two nights in

San Jose

Often called "the capital of Silicon Valley", San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area, 3rd largest in California, and the 12th largest city in the United States, with a population of over 997,000 residents as of 2024. It was named the 6th safest big city in the U. Wikivoyage

Population 1,013,240 (Wikidata)

Live guide From your hotel

Before you go

Emergency numbers in United States

Visas and entry What your passport needs for United States
Tourist office · 1.8 km Visitor and Education Center

Getting there

Remembered in this browser only, with the last few you used.

Best-documented sights

All of them in the guide

Within a kilometre of the centre, ordered by how well documented each is — not by a "best" anyone decided. Each opens on the map in the guide. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited there.

Through the year

  1. Cinequest

    March

    A film festival emphasizing digital production, with screenings and guest speakers at venues throughout San Jose. Named one of the Top 10 Film Festivals in the world by the Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide

    Official site

  2. Nikkei Matsuri

    April – May

    Held in spring each year around late April/early May. Features Japanese-American arts, crafts and food

  3. 5 de Mayo

    May

    The Sunday right before or after May 5th is the biggest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the Bay Area.

  4. San Jose Metro Fountain Blues Festival

    May

    This day-long concert has been around since 1980. Around 8,000 blues enthusiasts show up yearly for an impressive lineup of blues musicians. It all happens in the open air on the university campus downtown

    Official site

  5. Obon Festival

    July

    Annual cultural festival hosted by the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin that honors ancestors while celebrating community and Japanese culture.

    Official site

  6. San Jose Jazz Festival

    August

    A weekend of jazz as well as blues, salsa, and big bands, playing on a dozen mostly outdoor stages

    Official site

Annual events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage (San Jose); descriptions from Wikipedia where it has one, photos from Wikimedia Commons. Dates move year to year — check before you plan around one.

Markets

  • Paseo Market

    1. Monday: 08:00–18:00
    2. Tuesday: 08:00–18:00
    3. Wednesday: 08:00–18:00
    4. Thursday: 08:00–18:00
    5. Friday: 08:00–18:00
    6. Saturday: 08:00–18:00
    7. Sunday: closed

    08:00–18:00

    800 m from the centre

  • Downtown San Jose Farmers’ Market

    1. Monday: closed
    2. Tuesday: closed
    3. Wednesday: closed
    4. Thursday: closed
    5. Friday: 10:00–14:00
    6. Saturday: closed
    7. Sunday: closed

    10:00–14:00

    1.2 km from the centre

  • Taylor Street Night Market

    Opening hours

    May-Aug: Th 17:00-21:00

    1.5 km from the centre

  • Japantown Certified Farmer’s Market

    Opening hours

    May-Oct Su 08:00-12:00

    1.5 km from the centre

  • Urban Kiosk

    No hours mapped

    460 m from the centre

  • Don Mateo Foods

    Covered hall

    No hours mapped

    1.2 km from the centre

  • San Pedro Square Market

    No hours mapped

    1.3 km from the centre

  • San Pedro Square Market Hall

    Covered hall

    No hours mapped

    1.3 km from the centre

Markets mapped on OpenStreetMap, with their hours where someone has added them. Check locally before you go.

Eating nearby

All 13 places to eat

Somewhere to run

Getting around

More train stations: San Jose Diridon 2.3 km, College Park 2.9 km, Tamien 3.4 km

Something wrong or missing on this page? Tell me

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors, as of 9 October 2026. Description from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA). Events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage, population from Wikidata.