Located in the south of the San Francisco Bay Area in California, San José is the unofficial capital of Silicon Valley and epicenter of the digital revolution. As such, it is a mecca for nerds and geeks, but also has lots of beautiful scenery to explore. We show you both sides of the city
Birthplace
Where it all began: The garage that served as headquarters for a startup named Apple in 1976 is located in Los Altos – and has been designated a historic site.
Gaming history
Play Spacewar, one of the world’s first video games, on a DEC PDP-1, a dinosaur of a computer from 1959, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View.
Meeting point
Looking for partners to help set up your new startup? The place to go is Hacker Dojo in Santa Clara, where techies also come to play a little ping pong.
Electric experience
Hop in, step on the electricity and off you sail on silent wheels. To take a Tesla for a test drive, stop by the company showroom in San José.
Pilgrimage site
For many IT nerds, there’s nothing more exciting than a visit to the headquarters of Facebook or Google. A selfie with the company logo will prove you were there.
Straight from the vine
So, for wine we have to go to Napa Valley, right? Certainly not. California wine grows in Silicon Valley, too. The best vineyards are near Saratoga, west of San José.
California fruit
Until well into the 1960s, this area was primarily known as a fruit-growing region. Today, farmers’ markets in San José still abound with fresh, local produce.
Water sports
Here’s a terrific idea: Explore San Francisco Bay in an ocean kayak! Or rent a paddle boat or sailboat for a jaunt on Shoreline Lake in Mountain View.
Wilderness adventure
We recommend a day trip to Henry W. Coe State Park. Even better: Pitch a tent and wake up the next morning in the middle of a stunning nature reserve.
Wildlife
Want to see a bull elk? Go into the mountains of the Diabalo Range southeast of the city. If you’re lucky (views may differ…) you might see a black bear or puma, too.