Whether you’re a lifelong San Josean longing to embrace your inner tourist, or you have a limited amount of time in the great 408, here are 15+ tours guaranteed to show you the sights you want to see.
Note: Price estimates are based on individual adult rates available at the time of publishing. Check each company’s website to see current pricing.
Top tours
Downtown Historic Walking Tour | Free
Learn about some of the oldest structures, long-lost businesses, and more in this self-led tour from Visit San Jose.
Silicon Segway | $90/person
Roll through downtown’s history + tech culture, and Guadalupe River’s wildlife.
Silicon Valley Day Excursion | $680/up to six people
Get tech-y on this four-hour tour that takes you by the largest tech companies, Moffett Field, Tech Interactive, Tesla, and more.
Operation City Quest | $20+/person
Find clues to solve riddles in this scavenger hunt around town.
Eat and Drink
San Jose Brew Bike | $50/person
The perfect way to drink up San Jose’s nightlife — stop by local establishments like the Guildhouse, Dr. Funk, The Fountainhead Bar, O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub, The Old Wagon Saloon, and more.
Tommy John’s Wine and Brew Tours | Prices vary
Visit some lesser-known gems in the South Bay or Santa Cruz Mountains. Most tours offer 8-9 stops at historic wineries in the area.
All in on history
History Park Walking Tour | $0-$12/person
Take a step back in time with insights on historic architecture + notable San Joseans.
Gonzales/Peralta Adobe and Carmela & Thomas Fallon House Tour | $0-$12/person
Step inside the last remaining structure from El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, and venture across the street to one of SJ’s earliest mayors’ house.
Hidden Histories of San Jose Japantown | Free
This augmented reality experience shows this neighborhood’s diverse past on top of its present day streets.
Take a walking tour to discover the local connections to this historic protest at the 1968 Olympics.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Art is all around
Public Art as Resistance in San José | Free
This curated walk shows 12 works of art that highlight our city’s historic movements + push to bring creative spaces to our urban core.
San Jose Museum of Art tours | Free
This docent-led tour takes you through new + ongoing exhibits, and invites you to participate in art-making activities where you’ll be provided paper, pencils, and clipboards.
Get ghosted
San Jose Ghosts Tour | $16-$25/person
Hear the stories of some of the most haunted places in San Jose which include the Sainte Claire Hotel, Park Avenue, and 65 Post Street.
Winchester Mystery House tours | Prices vary
Explore the famous mansion through a regular house tour, garden tour, or the more haunting “Walk With Spirits” tour.
San Jose: Valley Ghosts Haunted Walking Tour | $32/person
This history-packed tour will take you through spots with reported paranormal activity, with stops at SJSU, San Jose Improv, and more.
Get a view unlike any other atop Mount Hamilton at Lick Observatory.
Photo via @crhphotog
Outdoors + more
Alviso Boat Tours | Free
Take to the water to discover the region’s natural history and the inhabitants of the wetlands just north of San Jose — offered May-October.
Mount Hamilton Walking Tour | Free
Reach for the stars in this tour around Lick Observatory + get rewarded with some of the best views in the valley.
Public Evening Tours at Lick Observatory | $75/person
Astrophiles will enjoy this tour where you can visit the 3-meter Shane Telescope, learn about James Lick, and view the night sky through the historic 36-inch Great Refractor Telescope.
What did we miss? If you know a tour that’s not on the list, guide us in the right direction using this survey.
