Modest price hike for Campanile’s non-campus visitors

If you’re a current UC Berkeley student, staffer or faculty member, there’s excellent news about the Campanile: Admission for you, and for children under the age of 3, remains absolutely free.

Even if you don’t fall into one of those groups, though, the news is pretty good: After 15 years, the price of admission to the iconic structure is about to go up — by a dollar.

Effective July 1, adults from the age of 18 to 65 will pay $3 for a tour of UC Berkeley’s best-known landmark, officially known as Sather Tower, and a spectacular, 360-degree view of the campus and beyond. Prices for visitors age 3 to 17, alumni and those older than 65 will rise from $1 to $2.

The modest increases will help pay for planned cosmetic upgrades to the Campanile, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year.