San Jose United States
San Jose sits at the heart of Silicon Valley, surrounded by the headquarters of Apple, Google, Intel, Cisco, and hundreds of other technology companies. It is a natural home for technology conferences, and the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in the downtown core is the city’s primary venue for events of GTC’s scale. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) is compact and easy to navigate, with direct routes to most US cities and connections via hubs internationally - and sits only 4 miles from downtown. San Francisco International (SFO) is also accessible, about 40 minutes north by car. The downtown area around the convention center has a solid cluster of hotels within walking distance, along with restaurants along San Pedro Square Market and the Santana Row shopping district a short rideshare away. San Jose is significantly cheaper for hotels and food than San Francisco, making it an efficient base for a Silicon Valley conference.
The Tech Interactive (formerly The Tech Museum of Innovation) is a hands-on science and technology museum downtown. The Winchester Mystery House is a genuinely unique historic attraction 2 miles from downtown. Santana Row is a upscale outdoor shopping and dining district. The South Bay food scene reflects Silicon Valley’s diversity, with exceptional Vietnamese, Indian, and Mexican restaurants throughout the region.
San Jose International Airport (SJC) is 3 miles from downtown, with the VTA 10 bus connecting to downtown in about 20 minutes. For international flights, San Francisco International (SFO) is about 30 miles north and accessible via Caltrain and BART.
San Jose has a light rail system (VTA) covering the main corridors, though rideshare and car travel dominate in Silicon Valley. The downtown area around SAP Center and the Convention Center is walkable. Caltrain commuter rail connects San Jose to San Francisco in about 60-90 minutes.
The Bay Area has a mild Mediterranean climate year-round. Spring and autumn are ideal with warm, dry days. Summers are warm inland and mild near the Bay. December and January bring the most rainfall, though it rarely disrupts conference activities.
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3 upcoming conferences in San Jose
▶ 1 past conference in San Jose
Our picks in San Jose
A curated selection of hotels chosen for location, value, and fit for conference travellers.
AC Hotel by Marriott San Jose Downtown
350 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
A sleek modern four-star a short walk from the Convention Center, popular with the tech crowd for its contemporary design and well-priced...
Hampton Inn San Jose Downtown
425 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95112
Budget-friendly three-star with complimentary breakfast, about a 10-minute walk from the Convention Center. The best value in downtown San Jose for cost-conscious...
Hilton San Jose
300 Almaden Blvd, San Jose, CA 95110
A large four-star across from the Convention Center, often used as an official GTC conference hotel. Solid rooms, good pool, and a...
San Jose Marriott
301 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113
Connected directly to the Convention Center via a covered walkway, the most convenient hotel for GTC attendees. Full-service four-star with reliable rooms...
Signia by Hilton San Jose
170 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113
A premium Hilton property in the heart of downtown, steps from the Convention Center with an outdoor pool and full spa. Best...
San Jose McEnery Convention Center
150 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113
The San Jose McEnery Convention Center is a 550,000 square foot facility in downtown San Jose, the primary venue for ...
San Jose Marriott
301 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113, United States
Full-service Marriott in downtown San Jose connected to the McEnery Convention Center, the host hotel for ICCAD and a...
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