Google's headquarters, located in Mountain View, California, is open to the public, and strolling around campus is a fun way to spend a few hours. While there are no official tours and most of the buildings are only open to employees, visitors are always warmly welcomed and welcome to stroll around the neighborhood. While there, you have the opportunity to see many popular spots, such as a statue of the company's unofficial T-Rex-mascot, self-driving car, and Android-themed artwork. However, if you know someone who works at Google, maybe he or she can arrange a tour of some of the offices to see how things work within the company. Whatever the reason, stopping by Google headquarters is a must for anyone visiting the Bay Area!
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Method 1 of 3: Visiting the Googleplex
Step 1. Drive to the Googleplex in Mountainview, California
Google's headquarters are located at 1600 Amphitheater Parkway in the city of Mountain View, California. If you are driving from San Francisco, take US-101 South to the Rengstorff Avenue line. Then continue to Amphitheater Parkway.
- If you're coming from the other direction, take either road and exit at the intersection that will take you to the Amphitheater Parkway.
- Use Google Maps to plan trips efficiently.
Step 2. Access Google headquarters by train and bus if you don't bring your own car
Take the Mountainview city bus number 32 or 40 bound for the Googleplex. Both buses have stops near the San Antonio Caltrain station, so you can reach Google headquarters from San Francisco, San Jose or South Bay.
- To save money and time, purchase a day passes ticket for whichever mode of transportation you choose. With this type of ticket, you will get free access for a full day.
- Mountainview city buses are operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
- Caltrain is a commuter rail service operating in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- A full-day pass for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority costs $7.00 (approximately IDR95,000), while a one-way ticket costs $2.25 (approximately IDR30,000).
- A full-day pass for Caltrain costs $7.50 (approximately $100,000), while a one-way ticket costs $3.75 (approximately $51,000).
Step 3. Park in one of the places at the north end of the campus
There are five large parking lots at the Googleplex located at the top of the campus. You can get there by driving north along North Shoreline Boulevard, past the Amphitheater Parkway. Park for free at one of these spots and start your tour!
The parking lots are labeled A, B, C, D, and E
Step 4. Follow the Bill Graham Parkway and cross the Amphitheater Parkway
After parking, you have to walk about 5-10 to get to Google campus. Follow the Bill Graham Parkway west of the parking lot to the Amphitheater Parkway. Cross this road carefully to get to the main point of the Googleplex.
Method 2 of 3: Exploring Google Campus
Step 1. Explore the off-campus area on foot
While most buildings in Google's complex are closed to non-employees, you can easily explore areas outside of Google's headquarters without any problems. Be prepared for a lot of walking as the entire campus spans over 4.8 hectares. Pay attention to easily recognizable landmarks to keep track of where you've explored and where you're headed.
- For example, observe the addresses of different buildings as well as certain statues or signs.
- Wear comfortable shoes to walk around campus without scratching your feet.
Step 2. Visit the main cluster of buildings on the Google campus
The Google building is restricted to employees and their guests, but you can visit the main points of Google headquarters. Look for the buildings west of Charleston Park. Although there were other buildings on campus, they were further away and quieter than those places.
- Charleston Park is a large green area in the city.
- Make Charleston Park the first place on a Googleplex tour as it is most easily accessible from the Google parking lot.
- This cluster of buildings can be found near the volleyball court and a small green area.
- In addition to Google's headquarters, the buildings here include Google Buildings 41, 42, and 43.
Step 3. Look for a real-sized replica of the T-Rex skeleton
A life-size T-Rex statue was placed on campus by Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, as a reminder not to perish like the dinosaurs. Visit this iron statue as part of your tour of Google headquarters. You can find statues of T-Rex-which Google employees have dubbed "Stan"-in front of Google's main buildings.
You need to know, "Stan" is sometimes decorated with cute things by Google employees, for example with pink flamingos
Step 4. Take a photo in the Android statue garden
Google's Android sculpture park will add colorful statues whenever a new operating system is developed. These figurines are candy themed, making them look fun and whimsical. Look for this park at the point of South East Landings Drive, on the circular road that runs through campus.
- For example, you can take a selfie with an Android robot filled with jelly beans that was created to commemorate version 4.1 of the operating system.
- The park is located in front of the Android building, which features a large Android statue above its entrance.
Step 5. Be careful with Google's self-driving cars
One of the impressive sights on the Google campus is its self-driving cars. Usually there is at least one car driving around the campus, sometimes taking passengers to a different building. Look for self-driving cars that share the road with other cars and cyclists.
Google's self-driving car project is called Waymo
Step 6. Take advantage of one of the outdoor volleyball courts
The Googleplex has an outdoor volleyball court that is open to the public when not in use by employees. Look for this field in several places around campus. The easiest to find is in the middle of campus, across from the main Google building.
Step 7. Visit the Google gift shop to buy souvenirs
The Google campus has a gift shop that is open to the public from Monday to Friday, every week. The shop sells Google-themed souvenirs such as mugs, sweaters, mouse pads, and lunch boxes. Visit the shop during business hours, from 10 am to 6.30 pm to complete your visit.
Google also has an online gift shop that can be accessed at
Method 3 of 3: Tour with Google Employees
Step 1. Ask a friend or acquaintance who works at Google to walk you around
Most of Google's buildings are only accessible to its employees. Sometimes there are exceptions for employee guests. If you know someone who works at Google headquarters, call or email them to ask if they can give you a tour of the building.
Be polite and match your requested tour time with her schedule to make this visit possible
Step 2. Observe key parts of Google headquarters without drawing attention
If you get a chance to visit the Googleplex, take a look at some of Google's most famous work environments. If you want to take pictures, ask permission first. Don't be too loud and distracting so as not to disturb employees during their working hours.
Step 3. Visit the Google Visitor Center
The Google Visitor Center is basically a small museum showing the history of Google. Access to this exhibition of cultural and historical artifacts is restricted to employees and their guests only. Ask a tour guide to take you through the buildings which will provide an informative overview of the company's development over the years. Please note, the visitor center may close in 2019. This place is located near the Android sculpture park in the Landings building area.
Step 4. Eat at the Googleplex cafeteria
The Googleplex cafeteria combines a variety of high quality restaurants, from casual dining to fine dining. Politely ask the guide if you can eat with him or her in the cafeteria which is open to employees and their guests. Choose restaurants that are color coded green, yellow, or red for public health.
- The green code represents the “maximum health” level.
- A yellow code indicates that the food contains both healthy and unhealthy ingredients.
- Code red indicates that the food is more decadent and not ideal for a healthy diet.
Step 5. Visit Google's "nap pod" bedroom
Ask the guide if you can see any of the nap pods dotted around the Googleplex buildings. Nap pods are closed reclining chairs that block external stimuli so employees can work quietly or sleep. The nap pod is also equipped with a Bose music system and a timer to wake employees up after a certain amount of time.
Nap pods were created by a company called MetroNaps using NASA science
Step 6. Ask if you can see Google Garden
Many of the plant-based meals served in the Googleplex cafeteria are grown in the Google Garden. This large organic garden uses Earthbox, a Google-invented technology that waters plants from below, rather than from above. Ask if you can visit these points of interest while on tour.
- Google Garden also has a large green space and meditation area for employees.
- In addition, Google Garden also functions as a learning place for students from the local horticultural community.
