Things to do in San Jose
San Jose enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Late spring and early fall bring sunny days, comfortable temperatures, and the lowest chance of rain.
Best months: May, June, September, October
What is worth your time in San Jose
Computer History MuseumDo not miss
The world's largest collection of computing artifacts in Mountain View, from a working Babbage engine to early Google servers, the soul of Silicon Valley.
Museum · 2.8 hr4.7
San Jose Municipal Rose GardenDo not miss
Nearly six fragrant acres of more than 3,500 rose bushes, an award-winning public garden in full bloom from spring through fall.
Park · 1.1 hr4.7
Stanford UniversityDo not miss
Palo Alto's golden-sandstone campus with the Main Quad, Memorial Church mosaics, and Hoover Tower, one of the most beautiful campuses in America.
Landmark · 2.3 hr4.7
Rosicrucian Egyptian MuseumDo not miss
The largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on display in western North America, including mummies and a walk-through tomb replica, set in an Egyptian-revival park.
Museum · 1.8 hr4.6
San Pedro Square MarketDo not miss
Downtown's lively food hall and bar scene around the historic Peralta Adobe, packed with local vendors and weekend live music.
Market · 1.4 hr4.6
Santana RowDo not miss
An upscale European-style outdoor district of boutiques, sidewalk cafes, fountains, and patio dining, San Jose's premier place to stroll and eat.
Neighborhood · 1.8 hr4.5
Winchester Mystery HouseDo not miss
Sarah Winchester's sprawling, eccentric Victorian mansion with staircases to nowhere and doors that open onto walls is San Jose's signature attraction.
Historic Site · 2 hr4.5
The Tech InteractiveDo not miss
A hands-on science and technology museum in downtown San Jose with an IMAX dome and labs that capture the spirit of Silicon Valley.
Museum · 2.8 hr4.4
San Jose Museum of ArtDo not miss
A respected modern and contemporary art museum in a converted 1892 sandstone post office on Plaza de Cesar Chavez.
Museum · 1.6 hr4.2
Japantown San JoseDo not miss
One of only three surviving historic Japantowns in the United States, full of family-run restaurants, markets, and the Japanese American Museum.
Neighborhood · 1.5 hr
Cantor Arts Center at Stanford
Stanford's free art museum with a celebrated Rodin sculpture collection, including a casting of The Gates of Hell in the garden.
Museum · 1.5 hr4.8
Mission Santa Clara de Asis
The eighth California mission, rebuilt at the heart of Santa Clara University's rose-lined gardens, a quiet step into the state's colonial past.
Historic Site · 53 min4.8
Almaden Quicksilver County Park
A sprawling foothill park of oak-studded trails winding through the relics of a 19th-century mercury mining district.
Nature · 3 hr4.7
Alum Rock Park
California's oldest municipal park, a wooded canyon of mineral springs, footbridges, and trails into the eastern foothills.
Nature · 2.3 hr4.7
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- Silicon Valley is spread out and car-first; renting a car or rideshare makes Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Santa Clara reachable in a day.
- VTA light rail and Caltrain connect downtown San Jose with the Peninsula, but service is infrequent compared with bigger transit cities.
- Summer days are warm and bone-dry; carry water and sunscreen, and save shaded park stops for the afternoon.
- Many tech campuses are closed to the public; the visitable highlights are the museums, plazas, and visitor centers, not the office buildings.
- Tipping is customary: 18 to 20 percent at restaurants and a dollar or two per drink at bars.