San Jose

City · California, 🇺🇸 United States

Population 1,013,240

Area 468 km²

Time zone America/Los_Angeles

Official website www.sanjoseca.gov

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Featured Lists

Kai Schreiber / CC BY-SA 2.0

San Jose's Essential Landmarks

San Jose features a diverse array of sites ranging from the high-tech exhibits at The Tech Interactive to the historic Luis María Peralta Adobe, the city's oldest building. Cultural highlights include one of the few remaining Japantowns in the United States and the extensive collection of Egyptian artifacts at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. The city also offers unique architectural landmarks like the sprawling Winchester Mystery House and the modernist City Hall, alongside natural retreats such as the Municipal Rose Garden and the Japanese Friendship Garden in Kelley Park.

13 places

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San Jose Museums

San Jose’s museums span from the architectural eccentricities of the Winchester Mystery House to the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in western North America at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. The Tech Interactive offers hands-on STEAM education, while the San Jose Museum of Art focuses on modern works. Local heritage is showcased at the Peralta Adobe, the city’s oldest building, and the Japanese American Museum in Japantown. Cultural history continues at the Viet Museum and History Park, an outdoor site featuring historic structures and a replica of a historic town.

10 places

CC-BY-SA-3.0

San Jose Parks and Recreation

San Jose’s recreational landscape features historic landmarks and diverse ecological spaces. Alum Rock Park, established in 1872, stands as California’s oldest municipal park, while the Municipal Rose Garden and Heritage Rose Garden showcase thousands of varieties. Cultural sites include the Japanese Friendship Garden in Kelley Park and the Chinese Cultural Garden within Overfelt Gardens. Downtown, the Plaza de César Chávez serves as a central urban hub, and the Guadalupe River Park offers 14 miles of trails. Families can explore History Park’s outdoor museum or the miniature golf courses at Golfland USA.

13 places