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San Jose
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.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
San Jose
This ridiculous yet fascinating Victorian mansion is filled with 160 mostly non-utilitarian rooms with dead-end hallways and a staircase that runs up to a…
San Jose
Opposite Plaza de Cesar Chavez, San Jose's excellent technology museum examines subjects from robotics to space exploration, and genetics to virtual…
San Jose
West of downtown, this educational Egyptian museum is one of San Jose’s more unusual attractions. Its extensive collection includes statues, household…
San Jose
Historical buildings from all over San Jose have been brought together in this open-air history museum. The centerpiece is a scaled-down replica of the…
San Jose
A cutting-edge gallery highlighting themes by both established and emerging Latino artists, MACLA is one of the Bay Area's best community arts spaces,…
San Jose
This leafy square in the center of downtown was part of the original plaza of El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, and is the city's oldest public space…
San Jose
With a permanent collection of 20th-century works and imaginative changing exhibits, the city’s central art museum is worth a quick look. The main…
San Jose
This science and creativity museum has hands-on displays incorporating art, technology and the environment, with plenty of toys and cool play-and-learn…
Attractions
Top picks from our travel experts
San Jose
Always busy, this indoor/outdoor marketplace downtown showcases a few shining local food stars such as Pizza Bocca Lupo, Konjoe Burger Bar, Treatbot ice…
San Jose
West of downtown, this educational Egyptian museum is one of San Jose’s more unusual attractions. Its extensive collection includes statues, household…
San Jose
The San Jose Sharks – the city’s tremendously popular professional hockey team – play at this massive glass-and-metal stadium (formerly the HP Pavilion)…
San Jose
If you can handle the shameless product placements, kids will love the roller coasters and other thrill rides. Online tickets cost much less than walk-up…
San Jose
A water park inside Lake Cunningham Regional Park, Raging Waters has fast waterslides, a wave pool and a nifty Pirate's Cove. Buy tickets online for…
San Jose
The absolutely stunning Spanish Colonial interior of this landmark entertainment venue is cathedral-worthy. The theater is home to Opera San Jose and…
San Jose
Santana Row is a mixed-use space west of downtown with upscale shopping, dining and entertainment along with a boutique hotel, lofts and apartments…
San Jose
This ridiculous yet fascinating Victorian mansion is filled with 160 mostly non-utilitarian rooms with dead-end hallways and a staircase that runs up to a…
San Jose
Opposite Plaza de Cesar Chavez, San Jose's excellent technology museum examines subjects from robotics to space exploration, and genetics to virtual…
San Jose
San Jose's Major League Soccer (MLS) team plays at Avaya Stadium from February through October.
San Jose
Historical buildings from all over San Jose have been brought together in this open-air history museum. The centerpiece is a scaled-down replica of the…
Planning Tools
Expert guidance to help you plan your trip
Best Neighborhoods
San Jose is an exciting Bay Area metropolis that offers a lot more to travelers than what first meets the eye.
Read articleDay 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 articleTransportation
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 articleFree 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 articleArticles
Latest stories from San Jose
Activities
The best things to do in San Jose to make your California dreams come trueJan 3, 2022 • 7 min read
Destination PracticalitiesThese San Jose, California, neighborhoods are the heart of the cityOct 8, 2021 • 5 min read
Road TripsFor a fall day trip from San Jose, California, head to Half-Moon BayOct 8, 2021 • 5 min read
Festivals & EventsTop reasons to visit San Jose in the fall (and other great times to come)Sep 24, 2021 • 6 min read
Budget TravelHitch a ride from the airport to the dispensary with this cannabis chainFeb 10, 2020 • 2 min read
Hotels'How cool will it be to stay inside an Atari?' - Video game maker to open hotels in eight US citiesFeb 3, 2020 • 2 min read
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