Overview
Santa Clara is a town in the South Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area, in California.
13 sights · 7 things to do · 5 places to eat · 10 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Santa Clara
Intel Museum
Learn a bit of local and technological history, and see what it takes to enter a cleanroom. Allow 1–2 hours.
Mission Santa Clara de Asís
The eighth Franciscan California mission, founded by Father Serra. It was built nearer to the Guadalupe River, moved to its present location in 1828, and restored in 1929. It is the only mission on a university campus. I…
Santa Clara University
If driving, be aware of campus parking restrictions.
de Saisset Museum
The museum combines rotating exhibitions with a permanent collection of works by Ernest de Saisset, a 19th-century Santa Clara student who studied painting in Paris. The museum is often closed between exhibitions, so cal…
Agnews Developmental Center
The Agnews Historic Park preserves three buildings from the old California Hospital for the Chronic Insane. Founded in 1889, the facility's original buildings collapsed in the "San Francisco Earthquake" of 1906, killing …
Triton Museum of Art
The museum offers a variety of rotating exhibits. Classes and special events may require a fee.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Feb–Nov. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 38°F. Wettest: Jan and Dec. (climate data from nearby Cupertino)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SJC Mineta San Jose International Airport, San Jose — 2 mi away (major hub). Directions
- SQL San Carlos Airport, San Carlos — 19 mi away. Directions
Caltrain stops at Santa Clara Station, on the east side of Santa Clara University (1001 Railroad Avenue). Though Caltrain doesn't really stop at San Jose Mineta Airport, the free Airporter bus (VTA line 10) shuttles passengers between the airport and the Santa Clara Caltrain station.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Intel Museum, California's Great America, Our Lady of Peace Church and Shrine
- Lunch Rivermark Village
- Afternoon Agnews Developmental Center, Harriss-Lass Historic Museum
- Dinner Yuki Sushi
Day 2
- Morning Mission Santa Clara de Asís, Santa Clara University, de Saisset Museum
- Lunch Pizz'a Chicago
- Afternoon South Bay Historical Railroad Society, Old Quad
- Dinner Athena Grill
Day 3
- Morning Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara City Hall, KoreaTown
- Lunch Stan's Donuts
- Afternoon San Francisco 49ers, Santa Clara Vanguard
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Area restaurants feature foods from cultures all over the world, reflecting the area's diversity. There is no need to eat in the same restaurant, or even the same kind of restaurant, twice.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Santa Clara is a small city of big contrasts. If any city can claim to be "the center of Silicon Valley," it is this town of just over 100,000. Intel, AMD, WebEx, NVIDIA, and National Semiconductor all have headquarters here. At the same time, Santa Clara is one of the oldest settlements (by Europeans) in Northern California. The Mission Santa Clara de Asís was established in 1777, and the Jesuit-run Santa Clara University, founded in 1851, is the oldest university in California. Dozens of 19th-century homes are well-maintained by their 21st-century owners in the "old quad," the earliest residential area, adjacent to the university.
Yet another contrast is the diversity of the local population, driven by the tech boom of the 1970s-1990s. Visitors from Asia and Europe frequently overhear strangers speaking their native languages. Specialty markets offer native ingredients from around the world, and the Indian and East Asian restaurants are some of the best in the Bay Area. But many of the best places in Santa Clara are not visible at first glance. You could drive right through this town and see nothing of any interest, or you could take the time to learn where to look, explore, and enjoy.
Get in
By plane
- Just west of San Jose, Santa Clara is adjacent to San Jose Mineta Airport (SJC). To reach the airport take the free shuttle from the Santa Clara Caltrain station, route 10.
- To the San Francisco International Airport, take Caltrain north (toward San Francisco) to Millbrae. From there, transfer to BART and take BART to San Bruno and then to SFO. Allow about an hour and a half.
- Oakland International Airport is accessible by Amtrak or BART via the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART station and the AirBART shuttle.
By train
Caltrain stops at Santa Clara Station, on the east side of Santa Clara University (1001 Railroad Avenue). Though Caltrain doesn't really stop at San Jose Mineta Airport, the free Airporter bus (VTA line 10) shuttles passengers between the airport and the Santa Clara Caltrain station.
The Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) is an express train running from the central valley towns of Stockton, Tracy, Livermore and Pleasanton to San Jose. The train shares the Santa Clara station with Caltrain and also stops at the Great America station at Lafayette and Tasman, near the Santa Clara Convention Center, Levi's Stadium, and California's Great America. Only a few trains run per day. The Great America stop doesn't include a station building, just a platform under an overpass, so plan connecting transportation before you arrive.
- When you get off the southbound ACE train at Great America in the morning, there are free shuttle buses waiting to take you to destinations throughout Silicon Valley (as far away as the offices of Google in the west, Cisco in the east, and Nvidia in the south). Similar shuttles run in the reverse direction in the afternoon/evening.
Amtrak California's Capitol Corridor train runs between Sacramento and San Jose via East Bay cities such as Berkeley and Emeryville. The Capitol Corridor shares the same stations as the ACE above, stopping at the University and Great America. The nearby Diridon Station in San Jose includes a building with a ticket counter and may even be closer to parts of Santa Clara. Read schedules carefully, since some trains include a bus connection.
Get around
Light rail and bus. The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) offers light rail in Santa Clara on the Orange (Mountain View-Alum Rock) and Green (Old Ironsides-Winchester) lines. VTA also offers bus service within and around Santa Clara. Consult the VTA website for schedules, fares, and trip planning.
Ridehailing. In addition to Uber, Lyft, and Waymo, the Silicon Valley Hopper offers microtransit service.
Rental car. Numerous national car rental chains serve Santa Clara and surrounding cities. Most people living in the area prefer automobiles as their primary means of transportation, and it is likely to be the fastest, although area freeways do get congested during commute hours. Rental cars are available both at the San Jose Airport and at various locations in the city. Throughout most of Santa Clara, public parking is ample and free.
Bicycle. Many city streets are wide and bicycle-friendly with painted bicycle lanes; expressways permit bicycles but have high-speed, heavy traffic that may be uncomfortable, especially for inexperienced riders. Stop by City Hall for a copy of the Santa Clara bicycle map showing recommended bicycle routes. Bicycles should ride on the right side of the road, going the same direction as traffic. Take care when crossing expressway exits and right turn lanes in traffic. Caltrain, Amtrak Capital Corridor, and VTA (both light rail and buses) are all equipped with bicycle racks. If you plan to take a bicycle on area public transit, consult the website of the system(s) you will use for information on locating and using the bicycle racks.
See
See Mission Santa Clara de Asís
The eighth Franciscan California mission, founded by Father Serra. It was built nearer to the Guadalupe River, moved to its present location in 1828, and restored in 1929. It is the only mission on a university campus. In front of the church, see the hitching ring and step for dismounting from a carriage; peer through the fence into the rose garden on the north side of the church; measure the life-sized statue of Fr. Serra, stroll along the walkway covered with gnarled wisteria vines, into the Mission Gardens with the giant sago palm, Sacred Heart Statue, adobe wall (with a hole for cooking), grinding stone.
See Agnews Developmental Center
The Agnews Historic Park preserves three buildings from the old California Hospital for the Chronic Insane. Founded in 1889, the facility's original buildings collapsed in the "San Francisco Earthquake" of 1906, killing 117 people. The new buildings, including the still-standing auditorium, clock tower and superintendent's residence, are good examples of early twentieth century Mediterranean Revival architecture, heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts style. The new buildings represented a more modern attitude toward the mentally ill. The smaller buildings with larger windows were designed to comfort and stimulate the mentally ill, rather than imprison them. The state of California moved the last few hundred residents out in the mid 1990s, and sold the campus to Sun Microsystems, who promised to preserve the grounds and buildings, and make the auditorium and executive mansion available for public events. Unfortunately, you cannot get inside to see the very impressive interiors of the buildings, unless you've got a Sun employee badge or are lucky enough to slip in during a meeting or public event. Neither tours nor docents seem to be available. You can visit a small shelter that has public restrooms, as well as historic photographs and information about the hospital. As of July 2020, the property is owned by Oracle, that bought Sun Microsystems.
See KoreaTown
Though not yet officially recognized, the area of El Camino beginning at Lawrence Expressway and extending east to San Tomas Expressway is home to many Korean-owned businesses, stores, and restaurants.
See Santa Clara City Hall
The grounds surrounding City Hall include a statue of Santa Clara, fountains, "Stroll Into the Past" plaques, other public artwork, and a set of flagpoles featuring all the flags that have flown over Santa Clara. Inside City Hall hangs a collection of historical photographs. City Hall is across the street from the Triton Museum and worth a stroll around the grounds if you are visiting the museum.
See Old Quad
Roughly, this is the area outlined by El Camino Real, Lafayette, Market, and Lincoln streets, and it makes up the old, historical section of the city. Many 19th-century homes are well preserved. If you have time, explore this area by bicycle or on foot, and make time to visit the local historical buildings, such as the Harris-Lass museum and the Women's Club Adobe, that are in and around the Old Quad.
Do
Do San Francisco 49ers
The National Football League 49ers moved to Santa Clara in 2014, playing their home games at the Levi's Stadium, next to California's Great America.
Do San Tomas Aquino/Saratoga Creek Trail
This bicycle and pedestrian trail extends as far south as the intersection of Cabrillo and San Tomas Expressway. The trail follows the San Tomas Aquino Creek north, roughly parallel to San Tomas Expressway, all the way to the bay. It connects to other trails and Sunnyvale's Baylands Park.
Learn
- Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate curricula in the schools of Arts and Sciences, Education and Counseling Psychology, Business, Engineering, Theology, and Law. Summer school classes are open to visitors and students.
- Mission College, phone +1 408 988-2200, 3000 Mission College Boulevard. This community college offers academic, vocational, and other classes, including associate degrees and certificates.
- UC Santa Cruz offers accredited curricula and courses through their Silicon Valley Extension, with a Santa Clara location.
- Santa Clara Adult Education, a division of the Santa Clara Unified School District, offers selected technical, academic, and recreational classes. Students must be at least 18 years of age.
- The Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of classes, largely recreational, listed in their Recreation Activities guide. Classes are open to non-residents, but city residents pay lower fees.
- The Santa Clara City Library offers numerous programs, lectures, presentations, and classes. Visit their program schedule on their website for current details.
Buy
Shop Westfield Valley Fair
Probably the largest shopping center in the area and certainly the most successful. Most of it is in San Jose, but that is because of the crazy quilt of San Jose's growth. It began as two shopping areas. One was a Macy's store with other smaller stores in an open air mall. The other was an Emporium store, two or three blocks away. The present shopping center is now one large building with multiple floors, food courts, and Nordstrom. It is more high-end than other malls in the area, with a Louis Vitton, Cartier, and niche beauty brands covering the establishment.
Shop Santana Row
Across Stevens Creek Blvd in front of Valley Fair is Santana Row, a newer outdoor boutique shopping area with more restaurants, a hotel and other interesting stores (as well as Crate&Barrel, Best Buy.) Consider this the Rodeo Drive of Santa Clara/San Jose. There are 70 stores, including Tiffany's, Gucci, Oakley, Ann Taylor Loft, Ted Baker, Lucy, Urban Outfitter, Diesel and Burberry.
Shop Farmer's Market
Located in Franklin Square (Jackson Street between Homestead and Benton), the farmer's market runs every Saturday from 9AM to 1PM. Besides fresh California fruits and vegetables, the farmer's market usually features live music and foods such as tamales and samosas. Local artists and craftspeople also offer handcrafted goods for sale.
Shop The Train Shop
If you are a railroad or model railroad or model train buff, you will enjoy their selection of model trains and railroad books.
Eat
Area restaurants feature foods from cultures all over the world, reflecting the area's diversity. There is no need to eat in the same restaurant, or even the same kind of restaurant, twice.
Budget
Eat Rivermark Village
With a supermarket, cafes and specialty stores located along a pedestrian-friendly main street at the south border of the community. Rivermark Village is a 136,000 sq ft premier neighborhood shopping center. It features a 65,000 sq ft new generation Safeway super market. Restaurants include: Yan Can, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Jamba Juice, Red Robin, Baja Fresh, Prolific Oven, Premier Pizza, and many other shops.
Mid-range
Eat Yuki Sushi
A small restaurant with excellent sushi, Yuki Sushi also has specialty rolls with innovative combinations of western and Japanese ingredients. Vegetarian entrees, noodles, donburi and teishoku are also on the menu. The restaurant usually fills up fast. Take-out is available.
Eat Pizz'a Chicago
Offers thick, rich Chicago-style pizza.
Eat Athena Grill
Not open weekends. Delicious, authentic Greek food well worth the trip into what is mainly a business and industrial district. Main dishes come with salads, pita slices, bread, and dips. If you still have room for dessert after their generous portions, try the galaktoboureko, a custard dessert topped with phyllo and syrup.
Eat Stan's Donuts
Real donuts, hot and freshly made the old-fashioned way. Founded by local resident Stanford Wittmayer in 1959, Stan's is still family-owned. Stan's is popular with local residents, so it can be crowded in the mornings.
Splurge
Sleep
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