Shoppers visiting San Jose will find true happiness in the city's many excellent malls and shopping centers like the Pruneyard, Westgate, Westfield and Eastridge.  There really is something for everyone, no matter if you're searching for souvenirs, gifts, or designer dog collars.  The San Jose area is in the heart of Silicon Valley and the people who live in San Jose and surrounding areas have some of the highest incomes in the US. And they like to shop! So there is world class shopping in San Jose.

The biggest mall in San Jose is Valley Fair, and it has several department stores like Macy's and Nordstrom. The mall is enclosed and it has a lot of parking in several buildings. The mall has many good restaurants also. One can find a lot of more expensive merchandise in this mall.

Across the road from Valley Fair is Santana Row, a European style mall that is not enclosed. There are many more expensive boutiques in this new mall and many very good restaurants. The buildings are about 4 stories tall and the upper floors have good apartments for rent.

Another big mall is the Stanford Shopping Mall in Palo Alto, about 30 miles north of San Jose. This is an unenclosed mall, also with many fine restaurants. It also has Macy's and Nordstrom and carries also expensive merchandise.

In the nearby town of Los Gatos, the main street is Santa Cruz and it has small stores with the charm of a little town. This town is famous for its very good restaurants and bars. Lawyers, doctors, and dentists love to live in this small city. 

One of the largest shopping areas in the area and also one the most popular is The Great Mall (actually Milpitas not San Jose).  This shopping center has just about every type of store imaginable and is accessible by public transportation and has free parking.  See their website for details.

For more off the wall tastes, there is the San Jose Flea Market.  They, too, have a little of everything to offer here, and flea market buffs will enjoy themselves exploring its rows and rows of stalls. 

For even more shopping ideas visit the San Jose CVB's shopping page.

 If that is not enough shopping for you, there are also the big outlets in nearby Gilroy just a half hour to the south of San Jose on Highway 101.