Where to Stay in San Jose ✔️ 5 Top Areas with Hotels

Prepping for your trip to Silicon Valley’s capital city? Then hop on this guide on where to stay in San Jose, CA!

I lived in San Jose and also worked in the city for a while, so I got to know it pretty well! I included in this post all the tips I’ve learned during my stay in town along with a list of the top neighborhoods and hotels for all budgets. 

In short, Downtown is the best area to stay in San Jose, as that’s where you’ll find the main attractions. However, if you’re looking for something with a different vibe, check out the other neighborhoods too. 

Definitely book your hotel in advance. San Jose is the gateway to the Bay area and it gets lots of visitors all year round.

Quick Picks for Your Stay

If you want to book now, then quickly browse this list of hotels, all located in Downtown San Jose:

Here’s a map of all the San Jose areas that I will be talking about in this post:

1. Downtown San Jose – where to stay for the first time

Urban vibes, tons of modern tech buildings, and palm trees everywhere! 

If you’re visiting this city for the first time, Downtown is for sure the best place to stay in San Jose, California.

Every attraction is located within walking distance, so you won’t have to use public transport much, as you can just walk from one place to the next. And if you’re coming back to the hotel late after enjoying the city’s nightlife you can easily get an Uber. 

Here you’ll find some amazing attractions like The Tech Interactive Museum, the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, the San Jose Improv Comedy Club and the San Jose McEnery Convention Center (map).

NOTE: I used to work in this area, at Hilton San Jose and I had to commute from Sunnyvale (I’ll talk more about that area in section #4) to Downtown. I used the bus and tram to get here and once I actually got fined by the traffic controller because I bought the wrong bus pass. So definitely make sure you get the correct one for your age! 

Another cool place that I liked exploring while I was in San Jose was the San Jose State University campus (map) which has lots of cool buildings.

There you can also see the Olympic Black Power Statue, built in honor of the African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos. 

I’m sure that some of you will want to visit the big tech headquarters that are set in the San Jose area. Apple, Adobe, Google, Facebook and many other companies have their offices here and to visit them, I’d recommend renting a car, rather than using public transport since they’re quite spread out.

Other accommodation options in Downtown San Jose

Things to do in Downtown San Jose

• Learn new things at the Tech Interactive Center
• Check out the water jets at Plaza de Cesar Chavez (map)
• See the famous Olympic Black Power Statue (map)
• Admire the architecture of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph (map)
• See some of the best paintings at the San José Museum of Art
• Grab a bite at San Pedro Square Market (map)
• Have fun at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

2. Campbell – where to stay around San Jose for nature lovers

Located 7 miles (11 km) south of Downtown San Jose, this little suburb is far enough from the city center to avoid all the crazy crowds but close enough to reach some of the biggest attractions by public transport.

Although technically Campbell is treated as separate from the city, it still feels like part of San Jose since it’s close. So, don’t worry, you won’t feel as if you’re staying in a different town. 

If you’re like me and you like being near parks and green areas when you’re traveling to a big city, then this is the perfect spot for you. 

The atmosphere is very friendly and the downtown area of the suburb is filled with restaurants and boutique shops.Apart from all the nice parks in the neighborhood, Campbell has some cool attractions which you should visit like the Campbell Historical Museum and Ainsley House Museum which give a great insight into the local history.

Other accommodation options in Campbell

Things to do in Campbell

• Learn new things at the Campbell Historical Museum 
• Spend some time doing outdoor activities in Campbell Park (map)
• Take the kids to the playground in John D. Morgan Park (map)
• Admire the architecture of the Ainsley House Museum
• Enjoy a picnic at Edith Morley Park (map)
• Visit the Winchester Mystery House

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3. Santa Clara – best place to stay for families

Just like Campbell, Santa Clara is technically a separate area from San Jose, but still pretty close to Downtown San Jose. 

It takes around 30 min to get there by public transport and just 10 min by car, so it’ll probably feel as if you’re staying in San Jose. 

I think Santa Clara is a great place for families traveling with kids since here you’ll find California’s Great America amusement park and some other fun sites. 

But I’d also recommend this place for any tech enthusiasts who want to visit some cool attractions. A few of the big Silicon Valley companies have their headquarters here like Intel (map) and Apple Park (map) is also nearby (just a 10 min drive away). 

Some other cool attractions that you should check out here are the Intel Museum, Triton Museum of Art and the Harris Lass House Museum.You’ll also find lots of parks at every corner! Maybe in between all the museum visits, you can take a stroll around Fremont Park (map) which also has a playground or Santa Clara Central Park (map).

Other accommodation options in Santa Clara

Things to do in Santa Clara 

• Have some family fun at California’s Great America Amusement Park
• Visit the Triton Museum of Art
• Admire the architecture of the Harris Lass House Museum
• Teach the kids new things about technology at the Intel Museum 
• Go shopping in all the boutique stores in Santa Clara 
• Enjoy a fancy dinner at Le Papillon (map)
• Go for a walk in Fremont Park or Santa Clara Central Park

4. Sunnyvale – best place to stay for tranquility

Welcome to Sunnyvale, an area that’s set 12 miles (20 km) Northwest of San Jose Downtown, and the place where I used to live while working in San Jose.

PRO TIP: If you are staying here and want to visit the Downtown area, get a hotel that’s close to a tram station, so you can jump on the tram at any time and head there. Otherwise, you might have to use a bus to get to the tram station and then change. 

Nicknamed “Santa Clara’s little sister,” as they share some parts of California’s Great America amusement park, this residential area is perfect for tourists who’d prefer to be far away from the hustle and bustle. 

Remember that you’re still in Silicon Valley, so expect to see a few headquarters of some big companies on the street, like Linkedin (map).

You should also check out the bay area, around Baylands Park (map), where you can go to enjoy some nice walls out in nature.

For those who want to visit other iconic headquarters, know that right near this neighborhood, there’s the Mountain View area, where you’ll find the Googleplex campus (map) and the Microsoft Corporate Campus (map).

Other accommodation options in Sunnyvale

Things to do in Sunnyvale 

5. Rosemary – where to stay in San Jose near the airport

Traveling for business? Or maybe you just need to be in proximity to the airport?

Then I’ve got just the place for you! A small area named Rosemary which is set right near the airport and only a 10 min drive away from Downtown San Jose. 

You won’t find much here, besides accommodations, restaurants and cafes, but luckily you can always head Downtown and visit all the attractions there.

If you don’t have a car you can use public transport as there’s a direct tram line. It’ll take you around 20 min and bam, you’ll be in the center of all the action.

As I mentioned there are a couple of restaurants here like Sushi Kan Japanese Cuisine and even some casinos, if you’re looking to have a bit of fun while in the town. ’re not that much into technology but my favorite attraction in this area has to be the NASA Gift Shop Silicon Valley. A little piece of advice, try not to spend all your money there!

Other accommodation options in Rosemary

Things to do in Rosemary

• Try your luck at Casino M8trix (map)
• Grab a bite at Sushi Kan Japanese Cuisine (map)
• Head Downtown to visit some attractions 
• Play some bowling at 4th Street Bowl (map)

FAQs about lodging in San Jose, CA

🌆 What is the best area in San Jose?

Downtown is the best area to stay in San Jose as all the main attractions are here plus you get the chance to experience the nightlife and attend events. 

🛑 What are the bad areas of San Jose?

Fairgrounds in South San Jose and Buena Vista in West San Jose are two neighborhoods that you should avoid during your visit as they have a high crime rate. 

💸 How much does it cost to stay in San Jose?

The accommodation prices are quite high in San Jose, a luxury hotel costs $250, a mid-range one costs $180 and for a budget one, you’ll need to pay $120.

🛫 What are the best hotels near the airport in San Jose?

🔝What are the safest areas in San Jose, CA?

Almaden Valley, Willow Glen and Cambrian Park are some of the safest areas in San Jose, CA.

🚶 Is Downtown San Jose walkable?

Yes, Downtown San Jose is a super walkable area, you won’t really have to use public transport to get around. 

📅 How many days should you stay in San Jose?

I’d recommend spending between 3 to 4 days in San Jose, that way you can explore the town and also the big tech headquarters around the city, like Apple and Google. 

🤩 What are some unique places to stay in San Jose, CA?

Final thoughts on where to stay in San Jose

It has been so fun to tell you all about this city that I called home for a while!

I hope that this guide on where to stay in San Jose, California, helped you decide which area and hotel to pick for your trip!

If you’re still not sure on the hotel, here are my 2 top-rated favorite hotels, both set in Downtown San Jose:

Just remember to book your San Jose hotels in advance! This city is the capital of the iconic Silicon Valley and it gets lots of visitors, so it’s better to secure your spot early. 

Have a fun trip and don’t forget that I’m still around if you’ve got any questions! Just drop me a comment below and I’ll answer as soon as I can. 

Safe Travels, 

Yulia

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