Discover Albany
There is a lot to discover in the Bay Area, and if you’re looking for a new city to explore near UC Berkeley, add Albany to the top of your list! Berkeley’s neighboring city is a quick bus ride away from campus and is home to a few campus housing locations as well. Berkeley Life writers, Melissa (Class of 2025) and Reva (Class of 2027), explored Albany and here are highlights from their trip.
Getting to Albany from UC Berkeley
You can travel to Albany from campus by taking the AC Transit’s 52 bus line. It goes all the way to University Village (UVA) Family Student Housing and is the most direct way to get from campus to Albany and back. Melissa and Reva’s ride on the 52 took 30 minutes each way to and from campus.
You can also take the 18 bus line from downtown Berkeley to Albany. Cal Students are given EasyPass Clipper Cards during GBO when they receive their Cal 1 Card school IDs, allowing them to access AC Transit transportation for free. You can learn more about getting around Berkeley using public transportation in our blog, Urban Travel 101: Around Berkeley.
Campus apartments in University Village.
University Village & xučyun ruwway Apartments
The best way to describe the family student housing at University Village is, well, as a village. It’s quiet and residential, and everything you need is within walking distance or a short bus ride away. There are several playgrounds, an on-site child care center, a community garden, fitness center, designated parking spaces for residents, special events held just for residents, and more.
Signage at University Village Albany (UVA) Family Student Housing
The University Village Community Center Access Pass provides unlimited use of open rec hours and group exercise classes offered at the main gym. Oceanview Elementary is a very short walk away, and there are also two parks right by University Village, perfect for any student parents.
(Right): The University Village Community Center. (Left): Walkways through University Village.
The graduate student housing xučyun ruwway Apartments are right by University Village and the buses to take you back to Berkeley wait directly outside the main entrance. xučyun ruwway is a five-building apartment complex that offers fully furnished studios and apartments with single bedrooms, full kitchens, in-unit washer/dryers, and a wealth of community resources that include fitness centers, meeting rooms, and green spaces.
Within walking distance of both residential spaces are urgent and primary care centers, a pet hospital and Pet Food Express, and a Sprouts grocery store. Solano Avenue shops and restaurants are a fifteen-minute walk from both of them as well.
The 52 bus at its first stop, outside the xučyun ruwway Apartments.
Solano Avenue
This mile-long street that starts in Berkeley and goes into Albany has everything from restaurants to cute cafes to retail stores. Every September the annual Solano Stroll takes place, filling the Avenue with street performers, food stands, and local merchants. It’s the East Bay’s largest street festival and over 100,000 participants and event guests visit from all over Northern California every year.
But you don’t have to wait for September to explore—there’s always something going on, and it’s a great place to find your new favorite cafe or independent shop! Melissa and Reva stopped by Hal’s Office, a cozy cafe with indoor and outdoor seating, the perfect place to get a pastry and work on assignments.
Melissa (left) and Reva (right) at Hal’s Office outdoor seating area.
Outdoor Exploring
On the corner of San Pablo and Marin Avenue is the UC Gill Tract Community Farm, a collaborative community project between UC Berkeley and the local community. The farm welcomes volunteers to come and harvest food in exchange for help with weeding, planting, and watering. They also host regular events and collaborations with community organizations, including food pantries.
The Albany Bulb, a former construction debris landfill that has become a place for outdoor sculptures and paintings, has beautiful pathways to walk by the water. It’s on Albany’s waterfront, which looks out into the San Francisco Bay and has lots of paths for dog walkers, hikers, artists, and those looking for ocean views. Albany Hill Park is another great place for walks, with benches along the trail where you can stop and take in the view of the bay or downtown Albany and El Cerrito.
More to Discover
Berkeley’s neighboring city has a lot to offer! Take a long walk down Solano Avenue on a free weekend, go out to see the Albany Bulb on a clear day, or decide if campus housing in Albany is right for you.
Melissa Mora-Gonzalez, Class of 2025, is majoring in English and minoring in conservation and resource studies. Reva Gokhale, Class of 2027, is majoring in society and environment.
Want More?
- Explore 4th Street in West Berkeley, near Albany.
- Discover more Bay Area highlights to explore.