San José, the capital of Costa Rica, is likely going to be your first stop exploring this incredible country. Whilst it is filled with culture, art and delicious food, it is often overlooked for the National Parks and rainforests nearby. However, give this city just 24 hours of your time and you won’t regret it. This post of what to see in San Jose, Costa Rica, will cover all the top hits to explore before you go on your wildlife Odyssey.
Before you Read On: San José is, as Central American cities are concerned, relatively safe. However, I would advise caution whilst exploring and to not to explore during the evening.
What to See in San Jose, Costa Rica | Your Ultimate Guide
1. National Theatre of Costa Rica (Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica)
The National Theatre of Costa Rica has to be the one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, if not Central America. It was built in 1897 and features some truly elegant interiors. You’ll see marble, gold leaf and other delicate features rippling through the building.
There are also live performances that run throughout the day and, given the central location, you’ll find it an easy enough commute to it.
🎫 To see the National Theatre it will cost you $10 USD (yes, they use USD in Costa Rica, arguably more than the Colón)
⏰ It is open between 09:00 in the morning to 16:00 in the afternoon.
2. Jade Museum (Museo del Jade)
I didn’t realise that Costa Rica had a rich jade heritage dating back to the pre-Columbian times. The Jade Museum in San José actually has the highest number of jade artefacts found anywhere in the world. In fact, there are over 7000 pieces spread out over five floors. Most importantly, it is perhaps one of the best ways to learn about the indigenous communities that lived in the country centuries ago.
🎫 Foreign visitors can expect to pay $16 USD for entry, however it is free for students or children aged 12 or under.
⏰ It is open Monday to Friday between 08:30 am – 15:30 pm, or 09:00 am to 13:00 pm on Saturday.
3. Central Market (Mercado Central)
For a true sense of what it is like to be a local, I would recommend the Central Market. Here, local farmers bring in their produce, including fresh ingredients to delicious local dishes such as Casado or chifrijo. One thing that I loved in Costa Rica is actually the local cheeses and this Central Market has to be one of the best places to find and sample it.
If you have a sweet tooth, the Market is a perfect opportunity to grab an ice cream to cool down in the warm sun. My favourite place to get this is Helados de Sorbetera, which specialises in unique-tasting ice cream that is exclusive to this store. I personally think that this is one of the best things to see, and do, in the morning in San Jose, Costa Rica.
🎫 Free
⏰ 06:00 to 17:00, Monday to Saturday. Some stalls don’t open until 7am so plan your visit accordingly
4. Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
Another place to dive into pre-Columbian history is the Gold Museum. You’ll find this beneath the Plaza de la Cultura.
The museum houses an incredible number of gold dating back to Costa Rica’s indigenous past. Once again, it is one of the best ways to discover the indigenous past of the country, something which is quite difficult to discover elsewhere.
🎫 Foreign visitors pay $9 USD for entry, or $5 USD with a valid student card.
⏰ It is open between 09:00 to 17:00 every day.
5. Barrio Escalante
For food lovers, Barrio Escalante is a must-visit. It is a super trendy neighbourhood and is home to arguably the best restaurants and cafés in the city. I would recommend strolling along Calle 33 and dive into the different options of coffee and local produce, perhaps even sampling an innovative cocktail or two.
🎫 Free
6. La Sabana Metropolitan Park
Did you know that San José is actually a city within a rainforest? With that, you’d expect one of the best things to see in San Jose is actually the wildlife and green areas, and you’d be right! La Sabana is a large urban park which is perfect for a relaxing stroll. You’ll see some local resident wildlife here too, mostly birdlife but also turtles, amphibians and exotic insects.
🎫 Free
⏰ The park is generally open from early in the morning until dusk. The specific hours can vary, so do check beforehand if you plan to visit.
Tip: Nearby is also the Costa Rican Art Museum, housing some of the best pieces of local modern and contemporary art. It is now completely free and is open between 09:00 am to 16:00 pm every day except Mondays.
7. National Museum of Costa Rica (Museo Nacional de Costa Rica)
The National Museum of Costa Rica is housed in an impressive (and very yellow!) former military barracks. It covers everything from the colonial history of the country to the immense biodiversity found nearby. One of my highlights here is the butterfly garden, which is just beautiful to walk around. There is also an exhibit about Costa Rica’s peaceful abolition of its army back in 1948.
🎫 To enter, foreign visitors pay $8 USD to enter or $4 USD with a student card.
⏰ The museum is open from 08:30 am to 16:30 pm every day, except Sundays when it opens at 09:00.
8. Spirogyra Butterfly Garden
One of the last large green spaces in San José is the glorious Spirogyra Butterfly Garden. It homes an incredible number of different colourful butterfly species and showcases native plants from across Costa Rica.
You can go on a guided tour here and, if you fancy doing a bit of good, volunteer to help out.
🎫 Entrance is $6 USD and more information can be found here.
⏰ Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 14:00. Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 15:00
Tip: I would recommend delaying your visit until around 10:30/11:00 as the butterflies are more active once it has warmed up!
9. Artisan Market (Mercado de Artesanías)
Near the National Museum is the Artisan Market. This is, in my opinion, the best place to pick up local souvenirs and trinkets in San José. You’ll find everything from jewellery to intricately-detailed sculptures.
Tip: If you are looking for a souvenir, try to buy local. Firstly it supports the community but it will also save you a fair amount of money. Some of the major tourist destinations have incredibly expensive souvenirs, especially the airport.
🎫 Free
⏰ Open every day 08:30 until 17:00. I would recommend getting there early as it can get very crowded later in the day.
10. Evening Entertainment
Whilst the guidance is not to go out in the evening, there are a few places where you could venture to on a tour or via taxi in the evening. You have some great bars to enjoy a drink, such as Calle 33 or Stiefel Pub. We stayed at Hotel Presidente and this had an incredible rooftop bar called Azotea Calle 7. The views were phenomenal and the food was very good and well-priced. Equally, there are Craft Beer Tours which showcase this fairly new industry in the country.
You could also go on a Food Tour and sample all of the famous national dishes. Of course, you’ll try empanadas, Gallo Pinto (rice and beans) and Arroz con Leche (a delicious creamy dessert). There are lots of tours operating in San José, so make sure you research these to find the best one for you.
11. Tour the City
If you want to see the majority of the above, and more, then I would suggest a walking tour of San José.
One of the best companies for this is Carpe Chepe which actually offers a free walking tour, departing from the National Theatre Monday through Saturday. The company also offers a full range of different options to suit you.
12: Day Trips from San José
Lastly, why not go on a day trip? The area surrounding San José is beautiful and is often missed out in favour of more popular destinations like Arenal and Tortuguero. If you fancy taking a day trip or two from this perfectly-positioned base, check out my post about day trips from San José. It covers all of my favourite options and I’ve included prices and travel time too.
Tips for Visiting San José
- Getting Around: Walking is the best way to explore downtown San José, but taxis and ride-sharing apps are convenient for longer distances. Uber is much cheaper than taxis
- Safety: As I said above, do most of your exploring during the day and stick to tourist areas. Avoid going out after dark where possible and use taxi services during this time.
- When to Visit: The dry season (December to April) is ideal for exploring the city. Having said that, we went in July and, whilst a little damp, it was still good for exploring.
- How long to stay in San Jose: I wouldn’t suggest spending more than one day exploring the city. However, you might want to stay longer for day trips or to overnight before a flight.
- Where to stay: I cannot recommend Hotel Presidente enough. It is quite rustic in some areas, but it is being redeveloped. The service is incredible though and the rooftop bar has to be one of the best, if not the best, in the city.
Final Thoughts | What to see in San Jose, Costa Rica
San José may not have Costa Rica’s beaches or rainforests, but there is still plenty to see. Don’t overlook this vibrant city and it will surprise you; trust me. I hope that this blog post helped you plan your visit but, if you have any questions, just ask. I always love hearing from you.
