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City in California, United States
Photo: Michael from San Jose, California, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Often called "the capital of Silicon Valley", San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area, 3rd largest in California, and the 12th largest city in the United States, with a population of over 997,000 residents as of 2024. It was named the 6th safest big city in the U.S. in 2015. This clean, sprawling metropolis has sports, beautiful vistas, and ethnic enclaves and bleeds into the greater Bay Area for travelers who want to take their time in Northern California.
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Museum of Science and Technology
A great interactive experience for all ages and backgrounds. The Tech Museum allows visitors to see how technology affects their daily lives through 130,000 square feet of hands-on activities, exploratory labs and design challenge experiences. Permanent exhibits focus on the Internet, the human body, and innovation. You'll also find an IMAX Theater, a cafe, and a retail store featuring merchandise unique to the Silicon Valley.
Recognized for its contemporary collection of modern art, which highlights movements on the West Coast as well as national and international pieces. The museum started as a small civic art gallery in 1969 and has grown in step with its city.
Designed by architects Richard Meier & Partners, the City Hall, opened in 2005, consists of a free standing glass rotunda at the center, a council chambers wing to the south, and a separate tower to the east. Tours are available.
A partnership between the City of San Jose and San Jose State University, the King Library opened in 2003 as the largest new library west of the Mississippi, with and 1.5 million items. No ID is needed to use materials within the library, but if you want to check them out, or use public-access computers or WiFi, you must apply for a free library card (available to residents and non-residents alike, but you need a photo ID). Special non-circulating collections on the 5th floor (with limited hours, M–Sa) include, among others: Beethoven Center, housing historical keyboard instruments and the largest collection of Beethoven materials outside Europe; Center for Steinbeck Studies, with more than 40,000 items—manuscripts, letters, films, photos, etc.— of writer John Steinbeck.
The first museum in the US to focus on quilts and textiles, the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles has an outstanding collection on a rotating display. Exhibitions change quarterly at this exciting and modern museum.
A four-block pedestrian-only space, lined with shops, hotels, casual and fast-food restaurants, and the Camera 12 Cinemas. At the Market Street end, an oversized bronze table features memories and writings of Mexican immigrant, activist, and SJSU professor Ernesto Galarza.
Robert Graham's 1994 sculpture of the Mesoamerican feathered-serpent deity was criticized for its $500,000 price tag, its composite-cement construction, its unimpressive 8-foot height, its religious significance, and its resemblance to coiled excrement.
The legend is that Sarah Winchester, Winchester Rifle heiress, was afraid of being cursed by the ghosts of those who had been killed by Winchester guns. She thought that as long as construction continued, the ghosts would be kept at bay. Construction did continue (for 38 years!), resulting in a fantastic house full of mazes, stairs that go nowhere and other odd architecture. Two tours are available: the Mansion Tour, which takes you through most of the mansion and discusses the different theories about Sarah Winchester (fanatical spiritualist, self-taught architect, or both?), and the Explore More Tour, which goes to some of the unfinished rooms and parts of the house that were closed to the public for decades. Each tour takes about an hour, and a single ticket for either one is $39 for adults (13–64), $20 for children 6–12, and $32 for seniors, military, firefighters, and EMTs. A combined ticket is available at a discount for $54. There's a $3 fee for booking online, but it's a good idea to book in advance in case the tours fill up.
A "European-style" village of shops, restaurants, and high-priced condos, with hotels and great nightlife. There's a year-round farmer's market on Sundays, and during the summer bands play free outdoor music every weekend. Santana row has become a hang-out spot for San Jose's residents. Has numerous restaurants, bakeries, cafes and central garden. Stores include Anthropologie, J. Crew, and surf shops. Its development has had a huge impact on the San Jose landscape and economy.
This museum of Ancient Egypt features exhibits funded by the Rosicrucian Order, who have secured artifacts from archaeologists working in the area since the 1920s. Take a tour through a detailed replica of an Egyptian tomb and browse their collection of mummies and artifacts. The museum also houses a sizable library of occult books, that is open to the public.
The neighborhood surrounding Fifth and Jackson streets (a mile from Downtown) has some good restaurants, retail shops, and cultural facilities. Festivals are held several times a year, and there is a seasonal farmer's market on Sundays.
This charming shopping district was once the center of a town separate from San Jose. Has a variety of small shops and restaurants, as well as a farmer's market and a handful of community festivals and events throughout the year.
San Jose's 5½–acre Municipal Rose Garden, once a prune orchard, draws thousands of visitors each year. The Garden is exclusively devoted to shrubs of the rose family and features over 4,000 rose shrubs with 189 varieties represented. Hybrid–teas comprise 75 percent of the plantings.
This garden was planted by volunteers in 1995. It has a collection of almost 4,000 plants of more than 3,000 rose varieties.
Amazing park nestled in the Eastern foothills of Silicon Valley. Great for picnics, hiking, biking, and exploring. Great scenic trails, and 1800s-era natural spring baths.
Lick Observatory can be found on the highest point of Mount Hamilton. It can be seen on a clear day in San Jose. It has a paved road climbing up to it which was laid out as a horse track, which it is a steady incline with steep slopes to the side. There are three telescopes on the mountain, including a newer one within walking distance of the observatory. There are tours of one of the telescopes and a gift shop. Sometimes gets snow in winter and on a cloudy day it is above the clouds.
Six-acre open, park-style garden designed to resemble the famous Korakuen in Okayama, Japan.
Documents the history of Japanese Americans in the San Jose area. Highlights are a collection of farm equipment used on Japanese-American-owned farms and a recreation of a barracks from the internment during World War II.
Located at the edge of the Little Portugal neighborhood and built in 1916–19 with materials from the Portuguese pavilion of the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition, this parish church of the Roman Catholic Latin Rite, with its Neo-Manueline architecture, is one of the most photographed and painted buildings in San Jose.
The SAP Center, formerly known as HP Pavilion (aka "The Shark Tank"), hosts this National Hockey League team, which has enjoyed success since their inception in 1991. Watch one of the more famous traditions as the team enters the rink out of a 17-foot high shark head.
The Bay Area's Major League Soccer team. The "Quakes" opened their new stadium, now known as PayPal Park, for the 2015 season.
Started play in the National Women's Soccer League in 2024, sharing PayPal Park with the Quakes.
San Jose's single-A minor-league baseball team (affiliated with the San Francisco Giants) plays in the California League from April to September. Games are held at historic San Jose Municipal Stadium. The BBQ area next to left field is a hit with fans before the game.
The Spartans represent San Jose State University in NCAA Division I sports. Most of the school's six men's and 13 women's teams compete in the Mountain West Conference.
27-hole course ranked among the top ten in Northern California.
Offer fun jumps, coaching, tandems and AFF at San Martin Airport.
With roller coasters, thrill rides, children's attractions, the South Bay Shores water park, and Vegas-style live shows. Parking costs $30.
A favorite local spot to cool off in the summer, this water park features slides, rides and a 350,000 gallon wave pool.
Classic miniature golf course, plus water slides (in the summer) and a great arcade.
A small, child-friendly amusement park with some animal exhibits. The carousel, train, miniature roller coaster and other rides are all included in the admission price, but bring a few quarters if you want to feed the goats in the petting zoo. Try VTA buses #73 and #25 to save $10 per vehicle on parking.
A downtown venue showcasing well-known comedy acts, they have a full restaurant and bar. The club is also great for group outings for 10-400 people.
Named "Best Local Theatre" by the Metro's "Best of the Silicon Valley", ComedySportz is an interactive improv comedy show where two teams of "act-letes" compete in various comedic games, with the audience as the judge.
San Jose's resident opera company performs on a restored 1920s vaudeville stage and features some of the most accomplished young voices in the country.
This children's theater puts on productions the whole family can enjoy, from 'Peter Pan' to The Who's 'Tommy'.
Known for putting on high-quality Chicano/Latino plays in San Jose since the late 1980s, Teatro Visión celebrates community, culture, and the vision of a better world.
A film festival emphasizing digital production, with screenings and guest speakers at venues throughout San Jose. Named one of the Top 10 Film Festivals in the world by the Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide.
San Jose Jazz Summerfest
A weekend of jazz as well as blues, salsa, and big bands, playing on a dozen mostly outdoor stages.
This day-long concert has been around since 1980. Around 8,000 blues enthusiasts show up yearly for an impressive lineup of blues musicians. It all happens in the open air on the university campus downtown.
Outdoor movie screenings all summer long, held in a different neighborhood each week. Bring some lawn chairs and a picnic, or check out the nearby cafes and eateries. Films range from true Hollywood classics to newer hits. Once a month, Post Street Summertime Blues joins Starlight Cinemas with a live blues performances before the show.
It doesn't get more California than an outdoor ice skating rink surrounded by a circle of palm trees. The admission price includes rental skates and ice time.
Cinco de Mayo
The Sunday right before or after May 5th is the biggest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the Bay Area. A parade takes place downtown early in the morning, followed by music and cultural events held in Guadalupe Park and the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in the afternoon.
Held in spring each year around late April/early May. Features Japanese-American arts, crafts and food.
Held in spring each year. Combines sake tasting with a walk through historic Japantown.
Features Christmas scene dioramas and decorated trees sponsored by local businesses and civic organizations; carnival rides; and fair food.
Annual cultural festival hosted by the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin that honors ancestors while celebrating community and Japanese culture. It is the largest Obon Festival in the continental US and is held the second weekend of July. Performances by San Jose Taiko and other taiko groups, children's games, crafts, and food.
One of the world's largest conventions for fans of furry (anthropomorphic animals or creatures) art, writing, comics, and costuming. If you like walking around in a dog costume, this 5-day event is for you.
A mid-sized convention devoted to fans of filk, a subgenre of folk music inspired by science fiction and fantasy themes.
A long-running regional science fiction convention.
The largest anime convention in Northern California.
An all-you-can-play exhibition of classic pinball machines and arcade games. All games are free for attendees, so you can leave your quarters at home!
Amateur-radio convention of the Pacific Division of the American Radio Relay League.
A brick BBQ and steakhouse popular with local guys on their way to or from a Sharks game. Located close to the Shark Tank as well as the Guadalupe River, the restaurant has survived floods of both hockey fans and water.
This tiny shop in West San Jose specializes in cheese steaks and hoagies. 35 sandwiches on the menu and sizes from 7 to 24 inches.
This establishment specializes in New York pizzas/slices, Calzones and Strombolis.
The California sandwich chain has half a dozen San Jose locations. Lots of tasty vegetarian and vegan options.
and 2 other San Jose locations.
For a weekend (or weekday) brunch, Bill's can get pretty packed, and for good reason. They offer an overwhelming selection of breakfast crowdpleasers like omelettes, Belgian waffles and a dozen different styles of eggs Benedict. For lunch, they serve homemade soups, meal-size salads, burgers, sandwiches and wraps. There's also a full bar, low-carb menu options and outdoor patio seating.
Meat, seafood, vegetarian. The salmon pasta with capers in a white sauce and the sun-dried tomato and garlic soup are delicious. They also have a Campbell location, called Capers. $100 gift cards are sold for $70 (rarely $50) at local Costco stores.
Expensive steakhouse chain with huge portions; expect to spend $100 for a steak and a single side dish, plus $20 for each glass of house wine and another $20 for dessert. The menu is dominated by beef and shellfish, with one chicken option and one pork option. Vegetarians will need to invent a meal out of side dishes. Not recommended for children or vegans. Business suits or smart casual clothing. Reservations recommended.
A neighborhood eatery featuring contemporary and traditional American dishes. Locals congregate here for patio dining and weekly live music during summer months.
A classic selection of seafood, as well as pasta and steaks from the grill and a full bar. Dress is business casual during the day, and a little dressier at night. Is on the 6th floor and has a fantastic view of downtown and Silicon Valley. Reservations recommended.
A San Jose classic, in business for over 50 years. Hearty American and Italian food and 1970s diner decor. Always, always busy and one of the few places open late in the downtown core. Be prepared to wait for a table and leave with a full belly.
At the Sainte Claire Hotel, near Original Joe's. Regional dishes of chicken, veal, fish, steak, pasta, salad, prepared by chefs imported from different parts of Italy: Bakery with specialty coffees, desserts, and Italian artisan breads.
This place serves Mexican food as if it passed through a fun-house mirror. One of the first places to use gourmet burrito wraps. Inside the wraps you'll find fish and fillings from anywhere on the Pacific Rim: salmon, yellow-fin tuna, or plantains. Satisfying, fresh and creative.
This bright taqueria in Japantown is a traditional, leisurely, sit-down Mexican restaurant. Choose from seafood plates, chimichangas, al pastor and more. Their tortillas are homemade, and there's a nice selection of domestic and Mexican beers.
La Victoria stays open late to cater to the local late-night revelers. You can buy a burrito anywhere, but this is the only place to get their famous Orange Sauce, a very spicy creamy concoction featured on a Metro Silicon Valley cover.
Mexican-style seafood with a few meat dishes. Casual: you order at the cash register and then sit inside or outside. The Caldo de Mares (Seven Seas Bouillabaisse) is delicious, though you may need a friend to help you eat it. It is served with the kind of tortillas that you can buy at a supermarket. The seafood tacos and burritos are also quite good.
Specializes in regional cuisine from Oaxaca.
San Jose's home-grown chain of Vietnamese Sandwich shops started with a catering truck and now has dozens of locations around the country. Lee's offers Vietnamese baguette sandwiches, European-style sandwiches, smoothies and bakery items at low prices with fast service.
This very informal restaurant (a waitress will take your order and bring your food but not your check: you pay at the counter) has few non-Asian customers and puts out a varied menu of very tasty food. You'll notice the good smell as you enter. Many photographs of their food are on their site.
Cosy, quaint restaurant on Japantown's main strip. Authentic Japanese cuisine. Very good combo meals and whiteboard specials.
Friendly service and a large selection of fresh sushi. Check out their rotating sushi "boats" which can be a lot of fun and remove some of the mystery of ordering sushi for the uninitiated. The menu ranges from traditional to very Californian.
A homestyle Japanese restaurant. The udon and teishoku lunches are very popular, so try to schedule your lunch a little early or late to beat the crowd.
Good inexpensive traditional Japanese food; favorite among locals and visitors. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
The oldest sushi restaurant and a local favorite. Fantastic food at very reasonable prices.
Fresh, handmade Japanese treats, called manju. Long history of cultural significance in San Jose's Japantown and recognized for serving the Emperor of Japan. Go earlier in the day for the best selection.
Authentic Japanese food and sushi with a "boat" style conveyor so you can try different sushi types. Closed on Tuesdays.
A busy local favorite.
Upscale Indian, long on flavor if occasionally a little short on mouth-burning spice. Extensive lunch buffet, excellent wine list, and a quiet, romantic atmosphere.
In spite of the building's nondescript exterior, it's some of the most loved Thai food in the area. If you tell them to make it spicy (or even medium spicy), be prepared to eat some VERY spicy food. The newer New Krung Thai Restaurant is managed by the same family, has the same menu, and is less than a mile away at 580 N Winchester Blvd.
An offshoot of Henry Chung's original Hunan Restaurant on Kearny Street in San Francisco (the one with eight tables and a counter space which was once hailed by New Yorker magazine as "The Best Chinese Restaurant in the World"). A quintessential hole-in-the-wall, but the service could not be nicer, as is the hot, garlicky cuisine, if you're so inclined. Beer and wine are available.
Often dubbed "The Asian McDonald's", King Eggroll offers a variety of fast-food style Asian dishes, dim sum, sandwiches and combination plates. As the name would imply, though, most come here for their famous egg rolls!.
A neighborhood favorite for many years, the food is not 100% traditional but still flavorful.
Even local carnivores find something to love at this hipster vegan café and craft beer bar. Good Karma hosts occasional DJ nights, has multiple beers on tap, curates its own custom music playlists, and offers free internet access. Staple dishes on the menu include rice or quinoa plates with curries and other globally-inspired vegan mains, but the café also often has rotating specials. For non-beer drinkers, a selection of kombucha and other craft soft drinks is available.
A friendly, funky place with bright decor and cheerful servers. Menu selections take inspiration from around the globe, including western, Chinese, and Indian styles.
A tiny lunch counter specializing in Vietnamese vegetarian dishes, including bánh mì, noodle soups, and rice plates. Cash only, unless a $15 minimum is met.
A family-run local favorite, there is always a line at the drive-in. They offer authentic Middle Eastern cuisine including falafel, hummus and gyros as well as hamburgers, fries and homemade milkshakes.
An Ethiopian restaurant that knows how to show off the complex flavors of the cuisine. Meals are served Ethiopian style, on injera bread. A full Ethiopian coffee ceremony is available, but they ask that you request it an hour in advance. Many options for vegetarians, as well as a full bar.
An eco-friendly contemporary restaurant, with a variety of Ethiopian dishes.
Willow Glen's neighborhood bar and cocktail lounge; if you're into a late night pops and enthusiastic renditions of 'YMCA', this karaoke hotspot may be for you.
Since one Happy Hour just isn't enough, the Grill offers all kinds of specials on wings, burgers and drinks throughout the week. It's a good place to watch sports, especially Sundays during football season. Weekly karaoke and DJs on weekend nights.
San Jose's downtown gay video bar, nightclub and lounge is friendly to people of all persuasions.
Ultra-modern decor, event facilities, and a fitness center are available in downtown San Jose, near the west end of the Convention Center.
A restored historic hotel set in the midst of all the dining and entertainment of the downtown area near San Pedro Square.
One of the more intimate Four Points in a classic 1911 building, with a lounge, outdoor patio, bocce ball courts, business and fitness centers. Near the east end of the Convention Center.
Attached to the west end of the Convention Center, this non-smoking hotel is very convenient for convention attendees. It's on the Light Rail route. Pool and jacuzzi, high-speed internet and fitness room. Smaller pets allowed.
Stately hotel in the heart of downtown San Jose, near the east end of the Convention Center. Member of the Historic Hotels of America.
Attached to the east end of the Convention Center. The Marriott is a AAA Four-Diamond hotel in the heart of Downtown San Jose that offers facilities and technology for meetings and presentations, high-speed internet, a pool, a fitness center and a smoke-free environment.
Outdoor pool, jacuzzi, pergola-type of thing.
A popular location for meetings and conventions. Heated outdoor pool and spa, 24-hour fitness center, and plenty of dining options.
An all-suite hotel with fully-equipped kitchens. Complimentary hot breakfast daily, dinner with beer and wine M-Th, and high-speed Internet.
Free high-speed and wireless internet, newspapers, breakfast, fax and copy services.
Kids stay free, pets are allowed. Minutes away from the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. Outdoor pool, Wi-Fi is available for a small fee.
24-hour service.
Smoke-free hotel has studios and spacious extended-stay suites. Outdoor pool, fitness center, free high-speed internet and breakfast.
Free high-speed internet, a large desk workspace and ergonomic office chairs. Fitness center, free continental breakfast, microwaves and refrigerators in every room. Very close to the Paramount's Great America amusement park.
Very close to the Winchester Mystery House and the shopping and entertainment of Santana Row. Smoke-free hotel with outdoor pool, jacuzzi and barbecue area for its guests. Free wired and Wi-Fi internet access.
Reasonable-sized well-furnished rooms. Area nothing special, just other hotels and local but convenient for airport access to the freeways. Basic breakfast buffet. Ample parking.
Within five miles of the Santa Clara Convention Center, SAP Center and Levi's Stadium. Offers pet-friendly, contemporary suites and rooms with free breakfast, free internet access, fitness center, outdoor pool, and business services. Free airport shuttle.
All rooms include a large workspace and sofa-sleeper in addition to king or queen beds. Pet-friendly and offers free internet access, free parking, and free shuttle within a 3-mile radius of hotel. Restaurant, fitness center, and pool on-site. Within 5 miles of convention centers, Levi's Stadium, and SAP Center.
Only hotel on Santana Row. Features a meeting space, full service restaurant, and rooftop bar.
One of the largest shopping malls in Northern California, Westfield Valley Fair is home to 214 stores and 58 restaurants. It is anchored by Macy's (two stores), Bloomingdale's, and Nordstrom. Since taking control of the mall in 1998, Westfield has transformed Valley Fair from an ordinary middle-class mall into Northern California's leading upscale shopping destination (a role formerly played by San Francisco's Union Square). Valley Fair is home to the only NorCal branches of many famous brands, including Balenciaga, Din Tai Fung, and Eataly.
Across the street from Valley Fair, Santana Row is a faux "European-style" village of high-end and specialty shops, restaurants, condos, and offices. There is also a giant chess board (the chess plaza) where you can battle using pawns that are half your size.
All the Westfield mall basics for those that are addicted to malls. Since its renovation, seems to largely be a clone of Valley Fair
A huge outdoor flea market including California's largest farmer's market. Everything from furniture and stereos to haircut salons and massages can be found here, if you look hard enough. Spanish is the lingua franca, but you can get by using English.
Stashed inside a converted home, this is San Jose's one-stop shop for your vintage clothing and costume desires. Explore racks and racks of retro styles from the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
By plane
San Jose is home to one of the Bay Area's three international airports.
By train
By bus
), though some buses also go further south to San Ysidro and Tijuana.
By car
San Jose is connected to San Francisco by two major freeways, US-101 and Interstate 280. From Los Angeles, take Interstate 5 North to CA-152 West to US-101 North.
By car
Outside downtown, things are spread out in San Jose, so a car is the most convenient mode of transportation.
Public transit
The Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority (VTA), does offer serviceable transit around town.
By bike
Many roads in San Jose have designated bike lanes and/or wide shoulders. A map of the city's bikeways is available on VTA's website.
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San Jose · International · SJC
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