Welcome to Pleasant Hill: A Guide for DVC International Students
01/11/26Whether you’ve just arrived or are still getting settled, this page is here to help you feel oriented, comfortable, and confident as you begin your time at Diablo Valley College. Pleasant Hill is a welcoming East Bay community with easy access to everyday essentials, outdoor spaces, and nearby cities like Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco. Visit Pleasant Hill is the city’s official destination organization. We work closely with local partners to share helpful information about living, exploring, and enjoying life in the area. Explore anytime. No sign-up required.
Start with the Pleasant Hill Visitor Guide
Our Pleasant Hill Visitor Guide is a great place to begin. It includes helpful information on local food, parks, transportation options, nearby places to explore, and things to do while you’re living here.
The guide is designed to help you get familiar with the area at your own pace.
Everyday Life in Pleasant Hill
Students often enjoy Pleasant Hill for its balance of convenience and calm. Around the city you’ll find:
• Walkable areas with cafés and casual dining
• Grocery stores and familiar brands nearby
• Parks, trails, and green spaces for study breaks
• Community spaces that feel safe and welcoming
Shopping & Lifestyle in Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill boasts a wealth of retail, entertainment, and services for your lifestyle needs.
Food & Drink
We have something for every craving, whether it’s California cuisine or global flavors. Wood-fired pizza, authentic Mexican, fresh seafood, slow-cooked barbecue—it’s all on the menu at Pleasant Hill. At night, local hot…
Outdoors
It’s easy to get outside and explore from Pleasant Hill, CA. Make Pleasant Hill your base camp for the best of Northern California hiking and outdoor adventures.
Getting Around the Bay Area
Pleasant Hill is well connected to the rest of the Bay Area. Many students get around using:
• BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to reach Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, and other cities
• Local buses, walking, and biking
• Ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft
See What Life Looks Like Here
If you’d like a visual look at cafés, parks, local events, and everyday moments around the city, you can follow Visit Pleasant Hill on Instagram.
Optional Local Updates
If you’d like, you can also receive occasional local updates and ideas by email. We send about one message per month, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
We’re glad you’re here — and we hope Pleasant Hill feels like a place you can settle into and make your own.