The Coolest Neighborhoods In Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is really just a nickname for the southern portion of the Bay Area in California. This area is made up of many cities, towns and neighborhoods. So many, in fact, that choosing what part of Silicon Valley to visit can be difficult and somewhat overwhelming. We’ve made it a little easier and compiled a list of Silicon Valley’s coolest places to visit.

Downtown San Jose

Downtown San Jose is a mecca of hip shops, eateries and fun things to do. Much of downtown is made up of high rise condos, giving the district that upscale Silicon Valley look. Additionally, the nightlife in downtown is full of hip and trendy bars and clubs. Nearby, there’s the third-largest Japantown in the country, full of culture and beautiful architecture.

Mountain View

Santana Row

Santana Row is a relatively new development within the city of San Jose. Santana Row is like the Rodeo Drive of Silicon Valley. This neighborhood is vibrant, young and lavish. High-end shops, a theater and upscale townhouses and apartments make up this hip Silicon Valley destination. Get ready to max out all those credit cards, Santana Row is as beautiful as it is pricey!

Palo Alto

Another pricey but impressive part of Silicon Valley is Palo Alto. This town is home to some of the most pristine schools in the country, including Stanford University. The university itself offers a one-a-kind experience, even for non-students. The campus has an art center, galleries, a park and a scenic observation tower. The rest of Palo Alto has seemingly everything – natives and visitors flock to the renowned restaurants, shops, museums and even the Stanford Theater, a classic Hollywood movie palace.

Rose Garden

The Rose Garden neighborhood was once a hub for pear and prune orchards. Now, this Silicon Valley neighborhood is littered with vintage cottages from the 1930s, as well as some amazing grand estates. One of the coolest attractions here is the extraordinary Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, founded by the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, and dedicated to preserving the history of ancient Egypt.

Exterior Entrance Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Planetarium San Jose

Cupertino

Most people probably know this small city, west of San Jose, as the world headquarters of Apple Inc. However, what many people aren’t aware of before visiting, is the city’s unique culture. Many of Cupertino’s residents are of Asian descent, and that history and flair is prominent in many of its shops and restaurants. The city also doesn’t have a traditional downtown, making it even more unique. Its highly regarded De Anza College is typically the host of many community-based activities. The historic mid-century Eichler homes are a Cupertino staple.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

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