Location: San Jose
Top Things to do in San Jose
What to do and see in San Jose, California (CA): The Best Things to do
Welcome to bustling San Jose, where Silicon Valley meets Spanish history and modern edifices sit alongside meticulously restored 19th-century buildings. Such is the contrast of this city rich in tradition and, thanks to the tech industry, just plain rich. Five star-hotels and fine restaurants line the streets of the restored downtown area, and the cultural scene is thriving with museums, theater and art to rival any world-class hub. Don't miss the Tech Museum of Innovation, an exploration of Silicon Valley and its impact on the area. History buffs will relish the old mansions and can delve into the city's past at the History Museum of San Jose. Save time for a round of golf or the locals' other favorite pastime, sipping coffee and people-watching at a crowded cafe.
Restaurants in San Jose
1. Los Gatos Creek Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 259 reviews
Paved trail great for running: cuts through parks, ponds, and downtown Los Gatos.
Reviewed By GlobalViajer0 - Sacramento, United States
Pleasant walk with much foot traffic, feels safe with sporadic shade. Loop around the reserve is about 1.5 miles. Bring water if you plan to stick around for a bit, parking nearby.
2. Children's Discovery Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 453 reviews
Since opening in 1990, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose has become one of largest and most respected museums of its kind in the nation. With interactive exhibits and programs encompassing science, humanities, performing arts, and health and physical fitness, the award-winning Museum offers new exhibits each year that respond to children's diverse educational needs. With the broad themes of community, connections and creativity, hands-on exhibits invite self-directed, open-ended explorations.
Reviewed By B4Travel2 - San Jose, United States
If you live in the area, this is a great place to bring young kids or toddlers! It would not be a place that you travel to see, but if staying within an hour's distance, and have an active toddler that you want to run off some steam, and give them a creative outlet, or any kids, probably best for 8 years or younger, this is a wonderful place to give them new things to explore. We met up with some family here (mainly adults & 1 two-year-old), and it was a nice way to catch up, while giving the toddler plenty of things to experiment with. There is a Mammoth exhibit, showing where they were in the San Jose area, that is interesting for all ages, a book nook, some crafty projects, a bubble room, where you can make very large bubbles, many little exhibits that show how gravity works, or various interactive displays, an ambulance & fire truck that kids can climb through, etc. There are 2 stories to the building, and many different rooms with various things to do, so you can easily spend several hours here. It is $15/person, so if a local, it is probably worth getting an annual pass, to be able to come back and get best value. Also a great place to go, if it's a rainy day, and your kids are restless.
3. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 914 reviews
Architecturally inspired by the Temple of Amon at Karnak, it houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in western North America, including objects from pre dynastic times through Egypt's early Islamic era.
Reviewed By 12jerald
Came into the museum with the intention of killing time. The museum offered many detailed explanations about the history of Egypt, along with various cool and interesting artifacts and depictions.
4. Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 307 reviews
Built in 1876, this church serves the oldest parish in San Jose.
Reviewed By 202colml
An amazing piece of art history and well worth a visit. Beautiful paintings and art inside this old cathedral and the original high altar and tabernacle is still there, just look behind the 'modern' bishops chair.
5. Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 484 reviews
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose has been a part of Bay Area families since it opened its’ gates in 1961. It’s a unique combination of family rides, amusements, a Puppet Theater, play areas and an accredited Zoo with over 140 animals, from endangered lemurs to miniature horses. Year round classes are offered for ages 12 months to adults as well as special events for all seasons. Happy Hollow Park & Zoo offers yearly Memberships for families and individuals.
Reviewed By stephaniewoolsey - San Jose, United States
This is more than a zoo! Carousel, play areas for different ages, and plenty of room for kids to move around in addition to the many animals at the park. The Danny the dragon train ride is a local favorite, and recently new parking has been added. Family friendly adventures!
6. SAP Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 712 reviews
Reviewed By JRWac - Sebastopol, United States
Great venue with super friendly people. Enjoyed a sharks game and lots of fun, even though they lost. Will do it again.
7. Municipal Rose Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 599 reviews
Reviewed By Geminican - San Jose, United States
The bay area has many attractions so it took me a long while before discovering this hidden gem in San Jose. Beautiful garden with wide variety of roses, a great collection. And it's free!
8. Santana Row
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 579 reviews
Santana Row is Silicon Valley's premier outdoor destination for shopping, dining, living and working. Surrounded by landscaped gardens, parks and plazas, Santana Row features over 50 shops, 30 restaurants, the boutique Hotel Valencia and a six-screen movie theatre. Santana Row hosts a variety of events ranging from fashion shows to live music, outdoor yoga classes to the annual tree lighting ceremony. In addition to the dynamic shopping & dining options, Santana Row offers 615 luxury rental homes, 219 privately owned condos and 690,000+ square feet of Class A office space.
Reviewed By normanr302 - San Jose, United States
Stroll down Santana Row. Lots of great restaurants to chose from including outdoor seating; great shopping; lots of convenient parking; oftentimes outdoor music; movie theater at one end.
9. The Tech Interactive
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 964 reviews
*The Tech Interactive is closed through Tuesday, March 31. For more information about our response to COVID-19 please visit thetech.org/covid-19. The Tech Interactive is a family-friendly hands-on science and technology center located in the heart of downtown San Jose, California. It has become a landmark for visitors seeking a glimpse of the most inventive place on Earth — Silicon Valley. The Tech is dedicated to inspiring the innovator in everyone. With 132,000 square feet of fun, hands-on experiences and one of-a-kind floor programs, The Tech unleashes your creative sparks. Enjoy the largest IMAX dome screen in the West —and the first in the world with a 4K laser projector. You'll see amazing documentaries come to life on an eight-story-high screen and digital surround-sound system.
Reviewed By udaykumarh2015 - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
San Jose Tech Interactive – A Place of Learning I visited the admired Tech Museum on 15 September (Sunday). The facility of advance booking is available. After reaching, we took the ticket for the show, “Volcano” in IMAX. The show was thrilling. The Tech is a science and technology center in San Jose, California, in Silicon Valley. It is located adjacent to a famous Plaza in Downtown San Jose. The Tech mentions that it is a world leader in the creation of immersive STEAM education resources to develop the next generation of problem-solvers locally, nationally and globally. The Tech further believes that everyone is born as an innovator who can change the world for the better. The Tech Museum, in 2015, was awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honour a United States museum, science center or cultural institution can achieve. As on date, The Tech Interactive welcomes half a million visitors each year. Through programs such as The Tech Challenge, its annual team design competition for youth, and internationally renowned programs such as “The Tech for Global Good”, which honours people doing work to benefit humankind. Furthermore, The Tech celebrates the present and encourages the development of innovative technology for a more promising future. In my iPhone, I took some photos which I am posting with brief description.
10. Winchester Mystery House
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 3,038 reviews
The Winchester Mystery House is the beautiful but bizarre mansion of Sarah Winchester, heiress of the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune. Construction began in 1884, and didn't stop for 38 years. Haunted by the spirits of Winchester rifle victims, Mrs. Winchester built the Victorian mansion with many odd and mysterious features. The Winchester Mystery House is an architectural wonder and historic landmark in San Jose, CA. Self-guided garden tours are available.
Reviewed By annettek341 - Boise, United States
After visiting several years ago and taking a hard hat tour, we decided it was time for another visit. We were right! The entry area has been redone and very open a bright, the Winchester Rifle Museum is still open and interesting to walk through as we wait for our paid house tour. The court yard is very welcoming. A couple of new additions: a shooting gallery, which we didn’t think Sarah Winchester would be too happy about and the green screen for photos taken while holding rifles. This house is so unique and there is so much to appreciate that the photos and shooting gallery cheapen a great experience. No more photos in the home but a fantastic tour given by Adam! We even were able to see rooms we have not yet visited! It was a great 1 hr 10 min tour. The tiffany windows are still beautiful the stories about Sarah still interesting and the early ideas and inventions of Sarah Winchester still exciting! Because we did not get enough in the first hour we opted for the Extended house tour for $10 more for each ticket. This was great, all new areas to us to investigate. Our guide Bennett was also very knowledgeable and gave a great tour! Would love to spend the night someday. Go visit this beautiful Victorian!
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