Best Things To Do in San Jose, California

Are you looking for what to do in San Jose?

San Jose is a very relaxed and laid back sort of a place. Gardens and trails abound. As a result it has all the makings of a stress busting holiday destination. Here are a few things to see while there.

  • Winchester Mystery House: The Winchester Mystery House is a weird and wonderful place in San Jose. This spooky attraction is a definite must visit if you are looking for something quite unique to do on your trip.
  • San Jose Heritage Rose Garden: San Jose is the city of many amazing parks and gardens and the San Jose Heritage rose garden only adds to its charming beauty. The garden is sure to make you want to “stop and smell the roses” and unwind in the city of San Jose.
  • Japanese Friendship Garden: San Jose is a tranquil place to relax and what better way to do it than in the Japanese Friendship Garden. This lovely place in Kelley Park is a great way to kill a few hours in the city.
  • Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph: This stunning and historic site is worth a visit while in San Jose. The name of the church and its patron saint also happens to be the name of the city making it a very important landmark there.
  • California Theatre: California has that nostalgic, old worldly appearance that is sure to send the traveller back in time. The theatre often plays host to the performances of Opera San Jose and the Silicon Valley Symphony and if you get to listen to one of these, you are in for a surreal experience.

Below we have a list of things to do in San Jose and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your San Jose getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to San Jose with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in San Jose

Here is the list of things to do in San Jose and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Cathedral Basilica Of St. Joseph

    Art And Culture, Church, Religious Site, Architecture

    This stunning and historic site is worth a visit while in San Jose. The name of the church and its patron saint also happen to be the name of the city making it a very important landmark there. The simplicity and elegance of the place is certainly worth noting. The grand building is beautiful inside out. The lovely altar and the spectacular domed ceiling make this place a very popular tourist a...Read more
  2. Winchester Mystery House

    Art And Culture, Museum, History Museum, Educational Site

    The Winchester Mystery House is a weird and wonderful place in San Jose. This spooky attraction is a definite must visit if you are looking for something quite unique to do on your trip. It was said that the house is haunted by the ghosts of the victims of the famous Winchester rifles, the owner of which was also the house owner. Whether one believes that or not, it cannot be denied that visiti...Read more
  3. The Peralta Adobe

    4.6 (1138 Votes)
    The Peralta Adobe

    Art And Culture, History Museum, Historical Site, Heritage Building

    This old house, which is the oldest building in San Jose, once belonged to a soldier in the Spanish Army, Luiz Maria Peralta. This beautiful, rustic, charming home has been perfectly preserved for people to see. You will be able to learn a lot more about the history of SanJose here. The history of the city is directly linked with the simple and lovely life that has been illustrated through the ...Read more
  4. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

    4.5 (3123 Votes)
    Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

    Art And Culture, Museum, History Museum, Educational Site

    If you are looking for some culture and history in San Jose, you will not be disappointed by its Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. This stunning museum has great displays and a lot to see and do. Whether it is the art of mummification, burial rituals, rites and ancient kings and pharaohs, everything Egyptian has been put up on display. You will be able to get to know a lot more about the daily life ...Read more
  5. The Tech Museum Of Innovation

    Museum, Children Museum, Educational Site, Specialty Museum

    A very unique museum, the Tech Museum of Innovation is a fascinating place to visit in the city of San Jose. This new and fresh experience is a must have for anyone who loves technology. There is a wide variety of exhibits pertaining to a range of technological inventions. From robots, to lasers to biotechnology, everything you need to satisfy that inner geek is here. It is a fascinating world....Read more
  6. Children's Discovery Museum Of San Jose

    Museum, Science Museum, Children Museum, Educational Site

    The little ones will love this lovely treat in San Jose. Museums all over the world are turning interactive to aid learning and the Children’s Discovery Museum opitimizes this exact thought process. The exhibits are easy to understand and learn from and are sure to keep the interest of the child engaged. Moreover, they constantly change and reinvent their exhibits so this need not be a on...Read more
  7. Guadalupe River Park And Gardens

    Outdoors, Garden, Park, River

    San Jose is that gorgeous city with its extraordinary number of parks and gardens. This lovely park and garden area is another addition to the many amazing, verdant places to see in the city. This park is surprising because it runs along the Guadalupe River on the highway. Even amidst the modern city, this green park is a lovely retreat. Around 2.6 miles of walking area consisting of several tr...Read more
  8. Happy Hollow Park And Zoo

    4.5 (1285 Votes)
    Happy Hollow Park And Zoo

    Amusement Park, Ranch, Garden, Park

    The Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is another great family entertainment place in the city of San Jose. It is a zoo and an amusement park in one enormous complex. If you are travelling with kids, this multi-attraction is not to be missed. The zoo area has an amazing variety of healthy animals on display. Kids will love to see the mammals, birds, and reptiles in fascinating displays. The wild cats ar...Read more
  9. Cinnabar Hills Golf Club

    4.6 (1091 Votes)
    Cinnabar Hills Golf Club

    Golf Course

    If you are in San Jose for a business meeting or just want to try your hand at this fascinating sport, the Cinnabar Hills Golf Club is a great public golf club worth trying out. The location and the course are absolutely stunning so there aren’t too many reasons to avoid a visit. Although it isn’t exactly your run-of-the-mill tourist attraction it is certainly very interesting to tr...Read more
  10. Almaden Quicksilver County Park

    Art And Culture, Outdoors, Forest, Mine

    You will find the Almaden Quicksilver County Park in South San Jose, overlooking the Silicon Valley. The park covers 4157 acres of the steep hills, cool forests, deep valleys and open meadows which makes it an absolute delight to visit no matter what time of the day. You will be able to learn a lot about the Park’s mining history through the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum. But even if ...Read more
  11. San Jose International Airport

    4.1 (15607 Votes)
    San Jose International Airport Image
    ©
    San Jose International Airport (SJC) is an international airport located in San Jose, California, United States. It is the third busiest airport in the state of California and the tenth busiest airport in the United States. It is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, and is the closest airport to the tech hub of San Francisco Bay Area.The airport is owned and operated by the City of San Jose ...Read more
  12. Reid-Hillview Airport Of Santa Clara County Image
    ©
    Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County, San Jose, United States is a public airport located in San Jose, California, United States. It is owned and operated by the Santa Clara County Department of Airports. The airport is located approximately 8 miles (13 km) east of downtown San Jose, and is the second busiest general aviation airport in the Bay Area.Reid-Hillview Airport covers an area o...Read more
  13. City Of San Jose Youth Centers, San Jose, United States Image
    ©
    The City of San Jose Youth Centers were established in 1972 by the City of San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department. The purpose of the youth centers was to provide a safe and positive environment for young people to engage in recreational and educational activities.At the time of its establishment, the City of San Jose recognized the need for a space where young people c...Read more
  14. Friends-The Dr Martin Luther, San Jose, United States Image
    ©
    The library Friends-The Dr Martin Luther, San Jose, United States was established in 1972. It was founded by a group of dedicated volunteers who wanted to support and enhance the services and resources of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, which is a joint-use library shared by San Jose State University and the City of San Jose.The Friends of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library is a non...Read more
  15. Seven Trees Library & Community Center, San Jose, United States Image
    ©
    The Seven Trees Library & Community Center was established in 2004 in San Jose, California, United States. It was built as part of a joint project between the City of San Jose and the San Jose Unified School District to provide a new library and community center for the Seven Trees neighborhood.The Seven Trees neighborhood had been identified as an underserved area in terms of access to library...Read more