San Jose
San Jose pairs Silicon Valley headquarters with a pueblo founded in 1777, science and history museums, and Alum Rock Park.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
San Jose sits in the Santa Clara Valley, on the southern shore of San Francisco Bay, in the part of California known as Silicon Valley. It is the most populous city in the Bay Area and the county seat of Santa Clara County. Many major tech firms, including Cisco, eBay and Adobe, are headquartered here. The Tamien people of the Ohlone lived in the valley for thousands of years before the Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe was founded on November 29, 1777. The city became California's first state capital after statehood in 1850.
Visitors come for museums, parks and neighborhoods. The Tech Interactive, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and the Winchester Mystery House are among the main attractions, and Alum Rock Park covers 718 acres in East San Jose. Japantown and Little Saigon are two neighborhoods worth a visit. Summers are warm and dry and winters are cool and wetter, so March to May and October are the best months for walking the parks. Plan two or three days for the main sights, and use Diridon Station to connect light rail, buses and Caltrain.
San Jose in five
- Use Diridon Station as your transport hubDiridon Station connects VTA light rail and buses with Amtrak, ACE, BART and Caltrain. Work out your route from it before you choose a hotel far from the stops you need.Getting around
- Check the SAP Center calendar before you bookThe SAP Center downtown hosts many concerts and events and is one of the busiest venues in the world. Check the event calendar so you know which nights the arena is busy.
- Check State Route 17 before you drive to the mountainsSnow near Mount Hamilton and Santa Cruz can back up State Route 17 toward Santa Cruz. Check road conditions before a drive to Lick Observatory or the coast.
- Carry water into SeptemberThe city's record high, 109 °F (43 °C), was set on September 6, 2022. Carry water on any hike in Alum Rock or Almaden.
- Budget for high housing costsThe San Jose metro is among the most expensive housing markets in the United States. Compare hotel and rental prices across neighborhoods before you choose a base.Where to stay
Things to do in San Jose
See all attractions in San Jose
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- ESTA for many passports; visa needed for others
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected at restaurants, bars and for taxis
- Time
- UTC-8 Pacific, UTC-7 in daylight saving time
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Cool, wetterJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wetter
- FebruaryClear8 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Cool, wetterFebruaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wetter
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Green, mildMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh20°Low9°Green, mildAprilClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- MayClear3 rainy daysHigh24°Low11°Mild, dryMayClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, dry
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh28°Low14°Dry, warmingJuneClear
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warming
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh30°Low15°Warm, dryJulyClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh30°Low16°Hot, fire riskAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, fire risk
- SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh28°Low16°Hot, drySeptemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Warm, dryOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- NovemberClear6 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Mild, first rainNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, first rain
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Cool, wetterDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 142 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wetter
Average daily high and low in San Jose, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in San Jose
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 14°
- Humidity
- 49%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
San Jose
01:57 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°8°2%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Tue19°10°21%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Wed20°11°1%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Thu22°12°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri23°13°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat25°14°0%Saturday: Clear. High 25°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun25°15°0%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 09:41 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- JunSan Francisco PrideSan Francisco, a day trip
- SepMonterey Jazz FestivalMonterey, a day trip
- OctCastro Street FairSan Francisco, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Santa Cruzabout 1 hour by carBeaches and a seaside boardwalk. The drive on State Route 17 can slow with traffic.
- Lick Observatoryabout 1 hour by car, on a winding roadThe observatory on Mount Hamilton, above the city, with a sky the city works to keep dark.
- Montereyabout 1.5 hours by carAn old fishing port on the Monterey Bay coast, with a historic waterfront.
Before you go to San Jose
Rules for San Jose, checked
- If your passport is on the Visa Waiver list, apply for ESTA before you fly. Check eligibility and apply only on the official US Customs and Border Protection site.
- Declare food, plant and fruit items on arrival. US agricultural rules are strict, and undeclared items can be fined.
- Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in the United States.
- Gun owners in San Jose must carry liability insurance under a city law passed in 2021. Check the current rules with the city before you bring a firearm.
Plan around San Jose
The wider state, for a longer trip
Read the guideAll of the USAEntry rules, transport and money for a US trip
Read the guideGetting around CaliforniaLight rail, trains and car rental for the Valley
Read the guideWhere to stayDowntown, Willow Glen and Japantown as bases
Read the guideVisas and entryESTA and entry checks for US arrivals
Read the guideMusic and concertsShows at the SAP Center and downtown venues
Read the guideSan Jose FAQ
Is San Jose worth visiting?
Yes, for museums, parks and a look at Silicon Valley, but it is a working city more than a historic one. Much of downtown's historic architecture was torn down in redevelopment from the 1950s, so plan two or three areas rather than a full day of historic streets.
How do you get around San Jose without a car?
VTA light rail and buses serve the city, and Diridon Station links to Amtrak, ACE, BART and Caltrain. Check the VTA route map for stops near your sights before you go.
How many days do you need in San Jose?
Two days cover downtown, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and the Rose Garden, with one day for Alum Rock or Almaden. Add a day for the drive up Mount Hamilton to Lick Observatory.
Is San Jose or San Francisco better for a first trip?
San Francisco suits a first trip if you want its well-known landmarks and neighborhoods. San Jose suits visitors who want museums, Japantown, Little Saigon and Little Portugal.
When is the best time to visit San Jose?
March to May and October are the best months for walking the parks. Summers are warm to hot and dry, and winters are cool and wetter.
Is there a wildfire risk near San Jose?
Yes, in late summer. In August 2020 dry thunderstorms sparked fires in the hills, and the CZU lightning complex burned over 86,000 acres. Check current fire updates before you hike in the hills.