//
Capital city in San José, Costa Rica
Photo: Xlionheartx, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. The undisputed cultural and economic center of Costa Rica's central valley, where most of the population lives, San José is also the most important transportation hub for domestic travel even though the international airport is in Alajuela. Many international visitors bypass San José altogether or spend only the time it takes to change from one bus to another, but its museums, cultural output and the opportunity to meet the "real Costa Rica" make it well worth staying a few days.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The Gold Museum
An underground museum below Plaza de la Cultura. The collection consists of 1,600 pieces of pre-Columbian gold work dating from 500 AD to 1500 AD. Although not of the quality seen in the Andes, the animal pieces are very impressive and make the museum a must-see for those interested in art or history. The museum explains the processing and production of the pieces as well as their social, cultural, and religious meanings. The entrance fee includes the Numismatic Museum and the Temporary Exhibition Galleries, which are inside the same labyrinthine complex. There is a nice museum shop and a tourist office at the entrance.
The Jade Museum
The museum has relocated to a large modern building next to the Artesanal Market. Most tourist maps still show the old location across from Hotel Hemingway, but the new location is 4 blocks away and closer to the Plaza de la Cultura. The brand new complex is now one of the hemisphere's premier museums and is worth the sizable entry fee. It hosts the largest collection of precolumbian jade in the Americas and explains how these impressive pieces were produced. The museum displays a wide variety of other objects made of gold, stone, bone, ceramics, and shells. There is a smattering of objects similar to those at the Museo de Oro (gold pieces) and Museo Nacional (stone spheres and ceramics). You can gain insight into the daily lives of the people in the precolumbian era with numerous bilingual English-Spanish. If you only have time for visiting one museum, this is the recommended choice, albeit the craftsmanship of the pieces at the Museo de Oro is higher.
The children's museum
This is an edutainment museum, and it was designed for Costa Rica's children, all the exhibits are in Spanish only.
The museum includes a large butterfly garden (with many morpho butterflies) and a collection of large stone spheres from the Diquis Valley near the Pacific Ocean, a permanent precolumbian exhibition, the barracks, the rooms of the army general and his family, and a couple of temporal exhibits. The museum building is an old fort called Cuartel Bellavista, in this place the Army was symbolically abolished by then president Jose Figueres Ferrer on December 1, 1948, after the last civil war and armed conflict in the country.
Museo de Arte Costarricense
This used to be San Jose's main airport terminal back when La Sabana was the airport.
Definitely the main institution in Costa Rica dedicated to the broadcasting of contemporary art. Information on exhibitions, schedules and admission fees can be found at their website.
A historic theme park, of sorts, known for its massive land art, the largest of which is "El Mano" or "The Hand". There is a hike about 3 mi (or 6 mi on the longer route) to this massive statue of a hand with several other examples of land art along the way. The trails can get slippery during the rainy season, so make sure to get one of the walking sticks at the visitor center. The town within the park is one of the best examples of colonial architecture in Costa Rica.
An hour away from San José you can find lovely trails through primary rainforest that take you past five beautiful waterfalls. The La Paz waterfall gardens also offer a hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, frog exhibit and large butterfly observatory. A restaurant and a hotel (the Peace Lodge) are at the site as well.
Butterflies are kept within an enclosed area. Admission price is very low (about $6). The trails outside the enclosed area become muddy during the winter months (June-September).
Known as the lungs of San José, La Sabana is the largest park in the city. It has running trails, as well as a number of sports facilities, including football (soccer) and baseball fields, basketball courts, a track, and a rollerskating rink. Find pick-up basketball games here every weekend and holiday, and sometimes during the week.
Movie theater featuring films from various countries, Cine Magaly has a long history in San José dating back to the 1970s. It has participated in the European Film Festival.
Major theater on the western side of the city center with music concerts and dance lessons.
Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica
Beautiful theater with a Baroque/Romantic era architectural style and interior art gallery. There is a coffee shop inside followed by eccentric (theatrical) tours, which take half an hour to an hour. Performances and concerts are frequently performed here.
With campuses in Coronado (San José) and Jacó Beach (Central Pacific), is one of the longest standing schools in Costa Rica and one of the few with accredited programs. It also offers travel experiences, cultural activities and weekly excursions plus travel services. Groups range 2-6 students and special courses are also offered (DELE Exam preparation, Surf & Spanish, Spanish for specific purposes, etc.)
In San José, Alajuela and Escazú, offers conversational lessons and home stays.
Central Market
A very old, interesting and bustling food market, which also contains a number of small restaurants and quick-serve counters for the locals. You will find fresh cooked fish and shellfish, corn based dishes, sopa de pescado (fish soup) and such exotics as "squid in his ink", ceviche (small bits of raw fish "cooked" in lime juice), helado de sorbetera (artesanal local cinnamon ice-cream) and more.
Good food with a lot of choice for vegetarians. Try Mesoamerican dishes. Sometimes they do presentations of musicians. Nice staff and atmosphere.
More food, Costa Rican & Salvadoran, for less money than most other places. Lots of workers grab meals-to-go in the morning. Delivery available.
Cozy place. Very good attention and fast service. You find Cantonese rice, pizza, fried or roasted chicken, beers, chicharrones and casados.
Restaurante Lima Limon
Nice Peruvian food. Spectacular corvina ceviche. Possibly the best ceviche in the city. Awesome huancaína sauce. Great attention.
Vietnamese fusion restaurant a couple blocks from Morazán Park. Serves brunch, desserts, and a wide range of drinks.
Latin American restaurant a few blocks north of the train station in Barrio Escalante.
Mediterranean cuisine with a wide menu including octopus, fish, and pastas.
Peruvian food and seafood. Try the causa rellena, ceviche, lomo saltado, ají de gallina and Peru's traditional and landmark drink: pisco sour.
Classy restaurant in Barrio Escalante, down the street from the Dr. Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia Museum. They have an extensive menu of Spanish, Argentinian, French, and Italian wines, along with a smaller (but quality) menu of Italian-influenced dishes such as risotto and ravioli.
Upscale Argentinian restaurant with a particularly wide variety of cocktails and mixed drinks. Entrees include pasta dishes such as lasagna and linguini, fish, chicken, and desserts.
Beautiful restaurant. A breakfast menu costs around ₡7500 with coffee, or treat yourself to the banana-macadamia nut pancakes for ₡7000 (Aug 2018). The entrees are diverse and creative. Don't hesitate to try the soup of the day, even if it sounds less than exciting. Duck is on the menu. Numerous seafood dishes are cooked very nicely, as is the beef and pork.
The location of the restaurant is a historic house built in the 19th century. The restaurant itself offers a 7-course tasting menu for 54,000 colones (2025).
Pan-Asian restaurant featuring Japanese, Thai, Chinese, and Indian food. Don't be put off by its simple exterior. The restaurant is clean, beautifully decorated and offers excellent service.
La Bohemia is a classic San José bar, complete with small tapas (called bocas), old men with decades of being regulars, and traveling guitar duos playing for tips. Plus it's dog-friendly. Tip: buy a bottle of wine; it's cheap and better-than-average quality. Closes early some nights. Corner, Art Deco style.
Photos of regular customers adorn the wall of this dimly lit but friendly bar and restaurant. A decent menu of Gringo and Tico food is available. Try the award-winning Chili con Carne. There's always an interesting group of characters there who are willing to dispense advice about San José and Costa Rica.
Large historic home, with eclectic decoration and clientele. El 13 has some great thematic nights, as well as the very popular "Planchatón," which features classic campy ballads in Spanish. Hours vary depending on the day.
A comfortable Quaker hotel with a shared kitchen and dining area available for use, a great place to meet like-minded travelers, a simple breakfast is included. Dorms, singles, doubles, triples available US$10-12/person.
Great place to meet other travelers in town, affordable and comfortable hostel, facilities include an outdoor pool, kitchen, free internet and bar. Great place to party!
Free breakfast, internet and WiFi, kitchen and laundry use, storerooms, dorms from US$12.
40 comfortable beds with real mattresses in dorm style rooms of 6 to 8 beds and one double room. Five full bathrooms with hot water. There is also a common room equipped with cable TV, free internet, and coffee. Excellent hosts, knowledgeable and friendly.
Dorms, private rooms, private and shared bathrooms, huge flat screen TVs, big lounge with wire/wireless high speed internet 24/7, video surveillance, international restaurant and cafe-bar, airport shuttle service, free tourist info and travel tips, free maps, free parking, typical Costa Rican breakfast included, plenty of services around the area
Clean and safe and extremely peaceful. You'll get a good night's sleep here without having to worry about all the hippies in CR, free internet/Wi-Fi, and a friendly knowledgeable staff.
Laid-back with a colorful, artsy vibe. The simple mixed-sex and female-only dorms have private lockers and bunk beds with reading lights. Breakfast is included. Other amenities include a guest kitchen, and a dining area with vibrant murals on the walls, plus a common lounge and a reading room.
From US$35 a night, in downtown San José, housed in a beautifully restored 1904 building. 23 decorated private rooms with king size beds, semi-orthopedic mattresses and free Wi-Fi access. Especially designed for couples, families and people looking for a little extra comfort, Costa Rica Guesthouse is the upscale hotel at budget price.
The Courtyard San José is near San José's industrial parks, businesses, international companies and within minutes from shopping, nightlife plaza and restaurants. Spacious rooms, free high-speed Internet, on-site restaurant, outdoor pool and health club.
Former mansion turned into a hotel. Friendly staff. Quiet neighborhood. Safe and secure. Decent price for the area: US$35-45 for a double including traditional breakfast with Gallo Pinto and Tamales. Hotel has a small bar and hot tub on the premises. The hotel will organize eco-tours for the rest of Costa Rica. Free Internet service and Wi-Fi.
Hotel Out of Bounds Escazu
In downtown San José, on the walking boulevard of Avenida Central and Calle 7 (seven street). 4-star accommodations with rooms starting at US$85 + tax per night. Free internet. Buffet breakfast included.
Pleasant bed and breakfast inn, English-speaking staff, single rooms are small, some downstairs rooms quite spacious. Rates from US$80, including breakfast.
Complimentary hot breakfast daily, outdoor pool and fully functional gym. The Residence Inn San José also has two meeting rooms.
Centrally located hotel with conference facilities.
Distinctive architecture with lots of plants and a great swimming pool.
A modern hotel on the 13th-20th floors of a high-rise building in downtown San José, the Hilton Garden Inn offers a gym, an outdoor pool, a business center, a 24-hour mini market and even free parking in a secure parking garage in the building. These amenities come at a price, with rates comparable to Hilton Garden Inns in the United States, but the location is excellent and the staff are very helpful and friendly.
Comfortable European-style small hotel with eclectic class and grace. Excellent restaurant on site, suites feature jacuzzis.
Converted from a tropical Victorian mansion, the 35-room hotel maintains the warmth and comfort of a private home. Hallways lined with period photographs and original art meander through the building and present lush tropical flower arrangements and luxuriant plants at every turn. The restaurant is beautiful, opening upon a courtyard with a fountain at the center. Service is prompt and efficient, and the staff mostly speak very serviceable, if not near-perfect, English. The rooms are comfortable, but most lack air conditioning which means you will be awakened by bird calls most mornings.
Close to the international airport and many Costa Rican company headquarters.
Located amid tropical gardens. It has 261 rooms and suites. Each room is equipped with a mini-bar, hair dryer, air conditioning and a system of electronic key. Services : gym, swimming pool, jewelry shop, tennis court, restaurant, bar, conference rooms and gift shop.
Quality Hotel Real San José has 154 rooms, 16 mini-suites and rooms for disabled people. Also it has a restaurant, pool, business center with computers, printers and internet access high speed.
Historic downtown hotel built in the 1930s and renovated in 2018. Rooms are spacious and clean with modern furnishings. On-site restaurant, bar, gym.
Handicraft shop featuring the art of indigenous communities from different parts of the country.
Mercado Artesania
One of the best places for getting souvenirs and handcrafted products.
(Website on Instagram.) Clothing store focused on fashion and designer apparel.
Gourmet coffee shop and restaurant where you can watch the staff make each bag of coffee for you. The seating is partially inside and outside and there are pretty gardens here in the heart of Barrio Escalante.
Specialty coffee shop and bookstore in a charming courtyard.
Gourmet Costa Rican coffee shop in the northwestern corner of the Central Market.
By bus
There are several bus terminals in San José that operate domestically; these are listed at Costa Rica#Get around. It is important to know which bus terminal serves your bus route.
By train
Trains have made a comeback in Costa Rica and, after being shut down for many years, several routes have been put back into service using second-hand equipment brought over from Spain and some very…
By taxi
Taxis are moderate to fairly expensive in price; all taxis should have a meter. To go from the airport to somewhere in the city typically costs ₡5000-₡20000.
By bike
It is also possible to get around by bicycle in San José. If you want to buy a bicycle you find stores in Calle 6 / Av. 5 (Coca Cola) or south of "Avenida Segunda" on the corner or Av. 6 / Calle 4.
By car
The traffic lights don't have the yellow border around them and can be difficult to see. The city's road network is well utilized by locals (to overcapacity) so don't expect to get anywhere fast.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
San José (Alajuela) · International · SJO
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about San José (Costa Rica) and Costa Rica.
Nature & adventureFive places to sleep close to nature, from Tuscan farmhouses to cloud-forest lodges and fjord cabins, with prices and booking tips.
6 min read
Travel tipsGambling with high (or even moderate) stakes is outlawed in many parts of the world. Some places that allow such gambling draw travellers from far away, and might have resorts for gambling.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsCanada's international airports typically do not allow direct airside transit (i.e., facilities for arriving international passengers to transfer to another international flight without being inspected by Canadian…
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyThough many civilisations around the world have a tradition of classical music, when used as a generic term, the phrase is usually understood as referring to the type of classical music that arose in Europe.
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.