San Jose Province, Central Valley · Costa Rica
The compact, welcoming capital, with museums, markets, coffee and volcanoes within a day's reach.
Photo: Richie Diesterheft · CC BY 2.0
San Jose is Costa Rica's capital and hub, a busy city of around two million people in the Central Valley. It is not a classic beauty, but it has a handful of excellent sights, a good food scene and a mild climate. Most visitors pass through briefly, and a day or two is enough to see the highlights.
The National Theatre, built in 1897 with coffee money, is the most elegant building, and the nearby Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and Jade Museum hold the country's archaeological treasures. The Central Market is a warren of food stalls, and Barrio Escalante is the trendy district for restaurants and craft beer.
The city is also a base for day trips to Poas and Irazu volcanoes, coffee plantations, and the colonial town of Cartago. Keep an eye on belongings in the centre, and use taxis after dark.
Why visit
San Jose is a useful, pleasant base for a first or last day.
Theatre and museums.
Plantations nearby.
Poas and Irazu day trips.
Barrio Escalante.
Flights and buses.
Main attractions
The main sights are in the central district.
A neo-classical masterpiece.
Tip Take a tour or have coffee in the cafe.
Pre-Columbian gold artefacts.
Tip Allow an hour.
A big collection of jade.
Tip Modern building.
Food stalls and crafts.
Tip Go at lunch.
Restaurants and bars.
Tip Go in the evening.
A large green park.
Tip A morning walk.
Things to do
A day trip is the best use of time.
A crater lake.
Tip Go early.
Taste beans.
Tip Book ahead.
Casado and snacks.
Tip Try the ice cream.
In Escalante.
Tip Try craft beer.
Colourful lake.
Tip Combine with Cartago.
Basilica and ruins.
Tip Short trip.
Local food
Tico food is hearty.
Plate of the day.
Where to try it Local sodas.
Rice and beans.
Where to try it Breakfast.
Beef soup.
Where to try it Traditional restaurants.
Beans, rice and pork.
Where to try it Bars.
Highland beans.
Where to try it Cafes.
Accommodation
Stay in safe central neighbourhoods.
Transport
San Jose is the main gateway.
Taxis and walking.
When to go
The dry season is best.
Dry and sunny.
Green.
Rainy.
Drying out.
Worth planning around: September and October for wet afternoons.
Itinerary
City and volcano.
Museums
Day trip
Travel tips
Tips.
FAQ
With care.
One to two days.
For a day.
Escalante or Amon.
Yes, Poas and Irazu.
The centre is.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with San Jose, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Puntarenas Province, Tilaran Mountains, Costa Rica
A high-altitude cloud forest community with biodiversity reserves, canopy walks, ziplines, night walks and coffee farms.
Don't miss Walking a hanging bridge through the clouds and spotting a resplendent quetzal.
Explore Destination — MonteverdeAlajuela Province, northern Costa Rica, Costa Rica
An adventure hub at the foot of Arenal Volcano, with La Fortuna Waterfall, natural hot springs, hanging bridges, Lake Arenal and wildlife.
Don't miss Soaking in a warm river as the Arenal volcano towers overhead.
Explore Destination — Arenal and La FortunaPuntarenas Province, central Pacific coast, Costa Rica
Costa Rica's most visited park, with beaches, forest trails, wildlife, rafting nearby and views from the hills of Quepos.
Don't miss Spotting a sloth overhead, then swimming at a hidden beach.
Explore Destination — Manuel AntonioRead next
Food
Eating well abroad is mostly a matter of knowing when meals happen, how the menu is structured and which dish belongs to the place you are standing in. This covers all three for the five countries in this guide, plus the signals that separate a restaurant that feeds locals from one that feeds coaches.
Practical
Most packing advice is a list of things. This is the opposite: the small number of decisions that determine whether your luggage helps or hinders, organised by the kind of trip you are actually taking.
Advertisement
