Plaza de César Chávez is the social heart of downtown San Jose, a rectangular green space flanked by the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, the San Jose Museum of Art, and the Tech Interactive. The plaza hosts free concerts, the Christmas in the Park light display in December, and farmers' markets through the summer. The dancing fountain in the middle is a magnet for children on warm afternoons.
The square is the natural starting point for a walk through downtown. From here you can reach the Peralta Adobe, San Pedro Square Market, and the SAP Center within a fifteen-minute walk. Sit on a bench, watch the city work, and you will quickly see why San Jose is more interesting than its sprawling reputation suggests.