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Start getting to know San José at the Plaza de la Cultura Although, as is the case in much of San José, this place does not shine especially for its beauty, it is for many the heart of the city and the meeting place for many Ticos who come here to spend some leisure time after work or at any time of the day.
Being located in the heart of the city and being the place where the National Theater and the Pre-Columbian Gold and Numismatic Museum are located, which we will talk about later, the Plaza de la Cultura is one of the essential places to see in San José and is sure to be one of the places you will pass by on more than one occasion during your stay in the city.
Keep in mind that, like the entire city center, the Plaza de la Cultura can be a stressful place at certain times of the day, as it is a place of constant traffic where young people (and not so young) gather, play music, mingle with street vendors and come face to face with vehicles trying to make way for a space in the adjacent streets by honking.
Despite this, as we mentioned before, this is the heart of the city and as such, it has an atmosphere that is difficult to find in other areas, as well as being a safe place where you can walk around without worrying too much even after sunset.

2. The elegant National Theater, one of the most beautiful places to visit in San José The National Theater is probably the most beautiful building in the city and as such, one of the essential places to see in San José. Located in the southern part of the square and built in 1897, the building is neoclassical in style and its interior features the lobby and the auditorium, where you can see different paintings and murals, especially the one known as Allegory of Coffee and Banana, which is located on the ceiling of the auditorium, was made by Aleardo Villa and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, even being the image that could be seen on the back of the five-colon Costa Rican bill of yesteryear.

3. Pre-Columbian Gold and Numismatic Museum
Another of the places to visit in San José is the Pre-Columbian Gold and Numismatic Museum. Located in the lower part of the Plaza de la Cultura, it can be said to have two levels. This museum is one of the most important private collections in the country, belonging to the Central Bank, since its rooms display some priceless pieces from the pre-Columbian era.
The museum is divided into 9 units through which you can learn about and get closer to Costa Rican culture through all the pieces on display, since they come from different parts of the country and are dated between 300 BC and 1500 AD. In addition to these, the museum also exhibits pieces of ceramics, stone and precious stones.
If you want to visit the National Theater and the Pre-Columbian Gold and Numismatic Museum, we recommend booking this guided tour that includes hotel pick-up, a guide in Spanish and tickets to both monuments.
Visiting hours are Monday to Sunday from 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the price is 9,300 colones (15 dollars) for international travelers and 2,500 colones for Costa Ricans and residents.
4. Post Office and Telegraph Building of Costa Rica
This is one of the most emblematic buildings in the city and as such another of the essential places to see in San José. Located in the heart of the capital, this is one of the few buildings that remain from the time before during the second half of the 20th century when practically all the buildings built by Italian architects that stood in the center of the city collapsed.
Currently, the headquarters of the Post Office and also the Costa Rican Postal, Telegraphic and Philatelic Museum are located here.
5. Visit the Jade Museum, one of the things to do in San José
Another thing to do in San José is to visit the Jade Museum, another of the most important museums in the city. Located in the Plaza de la Democracia and owned by the National Insurance Institute, in a 5-story building built especially to house the museum's pieces, you can travel back in time and get closer to the country's history and Pre-Columbian culture, as well as see one of the most important collections of pieces made of jade, a green ornamental stone.
Keep in mind that you will need at least a couple of hours to make the visit and that if you only have time to visit one museum in the city, the Gold Museum would be our choice.
Visiting hours are Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the price is 9,600 colones (16 dollars) for international travelers and 3,000 colones for Costa Ricans and residents.
6. National Park
Considered one of the green lungs of the city, the National Park is also the place chosen by many locals to rest from the busy day-to-day life in the city and escape for a while from the chaotic traffic that is especially seen on weekdays in San José.
In the park, in addition to being able to see the National Monument, in the central part, you can see different statues in honor of different relevant personalities in the history of Latin America.
It is important to note that, although San José is not a very dangerous city, it is not advisable to walk or go alone at night, especially in areas such as parks or areas with few people. That is why we recommend that you make these visits during the day, taking the precautions that you would take in any other city, such as not showing valuable objects... etc.
In the surroundings of the National Park you will find the Legislative Assembly and the Costa Rican railway station, which although it is currently closed, if you go closer you will be able to see its beautiful architecture.
7. National Museum of Costa Rica
Another thing to do in San José is to visit the National Museum of Costa Rica, located in the old fort or barracks of Bellavista, famous for being the place where in 1948 the abolition of the army was decreed, and two years later it became the property of the museum and it began the works to be adapted to become an exhibition place. Currently, in the different rooms of the museum, you can see pieces from the pre-Columbian era, through which you can learn a little more about the history of the country, as well as different exhibitions that explain the history of the building and how it went from being a barracks to a museum.
Visiting hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The price is 7,000 colones (11 dollars) for international travelers and 2,500 colones for Costa Ricans and residents.
8. Stroll through Central Park
Yes, you are right if you think that many of the things to do in San José focus on walking through green areas and visiting museums. We are not going to deny the obvious. And so we continue with these recommendations by suggesting you visit the Central Park, although in this case the name does not refer precisely to a park but to a square in which a kind of roundabout stands out above the rest of the elements, known as the kiosk, with benches around it where we recommend you sit down to enjoy the usual hustle and bustle, especially on weekdays when the city seems to have no respite.
Keep in mind that all the places to see in San José that we include in this post are quite close to each other so you can easily visit them on foot, although, if you prefer comfort, you can book this panoramic tour, which is done by bus with a Spanish-speaking guide and passes by all the most important points of the city.
9. Enter the Metropolitan Cathedral, another of the things to do in San José
In front of the Central Park is the Metropolitan Cathedral, another of the places to visit in San José. Despite not being as striking as the cathedrals of other cities in the world, we recommend visiting it to appreciate its exterior and also its interior, where the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament stands out, where many locals come to leave their requests and prayers.
In the Cathedral you can appreciate different architectural styles, neoclassical and baroque among them, due to the many restorations it has undergone after the seismic movements that have occurred over time in the city.
10. Melico Salazar Popular Theater
Do you want to continue getting to know San José? We suggest you don't leave Central Park yet, since at the other end of the square is the Melico Salazar Popular Theater, the second most important theater in the city, built in 1927 and finished in 1928, which is named after Melico Salazar, an important Costa Rican tenor.
Although less attractive than the National Theater, we recommend you take a look at it, since it is a place with an important cultural relevance.
11. Walk along Avenida Central
Another of the things we suggest you do in San José is to walk along Avenida Central and Avenida 2, two of the main arteries of the city. Although they are far from the commercial arteries of other cities, you will be able to enjoy the local atmosphere and get a little closer to Costa Rican culture, rubbing shoulders with the locals who quicken their pace to enter the hundreds of clothing and shoe stores, soda shops and restaurants, or bend down to look for some trinket displayed by the street vendors who meet every day on the main street of San José.
Keep in mind that in San José, the famous brand stores are not located in the center as is usually the case in most European cities. In the city center you will find multiple stores but none of the well-known brands. If you want to go to one of these, you will have to go to one of the shopping centers located on the outskirts of the city.
12. Visit the Central Market
Another thing to do in San José is to visit the Central Market, and we cannot forget that it has always been said that to get to know a town you must get to know its markets. So there is nothing more recommendable than going into the heart of the city and getting lost among food stalls to whet your appetite and discover new smells and flavors that we are sure will become part of your trip to Costa Rica on your own.
In addition to the food stalls in the market, you will also find small sodas, which are small restaurants with traditional cuisine, usually at more reasonable prices than traditional restaurants, where if you are hungry, you can start trying typical dishes.
It is important to know that although San José is not a dangerous city, as we mentioned before, the markets can be a good opportunity for those who love other people's things, so we recommend that you visit with caution and not show your camera or valuables too much.
13. Morazán Park, one of the places to see in San José
Although it is not our favorite place in San José, if you want to visit more green areas, we recommend that you go to Morazán Park, where the Temple of Music is located, built in 1920 and which is practically an exact replica of the Temple of Love and Music of the Palace of Versailles in France, as well as other sculptures that are a tribute to important figures in the life and history of Costa Rica.
14. Church of Our Lady of La Merced
Although this is not the most famous church in San José, it is the prettiest or at least the one we liked the most, so we did not want to end this list of things to do in San José without including a visit, even if it is to the outside.
Located relatively close to the center, in front of Braulio Carrillo Park, another of the most famous green spaces in the city, the temple is neo-Gothic in style and has been part of the city's historical-architectural heritage since 1996.
15. Excursions from San José
We have already told you on several occasions that San José is not a particularly pretty city nor does it have too many attractions, at least for travelers who take a route through Costa Rica in search of nature and Pura Vida.
Despite this, it is very likely that you will have to spend a night in the city if you are going to take one of the excursions that are usually done from San José, such as the Poás Volcano or the Irazú Volcano, and you can take advantage of an afternoon to visit the places that we include in the post.
We leave you with some of the most famous excursions from San José that are done or can be done from the capital, among which are some of the most essential places to visit in Costa Rica:


Poás Volcano: If you want to see the inside of an active volcano and a lake of impossible colors, you cannot miss the visit to the Poás Volcano that had its last eruption in 2017. You can go by rental car or if you do not want to worry about anything, book this excursion to the Poás Volcano or this one that also includes a visit to the La Paz Waterfall and a Starbucks coffee farm. For more information, you can consult this guide to visit the Poás Volcano.
Irazú Volcano: Known for being the highest active volcano in Costa Rica, this is another of the volcanoes that you cannot miss if you want to have unique views of the crater and even on clear days, of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. Located 19 kilometers from Cartago, you can go by rental car or book this excursion that includes a visit to the Irazú Volcano, Orosi Valley and Lankester Gardens or this one that includes the Turrialba Volcano. For more information, you can consult this guide to visit the Irazú Volcano.
Tortuguero: If there is a place you cannot miss in Costa Rica, it is Tortuguero, a coastal park that is one of the places where the green sea turtle spawns, as well as being home to hundreds of animals such as the sloth, howler monkeys, small red-eyed frogs or multiple species of reptiles and insects, as well as some beaches that can be included in the list of the best beaches in Costa Rica.
Although after our experience we recommend that you go for several days, in case you do not want to rent a car or have limited time, you can book this one-day excursion or this 2 or 3-day excursion.
Arenal Volcano: without a doubt the Arenal Volcano, with its perfect shape, is another of the places you cannot miss in Costa Rica. Although as in Tortuguero we recommend that you go for at least 2 or 3 days, in case you do not want to rent a car or only have one day, you can book this excursion that also includes a visit to some hot springs.
Bars:
1. Calle 9+ Bar & Lounge (San José)
Description: Modern and lively bar, known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, live music and a wide variety of cocktails. Ideal for those looking for stylish nightlife.
Address: Calle 9, Avenida 11, San José, Costa Rica.
2. El Gaff (Tamarindo)
Description: Cozy bar with a relaxed coastal atmosphere. Popular with locals and tourists for its selection of craft beers and excellent service. They offer trivia nights and live music.
Address: Calle Central, Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
3. Lizard King Bar & Grill (Puerto Viejo)
Description: A colorful place in the Caribbean, perfect for enjoying tropical cocktails and international cuisine. Its relaxed atmosphere makes it an ideal place to enjoy the nightlife.
Address: Calle Principal, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica.




Restaurants:
1. Grano de Oro Restaurant (San José)
Description: Gourmet restaurant located in an elegant boutique hotel. It offers Costa Rican and international cuisine with a sophisticated touch, in a classic and romantic setting.
Address: Calle 30, Avenida 2 y 4, San José, Costa Rica.

2. La Criollita Restaurant (San José)
Description: Traditional Costa Rican restaurant with a family and cozy atmosphere. It stands out for its variety of typical dishes such as casados ??and gallo pinto, perfect for getting to know the authentic local cuisine.
Address: Calle 15, Avenida 9, Barrio Amón, San José, Costa Rica.

3. Soda La Naranja (Monteverde)
Description: Rustic and charming restaurant that offers typical Costa Rican food with fresh ingredients from the region. Its specialty is casados ??and local dishes at affordable prices.
Address: Santa Elena, Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, near the center of town.

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