Grizzly Peak Boulevard
Grizzly Peak Boulevard runs along the ridge line of the Berkeley Hills and the views from it are just spectacular, especially on clear days and nights. Here are a couple example photos.
Photo credits: Alex Burke
But even on a foggy day, the fog pattern can be simply breathtaking, as you see below.
Photo credits: Alex Burke
Another very beautiful twilight scene is at this link
You don't need to climb a hill or hike somewhere to see these views. Just stop at one of several vista lookout points along the side of the road and these are the sights you'll see.
If you want to see what the current visibility conditions are, there is a webcam atop the Lawrence Hall of Science that shows what the view would be like on Grizzly Peak Blvd. The webcam link is here.
Youtube also has a number of timelapse videos that condense a 24-hour day into 1-minute. For example, see the one here.
The views from Grizzly Peak require no walking or hiking to see them. Just stop and park your car at one of the several vista points along the road. For similar views that involve a hike, see the article in this blog on the Stonewall-Panoramic Trail.