My classmates and I finally crossed one thing off our bucket list - traveling to the top of the campanile for one of the best views in the Bay! As students, we were able to visit for free; non-student tickets are only $6. Upon arrival, we waited in line for about 5 minutes for the elevator ride. Once inside the elevator, a friendly student gave us a quick history of the Campanile - all within the span of the 60 second elevator ride. We took a few short flights of stairs up to the top and were met with 360 degrees of breathtaking views. It was a clear day, and we could see as far as the Golden Gate Bridge. If you time your visit right, you can maybe catch one of the music performances. After we'd enjoyed the view for about 15 minutes, we took the elevator back down. I'd highly recommend a trip to the Campanile - it's the second tallest free-standing clock tower in the world! read more

The Campanile - View from the top - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

UC Berkeley's Capanile, i.e. Sather Tower, completed in 1915, is said to be the second-tallest freestanding clock and bell tower in the world. We took a little stroll around the tower to listen to a charming carillon performance at 2pm on a Sunday, and for $5 we rode up an elevator and climbed a couple steep flights of stairs to catch the amazing 20-mile view from the 500-foot-high observation deck. Just lovely. Relaxing. They have 10-minute recitals Mon-Sat at 7:50am, 12pm, and 6pm, a 45-minute show Sundays at 2pm, (Oct 2025), and occasional evening practices. We used visitor parking a 10min walk away at Sproul Garage, and there's some disabled parking at the north edge of the greenspace esplanade around the tower. read more

See all

I can't believe I've never visited the top of The Campanile until this recent trip with the kiddos. $4 for Cal alumni, and $4 each for the kiddos. Took the elevator to the 7th floor, someone is inside operating the elevator. Then walk up 1 flight of stairs to the top with great views of the bay and SF, saw the Golden Gate Bridge clearly that morning. Look up and you'll see all the bells and there is a piano of sorts inside a room on the top floor for someone to play the bells at the top of every hour. So cool. Sather Tower is second-tallest freestanding clock and bell tower in the world, amazing! read more

$5 for non student ticket to the top. Nice views on all four sides, from the ocean to the hills and urban and residential sites in the sides. Prominent pillar stands proud and tall. They have shows often, see their website or QR code. Special skills to okay the bells. They wear gloves and hit these sticks with hammer fists. It rings every hour but that's different than the bell performance. Fun to go up off you're touring the campus anyway. read more

See all

Great views and so much history to look through. The ticket sellers were very efficient and the elevator operator was a great ambassador. There are 2 flights of steps that you have to climb up after you exit the elevator. read more

See all

My office (split between 4 students) the first year during my graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley had a balcony that looked out over a grassy lawn with Doe/Moffitt Libraries and The Campanile in the skyline. At first, when people described The Campanile to me I did not know what they meant. A few applied a different term, a bell tower. Sitting in our office I learned that bell tower meant the bells tolled certain time(s) on certain day(s). Sometimes the bells could be quite loud, so we would close the door to the balcony. In the Spring term that year, Spring 2016 semester, my sister visited me and I invited her to adventure to the top. We went together and I got to see the bells that could be heard chiming across campus. Access to the top of the tower was straightforward and the ride to the top quick. read more

The Campanile - The Campanile on the left, part of the skyline I viewed from my office (August 2015). - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Living history for just $5, money goes back to a good cause. If you want to see a view of SF or even Oakland, this is it. There isn't much of a tour or a lot to read but that's okay, we came for the views. Parking near campus can be expensive but if you're lucky, you can find street parking (keep in mind there are LOTS OF HILLS, get ready for leg day). read more

The Campanile - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

TL;DR it's pronounced "camp-ann-nee-lee" Most people you see on campus are affiliated to UC Berkeley in some way, student, faculty, researcher, etc. However, UC Berkeley also gets a lot of tourists. After four years, I'd say one of the top destinations for pictures right after Sather Gate, is the Campanile. Standing at 307 feet tall, the Campanile triumphs as the 3rd highest clock/bell tower in the world. If you're lucky, you'll hear the carillon, played live, ringing across campus. You can of course go up the Campanile to see the gorgeous view of campus and the Bay Area. There's a small fee ranging from $3-6ish dollars, but free if you show your Cal ID. For the best picture, head over to the north side of Doe library (closest towards Memorial Glade) to get the full shot of you with the Campanile. read more

General admission fee of $3 was waived for parent's weekend if you were registered and wearing a badge. Thanks to my brother for hosting me (aunt of 2 Berkeley students) so I got in free. You can't take backpacks or drinks up the tower but they hold them for you so it's not a big deal. At 307 feet tall, if your ears are sensitive like mine you will definitely feel them pop riding the elevator up. Once off the elevator you have another couple of flights of stairs. This clock and bell tower reminded me of the various towers throughout Europe and even Sterling Vineyards tower in Napa. I love lookout points especially on a clear day where we could see all of the Bay and the bridges of San Francisco. You can also see the downtown skylines of both Oakland & San Francisco. It's a 360 degree view and it wasn't crowded on a Sunday morning at 10. Highly recommend the quick trip up especially on a clear day. read more

See all

I can't believe I haven't written a review for the Campanile! I love this iconic symbol of UC Berkeley, also referred to as Sather Tower. When I was a stressed out undergrad at Cal, hearing the bells reverberate through campus instantly calmed me down. I did make the mistake of being up here when it was noon or eleven or some other hour when the bells wouldn't stop ringing. Now THAT was loud. When it's a windy day, it gets brrrr cold up here. You can't beat the views however and yes, it is modeled after the Campanile di San Marco in Venice. read more

My friend and I were just wandering around campus since we were in the area, killing some time, and enjoying the nice weather when we happened upon Sather Tower. Wondering if there was access, we were happy to find that there was. Yes, I know that we were being touristy, but tourists do what they do, right? Upon paying the $4 entry fee, an elevator operator will take you up to the 200ft observation deck where you will find some really great views of the surrounding area! If you happen to have backpacks and the like, you will have to leave it at the courtesy desk. read more

See all

So I've reserved Review #2,300 for a nostalgic trip back to my alma mater where I have to admit something embarrassing. In the four years I attended school at Berkeley, I had never been up the Campanile. Not sure why. After all, it's the third tallest clock tower in the world (OK, I just read that on the UC site). I had been up the original Campanile in Venice's Piazza San Marco twice in my life but never to the one in my own backyard... until this past fall when I was making Jamie W. look at the buildings that used to be my daily existence way back when. It was about 4:30 on a brisk Saturday afternoon, and they were about to close. The young undergrad at the front desk was gathering up his backpack when I pleaded with him that we would appreciate it if we could take five minutes to go up there for a quick look. He acquiesced probably because he knows to respect his elders especially when they're on their knees with two dollars between their teeth. We waited patiently for the elevator and once we were in, chatted up the operator who understandably looked like he was ready to go home, too. I told him I went to school here decades ago and that I had never been up before. I described how it was kind of a homecoming for me. He then treated me like I was Meg Ryan in "Sleepless in Seattle" when the old elevator operator in the Empire State Building waited for her to look for Tom Hanks. Little did she know he was going to make "Cloud Atlas" later in his career and ruin his credibility as an actor. Anyway, we got up to the seventh floor where you climb a few flights of stairs to get to the observation deck underneath the old carillon bells (see photo). It should come as no surprise that the views are great, though what did surprise me is how much the campus has changed in the years since I attended, entire sections that didn't look familiar to me at all. The whole lawn area north of Doe Library was completely new to me (see photo), and Memorial Stadium looked like it had a major facelift (which it just did). By the time we took it all in, I realized it was fifteen minutes already, but neither the elevator guy or the young kid at the bottom gave us any grief for overstaying our welcome. In fact, they were both trying to tell a rather large Indian family that the tower was closing, something they obviously weren't willing to accept. At least I was glad I finally checked it off my bucket list. Actually it wasn't that much of a bucket, more like a teacup but definitely one worth sipping from. read more

See all

Unrivaled views of the campus and Bay Area! A must for any visit to Berkeley. GO BEARS!

A must-do while visiting campus - gorgeous views! From the Cal website: Sather Tower, known to most as the Campanile, is perhaps UC Berkeley's most famous symbol. Visible for miles, it stands 307 feet tall and is the third tallest bell and clock-tower in the world. The observation platform, located 200 feet up, provides visitors with a spectacular view of the entire Bay Area and of the campus. It is reachable via the combination of an elevator and stairs. The Campanile was completed in 1914. Hours Monday-Friday: 10:00 am-3:45 pm Saturday: 10:00 am-4:45 pm Sunday: 10:00 am-1:30 pm and 3:00 pm-4:45 pm Accessibility The observation platform of this historical landmark is not wheelchair accessible, as there are 38 steps from the top of the elevator to the observation platform. Cost $3 general admission (18 years and over); $2 for seniors, Cal Alumni Association members with ID, and ages 17 and under. The Campanile is free to UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff with Cal ID, and children under 3. Restrictions Backpacks, large bags, and other large items are not permitted on the observation platform and cannot be stored in the Campanile lobby. read more

See all

This is the icon of UC Berkeley. Every hour one can hear the chimes of the Campanile. This icon is located at the top of Campanile way. Campanile way is no easy walk. It is quite literally one massive hill-- constant incline! At the top of Campanile way, one is rewarded with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge on a good, clear day. The Campanile, also know as Sather Tower, is more than just a clock and bell tower. One can take the elevator to the top and see all of campus below. It's truly beautiful. Highly recommend for anybody. Admission $4 for general (18 yrs or older) $3 for seniors, Cal Alumni Assoc. with ID, ages 3-17 yrs old FREE to UC Berkeley students, faculty, staff with Cal ID, children under 3 yrs old read more

See all

An elevator ride up to the top of the UC-Berkeley Campanile is totally worth $3! Driving and parking on campus can be a bit tricky, so we opted to park off-campus. Street parking is free on Sundays-- score! Besides, strolling around Cal's campus is quite lovely. The tower itself has a brief history lesson and very nice views of the East Bay and even SF on a clear day. We enjoyed using our smart phones and Google maps to point out specific landmarks like the football stadium, downtown Oakland, the Berkeley Marina, and the Greek Theater. read more

The Campanile - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

3 dollars to take the elevator to the top of this iconic tower on the Berkeley campus. The most amazing views of the campus, Bay Area and SF bridges. There is a small display with information about the tower and the class of 1927. read more

The Campanile - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

U.S. National Register of Historic Places Sather Tower aka the Campanile is 307 feet tall and is the third tallest bell and clock-tower in the world. Views of the Bay Area and the campus can be seen at the top. I'm glad I wasn't in the tower when the clock struck. It wouldn't been cool if I heard the carillion being played though. It's regularly played during the spring and fall semesters. FYI- Beverages and backpacks aren't allowed. They'll keep hold of those for you at the ticket counter. Upon exiting the elevator, there are two short flight of stairs. Hours Monday-Friday: 10:00 am-3:45 pm Saturday: 10:00 am-4:45 pm Sunday: 10:00 am-1:30 pm and 3:00 pm-4:45 pm General admission- $3 (cash only) UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff with Cal ID- free read more

When I look back at all the fond memories I made as a student at UC Berkeley (GO BEARS!), one of the earliest that I will always remember was my first experience up at The Campanile. It was a very sunny, summer day as newbies like me were moving into the dorms as freshmen at CAL. One of my friends from Chinese school had met up with me and we decided to make a trip to The Campanile. This was actually not only just my first adventure up the bell tower, but it was also my first step onto the campus. Hitting two birds with one stone! And man, from that first memory, I never EVER regretted my decision to come to the #1 public university in the world. The Campanile is absolutely one of those things you must see for yourself whether you are a Berkeley student, a resident of the city, or the tourist. To pitch it in one sentence: The Campanile is a gorgeous clocktower (apparently one of the tallest in the world) that has an a magnificent view of the Bay Area, carillons play music on the bells during certain parts of the day, AND Stanford supposedly copied our design (but we knew better and gave them fake schematics and so their Hoover tower is smaller). Basically, to give you the rundown, The Campanile is a clocktower that you can see from all the way across the Bay in San Francisco. It serves as both a historic landmark (erected as a gift I believe from Sather herself) as well as a way to communicate time to students. Every hour the bells will go off to signal the start of a new hour, and during certain parts of the day, the carillon will play a tune. During the school year (fall and spring), this is usually at 12pm and 6pm. And during other times, it'll be probably during Saturdays and during special occasions. As a Berkeley student, The Campanile was probably one of the things about the campus that constantly made me fall in love with the school. And it wasn't just the view from the above. The clocktower itself is such an iconic symbol of Berkeley and of the city. Plus, it's located in the most beautiful part of the campus, otherwise known as the esplanade. People come here for weddings, pictures, etc. It's so beautiful! And also, during Big Game week (when we play vs Stanford in football), pictures are projected onto the Campanile at night! You can come visit the Campanile pretty much any day. It's open during normal work hours (unfortunately not open during night because who wants to work that day?) and it's also open on weekends. Although on Sundays, they have some weird schedule going on where there's a break from 1:30pm-3pm. The cool ting is that tower is completely student run as well (meaning the people who staff it). And boy, is the top BEAUTIFUL. AS I said, you can see EVERYTHING from the top. If you want, you can people watch below and point out fun things to your friends like the Big C on the hill. And it's also so relaxing to be up there - especially when there's no students. The cool thing is that you can even come up when the carillon is playing. Sure, it's loud, but so worth it for at least once. I have to say that I can't even count how many times I've taken a friend or family member up the Campanile. It's definitely a sight to behold and take some time out of your day to visit. I have to give this landmark an "omg, I'd travel 2 hours for this." Come here and FEEL THE BEAR PRIDE! Have fun and prosper, read more

See all

11.2 afternoon. I went into Sather Tower. Tickets was given at the gate. The elevator went to 7th floor. There were many bells on the top. I got a bird's eye view of the university and the city. I could see the Bay area. There were musical instruments. read more

See all

Absolutely gorgeous. If you're near the Berkeley campus you have to go here. When it's open you can go up to the top for unobstructed 360 degree views of the whole bay. read more

The Campanile... Also know as Sather Tower to some... Oh, how I love it here!! Coming to the top of the tower is one of my favorite experiences here at CAL! I swear, all my problems dissolve as I get closer to the top. It's breathtaking up there. I learned to get over my fear of heights up there. It's just amazing!! And you'll have an awesome view of the UC Berkeley campus. And the San Francisco bay area. Plus, there is so history behind it. And in the elevator ride to the top, there's a tour guide that talks to you, she's a nice lady.! It's freeeee for CAL students, and $3.00 for non-students. As my graduation quickly approaches this May, I find myself going back here so many times. So I could get the most use out of my free pass :-) lol. But, yeah, you'll love going UP the tower!! All students should visit at least once a semester (=. read more

Standing an impressive 307 feet, the Sather Tower is an clocktower on the Berkeley campus. Originally opened in 1917, one can now ride an elevator for about $2 bucks to the observation platform at the 200 foot level, providing spectacular views of the entire Bay Area and of the campus (everything from the Golden Gate Bridge to downtown Oakland).  It can be very windy and cold up there so bring a jacket and expect to go into full panic mode if you're afraid of heights. ;) read more

The Campanile - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Three dollar ride for a million dollar view! (Well, $3 adult, $2 alumni (with CAA membership card), $2 youth, FREE for students!) Looking back on my time at Cal, I think I should have made a concerted effort to come here more. Like, every week. Every day even. A short ride in the elevator with a very brief oral history of the tower leaves you at the base of a 1-flight staircase to heaven. Panoramic views of the bay area await you. On a clear day, you can see to the Golden Gate Bridge to the west, the Big C to the east, the gorgeous Berkeley hills to the north, and downtown Oakland and beyond to the south. If you're in Berkeley for the morning, the afternoon, or really any time during the day, check this out. And while you're at the top, watch if it's close to the hour because the bells will ring and they will scare you. The view is more than worth it, though! Pro-tip: You can spot good ol' Sather Tower (the Campanile's alternate name) from lots of scenic spots in San Francisco! Look for the only tall, white, pointy tower just north of Emeryville. read more

See all

First time up The Campanile because it's FREE on Cal Day, it was Sat 4/20/13. The line can be super long, I think I waited 30 min or more to go up it. Next time, just pay the $2 & go when it's not Cal Day! No backpacks allowed, nothing larger than a small box the guy said. No food or water either! They only let about 8-9 people on the elevator at one time going up or down, so it takes a while. Only 1 elevator so you have to wait to go on it & on the the way down too. Views are great if you get a clear day to see the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, Oakland, etc. Don't bother if it's cloudy, rainy, or foggy I think. Best to go up when it's almost time for their concert, they play the carillon in a private room up there, it's 61-bells. That is so awesome to hear & see them playing! They did a special 2pm concert I guess for Cal Day, regular daily 7:30am, 12Noon, 6pm & longer 2pm on Sundays. Hours: * Monday-Friday: 10:00 am-3:45 pm * Saturday: 10:00 am-4:45 pm * Sunday: 10:00 am-1:30 pm and 3:00 pm-4:45 pm Website with more info: http://visitors.berkeley.edu/camp/index.shtml read more

Nostalgic views. Beautiful 360 degree view of the San Francisco Bay and Berkeley Hills. Feel free to converse with the elevator person, im sure they get a little lonely sitting in that elevator for hours at a time. read more

The Campanile - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

The Campanile. The one landmark that is famous and lets one know they are in Bear Territory aka Cal Berkeley. A student instructor assistant was giving a tour to us students [in the Education 198 (The Research University)] around many sights around the University of California campus here in beautiful downtown Berkeley. The Campanile was our final stop on the tour. In all of my misspent youth growing up in Berkeley, I have never been up here at Le Campanile. (And I was not going to pass up this opportunity.) After going through the secret passageway between Moffitt and the Main Stacks at Doe Library, we headed to Le Campanile aka Sather Tower. Our esteemed docent told us we would be climbing about 38 flights of stairs. ("Wot?! No elevator?!) I was quite taken aback. Fortunately, she was pulling our collective leg. Upon entering, we check-in our backpacks. There is an ticket admission price to pay. Fortunately for us Cal students, we get in free by showing our Cal ID card. It is $3.00 for non students. (Guess where I am going to chill every now and then?!) Then we wait our turn to go up the elevator with a real live elevator operator. I was so surprised to see a person collecting tickets and operating the elevator. What a rarity! And once we reach our destination, we climb a small couple of flights of stairs and we are thus rewarded with beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay Area below the bells that ring four times a day. It is beautiful when there is no fog across the bay. There was a small layer of fog yet one still see both bridges on the west side. On the east side, the Big C near the Lawrence Hall of Science. On the south side, views of other areas of Cal and Berkeley heading towards Oakland. On the north side, the Berkeley Hills. Definitely worth the small price of admission and a place for students to take a time out to just chill and reflect while enjoying the view. In my case, I will wait when the bells are silent for the rest of the day to pay a visit. Fiat Lux. read more

The Campanile - San Francisco from the Campanile Tower at UC Berkeley. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

The most beautiful landmark on the Berkeley campus by far! The Campanile is a total landmark of Berkeley and the best part of the Cal campus. There is a lot of history behind it too. It was erected by Jane Sather and stands 307 feet tall. It's actually the most earthquake proof sound building on campus and holds many of the fossils found by Berkeley professors. Anyone who visits Cal needs to go to the top! It's a beautiful view. I go up for free because I am a student, but I think it's only $3 for anyone else and $2 for Cal alumni. It's well worth it. The views are breathtaking and, if you happen to be up there at noon, you'll see a carillon concert on the concert carillon of Sather Tower. Many people don't realize that real people actually go up and play every single day. This semester, I was lucky enough to be selected for a class to learn to play the Sather Tower carillon and play a concert a couple weeks ago. It was really a dream come true. The beautiful music of the tower reaches every corner of Berkeley. The music always seems like it's directly next to you too. On a clear day, you can see all of San francisco, down the peninsula, Marin County and down the East Bay. It really is a sight to behold! My parents went to Cal too and always took us up when we'd come to Berkeley for football games. Even though I've probably been up over a hundred times, it's ALWAYS just as special to visit the Campanile. It's a quintessential Berkeley activity. I strongly urge everyone to go up and witness the beauty of the view from the top, the music and the bells and the beauty of the tower from the ground. It's truly magnificent and an activity I'll cherish forever. read more

See all

You better recognize. UC Berkeley's Sather Tower, better known as the Campanile, is the tallest bell tower in the United States, and the 2nd tallest in the world. It is also an integral part of campus life at Cal, and as much a part of my time at UC Berkeley as the classes I took and the friends that I made. The tolling of the hour and the carillon concerts created an aural tapestry that was interwoven with the physical backdrop of the campus. I have always appreciated being able to see the Campanile from anywhere on campus (or in the Bay Area), but it is the bells that make it truly special. I befriended the carillonists (the guys who play the daily concerts on the bells) while in school, and used to be able to sit in the box and listen to them play. What an amazing "instrument" to play. We took Little Q over to Berkeley today to check out the bells, and had to listen from the ground because the tower was closed for the holidays. The carillonist played a perfect new year's eve set, including "Yesterday" by the Beatles, and "Auld Lang Syne". Walking up to the tower, hearing the bells play, I was instantly transported back 15 years. Lots of things bring back memories on campus, and the Campanile is at the top of the list. The Campanile enhances Cal's European feel, furthering the vibe created by the architecture on campus (including the tower itself). You can hear the bells toll from everywhere on campus. I miss those bells. Oh, and I haven't even talked about the view. Bring a jacket & a camera. There isn't a better view of the Bay Area. Go in the winter time, when the sun sets while the tower is still open, and there is less fog. You'll never get a better angle of a more beautiful sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge. read more

The Campanile - Ladies & gentlemen, Sather Tower, better known as The Campanile! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

Worth my $3! The Campanile is an amazing landmark in the heart of the east bay. It is the very first clock tower I've ever taken a journey up. The elevator ride has a historical recording about it and there are informational stands to read about it. And once you reach the top, there are breath taking views of Oakland skyline and the Bay (Bridge, water, skyline). Take my money! It is so photogenic and open to the public so don't be afraid to check it out. I came during the campus' spring break, so I didn't have to worry about it being crowded. read more

See all

Not sure how you can rate something so great and beautiful which is why I feel so compelled to write about it. Seeing the Campanile makes me so proud to go to Cal. Every time I look at it I'm reminded what an awesome school I go to. The tower honestly looks so amazing from any angle (and makes for some great pictures). Anyone that visits must go to the top of the tower at least once. The view is breath-taking---you can honestly see the entire bay. **Fun fact: the tower stores archeology bones. It's also rumored to be the place to go during an earthquake. read more

See all

I love this local landmark - it's visible across the Bay from viewpoints in San Francisco - which makes it a great marker to point out to people - "I live to the right of that but down and to the left of that other big thing which is the Mormon temple, no no, that's the Lawrence Hall of Science - the other right!" Perhaps one day I will go up and see the view from the top of the tower but for now - I prefer the view from Grizzly Peak! read more

Iconic place in Berkeley. Reminds me how much I love the streets of Berkeley & how bad I wish I live there. So many memories near the Campanille & UC Berkeley. read more

The Campanile - Beautiful campus & of course UC Berkeley's campanille - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Our campanile rocks 100 times more socks than STANFORD's dinky clock tower wannabe campanile!!!! campanile is my landmark for wherever i am.. from sf side.. from oakland.. from the marina.. everywhere. i love BERKELEY! i love hearing the bells ring! you get an interesting history lesson while going up the elevator all the way up top. i feel bad for the lady sitting there up and down the elevator.. free for students! read more

The Campanile - view from up top - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

If you're visiting Berkeley, it's worth going up there once. It's pretty neat and doesn't cost much. You get to see all of Berkeley from above and also San Francisco from afar. Due to the distance, I don't think pictures and videos will do the actual view any justice but it's nice regardless. read more

The Campanile - So long! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

So I waited until after I graduated to make my first visit to the top of this thing, and boy was it worth it. Given that it was after the end of summer but before the beginning of "summer" in earnest, I had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of spending a few minutes absolutely alone atop the observation deck. Pretty cool. I had been having a nice time quietly contemplating the past four years at Cal for a while when the clock sounded 12. Right after that, the Carillon player started the noon concert. So I decideed to stay up there the entire time, this being my first chance to experience the bells from the top of the tower... and boy were they deafeningly loud. You really gotta cover your ears a bit to prevent hearing damage, and that makes you appreciate how the bells even more than hearing them from anywhere else on campus. I also spent some time at the museum-like exhibits along the stairwell, reading about the graduating class of Berkeley at the time that the Campanile had finished construction and seeing pictures of how the tower looked back then and how the views of the tower were similarly different. Made me really marvel at how things have evolved and the city and campus have become more crowded. A must-experience for anyone visiting the campus and especially for students, who get in free. No time limit, so anyone can just stay up there as long as you want even if you're paying. read more

amazing landmark and will definitely bring back fun memories for students and alumni.

It's $3 to go up, but it offers great views of campus and the Bay. It's pretty amazing and worth a stop if you're touring Berkeley and the campus! You have to check in your bags. An elevator will take you up and there's a short 2 flight of stairs to get to the viewing area. You can peak into the room where they play the carillon. read more

The Campanile - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

As a Cal studnt, I've been up to the top of the Campanile twice, and both times were very nice. You get a gorgeous view of the Bay Area and into SF, and it's free for students. Also, the fact that the clock tower chimes every hour has been tremendously useful as a measure of keeping track of the time, especially when I'm stuck in the library or just walking around campus. However, I have to subtract one star because of their short business hours. I'd really like to watch the sunset from the Campanile, but unfortunately they close 3:45pm weekdays and 4:45pm weekends. They also charge $2 for non-Cal students, which kind of sucks. Complete info here: http://visitors.berkeley.edu/camp/index.shtml read more

Cool place to go up to visit if you're a Cal student since it's free. Quite a view from up top, but most of the time it's foggy across the bay so you won't be able to see the city or the bay bridges. From top, things that stand out are the East Asian Library, Memorial Glady, Evans, Stanley, and that's... pretty much it. Nothing too spectacular, hence the 3 star. read more