Timeline
17:16
Start with a coffee or tea at Cafe Milano. It is a short walk from the Visitor Center and a favorite spot for students. The cafe is open until 22:00 on weekdays and 22:00 on weekends, so it is wide open for an early evening start.
17:46
Walk up to Codornices Park. It is a beautiful hillside park with wide recreational spaces. Use this time to stretch your legs and enjoy the view of the campus below before the main event.
18:21
Move to Aquatic Park. Although it is a bit further north, it offers a large lagoon and walking trails. Find a spot near the water where you can see the sky changing color. The sun sets toward the W, which is visible from this northern vantage point as it dips.
18:31
Watch the sunset. At 18:31 the sun disappears below the horizon. The golden light that started at 17:55 will have faded, leaving a cool twilight over the bay.
19:01
End your evening at Caffè Strada. Located on the UC Berkeley campus, it is open until midnight. It is a great place to sit, reflect on the view, and have a late-night drink or dessert.
Local tip
The walk from the Visitor Center to Codornices Park is about 27 minutes. The terrain is hilly, so wear comfortable shoes. Aquatic Park is 61 minutes walk from the anchor, so consider taking a bus or ride-share if you are tired.
Check before you go
- Cafe Milano is open Mo-Fr 07:00-22:00 and Sa,Su 08:00-22:00.
- Caffè Strada is open Mo-Su 06:00-24:00.
- The Visitor Center closes at 13:00 on weekends and 16:30 on weekdays, but you are only visiting the nearby parks and cafes.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Berkeley (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).