Top places to visit in San José

• National Theatre of Costa Rica

  Heritage · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Ornate 1897 neoclassical opera house on Plaza de la Cultura, San José's most treasured landmark; lobby free, guided tours available.

• Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

  Museum · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Underground museum beneath Plaza de la Cultura displaying 1,600+ pre-Columbian gold artifacts.

• Jade Museum

  Museum · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Home to the world's largest collection of American jade, facing Plaza de la Democracia.

• National Museum of Costa Rica

  Museum · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  History and archaeology inside the former Bellavista fortress, with a butterfly garden and city views.

• Mercado Central

  Market · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Bustling 1880 covered market packed with sodas, coffee stalls, spices and crafts.

• La Sabana Metropolitan Park

  Nature · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  San José's largest urban park on a former airport site, with lakes, trails and sports fields.

• Plaza de la Cultura

  Cultural · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Central pedestrian plaza above the Gold Museum and San José's main gathering spot.

• Metropolitan Cathedral

  Heritage · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  1871 neoclassical cathedral on the east side of Parque Central.

• Parque Nacional & National Monument

  Heritage · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Leafy downtown park anchored by the dramatic 1953 National Monument sculpture.

• Museo de los Niños (Children's Museum)

  Museum · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Interactive children's museum inside a castle-like former penitentiary.

• Parque Morazán

  Cultural · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Downtown park centred on the iconic domed Templo de la Música bandstand.

• Museo de Arte Costarricense

  Museum · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Costa Rican art housed in the old airport terminal at La Sabana's east gate.

Things to do

• Poás Volcano Day Trip Tour · 7 h · from USD 110 per person
• San José Historic Walking Tour Tour · 3 h · from USD 35 per person
• Doka Estate Coffee Tour Food · 4 h · from USD 45 per person
• Café Britt Coffee Tour Food · 2 h · from USD 30 per person
• Barrio Escalante Food & Beer Tour Food · 3 h · from USD 70 per person
• La Paz Waterfall Gardens Day Trip Nature · 8 h · from USD 115 per person

Day trips and tours

• Poás Volcano, Waterfall Gardens & Coffee 9 h · from USD 130

Where to stay in San José

• Barrio Escalante about CRC 90 per night

  Trendy dining district (Paseo Gastronómico) with cafés, craft beer and boutique stays — the best base for foodies.

• Downtown / Centro Histórico about CRC 80 per night

  Walkable historic core beside the National Theatre, museums and plazas — central and well connected.

• Barrio Amón about CRC 110 per night

  Quiet neighbourhood of restored coffee-baron mansions and boutique hotels just north of downtown.

Hotels

• Gran Hotel Costa Rica 4-star · USD 140 to USD 200 per night
• Hotel Presidente 4-star · USD 100 to USD 150 per night
• Costa Rica Backpackers USD 14 to USD 42 per night
• Selina San José 3-star · USD 15 to USD 70 per night
• Hotel Grano de Oro 4-star · USD 200 to USD 300 per night
• Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén 5-star · USD 220 to USD 320 per night

Where to eat

• Restaurante Silvestre Contemporary, Costa Rican · about USD 75 per person
• Soda Tapia Costa Rican · about USD 11 per person
• Café Barrio Cafe, Brunch · about USD 16 per person
• Restaurante Grano de Oro Contemporary, European · about USD 55 per person
• Tin Jo Asian, Thai, Chinese · about USD 22 per person
• La Esquina de Buenos Aires Argentine, Steakhouse · about USD 28 per person

Getting to San José

Airport: San Jose (SJO)

How visitors arrive in San José

• Flight into Juan Santamaria By air from Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) · common

  San Jose has no airport of its own; visitors fly into SJO in nearby Alajuela and continue by bus, taxi or app ride. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• International bus By road from Managua / Panama City · possible

  TicaBus, Nica Bus and TransNica link San Jose with Managua, Panama City and as far as Mexico; buses from David cross at Paso Canoas. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Commuter train By train from Heredia / Cartago · possible

  Incofer runs limited services from Heredia, Alajuela, Cartago and nearby towns to Atlantico and Pacifico stations. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Official orange airport taxi

  Use licensed reddish-orange taxis marked Taxi Aeropuerto. Unlicensed drivers may overcharge. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Local bus from the airport stop

  The stop is a short walk from arrivals, past the taxi drivers and around the car park. Check the destination on the bus front; it ends near Parque Braulio Carrillo Colina. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Uber or Didi pickup unconfirmed

  Both work in San Jose, but airport pickups can involve waits; drivers may meet you at the bus stop or departures level. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Stick to the licensed orange Taxi Aeropuerto cars rather than touts. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  Buses are run by several private companies and link the city's districts and suburbs, with separate services to the rest of the country from stops around the centre.

• Car Rental Self limited to a few areas

  Self-drive cars can be hired, but city traffic is congested and signage is poor, so many first-time visitors prefer not to drive in the capital.

• Ride Hail

  Uber operates in the San José area as an alternative to street taxis, and DiDi also operates in Costa Rica.

• Taxi

  Licensed taxis are red and should use a meter, and airport taxis are usually orange.

• Walking

Paying

• Airport taxis accept US dollars; keep small change for the local bus. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Unofficial taxi overcharging

  Juan Santamaría Airport & downtown

  Unlicensed or non-metered taxis quote inflated flat fares to arriving tourists, especially from the airport.

  How to avoid it: Use the official orange airport taxis or a ride-hailing app, and insist the red taxis run the "María" meter.

• Distraction theft / slashed bags

  Coca-Cola bus terminal & crowded streets

  Thieves work in pairs — one distracts while another opens or slashes a bag; unattended bags on buses disappear.

  How to avoid it: Keep bags in front of you, never leave valuables unattended on the bus rack, and avoid the Coca-Cola area at night.

Best time to visit San José

• Jan 28°C
• Feb 29°C
• Mar 30°C
• Apr 30°C
• May 29°C
• Jun 28°C
• Jul 28°C
• Aug 28°C
• Sep 28°C
• Oct 27°C
• Nov 27°C
• Dec 28°C

More in Costa Rica

• La Fortuna
• Manuel Antonio
• Monteverde
• Tamarindo
• Tortuguero
• Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Frequently asked questions about San José

What are the main places to visit in San José?

Places covered in our San José guide include National Theatre of Costa Rica, Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Jade Museum, National Museum of Costa Rica, Mercado Central.

Where should I stay in San José?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in San José: Barrio Escalante, Downtown / Centro Histórico, Barrio Amón.

How do I get around San José?

Ways to get around San José covered in our guide: City bus, Self-drive car, Ride-hailing app, Taxi.

What scams should I watch out for in San José?

Scams reported to us for San José include Unofficial taxi overcharging; Distraction theft / slashed bags. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in San José?

Average daytime highs in San José run from 27°C in Oct to 30°C in Apr.

Which airport is nearest to San José?

The nearest airport to San José has the code SJO.