Sheltered by rolling hills and the San Francisco Bay, Berkeley is a vibrant and spirited city of surpassing richness.

Within Berkeley's 18 square miles, a visitor can hear a symphony or a jazz quartet, stroll through a redwood forest or a rose garden, shop for Tibetan jewelry or sportswear from The Gap, play a round of golf, take a yoga class, catch a world-premiere play or first-run film, embark on a sport fishing excursion or enjoy an architectural walking tour.

Consummately Californian in its setting — but international in its cultural landscape — Berkeley is home to the University of California, Berkeley, which lends an academic air to the entire city. With its wealth of culture and social diversity, dining and shopping opportunities and recreational pursuits, Berkeley is a compact city offering an exciting range of visitor options.