The Tech Interactive
The Tech Interactive
4
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
There's always something tech-tastic happening at The Tech Interactive, a science and technology center located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Voted Best Silicon Valley Museum by Metro San Jose, it's a must visit! The staff offers facilitated experiences like the BioTinkering Lab as well as hands-on experiences in genetics, earth sciences, alternative energy, virtual design, and lots more. It's also home to the largest IMAX Dome Theater west of the Mississippi, which plays a variety of educational films and the occasional Hollywood blockbusters. The Tech Interactive offers field trips, kid birthday party packages, an onsite cafe, and special event rentals. Whether you are planning a slime-filled birthday party for your 8-year-old or a sci-fi themed wedding, The Tech Interactive delivers!
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
967 reviews
Excellent
503
Very good
269
Average
127
Poor
52
Terrible
16
Michael K
San Jose, CA1,107 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
Admission price is relatively steep, at $28 for children and $36 for adults. But the high prices do keep the crowd away even on a weekend. The interactions are mainly targeted for young children and they loved it, even though the underlying science and the mechanics of most of the games are beyond their comprehension without parental help. But if you are old enough to know a little of the science behind the games, you might find them too juvenile.
Written June 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter G
San Jose, CA199 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Great venue terribly managed. Went to see Beutifa 360 at the IMAX. Terms and conditions said no late entry and readmission once the show had started. It’s only an hour long and was looking forward to an “immersive” experience. The film was great but experience was poor, people were being admitted up to 20 minutes after it started and people were constantly up and down getting popcorn etc. one person arrived late actually shone her iPhone torch around the audience 15 minutes after it started to find a seat. If you have rules, enforce them.
Written July 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mini
Fremont, CA212,259 contributions
Jan 2020
I went to see the nature movie Back from the Brink at the Tech. The theater is very nice to see nature movies at. The Tech is in the downtown area of San Jose. There is also a museum, but this time, I only went to see the movies. There is also a cafe and store.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vivaeldori
3 contributions
Aug 2019
It was a pleasant activity for my son. It was a bit smaller for a Tech Interactive place. Souvenir items are expensive. Not much of a selection in their store. It's clean and the kids had so much fun. That's what's important.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John&Dawny
Kansas City, MO355 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Labeled as Tech Interactive, I expected my 15 year old grandson, who loves everything electronic, would love it. It’s more like a children’s museum than a Tech one. Would be fine for 5-10 year olds. A real bust for us.
Written July 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
netunion
Zurich, Switzerland111 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
We visited the TMoI with our friends incl. 5 kids between 4 and 8. We paid around $180 and were pretty surprised but as we heard a lot from the museum we did it. To start with the result: Our kids were terribly bored at the end and I would never go there again.
Half of the interactions or attractions do not work as they are broken, the other half is complicated and not suitable for kids (at least below 12y or so). When there is stuff at a station, they are not competent to explain what's going on but only give you instructions what not to do.
The museum lacks explanation, background, interesting information etc. For example you can experience how an earthquake feels, but nobody explains further on this topic. We are deceived.
Half of the interactions or attractions do not work as they are broken, the other half is complicated and not suitable for kids (at least below 12y or so). When there is stuff at a station, they are not competent to explain what's going on but only give you instructions what not to do.
The museum lacks explanation, background, interesting information etc. For example you can experience how an earthquake feels, but nobody explains further on this topic. We are deceived.
Written August 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vishnu Pendyala
San Jose, CA1,019 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
The Tech Museum is a great way to get a feel for the technology that's revolutionizing the world over. At The Tech, you can get first hand experience with bioengineering experiments, be a cyber detective, and interactively study the anatomy of human body without using scissors. You can relive some of the infamous earthquakes of the past, ride on a jetpack chair like an astronaut, and build a social robot, to name a few more activities. A must visit if you are in the Silicon Valley either to live or on a short stay.
Written September 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kbeaver10
Elverson, PA18 contributions
The museum was interesting and would be fit for younger children. There are a lot of interactive stations that young children can participate in. I would not recommend this for older people looking for an informational exhibit museum.
Written September 20, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CAndrewSemon
San Jose, CA43 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
Tons of interactive and hands on stuff. Great for families. Fun for adults too! It was easy to pass an afternoon here. The only thing that I didn't like was that the exhibits did not have staff members to regulate. People were hogging things and that made it very difficult to experience some of the activities.
Written March 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roving7947
Central Valley, CA2 contributions
My wife and I went to the tech on a Thursday. It was CROWDED with kids. I mean, everywhere. We did not enjoy ourselves much. Most of the exhibits were too crowded with out-of-control kids. When it finally was our turn at an exhibit, it was nearly impossible to concentrate and enjoy it with the screaming, loud, highly kenetic, and unsupervised kids nearby. If I had known it would be so adult unfriendly, I would not have paid the $ to get in.
Recommended if you are an 8th grade kid planning your school field-trip.
[note] I have no problem with kids enjoying (learning?) the museum, but this was more like a zoo than a museum.
Recommended if you are an 8th grade kid planning your school field-trip.
[note] I have no problem with kids enjoying (learning?) the museum, but this was more like a zoo than a museum.
Written March 23, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We would like to get combo tickets, which are a bit economic tickets. How can we purchase on the internet? We can get only at the tech?
Written February 21, 2020
The Tech Interactive
San Jose, California
Hello! You can buy tickets in-person at The Tech Interactive, or through our main website on the "Buy Tickets" tab at the top.
General Admission tickets enable you to access the galleries and exhibits-- the other tickets you'll see on that page are for our IMAX movies.
We're excited to welcome you to The Tech!
Written February 27, 2020
what is the age range? would 3-7 yeae olds enjoy this or is a childrens discovery museum a better fit?
Written May 7, 2018
Definitely fine for a 3 yr old- there’s a small nursery section (science play) and if it’s possible to split up i.e. 2 adults, one can go there for a while while the other takes the older child around. The 7 yr old is perfect age- I’d recommend this over children’s discovery museum, it’s such a great place. The cafeteria is wonderful- people go there for lunch w/o spending the day there. Enjoy!
Written May 10, 2018
how long are you open today and how much does it cost?
Written December 10, 2016
I visited last December. I suggest you check their website. They are usually very busy this time of year.
Written December 11, 2016
how long are you open today and how much does it cost?
Written December 10, 2016
how long are you open today and how much does it cost?
Written December 10, 2016
For ready reference: from the website and brochure:
The Tech Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.)
General Admission Adult Student/Senior 65+ Child (3-17)
Museum galleries $24 $19 $19
Educational IMAX film*$10 $8 $8
Combo (galleries plus educational IMAX*)
$29 $23 $23
Written December 12, 2016
I am planning on bringing my 11 year old son there. How long should we allocate for the museum? How long for the IMAX?
Written July 7, 2016
Depends on the film as far as I know 30-40 minutes.
For the all museum, 2 different floor and 10-15 interactive cases, studies, could be take 2-3 hours (excluding IMAX).
Written July 12, 2016
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