Few areas are as stunning as California. The state has several of the finest coastlines, cities, and also walkings in the whole United States. Located in Northern California simply one hr south of San Francisco, San Jose is just one of the very best cities on the west coastline.
San Jose is a traveler location. There are several points to do in San Jose, from heritage tourist attractions to all-natural landscapes and also treking routes. It is likewise recognized for its advanced technology activity and also academic possibilities. It is residence to San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, and also also Silicon Valley, the residence of the technology market.
Top points to do in San Jose, California
Visiting San Jose is absolutely among those points that you need to take into consideration if you are journey with this component of the United States. The city is hectic and also constantly staying on par with the most up to date patterns and also advancements. However, it likewise has a solid feeling of background and also heritage. Get all set since these are the twenty-five finest points to do in San Jose, California.
You’ll discover enjoyable tasks around this trendy city. Whatever you select, we believe that you will certainly have a good time. But see to it to take a look at our pointers of points to do in San Jose to obtain you began.
An excellent method to navigate California is by auto. This manages outing to areas like Monterey, Silicon Valley, and also vineyards a lot easier to check out. Check auto service rates for San Jose right here.
1. Shop on Santana Row
San Jose’s Silicon Valley is rather darn popular. It’s recognized for the biggest collection of technology firms and also is constantly associated with the most up to date and also best tasks. But, if you intend to get a brand-new device as a keepsake, buying on Santana Row is just one of the very best points to do in San Jose.
Santana Row is where you can select the fruits of Silicon Valley labor. It is an industrial area, expanding with life and also swamped with dining establishments, stores, and also plazas. Shopping enthusiasts and also technology fanatics alike will certainly delight in walking the roads.
There suffices to see (and also purchase) on Santana Row to maintain you inhabited for at the very least half a day. However, if you consist of a journey to the Santana Row movie theater, enable a complete day to value the area.
2. San Jose Improv
Fancy a laugh? San Jose Improv has actually been a dependable place for a laugh considering that it opened up in 2002. The place hosts star comics and also novices, serving as a ladder for promising west coastline musicians and also a place for sought-after entertainers.
The NYC-born chain opened up in the 60s and also branched off to San Jose at the millenium. Catching a funny program is an enjoyable method to invest a night. We advise inspecting the timetable for occasions that accompany your browse through to San Jose.
The San Jose Improv movie theater is extravagantly enhanced, with comfy seats and also every seat in your home supplies great sights of the phase. Don’t concern excessive concerning final tickets having poor seating – besides, resting better back simply indicates you are much less most likely to obtain hired when you don’t intend to be.
3. Institute of Contemporary Art
If you are an art fan after that you will certainly intend to invest a long time in Downtown San Jose at one of the several art galleries. The Institute of Contemporary Art is the ideal place for surfing and also appreciating and also is divided right into 3 various gallery areas. Some items are irreversible, yet a lot of are momentary, suggesting the San Jose Institute is constantly fresh and also interesting.
The Institute has a large percentage of neighborhood and also lesser-known musicians. We’d advise a check out to anybody that desires a provocative and also fresh overview on art, San Jose, and also culture. Some items are a lot more abstract than others; the Institute has actually also offered computer game and also LED lights events.
Just to entirely secure the offer, the Institute of Contemporary Art is likewise cost-free to go into. Interesting, economical, and also appropriate to appreciate in all weather condition, the Institute is absolutely a tourist attraction for your travel plan.
4. California Theatre
The California Theatre is one more place for your night travel plans. The 1920s-built photo home is spectacular and also hosts plays, shows, and also live occasions. It has that sophisticated and also intimate feeling, with seats bent around a phase you really feel that you can practically touch if you attempted.
For a traditional theater experience, an evening at this place ticks all packages. You can examine the upcoming timetable to see what occasions straighten with your go to days. The theater has actually organized the West Side Story play, Die Fledermaus opera, and also also talks by physicists and also various other market specialists.
There are occasions most evenings, so there is a high possibility that you will certainly discover something of rate of interest. For an additional reward, you can acquire food and also beverage at the place prior to or after the program.
5. Almaden Quicksilver County Park
Sometimes you intend to run away to nature without needing to ‘escape’ also much. Almaden Quicksilver County Park in San Jose’s finest solution to this dilemma.
The Mockingbird Hill Entrance to the nation park is simply a twenty-minute drive south of San Jose City Center. You can be carried from San Jose’s roads to a gorgeous, uneven landscape in much less than half a hr. Almaden Quicksilver County Park is excellent for treking to breathtaking perspectives and also has great deals of mining background. You can integrate checking out old mining framework right into your strolls. The park is best for those that desire hillsides and also background.
Almaden Quicksilver County Park has almost forty miles of treking routes and also thirty miles of bridleways. You can check out the nation park walking or arrange a path flight with neighborhood stables. Either method, the park is conveniently a full-day task. You need to enable at the very least an early morning to value the vegetation and also relaxing, natural surroundings.
6. Lexington Reservoir County Park
Speaking of areas of all-natural elegance, Lexington Reservoir County Park is one more outstanding location to go to simply outside the San Jose facility.
The 950-acre park obtains its name from the large synthetic lake in its facility. While swimming is restricted, you can delight in a stroll around the tank – quiting at barbecue locations and also angling places. The tank itself is 338 acres and also completely equipped with trout and also black bass, among various other fish.
This region park is a fantastic location to invest a day by the water. Fishing enthusiasts and also households will specifically value the lake gain access to. It is likewise well integrated with a check out to Testarossa Winery, situated simply 10 mins up the roadway.
7. Tech Interactive
You can’t go to the residence of Silicon Valley without checking out the Tech Interactive Museum. Tech is an essential component of San Jose’s background and also future, so where much better to get more information concerning this contemporary globe we reside in.
Tech Interactive is embeded in the middle of all the Downtown San Jose activity. The gallery has every little thing from speculative laboratories to create obstacle experiences – intended to make you believe and also uncover on your own, instead of feeding used details with boring events.
Tech Interactive is family-friendly yet never leaves out grownups without youngsters. Guests of any ages will certainly delight in the gallery, so mark it down as a solid choice when checking out San Jose.
Where to Stay in An Jose
Recommended resorts to obtain you began. If you are asking yourself where to remain in San Jose, first-timers will certainly delight in making a base midtown.
8. Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph
The Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph is definitely among the most beautiful structures in San Jose. The Catholic sanctuary teems with all that particular overindulgence, covered from flooring to ceiling in spectacular building attributes and also spiritual importance.
The Odell Organ is specifically excellent and also was constructed in 1886 – not that you’d presume that from its outstandingly kept problem. The ceiling is gold-plated and also includes fancy domes and also decor. Between the discolored glass home windows, spiritual statuaries, and also soothing ambience, the sanctuary suffices to excite you despite your religions.
A scenic tour is the very best method to experience the elegance of the Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph. Tours work on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and also Fridays in between 1 pm and also 3 pm.
9. Guadalupe River Park
Guadalupe River Park is a little various from the parks we’ve covered. Guadalupe is an urban park situated slap bang in the center of Downtown San Jose. Behind the treetops, you can still see the city’s high-rise buildings, and also the park has an all-natural relief in a city feeling, instead of sensation entirely removed from people.
Guadalupe has 2.6 miles of treking and also cycling routes, which is ideal for those desiring a stretch of their legs. It prevails to see early morning joggers or experts taking lunch breaks in the park. But, as a traveler, it behaves to join them.
This park is a fantastic location to experience the metropolitan neighborhood and also value central city greenspace. Thanks to its midtown place, it is conveniently included in also one of the most stuffed travel plans.
10. Happy Hollow Park and also Zoo
Happy Hollow Park and also Zoo puts on several belts. The park is a theme park, cuddling zoo, and also unique zoo done in one.
Happy Hollow Park lies in Kelley Park, a 250-acre eco-friendly area near the town hall. While the zoo is reasonably little, it houses over 150 pets – most of whom are saved or threatened participants of a preservation reproducing program.
Visitors can obtain included with taking care of pets, come in person with unique pets, or unleash on the theme park flights. You can likewise participate in unique workshops, with academic and also useful possibilities to grow your expertise of the pet kingdom.
11. Plaza de Cesar Chavez
Did we point out just how incredible Downtown San Jose is? Just to restate, Downtown San Jose is just one of the very best areas to check out in the city. And, if you desire a details place to value this location of San Jose, Plaza de Cesar Chavez is our leading suggestion.
Plaza de Cesar Chavez is just one of one of the most prominent outside areas in the city. In the facility is a sculpture of the Mayan god Quetzalcoatl and also a location of water jets that eruption up from ground degree in a beautiful screen.
Plaza de Cesar Chavez is a must-go to if you visit San Jose in summer season or near Christmas. In summer season, the water fountains and also greenspace make the park a beautiful, trendy area to unwind outdoors. Near Christmas, the entire location is spruced up with joyful pop-up structures and also tasks. Watch out for the ice skating rink, an emphasize destination of the year.
12. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is unbelievable; there is no refuting that. The gallery is devoted to old Egypt, presenting the biggest collection on old Egyptian artefacts in Western North America. It consists of events on interment procedures and also various other noteworthy customs.
Some of one of the most useful artefacts are mommies, consisting of a mommy from Usermontu’s casket. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum isn’t one for the squeamish or fatality averse, as it dives directly right into all the gory, useful information concerning funerals.
The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is a remarkable task if you like old background. However, it is an appealing sufficient gallery to maintain the typical site visitor interested too. Even Rosicrucian Park, where the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is established, is enhanced in Egyptian design, with Egyptian structures and also hand trees to establish the scene.
13. San Jose Museum of Art
Are modern art work presents not your point? Or do you simply favor a bigger place than that of San Jose’s Institute? The San Jose Museum of Art is a dreamland to delight better in your love of art.
The San Jose Museum of Art has every little thing, from modern to contemporary art. It has more than 2,500 items in its irreversible collection and also added momentary events that are regularly moving and also transforming. It is well-worth enabling at the very least a couple of hrs to see it all, plus much longer if you intend to take it in as a fanatic or expert.
The San Jose Museum of Art is a fantastic wet day task or simply a location to expand your creative recognition and also expertise. It has among the biggest collections of art in the city, and also it is just one of our leading referrals on points to do in San Jose.
14. Japanese Friendship Garden
The Japanese Friendship Garden is a tiny, walled, six-acre yard in Kelley Park. If you haven’t checked out a conventional Japanese yard prior to, you truly should. The Japanese Friendship Garden in Kelley Park is a best instance, with streams, bridges, and also fish ponds adjoined in a thorough yard.
The yard is developed to signify tranquility and also relationship, and also it has a certain ambience of peacefulness. The little bridges are great to stroll in business or alone, deep in idea. The Japanese Friendship Garden is a fantastic choice if you desire a peaceful point to do in San Jose.
San Jose’s Japanese Friendship Garden is so stunning that it is commonly utilized for outside wedding. Take a go through and also value it on your own – you just require an extra hr.
15. An outing to the Santa Cruz Mountains
A day in the hills is difficult to stand up to. The Santa Cruz Mountains split Santa Clara Valley from San Francisco Bay and also are just a hr’s drive from San Jose Center.
The range of mountains is seaside, and also most of its treking routes have sea sights neglecting San Francisco Bay. The Santa Cruz Mountains are likewise popular for their redwood trees – the highest tree types in the world. While Santa Cruz doesn’t have any type of redwoods of record-breaking elevation, they are still enforcing.
You can trek the highest hill, Loma Prieta. You can go hill cycling with high woodland routes. Or, you can unwind and also invest a mid-day a glass of wine sampling in among the area’s several vineyards – simply see to it you’ve obtained a risk-free flight back to the city.
This South Bay Wineries Tour takes you on a VIP trip to 4 vineyards from San Francisco consisting of in the foothills of the San Cruz Mountains consisting of Cupertino and also Saratoga. Learn concerning a glass of wine making procedure and also example the very best red wines in the San Francisco Bay location. It consists of an outing lunch. Details right here.
16. Japanese American Museum
The Japanese Friendship Gardens are rather. But the Japanese American Museum is an outstanding location to get more information concerning Japanese American society and also background.
The gallery adheres to the tale of Japanese migration – from one of the most prominent very early functions absorbed American culture to the effect of World War Two on the neighborhood. The Japanese American Museum takes on hefty subjects like discrimination while wondering about the significance of the American identification.
Add this gallery to your travel plan for a provocative and also informative point to do in San Jose.
17. Alum Rock Park
Alum Rock Park is an oldie yet goldie. The public park is the earliest community park in California and also a preferred mid-day journey from San Jose.
The park remains on the foothills of the Diablo Mountains and also is around 720 acres in dimension. There are treking, cycling, horseback riding routes, and also mineral springtimes to shower in. The park is lengthy developed as an all-natural therapeutic facility vacation and also a fantastic place to go wild swimming.
In short, this park is great. You can find wild animals like red-tailed hawks and also eco-friendly herons. You can obtain energetic walking or on a bike. Or you can simply unwind and also cool down in all-natural mineral water – which is constantly revitalizing in Californian summertimes.
18. Yosemite National Park
A vacation in San Jose doesn’t imply limiting on your own to investing during in the San Jose location. The city is preferably situated to check out California’s national forests – so why not invest the day better afield? You can conveniently lease an auto in San Jose or acquire a led scenic tour like this on GetYourOverview.
Tunnel View, Olmsted Point, Washburn Point, and also Vernal Falls are perspectives you need to prioritize on a flying browse through to the national forest. If you invest greater than a couple of hrs in Yosemite, you can likewise deal with among the much shorter routes like Cook Meadow’s Loop, Sentinel Dome, or Mirror Lake.
Yosemite National Park is just one of one of the most popular parks in the United States, don’t bother simply California. The park is a four-hour repel, so you’ll require to trigger early in the early morning and also might favor to have numerous vehicle drivers to make driving the range in eventually practical. Alternatively, simply remain in Yosemite over night and also add the journey as a detour from San Jose.
You can reserve day scenic tours from San Jose to Yosemite National Park. This very ranked scenic tour
19. SAP Center
The SAP Center is a significant sector in the facility of San Jose. The sector regularly holds global musicians and also is recognized for its epic occasions. It has an ability of over 17,000 individuals and also, on a great day, you can wager that it loads it. When seeing you need to absolutely watch out for San Jose Shark video games at the SAP Center.
The San Jose Sharks are the city’s ice hockey group, and also the SAP Center is their adored residence ground. The SAP facility also has the label ‘the shark tank’. You’ll be compensated with an electrical ambience and also a fantastic sector experience if you can capture a residence video game. The exhilaration is transmittable also if you haven’t seen ice hockey prior to.
You can examine the timetable on the San Jose Shark’s and also SAP Center’s sites. It’s finest to publication tickets ahead of time to prevent dissatisfaction, as dedicated followers promptly nab up readily available tickets.
20. Vasona Lake County Park
Vasona Lake Country Park is the cherry on the top of San Jose’s nation parks. The park lies in the house of Los Gatos. It covers a breathtaking 45 acres of routes, barbecue locations, and also eco-friendly area.
In the facility of the park, just like Lexington Park, there is a huge tank that appropriates and also equipped for angling. The tank is identifiable by several distinguishing characteristics, consisting of Goose Island (a small all-natural island on the lake) and also the Vasona Lake Dam. Walking the lake border is a gorgeous method to value the park and also the open airs.
While Vasona Lake Country Park is a lot smaller sized than Lexington Country Park, it is the very best selection if you desire a brief lakeside experience. A check out to Vasona conveniently suits half a day, and also you can see the very best components in simply a number of hrs. If you are brief in a timely manner, it is a great choice to delight in suv nature.
21. Winchester Mystery House
Visiting Winchester Mystery House is just one of one of the most unusual and also scary points in San Jose. And if that isn’t sufficient to lure you in for a see, pay attention to this. Book this Winchester Mystery Tour
Winchester Mansion came from Sarah Winchester, a rich heiress of the Winchester Repeating Arms. With her ton of money, Sarah appointed the building and construction of Winchester Mansion. However, the procedure was tormented by superordinary events. It quickly emerged that Winchester rifle targets were haunting your home.
The building and construction procedure took a grand overall of 38 years. Even for a 160-room estate, you’d be ideal to believe that this timescale got on the exceedingly lengthy side. Your go to will certainly make it a lot more reasonable though, as Sarah appointed several unusual attributes to discourage the hauntings. The estate resembles a real-life puzzle – with color-coded spaces and also deceitful paths like stairs leading no place.
We advise reserving an excursion as, while a little costly, you’ll obtain one of the most insightful experience by doing this. Winchester Mystery House is partially a San Jose heritage destination and also rather a superordinary experience. Either method, however, it is just one of the very best points to do in the city.
22. San Jose Flea Market
San Jose Flea Market is as a lot a social place as it is a market. Yes, you’ll discover all the stalls with a varied variety of items to purchase. But you’ll likewise discover cost-free dancing lessons, facts occasions, and also a beer yard.
The city’s flea market has actually remained in full speed considering that it opened its doors in the 1960s. You’ll discover over 800 vendors going to every weekend break. However, there are likewise assigned weekday market days, so don’t stress if you are checking out San Jose throughout the week.
San Jose Flea Market has every little thing – also live songs. The market has a phase that neighborhood entertainers can select to do to customers on, and also, most of the time, this phase brings in a little event. Visiting the marketplace is an enjoyable point to do in San Jose, whether you intend to go shopping or simply delight in the ambience.
23. San Pedro Square Market
San Pedro Square market has a somewhat various ambiance. This market focuses on food and also resembles a casual food court.
You can be tasting a banh mi from On A Roll, a craft beer from Market Beer Co., or putting right into hand-rolled sushi at Hyland House of Sushi. San Pedro Square Market has the very best multi-cultural food in all of San Jose, which is claiming something, as San Jose has a great deal of scrumptious food.
We advise checking out San Pedro Market for lunch. A great deal of the food is fairly snack-like instead of sit-down dish recipes. Plus, you can constantly return for supper if you can’t make a decision in between 2 choices.
24. Los Gatos Creek Trail
Do you like a health and fitness obstacle? You need to take into consideration strolling Los Gatos Creek Trail. The 11.2-mile path begins in Downtown San Jose and also finishes simply previous Lexington Reservoir. You’ll pass Los Gatos County Park and also Vasona Lake County Park – incorporating checking out numerous parks in eventually.
After treking in remote, all-natural locations, it behaves to blend points up and also take a rural stroll. The trailhead is likewise extremely simple to gain access to, which is practical if you are brief in a timely manner or otherwise employing an auto in San Jose.
As you might have presumed, Los Gatos Creek Trail adheres to Los Gatos Creek, a tiny river running south of San Jose. The path itself is tarmacked and also bike-friendly, so you can constantly cycle it if you intend to finish the path quicker. Otherwise, enable approximately 5 hrs to finish Los Gatos Creek Trail walking.
25. Children’s Discovery Museum
If you are taking a trip with young friends, the Children’s Discovery Museum is a great, age-appropriate point to do in San Jose.
The Children’s Discovery Museum intends to give simply that, with Montessori-design discovering possibilities and also specialized academic locations. The gallery is developed so moms and dads can take the rear seat and also allow their youngsters route the household around the events. There are interactive movie theater efficiencies, a water play area, and also a massive exploration exhibition.
How to Get to San Jose
The most convenient method to reach San Jose is to fly. San Jose Airport is simply 3 miles from Downtown San Jose, so it fasts and also hassle-free to move from the flight terminal to the town hall.
Of program, if you are journey the west coastline or one more prominent American trip path, you might want to drive to San Jose. Driving to San Jose is a great choice if you intend to quit at locations en path, as the city is bordered by tourist attractions and also all-natural landscapes. Make certain that your lodging supplies car parking; or else, car parking can be bothersome in the city.
Getting Around
San Jose is very well-connected by the VTA Light Rail and also Bus system. While there isn’t a train system, you don’t see it and also most absolutely aren’t aggravated without one. The public transportation or bus is the very best choice for a low-priced method to navigate San Jose.
If you remain centrally, you’ll have the ability to check out several prominent tourist attractions walking. In Downtown San Jose, there are traveler destinations almost on your resort’s front door.
Driving benefits outing and also getting to tourist attractions on the city borders. Avoid driving in the town hall however, as website traffic is horrible and also occasionally strolling can be quicker than driving.
Best Time to Visit
In short, springtime or autumn are the very best times to go to San Jose. Summer is cozy yet much also active, and also in winter season, you lose out on delighting in the outside tasks. Spring and also autumn are the very best of both globes – not also active yet still appropriate to being outdoors.
To slim it down better, May and also October are the shoulder periods and also most affordable months to go to San Jose. Overall, May is a little warmer, so we advise checking out after that if you can.
To Conclude
San Jose teems with unbelievable points to do and also see. The city is just one of the very best locations in Northern California. It is an outstanding choice to the well-trodden roads of San Francisco.
You’ll be bewildered with amusement choices from the minute you leave San Jose Airport – which, we believe, is one of the most interesting setting to be in.
