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Things to do in San Jose, California

Our most recommended things to do in San Jose, California

San Jose: Winchester Mystery House Tour

1. San Jose: Winchester Mystery House Tour

Come explore the fascinating Victorian mansion built by Winchester rifle heiress, Sarah L. Winchester. Marvel at this vast, strange and unusual place. Take a 65-minute guided tour of this architectural marvel, built for 38 years from 1884. Experience beautiful stained glass windows, ornate parquet floors, and turn-of-the-century craftsmanship. Discover strange oddities such as doors to nowhere, stairs to the ceiling, and windows in the floor. See rooms bare with remnants of the 1906 earthquake damage, and others furnished with lounge chairs, grand pianos, and chandeliers. After your tour, walk round the beautiful the gardens, and enjoy the fresh flowers, picnic benches and palm trees. Try your hand at axe throwing or the shooting gallery for an additional charge, or browse for souvenirs at the gift shop.

San Jose: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Trip

2. San Jose: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Trip

Towering granite cliffs and giant sequoias headline this full-day Yosemite tour from San Jose. Expert guides will make sure you don’t miss the history, geology, wildflowers, and wildlife, that have made this glacier-carved valley the jewel of America’s national park system. Your Yosemite Giant Sequoia Tour from San Jose begins with pickup from your hotel, then heads east crossing through California’s fertile San Joaquin (aka Central) Valley and into the craggy Sierra Nevada mountains. This is the only Yosemite Valley tour where you will also experience the solitude of the Tuolumne Grove of giant sequoias, the largest living things on earth. You’ll reconsider your place in the world, 2,000-year-old trees can make people do that. Your heart (and camera) will be racing as you enter Yosemite Valley, enjoying stops at Inspiration Point and El Capitan Meadow. You will stop for moments at Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and Bridalveil Falls, with plenty of time allocated to "take some selfies". Yosemite is open year-round, and if you visit in the winter months, you can picture Yosemite Valley covered in soft white snow, with animal footprints scattered about in the meadows and the snow-capped Half Dome casting its long shadow.

San Francisco: Monterey and Carmel Tour

3. San Francisco: Monterey and Carmel Tour

Begin your tour by traveling south on the famous Pacific Coast Highway, California Highway 1. Head to Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. At your first rest stop in Davenport, you will have a chance to take a selfie with the whole Pacific as your backdrop.  At Monterey, you will have 2 hours on your own to explore. You can visit the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, rent a kayak or paddleboard, hike along the coast, or take a bike to roam. You can also stroll among the quaint boutiques and art shops along the historic Cannery Row. Grab a seafood lunch at Old Fisherman’s Wharf.  Enjoy another eyeful of Pacific beauty along the scenic 17-Mile Drive through Del Monte Forest and take photographs of the hardy Lone Cyprus Tree. This famous road winds its way by magnificent homes and the spectacular coastline, between the greens and tees of world famous golf courses, and among the last remaining forest of a rare species of the Monterey Cypress.  Your scenic drive finishes at Pebble Beach Village. Upon arrival in the enchanted town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, you can explore the boutique shops on Ocean Avenue and be dazzled by the white sandy beach. If there is time, you can visit the historic Carmel Mission. Then, it will be time to head back to San Francisco. 

California: Downloadable Audio Guide for Highway 1 and More

4. California: Downloadable Audio Guide for Highway 1 and More

Complete your road trip around California with an audio guide featuring 169 locations and 3 hours of audio in 1 app. Listen to the recordings as you take in views at Yosemite, Mt. Whitney, and Zabriskie Point, experience the unique cultures of Silicon Valley, Santa Monica, and Hollywood, and drive down Highway 1. Feel at ease taking in the views while the app uses GPS to find your location and suggest stops. From famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge to lesser-known gems like Moss Landing, appreciate the wealth of beauty and history in California with detailed audio descriptions.   Stop and start your journey as often as you please, there’s no constraints once you download the app and activate your audio guide. If there’s a specific site you’d like to visit, manually choose audio guides from the built-in map or from a list.

San Jose: Private 1-Way Transfer to/from SJC Airport

5. San Jose: Private 1-Way Transfer to/from SJC Airport

Ensure your trip in San Jose is hassle-free with a convenient private 1-way transfer to or from San Jose International Airport (SJC). Choose from two vehicle options to best fit your needs. Be greeted by your driver at the arrival hall or the agreed meeting point and get help moving your luggage to the vehicle. Feel secure knowing that our customer service line runs 24/7 to support you in whatever you need. Whether you are traveling with extra luggage or with children, tailor your private transfer to your personal needs by indicating what you need when you book. Rest assured that your driver will track your flight so that no matter if your flight arrives early, late, or on time, your driver will be there to greet you on arrival.

Top sights in San Jose, California

Frequently asked questions about San Jose, California

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What people are saying about San Jose, California

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 73 reviews

Great time learning and seeing the unique history of late Sarah W., her family and beloved staff. Hosted by knowledgeable staff eager to answer questions and make the most of the experience. My only gripe was that another tour group ended up so close to us;lead by a guide who was loud, it was hard to hear our own guide. But that was a minor thing! I really enjoyed the WM - thank you!

What a day!!! Once I got in the van, the adventure started! I felt safe, knew where we were going and the plan for the tour. Bud driver and guide were super friendly, went out of their way to make the most of the experience and were very thoughtful of the needs of the visitors. They really made it a great day I won’t forget. Thank you for a great experience, I’ll be back!!!

A wonderful tour, scenically wonderful. The bus driver Thomas was fantastic. He told a lot about the sights and the landscape and gave good tips. Although the day was long, it was definitely worth it. We don't want to miss the day.

Very interesting tour of the mystery mansion with 160 rooms. Our guide was excellent in sharing important info regarding the owner of the mansion and pointing out things to pay closer look at in the tour.

The route was beautiful. Lots of stops to walk and explore. The guide was extremely informative however he was sometimes quite unpleasant when giving instuctions for example to be on time.