From visiting the respected Silicon Valley to jumping into some action at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park, you will definitely be spoiled by the many things to do in San Jose. This city in California is the county seat of Santa Clara County and a major component of the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara Metropolitan Statistical Area. 

San Jose is well-regarded as the center of Silicon Valley. Yes, where the headquarters of some of the makers of your favorite gadgets are. Silicon Valley is home to tech companies like Apple, IBM, Samsung, HP, Cisco Systems, Google, and Facebook, just to name a few. But don’t think that this is the only valuable place to visit when you’re out there to enjoy the several things to do in San Jose. There are many other experiences here. 

Vibrant, diverse, and accessible to both locals and tourists, San Jose welcomes sunshine almost all year round, providing the perfect environment for those either inclined with the indoors or outdoors. Let’s get started with our guide. 

Best Things To Do In San Jose

Below are the best things to do in San Jose right now.

1. Tour Silicon Valley, The Headquarters Of The Biggest Tech Companies Right Now – Like Facebook, Google, And More

If you ask an avid traveler to describe San Jose to you, they’ll for sure mention Silicon Valley. The first on the list of the best things to do in San Jose is visiting Silicon Valley, the home of the biggest technology companies today, from Facebook to Apple. After all, San Jose is the capital of Silicon Valley.

More than 6,600 tech companies consider Silicon Valley their home. It spans from Santa Clara County, to San Mateo County, to the San Francisco Area. In Santa Clara County are Apple, Google, eBay, Netflix, and Intel, among others. In San Mateo County are Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. In the San Francisco Area is Twitter. 

But there are many other tech companies headquartered in Silicon Valley. The list continues with Adobe, PayPal, Cisco, Intel, and more. 

Unleash your inner geek by taking a drive and stopping by the famous Silicon Valley Garages. 

2. Visit Stanford University, The School That Produced Some Of The Founders Of Worldwide Companies

Since you are already here in the Silicon Valley area, why don’t you visit Stanford University? You’ve heard it mentioned in some of your favorite movies, and it’s worth the shoutout. 

Less than 30 minutes from San Jose, you’ll reach the cool Silicon Valley college town of Palo Alto. It is where you’ll find Stanford University, the school that has served as the training ground for the big names in tech and business, producing alumni who have founded companies like Nike, HP, Electronic Arts, Cisco, and Google. 

There are also various things to do in San Jose while you’re here. You can visit the Cantor Arts Center that exhibits a wide range of artworks spanning five millennia, from ancient Chinese ceramics to one of the largest presentations of Rodin bronzes outside Paris.

You’re familiar with shopping centers in major companies worldwide. Stanford has its own, its very own – the Stanford Shopping Center. If you want to unwind and shop, this is the perfect place to be. It has over 140 stores, and dozens of restaurants and coffee shops. 

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3. Unleash Your Inner Tech Geek At The Tech Interactive

Should you wish to learn more and dig deeper into the story of how Silicon Valley came to be, head over to The Tech Interactive, a science and technology center in the heart of downtown San Jose, along South Market Street. 

The building, designed by Ricardo Legorreta, a Mexican architect, is a true Silicon Valley landmark offering a glimpse into the most innovative place on Earth. The Tech Interactive offers hands-on activities, experiment laboratories, and design challenges, giving the chance for visitors to unleash their inner tech geek, creativity, and curiosity. 

The Tech Interactive also has an IMAX Dome Theater where you can immerse into the world’s first-ever laser projector for a dome theater. It has a four-story wraparound screen and 12,000 watts of digital surround sound, providing a one-of-a-kind visual experience. Kids will love it here too. Certainly one of the not-to-miss things to do in San Jose, California. 

4. It’s Chic Shopping At Santana Row

You’ve heard about the concept of “shopping ‘til you drop,” but perhaps you haven’t heard about “chic shopping” too much, have you? If you wish to learn what this is all about, head over to Santana Row. There are plenty of things to do in San Jose while you’re here. 

Well, to basically describe what Santana Row is all about, let’s just say this is where the Silicon Valley tycoons splurge their money. You read that right. Santana Row is a chic shopping destination just a short drive west of San Jose’s downtown. Here, you’ll find restaurants that serve sumptuous meals, a movie theater, and designer stores like Kate Spade and Gucci. 

And don’t forget to look up at its upper floors. The apartments and the Hotel Valencia built above the businesses on the lower floors are innocent while the sun is up. But, when the night falls, they take off to become Santana Row’s nightlife hub. Many of those who’ve been here say this is the best spot to people-watch in San Jose. Or maybe car-watch? Since you’ll be able to see exotic sports cars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis in Santana Row’s parking lot. 

California is a state like no other. Aside from this “things to do in San Jose” guide, we have other stories about California you might want to check out. 

5. Flash Your Fashion OOTDs Or OOTNs At Palo Alto

We’re not saying that San Jose lacks the tourist attractions within its walls. We’re saying that if you’re here enjoying the things to do in San Jose, you might also want to consider visiting the nearby tourist spots, such as Palo Alto. And not just experiencing Palo Alto, but experiencing the place uniquely. 

In this tour, you’ll be joined by a professional photographer who will also serve as your tour guide as you walk through the place’s iconic spots, while snapping your OOTDs or OOTNs. Discover the city’s hidden gems as you save those precious memories in photographs.

6. Board On A Party Bike And Bar-Hop Through San Jose’s Best Bars

Are you looking for the best things to do in San Jose with having fun as the name of the game? Take this tour from Viator. In this tour, you’ll hop onboard a party bike for a two-hour journey through the best bars in San Jose. Try the tastiest cocktails, sip the best craft beers, eat great food, and have fun in-between stops as you yourself pedal the party bike. 

There’s also music included onboard, so you can have the perfect atmosphere to talk to the other tourists participating in the tour and interact with your tour guide to learn more about San Jose’s best bars. You’ll ride around downtown, and sample the best bites and drinks this California city has to offer.

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7. Uncover The Mystery Of The Winchester Mystery House

The Winchester Mystery House, situated along Winchester Boulevard in San Jose, is a beautiful house, but very bizarre, very odd, and full of mysteries that will give you goosebumps. 

It is a mansion built under the supervision of Sarah Pardee Winchester, heiress of the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune and widow of the Winchester Rifle magnate, William Winchester.

So why is this house odd? When its construction started in 1884, it did not stop for 38 years until Sarah’s passing away in 1922. During the construction phase, she was tormented by the guilt of the victims lost to the Winchester Rifle and believed that their ghosts haunt this place. So, she had this house built without the direction of an architect, which is why it has mysterious features. 

These include doors that open to walls, stairways that lead to the ceiling, and many more. It was in 1923 when the house was first opened to the public. You can take a guided tour around the estate where you can unravel the mystery and unlock the secrets of this home.

8. Dig In To Great Food At San Pedro Square Market

If you’re looking for things to do in San Jose where you’ll really enjoy to the fullest, such as tasting not only local dishes but international selections too, take it to San Pedro Square Market. This place has a variety of food vendors that sell pizzas, Latin American food, craft beer, sushi, and fusion hot dogs, among many others. As you gobble on those food, you can sit at its pet-friendly patios where you’ll also be treated to various entertainment, such as live music, movies, comedy, sports games, and a whole lot more.

9. Want To Try Skateboarding?

If you brought your skateboard with you on the flight to San Jose because you know this city is home to the fantastic Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park, San Jose won’t fail you. 

At 68,000 feet, Lake Cunningham Park, the largest skate park in California, features the world’s largest cradle, largest full pipe, and tallest vert wall. While many experienced skaters frequent here, this is also a place for beginners and practically all levels of skaters. The park is not only open to skateboards, but also to bikes and scooters. 

Those are basically it about some of the best things to do in San Jose right now. Think we missed sharing an experience? Interact with us to let us and the readers know. But for now, we’d like to offer you with more of our stories like this.  

Things To Do In San Jose: Best Outdoor Activities To Try In This California City

There are travelers who simply are interested with the traditional sightseeing tours, while there are others who want to level up things and go on an adrenaline rush trying out outdoor activities in the places they visit. If you want to experience things to do in San Jose outdoor adventure-style, the city has a lot to offer. Take a look. 

• Hiking and county parks – Here in San Jose, there are hiking trails that fit every level of experience. You can choose to stick to the urban, more popular trails, or trek the dirt paths and have your efforts pay off by seeing the magnificence of the city from above. Some of the best places in this category are the Alviso Marina County Park, Castle Rock State Park, and Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve.

• Flowers and gardens – Yes, the famous California poppy is here. To see these colorful flowers, you can head over to the Almaden Quicksilver County Park, Santa Teresa Park, or Calero Reservoir County Park. For picnic enthusiasts, you can visit the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. It offers a picnic and photo spot with beautiful blooming roses of various colors and types. Or, take a tranquil walk at the Japanese Friendship Gardens.

Ignite Your Getaway

San Jose is the 10th largest city in the United States by population. This California city may be the center of the famous Silicon Valley where the headquarters of several tech giants are, there are many other things to do in San Jose. 

For instance, its downtown historic district features architectural landmarks, such as the 19th-century, Italianate-style Oddfellows building and its Spanish Colonial Revival structures. Plus, San Jose is also home to several parks where you can relax and have a serene, peaceful moment. 

Whether the reason for taking a trip to beautiful San Jose is for business – perhaps dealing with the people from Silicon Valley – or for pure pleasure, you’ll find that the city is prepared just for you.