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Silicon Valley's Public University
San José State University is situated in the heart of the world's innovation and technology
capital. Through dynamic, forward-facing teaching, research and a heritage of producing
leaders across all industries, SJSU prepares students to enter the global workforce
with a background and depth of experiences like no other. Explore what education in
the heart of Silicon Valley can mean for you or your student.
Watch how SJSU is On the Rise
Explore the Campus
Tour SJSU
Book an in-person, guided tour of the SJSU campus online or stop by the Welcome Center
on the ground floor of the Diaz Compean Student Union.
Experience a Virtual Tour
Explore and learn about the main SJSU campus through a step-by-step tour of key locations
featuring 360-degree, panoramic interior and exterior views.
Discover the Spartan Life
From events and experiences to supportive services, and whether you're joining us
on campus or virtually, we welcome new Spartans to Discover SJSU!
Explore the Interactive Map
Discover all San José State University campuses with a brand-new engaging and interactive
campus map.
Getting Around
Public Transit
As the CSU's only urbanized, downtown campus SJSU benefits from the densest concentration
of public transportation in Silicon Valley linking us with the entire Bay Area. Learn
how to get to SJSU and get around.
Parking
While SJSU benefits from the densest concentration of public transit in Silicon Valley,
with over a dozen bus lines and light rail, there are three campus parking garages
and street parking for students, faculty and staff members, and visitors. Parking
permits are required.
South Campus Shuttle
Campus parking garages fill up daily by 10 a.m. Park at the South Campus Garage at
1278 South 10th Street and take the free, frequent shuttle to Duncan Hall on the southern
edge of campus. The shuttle runs Mondays to Thursdays during the academic year from
7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Explore Our Home
Experience Downtown
California's third-largest city is home to over a million people, dozens of neighborhoods
and parks, unrivaled diversity and proximity to the outdoors, and endless opportunities
for fun and excitement. Explore SJSU's neighborhood:  the vibrant heart of downtown
San José.
Shop, Dine, Play Local
Check out the latest events, dining and retail listings and things to do with information
from the San José Downtown Association.
SJSU Loves SJ
SJSU Loves SJ is a showcase of the strong, collaborative relationship between San
José State University and the city of San José.
Find Your Way to San José
Flying to San José
The closest airport to SJSU is San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) - a 10-15
minute drive to the main campus and downtown.
Lodging Accommodations
Find short-term lodging in the downtown area, nearest SJSU.
Getting to Campus
Situated in the heart of downtown, SJSU benefits from being the core for all public
transit in Santa Clara County and close proximity to freeways.
See What's Up in Downtown
See a Show
The Susan and Phil Hammer Theater Center, owned by the City of San José and operated
by SJSU, hosts a variety of events by SJSU and performing arts shows and exhibitions
open to the community.
Get Lost in a Book
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library is the nation's largest joint use library,
combining the conventional services of a public library, as the City of San José's
main location, and study, support, and research space for SJSU students and employees.
Cheer on the Spartans
San José State Spartans compete in nearly two dozen NCAA Division I, Mountain West
collegiate teams. Sporting events are held both on the main campus and at the south
campus.
Dining
Eat at one of downtown's many restaurants with options from a variety of cuisines
including establishments featured in the Michelin Guide.
Shopping
Shop local at one of downtown's several small businesses. From clothing to art to
souvenirs, get all your retail needs met in the heart of San José.
Entertainment
Experience downtown's year-round vibrancy with musical performances and festivals,
comedy shows, street events and markets, and nightlife.
Explore Our City
Alum Rock Park
Located approximately seven miles east of campus at the edge of San José, Alum Rock
Park boasts over 700 acres of rugged terrain, open park space for social gathering
and recreation, and hiking trails. Explore all of San José's parks and trails
Children's Discovery Museum
Located on the western side of downtown, the Discovery Museum offers fun, engaging
and interactive learning experiences for the whole family.
History San José
History San José is a cultural institution providing immersive educational experiences
in and near downtown San José. Visit the interactive period recreation of early San
José at History Park, tour the stunning grounds of the Japanese Friendship Garden,
and bring the kids to the Happy Hollow Zoo all in Kelley Park, to the east of SJSU's
South Campus.
Japantown
Japantown, one of only three remaining in the United States, is a center for Japanese-American
culture and heritage located several blocks north of the SJSU main campus.
McEnery Convention Center
The San José Tom McEnery Convention Center sits in the center of Downtown and boasts
hundreds of varied events a year including Fanime, the Silicon Valley Auto Show, Silicon
Valley Comic Con, annual tech conferences, and makers and crafts fairs, meetings and
tradeshows.
Museum of Art
The San José Museum of Art displays modern and contemporary art exhibitions in addition
to a permanent collection. Located blocks from the main SJSU campus, SJMA offers year-round
entertainment for visitors and locals.
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
The Egyptian Museum is an instutition devoted to the study and culture of Ancient
Egyptian art, culture and society in the Rose Garden neighborhood near downtown San
José.
Santana Row
Santana Row is San José's premiere shopping, dining, and lifestyle hub located approximately
five miles west of SJSU and easily accessible via VTA bus lines.
Winchester Mystery House
This spooky history-themed mansion was once the personal residence of Sarah Winchester,
widow and heiress of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, producers of the "Gun
That Won the West". The mansion is located across from Santana Row in west San José.
Outdoors: Parks and Nature
Almaden Quicksilver County Park
For 135 years, Almaden Valley in San José was home to quicksilver (mercury) mining.
Now, the western hills of the valley is a preserved, natural landscape, county park,
and landmark of California history covering 4,163 acres, spectacular wildflower blooms,
and 29 miles of trails all within a 25 minute drive from SJSU.
Alviso Marina County Park
At San José's northern edge, Alviso was once a bustling bayside port and home to the
country's third-largest fish cannery. Now, visitors can experience the rugged coastal
landscape at the edge of the San Francisco Bay in a 0.6-acre park with marshland and
salt pond trails and boardwalks all within 25 minutes from SJSU.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
California's oldest state park covers 18,000 acres of ancient coast redwood trees
that have withstood centuries of change and recent devastating wildfires. Experience
the 0.6-mile Redwood Loop Trail meandering through some of the world's tallest trees
and more all within a 45 to 60 minute drive west of SJSU.
Coyote Valley
South of San José's urban core, Coyote Valley is a seven-mile-long, 7,400 acre floodplain
and agricultural area. Several areas of Coyote Valley are protected from development
with open access for recreational use such as the nearly 350-acre Coyote Valley Open
Space Preserve with its four-mile Arrowhead Loop Trail, the 15-mile long Coyote Creek
Parkway for walking, running, and biking, and the 1800 acre Máyyan 'Ooyákma - Coyote
Ridge Open Space Preserve.
Moss Landing
Home to SJSU's premiere marine biology research facility consortium Moss Landing Marine
Laboratories, Moss Landing in Monterey County boasts spectacular beach hiking trails,
navigable waterways like the Elkhorn Slough, and fresh seafood one hour southwest
of the SJSU main campus.
Mount Hamilton
Overlooking Santa Clara Valley, Mount Hamilton rises 4,265 feet in height in the Diablo
Range of foothills to the east of San José. One hour east of SJSU, visitors can find
the Lick Observatory and, on clear days, see as far Mount Tamalpais in Marin County
to the north, the Monterey peninsula to the southwest, and Yosemite Valley to the
southeast. Winter storms dust the top of Mount Hamilton with snow visible for miles
from San José.
Performing Arts: Comedy, Drama and More
SJSU Events Venues
Experience stage performances, music concerts and recitals, and cultural celebrations
on campus in the Morris Dailey Auditorium, Student Union, Hal Todd University Center,
and the Music Concert Hall. Find events at events.sjsu.edu.
California Theater
The California Theater is a performing arts venue in the SoFA (South First Area) District
of downtown San José that regularly hosts Opera San José, Symphony San José, and film
screenings like Cinequest Film Festival.
Center for Performing Arts
The Center for Performing Arts in the western side of downtown hosts stage productions
and Broadway shows.
San José Civic
The San José Civic adjacent to the Plaza de Cesar Chavez park in downtown San José
hosts musical performances and touring performance shows.
San José Improv
The San José Improv in downtown San José, a few blocks west of SJSU, hosts touring
comedy acts and shows and community events.
Sporting Events and Venues
Bay FC
Bay FC is the Bay Area's first National Women's Soccer League club that plays at PayPal
Park in San José. Co-founded by San José natives and former professional athletes
two-time FIFA World Cup Champion Brandi Chastain, Aly Wagner and Danielle Slaton.
49ers
Levi's Stadium is a National Football League stadium home to the San Francisco 49ers
and other sporting and music events located approximately 10 miles northwest of SJSU.
Get to Levi's Stadium via VTA light rail Green and Blue lines.
San José Barracuda
The San José Barracuda are an American Hockey League (AHL) team affiliated with the
NHL San José Sharks. The Barracuda play at Tech CU Arena near SJSU's South Campus.
San José Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes are an American professional soccer team based in San José
that competes as a member of the Western Conference of Major League Soccer. The Earthquakes
play at Paypal Park, located approximately three miles northwest of SJSU.
San José Giants
The San José Giants are a minor league baseball Class A-Advanced affiliated with the
MLB San Francisco Giants. The SJ Giants play at Excite Ballpark next to SJSU's South
Campus.
SAP Center
The SAP Center is home to the San José Sharks, a National Hockey League team, and
music and performance arts events throughout the year. SAP Center is located on the
western edge of downtown, approximately 10 minutes from SJSU.
Transportation: Local and Regional
Transit Pass
Students and employees can get free transportation on Valley Transportation Authority
(VTA) buses and light rail trains with the SmartPass on Clipper Card available in
the AS Transportation Solutions Office. Clipper Cards can also be loaded with cash
value for use for contactless fare payment for all other Bay Area transit agencies.
Valley Transporation Authority
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) provides bus and light rail service throughout
Santa Clara County. Several local, rapid and express bus lines connect SJSU with the
rest of the South Bay through downtown.
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is the region's metro that connects San José with cities
across the Bay Area including San Francisco and Oakland via the East Bay. BART does
not yet reach SJSU and downtown San Jose; take the VTA 500 bus from City Hall near
SJSU to Berryessa/North San José Station.
Caltrain
Caltrain is a passenger rail service that connects San José to San Francisco via the
San Francisco Peninsula passing cities in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Take
the VTA 500 bus from City Hall near SJSU to San José Diridon Station.
Intercity Rail: Amtrak
Amtrak connects San José with the rest of the U.S. from Diridon Station. Amtrak services
include the Capitol Corridor which links San José and Oakland to Sacramento and points
beyond and inter-state service with the Coastal Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles.
Altamont Corridor Express
The Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) is a commuter rail service connecting Stockton
and San José and cities in Alameda County. ACE runs during commute hours only during
weekdays.