San Jose

From vibrant cultural hubs to local haunts, San Jose is a city shaped by innovation, immigration, and a deep sense of place. Just 50 miles south of San Francisco and nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, this city invites visitors to experience the full spectrum of California’s offerings.

Iconic San Jose Landmarks & Photo Stops

Downtown Murals

Adorned with murals on buildings, streets, and crosswalks, walking downtown San Jose is its own art tour. Don’t miss the postcard-inspired "Welcome to San Jose" art at West San Fernando Street and Delmas Avenue, and the colorful Alebrijes, an homage to Oaxacan-Mexican folk art, adorning the exterior wall of Mezcal Restaurant. 

San Jose Museums

The Tech Interactive is an ultra-hands-on museum where exhibits focus on innovations in computers, robotics, health care, and even space exploration. At the San Jose Museum of Art, the spotlight is on contemporary and modern art. Architecture and sports fans, meanwhile, will appreciate the glassy modern palace of the SAP Center, home to the San Jose Sharks NHL franchise.

Learn about San Jose’s life before silicon chips at the expansive campus of History San Jose, an extraordinary indoor/outdoor museum at Kelley Park. Nearly three dozen preserved or reconstructed buildings—including a Chinese temple, a trolley restoration barn, an 1881 electric light tower, and the Pacific Hotel with its famed ice cream parlor—recreate early life in the Santa Clara Valley.

Winchester Mystery House

The famously labyrinthine Winchester Mystery House remains one of the city's most iconic attractions, drawing visitors to explore its staircases to nowhere, hidden passages, and Victorian grandeur. For a quieter escape, stroll through the fragrant blooms at the city’s Municipal Rose Garden, widely considered one of the country's best public rose gardens. 

Outdoor Activities & Parks Near San Jose

The outdoors is easily accessible in San Jose thanks to its impressive mix of trails, green spaces, and peaceful gardens, all within the city limits. The Guadalupe River Trail offers an easy, flat path through the heart of the city. Nearby, the longer, more nature-forward Coyote Creek corridor is popular with walkers, bikers, and bird-watchers. 

Just south of downtown, Almaden Quicksilver County Park delivers a more rugged escape, where hikers can explore miles of rolling hills, historic mining sites, and oak-studded landscapes that feel far removed from the city. Or check out the Los Gatos Creek Trail, which winds from San Jose into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, offering shaded paths, creek views, and access to parks along the way. It's one of the area's most popular multi-use trails. 

For something more tranquil and culturally rich, the Japanese Friendship Garden in Kelley Park offers a beautifully landscaped retreat with koi ponds, bridges, and traditional design elements inspired by the famous Korakuen Garden in San Jose's sister city of Okayama, Japan. 

Family-Friendly Activities in San Jose

For the younger set, don’t miss the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose for their interactive exhibits on science, creativity, water play, and problem-solving. Just outside the bright purple museum is Discovery Meadow, a downtown green space that includes the larger-than-life Monopoly in the Park installation.

The Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is a local institution that blends a small zoo with storybook-style amusement rides and playgrounds. Meet giant anteaters and red ruffed lemurs as you explore this small-scale park and zoo. 

For something a little different, check out the impressive Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum (just a block from the Municipal Rose Garden), which introduces kids to ancient Egypt by way of mummies, hieroglyphics, replica tombs, and artifacts that feel straight out of an adventure movie.

The San Jose Giants, a local minor league team and SF Giants affiliate, offer discounted tickets, and the ballpark's Family Fun Zone with an obstacle course and bounce house can turn a baseball game into a full evening of low-cost family entertainment. The intimate stadium means there are no bad seats, and if you attend on a weekend, the kids will get to run the bases after the game. 

Great Restaurants in San Jose

San Jose’s vibrant dining scene is a kaleidoscope of authentic global flavors, including Ethiopian fare at Zeni Restaurant and Portuguese small plates at Petiscos. Head to Japantown to dine as Anthony Bourdain did at Minato on his series Parts Unknown, where katsu curry and shrimp tempura are local favorites. For Vietnamese cuisine, grab a banh mi downtown at Mommy's Banh Mi, where the deeply flavorful cilantro aioli is sold by the squeeze bottle. Or go for the secret orange sauce at La Victoria Taqueria, one of the many Mexican restaurants in San Jose serving up carne asada tacos, al pastor super burritos, and fruity aguas frescas to wash it all down. 

Downtown San Jose’s lively, open-late food hall, San Pedro Square Market, is a great place to grab tasty eats—like a bowl of Nepali steamed dumplings from Urban Momo—while enjoying live entertainment. The food hall is also home to San Jose’s oldest structure, the 1797 Peralta Adobe, a relic from California’s Spanish and Mexican periods. Tours are available most Saturdays and Sundays. 

Venture out of downtown to posh Santana Row, where upscale shopping at stores such as Sezane, Tumi, and Kendra Scott is the main draw. The shopping area's vibrant dining scene can easily keep up, with Singaporean and Southeast Asian fare at Straits Restaurant, ceviche and tapas at Suspiro, and traditional Mexican dining at Zazil. 

Nightlife in San Jose

San Jose's nightlife scene blends Silicon Valley polish with a creative and laid-back energy. Downtown neighborhoods like the SoFA District (short for South First Area) and San Pedro Square stay lively well into the evening, with cocktail lounges, breweries, live music venues, and outdoor patios drawing everyone from tech workers to Sharks fans. 

Live entertainment is a major part of the city's after-dark appeal. Historic venues like San Jose Civic host touring musicians and comedians—Ringo Starr and George Lopez have both performed here—while smaller venues such as The Ritz showcase indie bands and local artists. The nightlife scene also reflects the city's diversity, with Latin dance nights, karaoke lounges, and late-night Vietnamese cafés adding a distinctly local flavor. 

Where to Stay in San Jose

With a prime location downtown, the Signia by Hilton San Jose is an easy choice for visitors looking to be close to all the action. Walk to the convention center or see a musical at the nearby San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. When the temperature creeps up, the property's rooftop pool is the place to be. 

Art Deco vibes are on full display at Hotel de Anza, a luxury boutique property just a short walk from San Pedro Square and the SAP Center. The hotel hosts nightly jazz performances at The Hedley Club, with small plates and craft cocktails to accompany. 

Stay in the walkable Santana Row at Hotel Valencia. With 216 rooms and suites, a rooftop pool, and three lounges, you're ready for a retreat that feels equal parts Mediterranean escape and urban basecamp.

Day Trips from San Jose

San Jose is the ideal jumping-off point for your hike through the redwoods or a day at the beach. Santa Cruz and its historic Boardwalk are just 45 minutes away, or you can travel another hour to reach the beaches of Monterey and Carmel. On the way to Santa Cruz, take a detour through Scotts Valley to reach Henry Cowell State Park and Roaring Camp Railroad, where you can ride a steam train over the mountain to the beach. Drive 30 minutes more, and you'll arrive at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California's oldest state park. 

If a city jaunt is more your style, San Francisco and Oakland are both an hour's drive north of San Jose. Or take the local Bay Area Rapid Transit train (BART) to either city.