About San Jose

 
Picture of Cesar Chavez Park
 
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph is located near the San Jose McEnery Convention Center

Learn more about our host city.

For more information, visit the Team San Jose website.

Transportation

With access via three interstates, multiple airports, and three commuter rail lines, San Jose is easily accessible by car, plane, and train.

To and From the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport

The San Jose International Airport is less than five miles from downtown San Jose!

        • The Terminal B bus stop is located at the Ground Transportation Island across from Terminal B.
        • The Terminal A bus stop is located at the Ground Transportation Center across from the International Arrivals Building.
        • A new shuttle departs each designated stopping point approximately every 15 to 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
        • Take the "Metro Airport LRT Station" to the Metro Airport VTA Light Rail Station.

  • Shuttle, Limousine, and Taxi Services

  • Bus Service

    • Monterey Airbus provides service from the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport.

  • By Car

    • To travel by car from the airport to the San Jose Marriott Hotel, follow these directions:
      • Merge onto CA-87 S via the ramp to I-280/Downtown.
      • Take exit 6A for Park Avenue toward San Carlos Street/CA-82.
      • Turn left onto Park Avenue.
      • Take the first right onto Woz Way, then turn left onto W. San Carlos Street.
      • Turn right onto S. Market Street.
      • Arrive at the San Jose Marriott Hotel, 301 South Market Street.

  • Car Rental

    Several major car rental companies are located at the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport.

To and From the San Jose Diridon Caltrain Train Station

Arrivals at the San Jose Diridon Caltrain train station can take the DASH free shuttle to the San Jose McEnery Convention Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, or pay $2 to ride the light rail trolley towards Mountain View (a five to six minute ride) from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. any day of the week.

Alternatively, taxis are readily available outside the station. The same options are available for traveling back to the station from the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.

To and From San Francisco, California

  • Public Transit

    • Commuter Rail
        • Caltrain's San Francisco/Gilroy commuter rail line provides service between San Francisco and San Jose. To access the commuter rail, travelers arriving at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) can take a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train from the airport to Caltrain's Milbrae light rail station. An adult one-way BART fare from SFO to Milbrae costs $4 and takes approximately 12 minutes, including a transfer at San Bruno. The commuter rail from Milbrae station to the San Jose Diridon station takes approximately 50 minutes and costs $6.75 (a three-zone fare).
        • To access SFO's BART station, travelers can take the free AirTrain from their terminal to the Garage B/BART station stop in the airport.
        • Caltrain operates trains from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, and trains depart approximately every half hour. On weekends, Caltrain service runs from 7 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays, and from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Sundays.
      • A taxi from the airport to the Milbrae light rail station will cost approximately $13. A $2 exit fee is charged to all passengers departing from the airport.
      • The San Jose Diridon Caltrain station is less than 1.5 miles from the San Jose Marriott. Taxis are readily available outside the station and cost approximately $10 each way.

  • Rail

    • Amtrak
      • Amtrak's Capitol Corridor and Coast Starlight lines run through the San Jose Diridon Caltrain station to points north, south, and east. However, non-stop Amtrak train service from San Jose to San Francisco is not available. Instead, Amtrak offers Thruway bus connections from San Jose to various stops in San Francisco, including the Ferry Building, Financial District, Moscone Center, Shopping Center, Civic Center, and Fisherman's Wharf.
      • The San Jose Diridon Amtrak station is located less than 1.5 miles from the San Jose Marriott. Taxis are readily available outside the station and cost approximately $10 each way.
  • Taxi Service
    • Taxis are available at SFO. A taxi from the airport to San Jose will cost approximately $134.
    • Note that a $2 exit fee is charged to all passengers departing from the airport, and once a taxi has traveled more than 15 miles from SFO, the passenger is charged at 150 percent of the metered rate.

  • Limousine Service

    Limousines are available by advance reservation only. Passengers can arrange to be picked up from any terminal.

  • Bus Service

    Greyhound provides service from SFO to San Jose. The fare is approximately $10, and trips take between one hour (no stops) and two hours (multiple stops), depending on the route and time of day.

  • By Car

    • Driving from SFO to the San Jose Marriott will take approximately 45 minutes.
      • Follow signs for US-101 South
      • Take US-201 South (toward San Jose) for 32 miles
      • Merge onto CA-87 South (continue for 3.6 miles)
      • Take exit 6A (Park Avenue) to merge onto CA-82 /San Carlos Street
      • Stay straight to continue on Delmas Avenue
      • Take the first left onto W. San Carlos Street/CA-82 South and go 0.5 miles
      • Take a right onto S. Market Street/CA-82 South
      • Arrive at San Jose Marriott, 301 S. Market Street (on the right).

  • Car Rental

    Currently, nine rental car companies operate at SFO. They include: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, and Thrifty. All of these companies are located on the fourth floor of the SFO Rental Car Center. In addition, ACE Rent-A-Car and Payless operate offsite and are served by free shuttles departing from the SFO Rental Car Center upon customer request.

    To access the SFO Rental Car Center from the airport terminals, travelers can take the AirTrain Blue Line. The AirTrain is free and operates 24 hours per day.

Parking

The San Jose Marriott offers valet parking for $26 daily with in-and-out privileges. There is no self-parking at the hotel. Off-site parking is $3 per hour or $20 daily.

Around Town

Attendees are encouraged to go green while in San Jose, so plan to walk or take public transit as much as possible. Great restaurants, Broadway shows, museums, professional sports, a vibrant nightlife, and plenty of family fun are all within blocks of one other.

  • Walking

    In 2011, San Jose was ranked number 19 on Walk Score's list of most walkable large cities in the United States. Attendees are encouraged to use the most efficient form of transportation they have and get some exercise by walking to their destinations! Stop by the San Jose Visitor Information & Business Center for maps, directions, restaurant reservations, calendars of events, and general information. The Visitor Center is located in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, which is directly connected to the San Jose Marriott.

  • Public Transportation

    • VTA Light Rail
      VTA Light Rail
      The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) operates numerous bus and light rail routes throughout San Jose. View the VTA system map and a map of the downtown area (1.6 MB, 1 pp). The San Jose Marriott is located at the Convention Center station.
    • VTA fare is $2 per trip, payable in cash only. Alternatively, you can purchase a day pass for $6.

  • Taxi

    Visit the hotel concierge to arrange for taxi service.


Restaurants

Team San Jose has an extensive listing of restaurants, searchable by geographic area or cuisine type, and a dining guide map (1.4 MB, 1 pp).


Activities

San Jose Meet-and-Greet for Friends of I2SL

Tuesday, October 2
11 a.m. to noon

Friends, family, and significant others of our Labs21 2012 Annual Conference attendees were invited to attend this free, informal welcome for non-conference attendees. A representative from Team San Jose provided an overview of all there is to see and do in San Jose; how to get around; and where to find food, shopping, and other local points of interest.

Non-attendees could use this reception to connect with other non-attendees and hit the town with others who share their interests.

Museums

    The San Jose Musuem of Art

    The San Jose Museum of Art
    The Tech Museum
    The Tech Museum

     

  • Located within a few blocks of the convention center, the Children's Discovery Museum offers 150 interactive exhibits and programs in a family-oriented setting, inviting visitors to explore and understand the world they live in.
  • Within walking distance of the convention center, The Tech Museum offers visitors of all ages an interactive look at how technology affects daily life, including exhibits on the Internet and the human body.
  • Located two blocks from the convention center, the San Jose Museum of Art focuses on modern and contemporary artwork, particularly by West Coast artists.

Outdoor Activities and Gardens

  • Alum Rock Park—San Jose's oldest and largest park at 720 acres, located just a few miles outside of downtown San Jose—offers hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, picnicking, and more. The Youth Science Institute within the park has live animals for viewing.
  • Hakone Gardens
    Hakone Gardens
    Hakone Gardens is the oldest Asian estate and gardens in the Western Hemisphere and one of the few authentic Japanese gardens in the United States. In the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this tranquil collection of gardens and waterfalls is located approximately 25 minutes from downtown San Jose.
  • For rose lovers, the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden boasts more than 4,000 rose shrubs representing nearly 190 varieties. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful display from April through November.
  • Located at the summit of Mt. Hamilton (4200 feet) in the Diablo Range east of San Jose, Lick Observatory is a multi-campus research unit of the University of California. Visitors can explore exhibits, participate in a tour, take a look at the Great Lick Refractor, or enjoy a breathtaking view of the Santa Clara Valley.

Performing Arts

The San Jose Repertory Theater
The San Jose Repertory
Theater

 

 

  • The San Jose Repertory Theater presents six annual main-stage shows each year, offering a variety of contemporary, classic, and new work.
  • Ballet San Jose has a repertoire of more than 120 traditional and modern classical ballets and features dancers from numerous countries.

 

 

 

 

Historic Buildings

  •   The Winchester Mystery House
      The Winchester Mystery House
    History San Jose maintains several historic buildings throughout the city that are open to visitors.
  • The Winchester Mystery House, on the National Register of Historic Places, is an oddity in architecture. Contractors built the house 24 hours a day for 38 years until widow Sarah Winchester's death in 1922. This Victorian home boasts 160 rooms, 47 fireplaces, windows in the floor, staircases that go nowhere, and other seemingly random design features that must be seen to be believed.

Shopping and Movies

Santana Row is an upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment complex located 4.5 miles from downtown San Jose. The shopping district features 70 retail shops and boutiques, 20 restaurants, nine spas and salons, and a movie theater.

Maps

Explore the San Francisco Bay Area

San Jose is centrally located only 50 miles from San Francisco, 30 miles from Santa Cruz, and 25 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Entertainment opportunities, cultural events, scenic beauty, rich history, and legendary beaches can be found throughout the region.

Bay Area Rapid Transit offers metro service throughout the area.

Visit Big Basin Redwoods State Park, approximately 20 miles to the southwest of San Jose. With more than 18,000 acres of old growth and recovering forest, 80 miles of trails, waterfalls, and wildlife, there is something for everyone to see.

In 2012, San Francisco is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, considered one of the top 10 construction achievements of the 20th century and one of the world's most beautiful bridges.

Surrounding the bridge is the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a national park of great interest for history and nature buffs, as evidenced by its 13 million visitors per year.