San Jose

California

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2026

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
USA, California, San Jose, Silicon Valley, Plaza de Cesar Chavez

USA, California, San Jose, Silicon Valley, Plaza de Cesar Chavez

Overview

Though culturally diverse and historical, San Jose – awash in Silicon Valley’s suburbia – has always been in San Francisco’s shadow. Founded in 1777 as El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, San Jose is California’s oldest Spanish civilian settlement. Its downtown is small and scarcely used for a city of its size, though it does bustle with twenty-something clubgoers on weekends. Industrial parks, high-tech computer firms and look-alike housing developments are sprawled across the city’s landscape, taking over from where farms, ranches and open spaces once spread between the bay and the surrounding hills.

Lonely planet’s trusted travel insurance provider

Dreaming of San Jose? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

LEARN MORE

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Take your United States (USA) trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

Pick one of our ready-to-book trips or fully customize your own with help from our local experts.

bookable trip

From Bayside to Coastside: California's San Francisco Peninsula in 10 Days

10 days / 9 nights

highlights

  1. 1Scouring for offshore whales at one of the world’s tallest lighthouses
  2. 2Hiking Monterey Bay’s sprawling coastal trails for dramatic waterfront views
  3. 3Touring an organic farm with a local farmer specializing in sustainable, small-scale agriculture
from $4,940

per person

book this tripsee trip details

Explore more trips

  • Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden

    FROM $3,795

    per person

    See Trip Details

Must-see attractions

Explore all

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

From a lively art scene to trendy foodie spots and historic sites, these are the top things to do in San Jose to get to know the city in the best way.

Read full article

Best Time to Visit

The heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose has the best weather in the Bay Area, blessed with blue skies from spring to fall. Here are the best times to come.

Read full article

Things to Know

The heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose has the best weather in the Bay Area, blessed with blue skies from spring to fall. Here are the best times to come.

Read full article

Transportation

With the third-largest population in California, and suburbs that sprawl across the South Bay, San Jose is big. Here are the best ways to get around.

Read full article

Free Things to Do

Whether you’re interested in the outdoors, art, or history, you can enjoy San Jose, California on a budget with these great free things to do.

Read full article

Best Neighborhoods

San Jose is an exciting Bay Area metropolis that offers a lot more to travelers than what first meets the eye. 

Read full article

Day Trips

From local beach towns to wildlife spotting, these are the best day trips from San Jose, all within a two-hour drive, bus, or train ride from the city.  

Read full article

Best Road Trips

From local beach towns to wildlife spotting, these are the best day trips from San Jose, all within a two-hour drive, bus, or train ride from the city.  

Read full article

Money and Costs

Whether you’re interested in the outdoors, art, or history, you can enjoy San Jose, California on a budget with these great free things to do.

Read full article

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in San Jose