Plan a Visit

Montalvo is nestled in the foothills above Saratoga with 175 acres of woodland hiking trails and gardens. Located just 20 minutes from the Mineta San Jose Airport and Downtown San Jose, we are open year round and free to the public. In addition to a calendar of events that invite the community to experience the arts in all its forms, visitors are welcome to enjoy a picnic on the sprawling Great Lawn, explore our stunning gardens, and experience both temporary and permanent collections of outdoor Art on the Grounds.

8am–Sunset Daily

Please note that Montalvo is privately owned property, owned by Montalvo Association (a not-for-profit organization). Montalvo leases the trails in the hills behind its historic Villa to the County of Santa Clara to operate and maintain as a public park. This does not include the grounds immediately surrounding or in front of the Villa, including the Great Lawn, Italianate Garden, or the Oval Garden and Charmaine’s Garden Terrace. Montalvo has the right to regulate activities on, and has the right to close any aspect of, its grounds to the public for its own programming or for private events. 

As such, there will be days and times during which access to areas of the grounds and parking lots will be limited or closed entirely for private events or Montalvo-related programming and activities. Please see below for upcoming early closure dates to help plan your visit.

Upcoming early closure dates & times:

• Access to Montalvo’s grounds and parking lots may be limited on weekend evenings from May to October

Return to this page to check for future closure dates.

Bring a basket and a blanket, and relax at Montalvo.

Visitors are welcome to bring their own blankets and enjoy a picnic on our lawn. However, we do not have picnic tables or barbecues.

Please make note of reserved areas and do not interfere, as we often have private events and weddings occurring in various locations on the property. If your party is larger than 12 or if you need special accommodations, please contact our events team at events@montalvoarts.org to help coordinate your event.

Enjoy easy access to everything Montalvo has to offer.

As you enter the property, you will first arrive at Parking Lot 1, where the Artists Residency is located off to your right. If you are coming to the Villa, Garden Theatre, Carriage House, the Box Office, or to visit the hiking trails, continue past Lot 1 up the road and alongside the Great Lawn. You will see Parking Lot 2 on the right side of the Villa and lots 3 and 4 on the left side of the Villa.

Please drive slowly through the estate, as we have many visitors walking the grounds including children, the elderly, and wildlife.

View a PDF map of the Montalvo grounds.

Additional parking information for special events:
For some events and Garden Theatre concerts, we offer free shuttle service from nearby West Valley College, Parking Lot #1. If we are offering West Valley parking with shuttles, we will note it on the event; if it is not noted, parking will be on site at Montalvo.

Parking at West Valley for Montalvo events is free. The address for West Valley is: 14000 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070. Please note the entrance to Lot 1 is off of Allendale Avenue.

Here, imagination roams freely for all.

Discover artwork from international, multidisciplinary artists throughout the public park that surrounds historic Villa Montalvo.