The city of San Jose is so special that a Grammy Award-winning artist, Dionne Warwick, wrote a song about it. San Jose is a large city with a bustling downtown and many opportunities to shop and dine. The city is also home to several green spaces, theme parks, performing centers, historical landmarks and museums for both children and adults to enjoy.
Northern California is known for its vineyards and San Jose is no different. Many of these wineries are in the country and a rental car in San Jose would be ideal to access them. Make it a romantic getaway with a luxury car such as a Mercedes or BMW. If you’re a sports enthusiast, San Jose has its share of professional sports teams. In fact, the San Jose Sharks hockey team plays here, and the San Francisco 49ers play in a suburb just outside of San Jose. With a SIXT rental car, you can get to these stadiums to enjoy a sporting event.
Must-see attractions in San Jose
1. Winchester Mystery House
The Winchester Mystery House is one of California’s landmarks. It is an amazing mansion with Queen Anne architecture and a Victorian interior design. You can take a tour of the mansion (which is said to be haunted) and witness its many quirky features like its 2,000 doors, windows that look into other rooms, trap doors, and the owner’s obsession with the number 13. When your tour is finished, you can head outdoors to spend some time in its picturesque garden. There are many other activities you can enjoy at the Winchester Mystery House, including axe throwing, arcade games and a shooting gallery.
Address: 525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose, CA 95128
Entry fees: More information
Hours: When to visit
Time required to see the attraction: It will take about 70 minutes to tour the home. Plan for extra time if you’ll participate in other activities.
2. California’s Great America
If you’re traveling with children, California’s Great America is the perfect way to spend a day. It has several rides and activities for all ages. This includes rollercoasters, a carousel, bumper cars and a large water slide. When you want to take a break from riding, you can visit the theater to watch a live performance. While here, you can dine on food and treats from well-known names such as Auntie Anne’s, Panda Express, Subway and Starbucks.
Address: 4701 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Entry fees: More information
Hours: When to visit
Time required to see the attraction: You’ll want to spend all day here.
3. Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
At the Children’s Discovery Museum, the kids will have fun enjoying interactive exhibits like the Happy Brain, AirMaze, Bubbles and Mammoth Cave. They can meet new friends and get lots of exercise playing in Bill’s Backyard. There is a small cafe in the museum and snacks are also sold in Bill’s Backyard.
Address: 180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110
Entry fees: More information
Hours: When to visit
Time required to see the attraction: Plan to spend 2-3 hours here.
4. San Jose Museum of Art
Add some culture to your day at the San Jose Museum of Art. Its exhibits feature works by renowned and upcoming artists, including many from the West Coast. It contains a humongous metal sculpture by local artist, Pae White, which is named “Noisy Blushes”. On Fridays, the museum hosts live music and free reviews of selected exhibitions. At the San Jose Museum, you can see different types of art including sculptures, paintings, photography and woodwork. If your stomach begins to rumble, you don’t have to leave. The museum has a cafe with deli-style dishes like salads and sandwiches.
Address: 110 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
Entry fees: More information
Hours: When to visit
Time required to see the attraction: 2 hours or more
5. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
Visit this extraordinary museum to learn about the deities, pyramids, clothing and overall culture of ancient Egypt. This museum contains one of the largest collections of Egyptian artifacts in this part of the world. Once you’ve toured the museum, you can head outdoors where you can take in the beauty and calm of the garden.
Address: 1660 Park Ave., San Jose, CA 95191
Entry fees: More information
Hours: When to visit
Time required to see the attraction: It will take a few hours to get through the entire museum.
6. Japantown
Located in downtown San Jose, Japan Town has a variety of Japanese restaurants to dine in. Several stylish boutiques, clothing and fabric stores are also located here and many specialize in Asian goods. Come to this part of the city after hours to grab a drink or have fun at a karaoke bar.
Address: 565 N. 6th St., San Jose, CA 95112
Entry fees: Free
Time required to see the attraction: Plan to spend a few hours here.
7. Santana Row
Also located in downtown San Jose, Santana Row is a shopping district with several popular stores like H & M, Chico’s, Nike and Kate Spade. This is also a good place to dine, with a variety of restaurants on offer. Many tourists like to enjoy a cocktail or a specialty coffee drink while strolling the streets.
Address: 377 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95128
8. Googleplex & Android Statue Garden
San Jose and the surrounding area makes up Silicon Valley and you should stop by Googleplex, the corporate headquarters for Google Corporation. Although you can’t go inside many of the buildings, they have set up an area for tourists. The Google campus has an outdoor park with interesting sculptures and activities for children. There is also a store where tourists can shop for souvenir T-shirts and other Google items.
Address: 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043
Entry fees: Free
Hours: Open daily
Time required to see the attraction: A few hours
9. Computer History Museum
Consider your exploration of the technology industry with a visit to the Computer History Museum. At the museum, you can learn the history of computing from developments in software to changes in personal computers. The collection includes exhibits related to multimedia, electric tabulating and memory/storage. You can also take part in demonstrations of card readers, sorters and tape drives.
Address: 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View, CA 94043
Entry fees: More information
Hours: When to visit
Time required to see the attraction: It will take about 75 minutes to tour the museum.
10. Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is a popular tourist attraction for families. In the park, there is a carousel and a variety of animals including anteaters, goats, parrots, chickens, turkeys and sheep. There is a lot more to see and do here at the park and zoo. You can take a train ride, play miniature golf or get a thrill on the rollercoaster.
Address: 748 Story Road, San Jose, CA 95112
Entry fees: More information
Hours: When to visit
Time required to see the attraction: You can easily spend half of a day here.
Best Places to Eat & Drink in San Jose
San Jose has a variety of restaurants that serve ethnic dishes. Its international food scene includes foods from Greece, Austria, Ethiopia, France and Brazil. Mexican food, however, is a local favorite. You’ll find a wide selection of both fast food and sit-down restaurants that serve Mexican fare. The locals often call them taquerias and their specialties include tacos and burritos. If you’re looking for a romantic place to dine, there are several waterfront restaurants on the Guadalupe River. These restaurants serve a variety of foods including seafood, steak, pasta and barbecue.
Adega: Adega is a five-star Michelin restaurant in San Jose’s Little Portugal South neighborhood. Its menu features Portuguese-inspired cuisine that is made with local produce.
Yeshi Express: Try Ethiopian fare at Yeshi Express in downtown San Jose. Its menu includes dishes like gomen (collard greens with garlic and ginger), steamed cabbage and beets.
Falafel Drive-In: Falafel Drive-In serves Mediterranean fare. Hop in your rental car for a meal at this casual restaurant. Its menu includes hummus, gyros, kabobs and yogurt drinks.
Naschmarkt: Naschmarkt serves California fare with an Austrian twist. Some of its most popular dishes include schnitzel and cabbage rolls.
