sets in as the sun dips down across the San Francisco Bay, past the cityscape of San Francisco, touching the horizon on the Pacific Ocean. In Berkeley, at Caffè Strada or an up-and-coming restaurant on College Avenue, smiles and laughs are shared over lattes and tapas.
Memories of a lifetime are made traveling through the Sierras to witness the blue of Lake Tahoe, or driving along the Pacific Coast Highway to stand among coastal redwoods, or by crossing the iconic Golden Gate Bridge by car, foot or bicycle. These are just a sampling of the life-changing experiences being had outside of our classrooms.
Then there’s the food. World-class restaurants and world-famous chefs blend cultural influences from all over the world in their California cuisine.
Travel to Nevada for a lucky weekend in Las Vegas, down to SoCal for some movie star spotting in Hollywood or up to nearby Napa Valley to relax at a wine country resort.
You don’t have to decide what you want to experience outside of our Berkeley Global programs before you get here. But our students shared more of their highlights that might make it onto your short list for when you do.
“From day trips to iconic locations like San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, to weekend getaways in Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon, California has no shortage of adventure. The proximity to nature and major cities adds to the allure, making Berkeley not just an academic choice, but a life experience.”
—BGA student Niko Hems
Berkeley Global Students’ Top Things to Do While Here
Visit the Golden Gate Bridge
“Eat pizza and watch the sunset at Baker Beach with a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge.”
—BHGAP graduate Lea Müller
“One of the first things I did when I got to Berkeley was take BART to San Francisco with some friends, and we rented bikes and cycled across the Golden Gate Bridge.”
—BGA graduate Eduardo Brigagão Fatio
“Battery Spencer at sunset is a must-do—it's beautiful just to see the Golden Gate Bridge.”
—BHGAP graduate Lucas Mortier
“Cycling over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco and catching the ferry to Sausalito”
—BHGAP graduate Luis Aguirre
Take in the UC Berkeley Campus
“I really enjoyed hanging out on campus—Berkeley is so beautiful.”
—BHGAP Graduate Shreya Nemani
“Go up the Campanile. Pro tip: Go on a clear, blue sky day. The view is breathtaking—and you can also see the Golden Gate Bridge from up there!”
—BHGAP graduate Marina Zalcberg Angulo
“Study in the cute cafés that are spread all over campus: Yali’s Café, Café Think, Free Speech Movement Café and, my all-time favorite, Caffè Strada.”
—BGA graduate Nicola Schreyer
“I loved spending time at the Doe Library, studying or simply walking around to view the beautiful architecture and lush greenery. The Campanile was also a favorite spot to visit for a breathtaking view of the Bay Area.”
—BGA graduate Jeongseo Kim
“My absolute favorite was simply spending time on the Berkeley campus itself, whether it was enjoying the sun on Memorial Glade or relaxing on the terrace on the roof of the Engineering Center next to Evans Hall.”
—BGA graduate Lilly May
Tap Into School Pride
“Berkeley’s sporting events are not just games—they are a culture, an emotion.”
—BHGAP graduate Lorenz Hieber
“Not fully educated on sports? Good, because I'm not, too! Regardless of that, I truly recommend you watch a basketball game at UC Berkeley. I had the chance to be at a Berkeley vs. Stanford game, which was wild!”
—BHGAP graduate Marina Zalcberg Angulo
“Attending sports games like volleyball and football further deepened my Berkeley spirit.”
—BGA graduate Lydia Bao
“I joined two student clubs based on my hobbies: Fashion and Student Trends (FAST) as a stylist and a show department member, and at Her Campus, the first online magazine for women on campus, as a marketing team member.”
—BGA graduate Mariane Ndiaye
“Joining the Cal triathlon team was a great way to connect with other Berkeley students.”
—BHGAP graduate Perline Hochart
“Bigger events such as Game Day in the fall or Cal Day in spring, as well as naked-run in main stacks before finals (you’ll see, you’ll see), gives the university its own flavor. There are many traditions at Berkeley, empowering every student with a strong sense of local pride in the university.”
—BGA graduate Sophie Bjertnaes
Explore the San Francisco Bay Area and Beyond
“I especially enjoyed hiking in the Berkeley Hills and visiting iconic spots like the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf.”
—BHGAP Graduate Nancy Jiayi Hou
“Watching an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers”
—BHGAP graduate Sebastian Sartor
“Valencia Street in the Mission District … has a lot of cute little shops, thrift stores and Latin American food places, and is also close to street art spots such as Clarion Alley Mural Project or Balmy Alley. Nearby is Mission Dolores Park, which has amazing views of the S.F. skyline.”
—BGA graduate Hannah Chiara Boettge
“The Bay Area is filled with great stuff to do, whether you want to hike at Mount Tamalpais, surf at Pacifica State Beach, drive along the Pacific Ocean at sunset or explore the food scene in San Francisco.”
—BHGAP graduate Hugo Charré
“During my time at UC Berkeley, I traveled every weekend and had some incredible trips. I highly recommend Lassen Volcanic National Park, a lesser-known destination but worth a visit due to its unique volcanic activity.”
—BHGAP graduate Wesley de Vries
“Trying new things. Doing new things also included wild camping in Yosemite—100% worth the hike.”
—BGA graduate Darlien Schürmann
“Throughout the year I was in California, I traveled quite a bit. In February, I went skiing at Lake Tahoe. The snowy mountains and icy lake were incredibly beautiful.”
—BGA graduate Vera Xiaole Guo
“California has it all—big cities, beautiful natural parks and sunny beaches. You can rent a car, grab your friends and go out of town for the weekends. So far, I have visited Los Angeles, Big Sur and Lake Tahoe.”
—BHGAP graduate Sarah Worsøee Larsen
“Yosemite: I still remember the special feeling of standing next to one of the giant Sequoia trees. Los Angeles with fellow Berkeley visiting students. Las Vegas for a few days and explored the Grand Canyon.”
—BGA graduate Lilly May
Make Lifelong Connections
“We cook together, study together, visit San Francisco, go hiking or go to the gym, often have movie nights and, of course, lots of looong conversations.”
—BGA graduate Greta Puschmann
“Check out Taco Tuesday at Raleigh’s Pub, and afterward Tap Haus—perfect for meeting many internationals.”
—BGA graduate Nicola Schreyer
“It's the smaller things like going to get coffee with friends at Caffè Strada or walking around the various neighborhoods.”
—BHGAP grad Lucas Mortier
