25 Issues to do in San Jose, California in 2022

Few locations are as lovely as California. The state has among the finest seashores, cities, and hikes in all the United States. Positioned in Northern California only one hour south of San Francisco, San Jose is without doubt one of the finest 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 climbing trails. Additionally it is recognized for its cutting-edge tech motion and academic alternatives. It’s residence to San Jose State College, Santa Clara College, and even Silicon Valley, the house of the tech trade. 

Prime issues to do in San Jose, California

Visiting San Jose is certainly a type of issues that it is best to think about in case you are highway tripping via this a part of the USA. The town is fast-paced and all the time maintaining with the most recent developments and developments. Nonetheless, it additionally has a powerful sense of historical past and heritage. Prepare as a result of these are the twenty-five finest issues to do in San Jose, California.

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

An effective way to get round California is by automotive. This makes doing day journeys to locations like Monterey, Silicon Valley, and wineries a lot simpler to discover. Verify automotive 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 all the time concerned within the newest and best initiatives. However, if you wish to decide up a brand new gadget as a memento, purchasing on Santana Row is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in San Jose.

Santana Row is the place you possibly can decide the fruits of Silicon Valley labor. It’s a business district, booming with life and flooded with eating places, outlets, and plazas. Procuring lovers and tech fans alike will take pleasure in strolling the streets.

There is sufficient to see (and purchase) on Santana Row to maintain you occupied for a minimum of half a day. Nonetheless, if you happen to 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 approach to spend a night. We suggest checking the schedule for occasions that coincide together with your go to to San Jose.

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

3. Institute of Up to date Artwork

If you’re an artwork lover then it would be best to spend a while in Downtown San Jose at one of many many artwork galleries. The Institute of Up to date 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 short-term, which means the San Jose Institute is all the time contemporary and thrilling.

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

Simply to utterly seal the deal, the Institute of Up to date Artwork can be free to enter. Fascinating, budget-friendly, and appropriate to take pleasure in 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 gorgeous and hosts performs, live shows, and stay occasions. It has that elegant and intimate really feel, with seats curved round a stage you are feeling that you can virtually contact if you happen to tried.

For a basic theatre expertise, an evening at this venue ticks all of the bins. You may 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 trade specialists.

There are occasions most nights, so there’s a excessive probability that you’ll find 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 finest 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 will be transported from San Jose’s streets to an exquisite, hilly panorama in lower than half an hour. Almaden Quicksilver County Park is nice for climbing to scenic viewpoints and has a lot of mining historical past. You may incorporate visiting outdated mining infrastructure into your walks. The park is finest for individuals who need hills and historical past.

Almaden Quicksilver County Park has practically forty miles of climbing trails and thirty miles of bridleways. You may discover the nation park on foot or set up a path journey with native stables. Both means, the park is well a full-day exercise. You need to enable a minimum of a morning to understand the flora and stress-free, 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 possibly can take pleasure in 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 superb place to spend a day by the water. Fishing lovers and households will notably respect the lake entry. Additionally it is properly mixed with a go to to Testarossa Vineyard, situated simply ten minutes up the highway.

7. Tech Interactive

You may’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 stay in.

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

Tech Interactive is family-friendly however in no way excludes adults with out kids. Visitors of all ages will benefit from the museum, so mark it down as a powerful choice 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 stuffed with all that attribute extravagance, coated from flooring to ceiling in gorgeous architectural options and non secular 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, non secular statues, and calming ambiance, the cathedral is sufficient to impress you no matter your non secular beliefs.

A tour is one of the best ways to expertise the fantastic 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 coated. Guadalupe is an inner-city park situated smack bang in the course of Downtown San Jose. Behind the treetops, you possibly can nonetheless see the town’s skyscrapers, and the park has a pure solace in a metropolis really feel, somewhat than feeling utterly minimize off from civilization.

Guadalupe has 2.6 miles of climbing and biking trails, which is ideal for these wanting a stretch of their legs. It’s common to see morning joggers or professionals taking lunch breaks within the park. However, as a vacationer, it’s good to hitch them.

This park is a superb place to expertise the city group and respect internal metropolis greenspace. Due to its downtown location, it’s simply added to even probably 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 situated in Kelley Park, a 250-acre inexperienced area close to the town middle. Whereas the zoo is comparatively small, it homes over 150 animals – lots 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 free on the amusement park rides. You may as well attend particular workshops, with academic and sensible alternatives to deepen your data 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 without doubt one of the finest locations to discover within the metropolis. And, if you would like a selected spot to understand this space of San Jose, Plaza de Cesar Chavez is our high advice.

Plaza de Cesar Chavez is without doubt 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 degree in a fairly show.

Plaza de Cesar Chavez is a must-visit if you happen to 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 area to chill out outdoor. 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 is no such thing as a 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.

A few of the Most worthy artifacts are mummies, together with a mummy from Usermontu’s coffin. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum isn’t one for the squeamish or loss of life averse, because it dives straight into all of the gory, sensible particulars about burials.

The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is an enchanting exercise if you happen to like historical historical past. Nonetheless, it is an interesting sufficient museum to maintain the common customer as properly. Even Rosicrucian Park, the place the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is about, is embellished in Egyptian model, with Egyptian buildings and palm timber to set the scene.

13. San Jose Museum of Artwork

Are modern art work shows not your factor? Or do you simply choose 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 every part, from modern to trendy artwork. It has over 2,500 items in its everlasting assortment and extra short-term exhibitions which are continuously shifting and altering. It’s well-worth permitting a minimum of 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 superb wet day exercise or only a place to broaden your creative consciousness and data. It has one of many largest collections of artwork within the metropolis, and it’s one among 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. For those who 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 superb choice if you would like a soothing factor to do in San Jose.

San Jose’s Japanese Friendship Backyard is so lovely that it’s usually used for out of doors marriage ceremony ceremonies. Take a stroll via and respect it your self – you solely want a spare hour.

15. A day journey to the Santa Cruz Mountains

A day within the mountains is tough 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 climbing trails have ocean views overlooking San Francisco Bay. The Santa Cruz Mountains are additionally well-known for his or her redwood timber – the tallest tree species on the planet. Whereas Santa Cruz doesn’t have any redwoods of record-breaking top, they’re nonetheless imposing.

You can hike the tallest mountain, Loma Prieta. You can go mountain biking via steep forest trails. Or, you can chill out and spend a day wine tasting in one of many area’s many wineries – simply be sure to’ve obtained a secure journey again to the 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 the most effective 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 most well-liked early roles taken in American society to the impression of World Struggle Two on the group. The Japanese American Museum tackles heavy subjects like discrimination whereas questioning the essence of the American id.

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 well-liked afternoon journey from San Jose.

The park sits on the foothills of the Diablo Mountains and is roughly 720 acres in measurement. There are 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 incredible. You may spot wildlife like red-tailed hawks and inexperienced herons. You may get energetic on foot or on a motorbike. Or you possibly can simply chill out and funky off in pure mineral water – which is all the time 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 situated to discover California’s nationwide parks – so why not spend the day additional afield? You may simply hire a automotive in San Jose or buy a guided tour like this on GetYourGuide.

Tunnel View, Olmsted Level, Washburn Level, and Vernal Falls are viewpoints it is best to prioritize on a flying go to to the nationwide park. For those who spend various hours in Yosemite, you can additionally sort out one of many shorter trails like Cook dinner Meadow’s Loop, Sentinel Dome, or Mirror Lake.

Yosemite Nationwide Park is without doubt one of the most well-known parks in the USA, 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 should choose to have a number of drivers to make driving the gap in sooner or later possible. Alternatively, simply keep in Yosemite in a single day and add on the journey as a detour from San Jose.

You may guide day excursions from San Jose to Yosemite Nationwide Park. This extremely rated tour

19. SAP Heart

The SAP Heart is a large area within the middle of San Jose. The world continuously hosts worldwide artists and is thought for its larger-than-life occasions. It has a capability of over 17,000 individuals and, on a superb day, you possibly can guess that it fills it. When visiting it is best to undoubtedly preserve a watch out for San Jose Shark video games on the SAP Heart.

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

You may test the schedule on the San Jose Shark’s and SAP Heart’s web sites. It’s finest to guide tickets upfront to keep away from disappointment, as loyal followers shortly snatch up obtainable 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 situated within the residential space of Los Gatos. It spans a scenic 45 acres of trails, picnic areas, and inexperienced area.

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 an exquisite approach to respect the park and the nice outdoor.

Whereas Vasona Lake Nation Park is far 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 can see the most effective components in simply a few hours. If you’re brief on time, it’s a incredible choice to take pleasure in suburban nature.

21. Winchester Thriller Home

Visiting Winchester Thriller Home is without doubt 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. Ebook 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. Nonetheless, the method was stricken by supernatural incidents. It quickly grew to become obvious that Winchester rifle victims have been haunting the home.

The development course of took a grand complete 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 suggest reserving a tour as, whereas just a little costly, you’ll get probably the most informative expertise this fashion. Winchester Thriller Home is partly a San Jose heritage attraction and considerably a supernatural expertise. Both means, although, it is without doubt one of the finest 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 Nineteen Sixties. You’ll discover over 800 sellers attending each weekend. Nonetheless, there are additionally designated weekday market days, so don’t fret in case you are visiting San Jose through the week.

San Jose Flea Market has every part – even stay music. The market has a stage that native performers can select to carry out to customers on, and, as a rule, this stage attracts just a little 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 a casual meals court docket.

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 the most effective multi-cultural delicacies in all of San Jose, which is saying one thing, as San Jose has a whole lot of scrumptious meals.

We suggest visiting San Pedro Marketplace for lunch. Lots of the meals is kind of snack-like somewhat than sit-down meal dishes. Plus, you possibly can all the time come again for dinner if you happen to can’t resolve between two choices.

24. Los Gatos Creek Path

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

After climbing in distant, pure areas, it’s good to combine issues up and take a suburban stroll. The trailhead can be remarkably simple to entry, which is useful in case you are brief on time or not hiring a automotive in San Jose.

As you will 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 possibly can all the time 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. Youngsters’s Discovery Museum

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

The Youngsters’s Discovery Museum goals to supply simply that, with Montessori-style studying alternatives and specialised academic areas. The museum is designed so dad and mom can take the backseat and let their kids direct the household across the exhibitions. There are interactive theater performances, a water play zone, and a mammoth discovery exhibit.

The right way to Get to San Jose

The best approach 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 the town middle.

In fact, in case you are highway tripping the west coast or one other common American highway journey route, chances are you’ll want to drive to San Jose. Driving to San Jose is an effective choice if you wish to cease at locations en route, as the town is surrounded by sights and pure surroundings. Be sure that your lodging gives parking; in any other case, parking will 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 undoubtedly aren’t inconvenienced with out one. The sunshine rail or bus is the best choice for a low-cost approach to get round San Jose.

For those who keep centrally, you’ll have the ability to discover many common sights on foot. In Downtown San Jose, there are vacationer sights virtually in your lodge’s doorstep.

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

Finest Time to Go to

Briefly, spring or fall are the most effective instances 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 the most effective of each worlds – not too busy however nonetheless well-suited to being outdoor.

To slender it down additional, Could and October are the shoulder seasons and least expensive months to go to San Jose. Total, Could is just a little hotter, so we suggest visiting then if you happen to can.

To Conclude

San Jose is stuffed with unimaginable issues to do and see. The town is without doubt one of the finest locations in Northern California. It is a superb different to the well-trodden streets of San Francisco.

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