UC Berkeley graduation weekend 2027: things to do in San Francisco

Saturday, 8 May 2027 · ExpectedSan Francisco, United States

UC Berkeley Commencement brings parents, grandparents and siblings to San Francisco for a weekend. The ceremony takes a morning: this guide covers where to stay, the celebration dinner and what to do with the rest of the time.

Tours in San Francisco Hotels for these dates

Know before you go

Confirm the date and ticket rules on the school's commencement page: guest tickets are often limited.
Book the celebration dinner when you book the hotel. Every restaurant in town is full that weekend.

Airport to California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley

SFO has BART to downtown in 30 minutes; Oakland (OAK) has BART too.

BART to Downtown Berkeley, then a walk uphill.

Public transport directions to California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	SoMa and Mission	Cheaper hotels near Moscone.
Mid-range	Union Square	Central and on transit.
Splurge	Nob Hill and the Embarcadero	Grand hotels.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Hotel Zeppelin
Mid-range: Hotel Zetta
Splurge: Fairmont San Francisco

Links search the nights from 7 May to 9 May. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual graduation weekend schedule for Saturday, 8 May 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Arrival day

Friday 7 May

Check in, walk the campus with your graduate and book a celebration dinner.

FreeGolden Gate Park.
EatLa Taqueria Mission burritos

Ceremony day

Saturday 8 May

Ceremonies take the morning. The afternoon is for photos and a long lunch.

EatSwan Oyster Depot Seafood counter
Easy outingBay sunset cruise Evening · Low walking · Nightlife
Under the bridge.

The day after

Sunday 9 May

A free day before everyone leaves. A good time for a trip out of town.

Half-dayMuir Woods and Sausalito Half day · Family
Redwoods and a ferry back.
EatTartine Bakery Bread and pastries

Grandparents and siblings

Low walking and kid friendly.

Family pickGolden Gate Bridge bike tour Half day · Family
Ride to Sausalito.
Rain or heat backupAlcatraz Island tour Half day · Family · Indoor
Book weeks ahead.

Family-friendly picks

Half day · Family

Muir Woods and Sausalito

Redwoods and a ferry back.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Golden Gate Bridge bike tour

Ride to Sausalito.

See times and prices

Half day · Family · Indoor

Alcatraz Island tour

Book weeks ahead.

See times and prices

Exploratorium.
California Academy of Sciences.

Evening and day-trip tours

Evening · Low walking · Nightlife

Bay sunset cruise

Under the bridge.

See times and prices

Full day · Food

Napa and Sonoma wine tour

Three wineries.

See times and prices

Full day

Yosemite day trip

Long but stunning.

See times and prices

After dark

North Beach and the Mission.

7 tours worth booking for UC Berkeley

Tour	Length	Good for
Napa and Sonoma wine tour	Full day	Food lovers
Muir Woods and Sausalito	Half day	Families
Golden Gate Bridge bike tour	Half day	Families
Chinatown food tour	Half day	Food lovers
Yosemite day trip	Full day	Everyone
Alcatraz Island tour	Half day	Families, Bad weather
Bay sunset cruise	Evening	Tired legs, Night owls

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Ferry Building Marketplace Food hall
La Taqueria Mission burritos
Swan Oyster Depot Seafood counter
Tartine Bakery Bread and pastries

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Half day · Family · Indoor

Alcatraz Island tour

Book weeks ahead.

See times and prices

SFMOMA.
de Young.

Getting around on event days

Muni, cable cars and BART with Clipper or contactless.

Day trips from San Francisco

Sausalito: 30 minutes by ferry
Napa: 1 hour
Berkeley: 25 minutes by BART

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for UC Berkeley.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is UC Berkeley Commencement 2027?

The next edition is Saturday, 8 May 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley?

SFO has BART to downtown in 30 minutes; Oakland (OAK) has BART too. BART to Downtown Berkeley, then a walk uphill.

Where should I stay for UC Berkeley Commencement?

For most visitors the best base is Union Square: Central and on transit.

What else can we do around UC Berkeley Commencement?

Good short outings in San Francisco include Alcatraz Island tour, Muir Woods and Sausalito, Golden Gate Bridge bike tour. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near UC Berkeley Commencement?

Family-friendly picks: Alcatraz Island tour, Muir Woods and Sausalito, Golden Gate Bridge bike tour. Exploratorium.

How far is California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley from San Francisco centre?

About 18 km in a straight line. BART to Downtown Berkeley, then a walk uphill.

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