Looking for the best things to do in San Jose? The capital of Silicon Valley and the Bay Area’s largest city offers tech-forward museums, great food, and year-round sunshine. Locals point to The Tech Interactive, the quirky Winchester Mystery House, upscale Santana Row, and the food scene at San Pedro Square Market.
Things to do in San Jose
Downtown & The Tech Interactive
The hands-on Tech Interactive science-and-tech museum, the San Jose Museum of Art, and the San Pedro Square Market food hall.
Winchester Mystery House
The famously bizarre Victorian mansion — staircases to nowhere and endless rooms — one of California’s most unusual attractions.
Santana Row & the Rose Garden
Upscale shopping and dining at Santana Row and Valley Fair, and the beautiful Municipal Rose Garden.
Family & Culture
The Children’s Discovery Museum, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, historic Japantown (one of the last three in the U.S.), and the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum.
Things to do in San Jose at night
San Pedro Square and downtown lead for bars, music and dining, with Santana Row’s upscale scene and a Sharks game at SAP Center rounding out the evening.
Free things to do in San Jose
- The Municipal Rose Garden
- Strolling Santana Row and Japantown
- Downtown parks and the Guadalupe River Trail
What San Jose locals actually recommend
The best neighborhood food, family spots, quiet parks — that comes from people who live here. On Neighborhood Nurturers’ San Jose community, real neighbors answer “what should I actually do this weekend?” Join your San Jose neighbors free →
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in San Jose?
Visit The Tech Interactive, tour the Winchester Mystery House, shop and dine at Santana Row, eat at the San Pedro Square Market, and explore historic Japantown and the Municipal Rose Garden.
What is San Jose known for?
Being the capital of Silicon Valley and the Bay Area’s largest city — known for its tech economy, The Tech Interactive, the Winchester Mystery House, Santana Row, and year-round sunshine.
What are free things to do in San Jose?
The Municipal Rose Garden, strolling Santana Row and Japantown, and downtown parks and the Guadalupe River Trail are all free.
Is San Jose worth visiting?
Yes — for The Tech Interactive, the Winchester Mystery House, Santana Row and the food scene, plus a sunny, spread-out city at the heart of Silicon Valley.