San Jose, Costa Rica

Highlights

Plaza de la Cultura

The city of San Jose  grew around its main plaza, La Plaza de la Cultura. The plaza is always busy with Ticos heading to and from work or shopping on Central Avenue. The Gold Museum, National Museum, Jade Museum and the National Theater are located within walking distance of the plaza. 

Avenida Central

Close to Plaza de la Cultura you will find Avenida Central which is a pedestrian shopping street that eventually leads to the Central Market. You will see venders and street performers everywhere. Walk down the avenue and buy unique indigenous herbs and remedies, souvenirs, and typical food.  

Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

Found underneath Plaza de la Cultura, the Gold Museum is home to over 1600 pre-columbian pieces of art dating back to 500 AD. An ethnographic collection of over 100 objects can also be found, including textiles. Near the end of the exhibit, you can also learn about the history of money in Costa Rica and see historical coins and bills. 

National Museum

The National Museum is located inside the Bellavista Fortress, built in 1917. The museum is full of exhibits and you’ll spend hours exploring and learning about Costa Rica’s colonial, archeological, geological, religious and modern history. Finish your tour at the top of the museum where you get a great view of the entire city. 

Jade Museum

With over 7000 pieces to see, the Jade Museum contains the largest collection of pre-columbian jade artifacts in the world. The museum is split into six exhibits that show the history of jade and its cultural, economic and religious uses throughout history. The museum is easy to find from Central Avenue. Bring your Spanish-English dictionary, most of the displays are in Spanish.

Lankester Botanical Garden

Located on the eastern side of the city, the Lancaster Botanical Gardens are owned by the University of Costa Rica and used for orchid research in Central America. It is open to the public and you’ll find tourists, locals and photographers alike taking photos of the beautiful orchids inside. You’ll also find 3000 species of other plants during your tour. 

Nightlife

From casinos to dance clubs to high-end roof-top bars, to breweries to  sports bars, you can find it all in San Jose. Try Barrio Escalante, near down town San Jose for great artisanal drinks and unique eateries. For a younger party scene you can try Barrio California. Don’t forget to try a Chiliguaro! 

Shopping

There is no shortage of great shopping in San Jose. Try Avenida Central (Central Avenue) for traditional Costa Rican souvenirs, local “ferias” (farmer’s markets) for fresh produce and Avenida Escazu for more high-end shopping or any of the several multi-plazas for clothes, food, sports gear and even movie tickets. 

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Only an hour and half from San Jose, visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens which feature 5 different waterfalls, bird watching, hiking through the rainforest and butterfly observatory. La Paz is a great day trip from San Jose before you head to the coasts or mountains. 

Volcanos 

Visit one of the many nearby volcanos during your stay in San Jose include the Poas, Irazu, Barva and Turrialba Volcanos, all of which are within two hours of the city. Most are easily accessible and offer easy to moderate hikes. Check the weather before you go so you can be sure to get a clear view!

Tips

Visit December-April: You’ll find the best, spring-like weather in San Jose between December and April. 

Use Uber or official taxis: Uber is a great, affordable way to get around San Jose. If you are using taxis, make sure to use the official red taxis with yellow triangles. 

Take a city tour: Sign up for a San Jose city tour to see all the major highlights in one afternoon. 

Watch for pick-pockets: Keep you belongings close to you, don’t carry large amounts of cash or valuables when walking around the town. 

Dress like a local: Don’t wear beach clothes in the city and walk in close-toed shoes. Beach clothing like shorts and flip-flops make you stand out as a tourist and open-toed shoes can be dangerous on the city sidewalks. 

Don’t walk alone at night: San Jose is considered one of the safest cities in Latin America, but it is still a large city. Take an Uber or a taxi at night. 

Getting There

Closest International Airport: Juan Santamaria (SJO)

Getting to San Jose from the Juan Santamaria airport is quick and easy. You can chose private transfer, shuttle or rental car. The center of the city is only about 30 minutes away!

Dining

With restaurants that feature flavors from all over the world, you’ll have no problem finding delicious places to eat in San Jose. For higher-end dining, we recommend Escazu or Santa Ana. There you can find exquisite restaurants like Andiamo La (Italian food, Santa Ana) or La Divina Comida (Latin food, Escazu). 

For a younger, gastronomic vibe, visit Barrio Escalante. You’ll find everything from traditional Costa Rican casados to unique Latin-Asian fusion. 

For your breakfast, make sure to try Gallo Pinto! The delicious, national dish of Costa Rica.

Where to Stay

Whether you’re looking for an affordable, quiet lodge or an extravagant  resort, the hotels in San Jose will have what you need. For example, the Holiday Inn Aurola Hotel and the Hotel Presidente are centrally located in downtown San Jose. The Holiday Inn Aurola makes sustainability a priority and has an amazing view of San Jose from the 17th-floor restaurant. The Gran Hotel was the first major hotel in Costa Rica and is the only hotel in Costa Rica that is also a national landmark. Another San Jose hotel is the Hotel Grano de Oro, which offers outdoor jacuzzis, restaurant and lounge, and luxurious amenities.  Either way, San Jose, Costa Rica hotels are not to be missed!