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 among the finest seashores, cities, and hikes in your complete United States. Positioned in Northern California only one hour south of San Francisco, San Jose is among the finest cities on the west coast.

San Jose is a vacationer sizzling spot. There are lots of issues to do in San Jose, from heritage points of interest to pure surroundings and mountain climbing trails. It’s also identified 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. 

High issues to do in San Jose, California

Visiting San Jose is unquestionably a type of locations to go to if you’re highway tripping by means of this a part of the USA. The town is fast-paced and at all times maintaining with the newest tendencies and developments. Nonetheless, it additionally has a robust 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’ve little question that you should have a good time. However ensure that to take a look at our solutions of issues to do in San Jose to get you began.

A good 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. Test 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 identified for the biggest assortment of tech firms and is at all times concerned within the newest and best tasks. However, if you wish to choose up a brand new gadget as a memento, purchasing on Santana Row is among the finest issues to do in San Jose.

Santana Row is the place you may choose 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 fanatics alike will get pleasure from 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, should you embody a visit to the Santana Row cinema, permit 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 movie star 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 advocate checking the schedule for occasions that coincide along with your go to to San Jose.

The San Jose Improv theater is lavishly adorned, with snug 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 once you don’t wish to be.

3. Institute of Modern Artwork

In case you are 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 Modern Artwork is the right spot for searching and admiring and is cut up into three totally different gallery areas. Some items are everlasting, however most are momentary, that means the San Jose Institute is at all times recent and thrilling.

The Institute has an enormous proportion of native and lesser-known artists. We’d advocate a go to to anybody who needs a thought-provoking and recent 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 fully seal the deal, the Institute of Modern Artwork can also be free to enter. Fascinating, budget-friendly, and appropriate to get pleasure from in all climate, the Institute is unquestionably an attraction in your itinerary.

4. California Theatre

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

For a basic theatre expertise, an evening at this venue ticks all of the bins. You possibly can test the upcoming schedule to see what occasions align along 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’ll discover one thing of curiosity. For an additional deal with, you should buy 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 may be transported from San Jose’s streets to a stupendous, 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 finest 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 arrange a path trip with native stables. Both approach, the park is definitely a full-day exercise. It is best to permit a minimum of a morning to understand the flora and enjoyable, pure surroundings.

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’s also effectively 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 reside in.

Tech Interactive is ready within the midst of all of the Downtown San Jose motion. The museum has all the pieces from experimental labs to design problem experiences – deliberate to make you suppose and uncover for your self, relatively than feeding secondhand data by means of boring exhibitions.

Tech Interactive is family-friendly however not at all excludes adults with out kids. Friends of all ages will benefit from the museum, so mark it down as a robust 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, coated from ground to ceiling in beautiful architectural options and non secular significance.

The Odell Organ is especially spectacular and was in-built 1886 – not that you just’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 environment, 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 totally different from the parks we’ve coated. Guadalupe is an inner-city park positioned smack bang in the midst of Downtown San Jose. Behind the treetops, you may nonetheless see the town’s skyscrapers, and the park has a pure solace in a metropolis really feel, relatively than feeling fully 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 hitch them.

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

10. Completely satisfied Hole Park and Zoo

Completely satisfied Hole Park and Zoo wears many belts. The park is an amusement park, petting zoo, and unique zoo multi function.

Completely satisfied Hole Park is positioned in Kelley Park, a 250-acre inexperienced house close to the 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 get entangled with dealing with animals, come face-to-face with unique animals, or let unfastened on the amusement park rides. You can too 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 among the finest locations to discover within the metropolis. And, if you’d like a selected spot to understand this space of San Jose, Plaza de Cesar Chavez is our high suggestion.

Plaza de Cesar Chavez is among the hottest outside 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 reasonably 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 beautiful, cool house to loosen up 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 unbelievable; there isn’t a denying that. The museum is devoted to historic Egypt, displaying the biggest assortment on historic Egyptian artifacts in Western North America. It contains exhibitions on burial processes and different notable traditions.

A few of the most dear 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 a captivating exercise should you like historic historical past. Nonetheless, it is an interesting sufficient museum to maintain the typical customer as effectively. Even Rosicrucian Park, the place the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is ready, is adorned in Egyptian model, with Egyptian buildings and palm timber to set the scene.

13. San Jose Museum of Artwork

Are up to date art work shows not your factor? Or do you simply desire 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 all the pieces, from up to date to trendy artwork. It has over 2,500 items in its everlasting assortment and extra momentary exhibitions which might be continuously shifting and altering. It’s well-worth permitting a minimum of a couple of 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 data. 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 case 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 environment 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’d like a calming factor to do in San Jose.

San Jose’s Japanese Friendship Backyard is so stunning that it’s typically used for outside 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 tough to withstand. The Santa Cruz Mountains cut 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 timber – the tallest tree species on the planet. Whereas Santa Cruz doesn’t have any redwoods of record-breaking peak, they’re nonetheless imposing.

You would hike the tallest mountain, Loma Prieta. You would go mountain biking by means of steep forest trails. Or, you would loosen up and spend a day wine tasting in one of many area’s many wineries – simply be sure to’ve acquired a protected trip 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 wonderful 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 affect of World Battle Two on the group. The Japanese American Museum tackles heavy matters 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 preferred afternoon journey from San Jose.

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

In brief, this park is implausible. You possibly can spot wildlife like red-tailed hawks and inexperienced herons. You may get lively on foot or on a motorcycle. Or you may simply loosen up 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 it’s best to prioritize on a flying go to to the nationwide park. In case you spend quite a lot of hours in Yosemite, you would additionally sort out one of many shorter trails like Cook dinner Meadow’s Loop, Sentinel Dome, or Mirror Lake.

Yosemite Nationwide Park is among 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 have to set off early within the morning and will desire 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 possibly can ebook day excursions from San Jose to Yosemite Nationwide Park. This extremely rated tour

19. SAP Heart

The SAP Heart is a big area within the middle of San Jose. The world regularly hosts worldwide artists and is understood for its larger-than-life occasions. It has a capability of over 17,000 individuals and, on a superb day, you may guess that it fills it. When visiting it’s best to undoubtedly preserve an eye fixed out for San Jose Shark video games on the SAP Heart.

The San Jose Sharks are the town’s ice hockey group, 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 environment and an excellent area expertise should you can catch a house recreation. The thrill 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 finest to ebook tickets prematurely to keep away from disappointment, as loyal followers rapidly snatch up accessible 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 like Lexington Park, there’s a giant 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 stupendous approach to recognize the park and the good outdoor.

Whereas Vasona Lake Nation Park is far smaller than Lexington Nation Park, it’s your best option if you’d like a brief lakeside expertise. A go to to Vasona simply suits into half a day, and you would see the most effective components in simply a few hours. In case you are brief on time, it’s a implausible choice to get pleasure from suburban nature.

21. Winchester Thriller Home

Visiting Winchester Thriller Home is among 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. Together with her fortune, Sarah commissioned the development of Winchester Mansion. Nonetheless, the method was affected 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 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 of costly, you’ll get essentially the most informative expertise this fashion. Winchester Thriller Home is partly a San Jose heritage attraction and considerably a supernatural expertise. Both approach, although, it is among 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 if you’re visiting San Jose throughout the week.

San Jose Flea Market has all the pieces – even reside 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 of 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 environment.

23. San Pedro Sq. Market

San Pedro Sq. market has a barely totally different vibe. This market focuses on meals and appears like a casual meals courtroom.

You would 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 number of scrumptious meals.

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

24. Los Gatos Creek Path

Do you’re keen on a health problem? It is best to contemplate strolling Los Gatos Creek Path. The 11.2-mile path begins in Downtown San Jose and ends simply previous Lexington Reservoir. You’ll go Los Gatos County Park and Vasona Lake County Park – combining visiting a number of parks in sooner or later.

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 simple to entry, which is useful if you’re brief on time or not hiring a automobile in San Jose.

As you could 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, permit as much as 5 hours to finish Los Gatos Creek Path on foot.

25. Youngsters’s Discovery Museum

In case you are touring with younger companions, the Youngsters’s Discovery Museum is a implausible, 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 mother and father 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.

Tips on how to Get to San Jose

The simplest 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, if you’re highway tripping the west coast or one other common American highway journey route, you might want to drive to San Jose. Driving to San Jose is an efficient possibility if you wish to cease at locations en route, as the town is surrounded by points of interest and pure surroundings. Ensure that your lodging gives parking; in any other case, parking may be problematic within the metropolis.

Getting Round

San Jose is extraordinarily well-connected by the VTA Mild 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 most suitable choice for a low-cost approach to get round San Jose.

In case you keep centrally, you’ll have the ability to discover many common points of interest on foot. In Downtown San Jose, there are vacationer points of interest virtually in your lodge’s doorstep.

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

Greatest Time to Go to

In brief, spring or fall are the most effective instances to go to San Jose. Summer time is heat however far too busy, and in winter, you miss out on having fun with the outside actions. Spring and fall are the most effective of each worlds – not too busy however nonetheless well-suited to being outdoor.

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

San Jose is filled with unbelievable issues to do and see. The town is among the finest locations in Northern California. It is a wonderful 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 essentially the most thrilling place to be in.