25 Issues to do in San Jose, California in 2022

Few locations are as stunning as California. We love highway tripping by means of California as a result of we at all times discover someplace new to discover. The state has a few of the greatest seashores, cities, and hikes in the whole United States. Situated in Northern California only one hour south of San Francisco, San Jose is likely one of the greatest cities on the west coast.

San Jose is a vacationer scorching spot. There are various issues to do in San Jose, from heritage sights to pure surroundings and mountain climbing trails. It is usually recognized for its cutting-edge tech motion and academic alternatives. It’s dwelling to San Jose State College, Santa Clara College, and even Silicon Valley, the house of the tech business. 

Prime issues to do in San Jose, California

Visiting San Jose is certainly a kind of locations to go to if you’re highway tripping by means of this a part of america. The town is fast-paced and at all times maintaining with the most recent tendencies and developments. Nevertheless, it additionally has a powerful sense of historical past and heritage. Prepare as a result of these are the twenty-five greatest issues to do in San Jose, California.

You’ll discover enjoyable actions throughout this cool metropolis. No matter you select, we’ve little question that you’ll have a good time. However make certain to take a look at our recommendations of issues to do in San Jose to get you began.

An effective way to get round California is by automobile. This makes doing day journeys to locations like Monterey, Silicon Valley, and wineries a lot simpler to discover. Verify automobile rental costs for San Jose right here.

1. Store on Santana Row

San Jose’s Silicon Valley is fairly darn well-known. It’s recognized for the biggest assortment of tech corporations and is at all times concerned within the newest and biggest initiatives. However, if you wish to decide up a brand new gadget as a memento, buying on Santana Row is likely one of the greatest issues to do in San Jose.

Santana Row is the place you may decide the fruits of Silicon Valley labor. It’s a business district, booming with life and flooded with eating places, outlets, and plazas. Purchasing lovers and tech lovers alike will get pleasure from strolling the streets.

There is sufficient to see (and purchase) on Santana Row to maintain you occupied for no less than half a day. Nevertheless, should you embody a visit to the Santana Row cinema, enable a full day to understand the district.

2. San Jose Improv

Fancy fun? San Jose Improv has been a dependable venue for a giggle because it opened in 2002. The venue hosts superstar comedians and newcomers, appearing as a ladder for up-and-coming west coast artists and a venue for in-demand performers.

The NYC-born chain opened within the 60s and branched out to San Jose on the flip of the century. Catching a comedy present is a enjoyable technique to spend a night. We advocate checking the schedule for occasions that coincide together with your go to to San Jose.

The San Jose Improv theater is lavishly adorned, with comfy seats and each seat in the home presents good views of the stage. Don’t fear an excessive amount of about last-minute tickets having insufficient seating – in spite of everything, sitting additional again simply means you might be much less more likely to get known as upon while you don’t wish to be.

3. Institute of Modern Artwork

If you’re an artwork lover then you’ll want to spend a while in Downtown San Jose at one of many many artwork galleries. The Institute of Modern Artwork is the proper spot for looking and admiring and is break up into three completely different gallery areas. Some items are everlasting, however most are non permanent, that means the San Jose Institute is at all times contemporary and thrilling.

The Institute has an enormous proportion of native and lesser-known artists. We’d advocate a go to to anybody who desires a thought-provoking and contemporary outlook on artwork, San Jose, and society. Some items are extra summary than others; the Institute has even offered video video games and LED lights exhibitions.

Simply to utterly seal the deal, the Institute of Modern Artwork can also be free to enter. Attention-grabbing, budget-friendly, and appropriate to get pleasure from in all climate, the Institute is certainly an attraction on your itinerary.

4. California Theatre

The California Theatre is one other venue on your night itineraries. The Nineteen Twenties-built image home is beautiful and hosts performs, live shows, and dwell occasions. It has that elegant and intimate really feel, with seats curved round a stage you’re feeling that you might nearly contact should you tried.

For a traditional theatre expertise, an evening at this venue ticks all of the containers. You possibly can test the upcoming schedule to see what occasions align together with your go to dates. The theatre has hosted the West Facet Story play, Die Fledermaus opera, and even lectures by physicists and different business specialists.

There are occasions most nights, so there’s a excessive probability that you will see that one thing of curiosity. For an additional deal with, you should purchase foods and drinks on the venue earlier than or after the present.

5. Almaden Quicksilver County Park

Typically you wish to escape to nature with out having to ‘escape’ too far. Almaden Quicksilver County Park in San Jose’s greatest reply to this conundrum.

The Mockingbird Hill Entrance to the nation park is only a twenty-minute drive south of San Jose Metropolis Heart. You may be transported from San Jose’s streets to a phenomenal, hilly panorama in lower than half an hour. Almaden Quicksilver County Park is nice for mountain climbing to scenic viewpoints and has a number of mining historical past. You possibly can incorporate visiting previous mining infrastructure into your walks. The park is greatest for individuals who need hills and historical past.

Almaden Quicksilver County Park has practically forty miles of mountain climbing trails and thirty miles of bridleways. You possibly can discover the nation park on foot or manage a path trip with native stables. Both manner, the park is well a full-day exercise. You need to enable no less than a morning to understand the flora and enjoyable, pure setting.

6. Lexington Reservoir County Park

Talking of areas of pure magnificence, Lexington Reservoir County Park is one other wonderful place to go to simply outdoors the San Jose middle.

The 950-acre park will get its namesake from the huge synthetic lake in its middle. Whereas swimming is prohibited, you may get pleasure from a stroll across the reservoir – stopping at picnic areas and fishing spots. The reservoir itself is 338 acres and totally stocked with trout and black bass, amongst different fish.

This county park is a good place to spend a day by the water. Fishing lovers and households will notably recognize the lake entry. It is usually properly mixed with a go to to Testarossa Vineyard, positioned simply ten minutes up the highway.

7. Tech Interactive

You possibly can’t go to the house of Silicon Valley with out visiting the Tech Interactive Museum. Tech is an integral a part of San Jose’s historical past and future, so the place higher to study extra about this contemporary world we dwell in.

Tech Interactive is about within the midst of all of the Downtown San Jose motion. The museum has the whole lot from experimental labs to design problem experiences – deliberate to make you suppose and uncover for your self, quite than feeding secondhand info by means of uninteresting exhibitions.

Tech Interactive is family-friendly however not at all excludes adults with out youngsters. Company of all ages will benefit from the museum, so mark it down as a powerful possibility when visiting San Jose.

8. Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph

The Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph is undoubtedly one of many prettiest buildings in San Jose. The Catholic cathedral is filled with all that attribute extravagance, lined from ground to ceiling in beautiful architectural options and spiritual significance.

The Odell Organ is especially spectacular and was inbuilt 1886 – not that you simply’d guess that from its excellently maintained situation. The ceiling is gold-plated and options elaborate domes and ornament. Between the stained glass home windows, spiritual statues, and calming ambiance, the cathedral is sufficient to impress you no matter your spiritual beliefs.

A tour is the easiest way to expertise the great thing about the Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph. Excursions run on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 1 pm and three pm.

9. Guadalupe River Park

Guadalupe River Park is barely completely different from the parks we’ve lined. Guadalupe is an inner-city park positioned smack bang in the course of Downtown San Jose. Behind the treetops, you may nonetheless see town’s skyscrapers, and the park has a pure solace in a metropolis really feel, quite than feeling utterly minimize off from civilization.

Guadalupe has 2.6 miles of mountain climbing and biking trails, which is ideal for these wanting a stretch of their legs. It is not uncommon to see morning joggers or professionals taking lunch breaks within the park. However, as a vacationer, it’s good to affix them.

This park is a good place to expertise the city neighborhood and recognize internal metropolis greenspace. Because of its downtown location, it’s simply added to even essentially the most packed itineraries.

10. Blissful Hole Park and Zoo

Blissful Hole Park and Zoo wears many belts. The park is an amusement park, petting zoo, and unique zoo multi functional.

Blissful Hole Park is positioned in Kelley Park, a 250-acre inexperienced house close to town middle. Whereas the zoo is comparatively small, it homes over 150 animals – a lot of whom are rescued or endangered members of a conservation breeding program.

Guests can become involved with dealing with animals, come face-to-face with unique animals, or let unfastened on the amusement park rides. You can even attend particular workshops, with instructional and sensible alternatives to deepen your information of the animal kingdom.

11. Plaza de Cesar Chavez

Did we point out how wonderful Downtown San Jose is? Simply to reiterate, Downtown San Jose is likely one of the greatest locations to discover within the metropolis. And, if you would like a particular spot to understand this space of San Jose, Plaza de Cesar Chavez is our high advice.

Plaza de Cesar Chavez is likely one of the hottest out of doors areas within the metropolis. Within the middle is a statue of the Mayan god Quetzalcoatl and an space of water jets that spurt up from floor stage in a fairly show.

Plaza de Cesar Chavez is a must-visit should you go to San Jose in summer season or close to Christmas. In summer season, the water fountains and greenspace make the park a stunning, cool house to chill out open air. Close to Christmas, the entire space is decked out with festive pop-up buildings and actions. Be careful for the ice skating rink, a spotlight attraction of the yr.

12. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is unimaginable; there isn’t any denying that. The museum is devoted to historical Egypt, displaying the biggest assortment on historical Egyptian artifacts in Western North America. It consists of exhibitions on burial processes and different notable traditions.

Among the most precious artifacts are mummies, together with a mummy from Usermontu’s coffin. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum isn’t one for the squeamish or demise averse, because it dives straight into all of the gory, sensible particulars about burials.

The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is an enchanting exercise should you like historical historical past. Nevertheless, it is an interesting sufficient museum to maintain the typical customer as properly. Even Rosicrucian Park, the place the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is about, is adorned in Egyptian fashion, with Egyptian buildings and palm bushes to set the scene.

13. San Jose Museum of Artwork

Are up to date art work shows not your factor? Or do you simply want a bigger venue than that of San Jose’s Institute? The San Jose Museum of Artwork is a perfect place to indulge additional in your love of artwork.

The San Jose Museum of Artwork has the whole lot, from up to date to trendy artwork. It has over 2,500 items in its everlasting assortment and extra non permanent exhibitions which are continuously shifting and altering. It’s well-worth permitting no less than just a few hours to see all of it, plus longer if you wish to take it in as an fanatic or skilled.

The San Jose Museum of Artwork is a good wet day exercise or only a place to broaden your inventive consciousness and information. It has one of many largest collections of artwork within the metropolis, and it’s one in all our high suggestions on issues to do in San Jose.

14. Japanese Friendship Backyard

The Japanese Friendship Backyard is a small, walled, six-acre backyard in Kelley Park. In the event you haven’t visited a standard Japanese backyard earlier than, you actually ought to. The Japanese Friendship Backyard in Kelley Park is an ideal instance, with streams, bridges, and ponds interconnected in a meticulous backyard.

The backyard is designed to represent peace and friendship, and it has a particular ambiance of serenity. The little bridges are good to stroll in firm or alone, deep in thought. The Japanese Friendship Backyard is a good possibility if you would like a soothing factor to do in San Jose.

San Jose’s Japanese Friendship Backyard is so stunning that it’s typically used for out of doors wedding ceremony ceremonies. Take a stroll by means of and recognize it your self – you solely want a spare hour.

15. A day journey to the Santa Cruz Mountains

A day within the mountains is difficult to withstand. The Santa Cruz Mountains break up Santa Clara Valley from San Francisco Bay and are solely an hour’s drive from San Jose Heart.

The mountain vary is coastal, and plenty of of its mountain climbing trails have ocean views overlooking San Francisco Bay. The Santa Cruz Mountains are additionally well-known for his or her redwood bushes – the tallest tree species on the planet. Whereas Santa Cruz doesn’t have any redwoods of record-breaking peak, they’re nonetheless imposing.

You can hike the tallest mountain, Loma Prieta. You can go mountain biking by means of steep forest trails. Or, you might chill out and spend a day wine tasting in one of many area’s many wineries – simply ensure you’ve acquired a protected trip again to town.

This South Bay Wineries Tour takes you on a VIP journey to 4 wineries from San Francisco together with within the foothills of the San Cruz Mountains together with Cupertino and Saratoga. Find out about wine making course of and pattern one of the best wines within the San Francisco Bay space. It features a picnic lunch. Particulars right here.

16. Japanese American Museum

The Japanese Friendship Gardens are fairly. However the Japanese American Museum is a superb place to study extra about Japanese American tradition and historical past.

The museum follows the story of Japanese immigration – from the preferred early roles taken in American society to the impression of World Conflict Two on the neighborhood. The Japanese American Museum tackles heavy matters like discrimination whereas questioning the essence of the American identification.

Add this museum to your itinerary for a thought-provoking and insightful factor to do in San Jose.

17. Alum Rock Park

Alum Rock Park is an oldie however goldie. The general public park is the oldest municipal park in California and a preferred afternoon journey from San Jose.

The park sits on the foothills of the Diablo Mountains and is roughly 720 acres in measurement. There are mountain climbing, biking, horseback using trails, and mineral springs to wash in. The park is lengthy established as a pure well being spa getaway and a terrific spot to go wild swimming.

Briefly, this park is improbable. You possibly can spot wildlife like red-tailed hawks and inexperienced herons. You will get energetic on foot or on a motorcycle. Or you may simply chill out and funky off in pure mineral water – which is at all times refreshing in Californian summers.

18. Yosemite Nationwide Park

A vacation in San Jose doesn’t imply limiting your self to spending the entire time within the San Jose space. The town is ideally positioned to discover California’s nationwide parks – so why not spend the day additional afield? You possibly can simply lease a automobile in San Jose or buy a guided tour like this on GetYourGuide.

Tunnel View, Olmsted Level, Washburn Level, and Vernal Falls are viewpoints you must prioritize on a flying go to to the nationwide park. In the event you spend various hours in Yosemite, you might additionally deal with one of many shorter trails like Prepare dinner Meadow’s Loop, Sentinel Dome, or Mirror Lake.

Yosemite Nationwide Park is likely one of the most well-known parks in america, by no means thoughts simply California. The park is a four-hour drive away, so that you’ll must set off early within the morning and will want to have a number of drivers to make driving the gap in someday possible. Alternatively, simply keep in Yosemite in a single day and add on the journey as a detour from San Jose.

You possibly can e book day excursions from San Jose to Yosemite Nationwide Park. This extremely rated tour

19. SAP Heart

The SAP Heart is a large enviornment within the middle of San Jose. The sector steadily hosts worldwide artists and is understood for its larger-than-life occasions. It has a capability of over 17,000 folks and, on a superb day, you may wager that it fills it. When visiting you must positively hold a watch out for San Jose Shark video games on the SAP Heart.

The San Jose Sharks are town’s ice hockey workforce, and the SAP Heart is their revered dwelling floor. The SAP middle even has the nickname ‘the shark tank’. You’ll be rewarded with an electrical ambiance and an excellent enviornment expertise should you can catch a house sport. The joy is infectious even should you haven’t watched ice hockey earlier than.

You possibly can test the schedule on the San Jose Shark’s and SAP Heart’s web sites. It’s greatest to e book tickets prematurely to keep away from disappointment, as loyal followers rapidly snatch up out there tickets.

20. Vasona Lake County Park

Vasona Lake Nation Park is the cherry on the highest of San Jose’s nation parks. The park is positioned within the residential space of Los Gatos. It spans a scenic 45 acres of trails, picnic areas, and inexperienced house.

Within the middle of the park, very similar to Lexington Park, there’s a massive reservoir that’s appropriate and stocked for fishing. The reservoir is recognizable by many distinctive options, together with Goose Island (a tiny pure island on the lake) and the Vasona Lake Dam. Strolling the lake perimeter is a phenomenal technique to recognize the park and the good open air.

Whereas Vasona Lake Nation Park is way smaller than Lexington Nation Park, it’s the only option if you would like a brief lakeside expertise. A go to to Vasona simply suits into half a day, and you might see one of the best elements in simply a few hours. If you’re quick on time, it’s a improbable choice to get pleasure from suburban nature.

21. Winchester Thriller Home

Visiting Winchester Thriller Home is likely one of the most weird and creepy issues in San Jose. And if that isn’t sufficient to tempt you in for a go to, take heed to this. E book this Winchester Thriller Tour

Winchester Mansion belonged to Sarah Winchester, a rich heiress of the Winchester Repeating Arms. Along with her fortune, Sarah commissioned the development of Winchester Mansion. Nevertheless, the method was suffering from supernatural incidents. It quickly turned obvious that Winchester rifle victims had been haunting the home.

The development course of took a grand whole of 38 years. Even for a 160-room mansion, you’d be proper to suppose that this timescale was on the excessively lengthy aspect. Your go to will make it extra comprehensible although, as Sarah commissioned many weird options to discourage the hauntings. The mansion is sort of a real-life maze – with color-coded rooms and misleading routes like staircases main nowhere.

We advocate reserving a tour as, whereas a bit costly, you’ll get essentially the most informative expertise this manner. Winchester Thriller Home is partly a San Jose heritage attraction and considerably a supernatural expertise. Both manner, although, it is likely one of the greatest issues to do within the metropolis.

22. San Jose Flea Market

San Jose Flea Market is as a lot a cultural spot as it’s a market. Sure, you’ll discover all of the stalls with a various vary of products to purchase. However you’ll additionally discover free dance classes, trivia occasions, and a beer backyard.

The town’s flea market has been in full swing because it opened its doorways within the Sixties. You’ll discover over 800 sellers attending each weekend. Nevertheless, there are additionally designated weekday market days, so don’t fret if you’re visiting San Jose through the week.

San Jose Flea Market has the whole lot – even dwell music. The market has a stage that native performers can select to carry out to buyers on, and, as a rule, this stage attracts a bit gathering. Visiting the market is a enjoyable factor to do in San Jose, whether or not you wish to store or simply benefit from the ambiance.

23. San Pedro Sq. Market

San Pedro Sq. market has a barely completely different vibe. This market makes a speciality of meals and appears like an off-the-cuff meals courtroom.

You can be sampling a banh mi from On A Roll, a craft beer from Market Beer Co., or tucking into hand-rolled sushi at Hyland Home of Sushi. San Pedro Sq. Market has one of the best multi-cultural delicacies in all of San Jose, which is saying one thing, as San Jose has lots of scrumptious meals.

We advocate visiting San Pedro Marketplace for lunch. A variety of the meals is sort of snack-like quite than sit-down meal dishes. Plus, you may at all times come again for dinner should you can’t determine between two choices.

24. Los Gatos Creek Path

Do you like a health problem? You need to take into account strolling Los Gatos Creek Path. The 11.2-mile path begins in Downtown San Jose and ends simply previous Lexington Reservoir. You’ll cross Los Gatos County Park and Vasona Lake County Park – combining visiting a number of parks in someday.

After mountain climbing in distant, pure areas, it’s good to combine issues up and take a suburban stroll. The trailhead can also be remarkably straightforward to entry, which is useful if you’re quick on time or not hiring a automobile in San Jose.

As you’ll have guessed, Los Gatos Creek Path follows Los Gatos Creek, a small river operating south of San Jose. The path itself is tarmacked and bike-friendly, so you may at all times cycle it if you wish to full the route faster. In any other case, enable as much as 5 hours to finish Los Gatos Creek Path on foot.

25. Kids’s Discovery Museum

If you’re touring with younger companions, the Kids’s Discovery Museum is a improbable, age-appropriate factor to do in San Jose.

The Kids’s Discovery Museum goals to offer simply that, with Montessori-style studying alternatives and specialised instructional areas. The museum is designed so mother and father can take the backseat and let their youngsters direct the household across the exhibitions. There are interactive theater performances, a water play zone, and a mammoth discovery exhibit.

How you can Get to San Jose

The best technique to get to San Jose is to fly. San Jose Airport is simply 3 miles from Downtown San Jose, so it’s fast and handy to switch from the airport to town middle.

After all, if you’re highway tripping the west coast or one other standard American highway journey route, chances are you’ll want to drive to San Jose. Driving to San Jose is an effective possibility if you wish to cease at locations en route, as town is surrounded by sights and pure surroundings. Guarantee that your lodging presents parking; in any other case, parking may be problematic within the metropolis.

Getting Round

San Jose is extraordinarily well-connected by the VTA Gentle Rail and Bus system. Whereas there isn’t a subway system, you don’t discover it and most positively aren’t inconvenienced with out one. The sunshine rail or bus is the most suitable choice for a low-cost technique to get round San Jose.

In the event you keep centrally, you’ll be capable to discover many standard sights on foot. In Downtown San Jose, there are vacationer sights virtually in your lodge’s doorstep.

Driving is sweet for day journeys and reaching sights on town outskirts. Keep away from driving within the metropolis middle although, as visitors is terrible and generally strolling may be faster than driving.

Finest Time to Go to

Briefly, spring or fall are one of the best occasions to go to San Jose. Summer season is heat however far too busy, and in winter, you miss out on having fun with the out of doors actions. Spring and fall are one of the best of each worlds – not too busy however nonetheless well-suited to being open air.

To slim it down additional, Could and October are the shoulder seasons and least expensive months to go to San Jose. General, Could is a bit hotter, so we advocate visiting then should you can.

San Jose is filled with unimaginable issues to do and see. The town is likely one of the greatest locations in Northern California. It is a superb various to the well-trodden streets of San Francisco.

You’ll be overwhelmed with leisure choices from the second you allow San Jose Airport – which, we expect, is essentially the most thrilling place to be in.