Milpitas combines a booming tech industry with a beautiful setting in the sun-drenched Santa Clara Valley. The city is a stronghold for startups but hasn’t lost its small-town charm. Walk around the lively downtown district, relax in leafy parks and explore the foothills of the California Coast Range. The enormous mall attracts visitors from across the Bay Area.
Things to do in Milpitas
Score big discounts at the Great Mall of the Bay Area. It’s one of the largest malls in California and boasts more than 120,000 square metres of retail space. Shop at hundreds of stores, including iconic American brands like Coach and Eddie Bauer.
Stretch your legs in Ed R. Levin County Park. Trails snake through the park and take you through oak woodlands and into the foothills of the Diablo Range. Stick to easy trails in the grass-covered foothills and challenge yourself on the hike up Monument Peak. There are beautiful picnic areas and a lake stocked with largemouth bass, rainbow trout and channel catfish.
Boutique wineries dot the hills surrounding Milpitas. Spend the day hopping between vineyards and tasting the unique, small-batch wines. Venture deeper into the Santa Clara Valley to find more award-winning wineries. Learn about how the rich soil and sunny Mediterranean climate make the area perfect for growing European varietals.
Use Milpitas as a base to explore iconic Golden State cities like San Jose and San Francisco. Both are an easy day trip from Milpitas. Mix up the usual sightseeing routine with a Silicon Valley Tech Tour, where you can go behind the scenes of headquarters for Google, Apple, Facebook and other tech giants.
Getting around Milpitas
Downtown Milpitas is pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. The city is a 15-minute drive from Downtown San Jose and one hour from San Francisco. Trains run between San Francisco and the Milpitas BART Station in one hour. Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is a 30-minute drive away.