Last Updated: August 18, 2025
San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, is filled with rich history and culture. Not only that, but it has a hip urban vibe and an array of restaurants and bars that you won’t find anywhere else in the country. Despite all that this buzzing metropolis has to offer, it is often overlooked by travelers. Most arriving at the international airport pass in and out as quickly as possible, en route to the country’s beautiful beaches and tropical rainforests. We too used to be overwhelmed by the congested streets and sprawling city blocks. But after visiting more regularly, we now see the city in a new light. In this post, we share some of San Jose’s best attractions, restaurants, and hotels to make your one or two days memorable.
Orientation
Location
San Jose, Costa Rica is located in the Central Valley, a mountainous region in the middle of the country.
Although Costa Rica’s main airport is called San Jose Airport (SJO), the airport is actually located in a different city called Alajuela, about 25 minutes away. In this post, we’ll focus on downtown San Jose, which is where the country’s major cultural and historic sights are located.
Layout
San Jose appears to stretch in every direction with its colorful rooftops, scattered high rises, and green patches of parks. But like most cities, certain spots have a concentration of attractions. In San Jose, one of those places is Avenida Central (Central Avenue). This is one of the most accessible areas of the city. Here, it is easy to walk between the plethora of museums, parks, outdoor plazas, shops, and restaurants.
In the barrios (neighborhoods) surrounding Avenida Central, you’ll find a diverse urban culture similar to what you’d find in any city in the world. A mix of businesspeople, hipsters, young professionals, artists, and students can be seen along the area’s busy sidewalks.
Tip: When exploring downtown San Jose’s vibrant streets, be sure to bring a light jacket or sweater for early mornings and evenings. Because of San Jose’s elevation (about 3,800 feet/1,158 meters) and the winds that blow through the valley, temperatures can feel a bit cool for the tropics (65-75 ˚F/18-24˚C). Learn more about what to bring with our Costa Rica Packing Guide.
Hotels in Downtown San Jose, Costa Rica
Finding a hotel within walking distance to Avenida Central will make visiting the city’s attractions a lot more enjoyable. This way, you can leave the car behind and explore on foot without the hassles of traffic and parking. There are many hotels located right on or just a few blocks away from Avenida Central.
Here are some options from budget to high end.
Hotel Aranjuez
One good budget-friendly option is Hotel Aranjuez. This hotel was in the ideal location for us on one of our visits to San Jose. It’s slightly outside the center of town, far enough out to be nice and quiet. But it’s still only a 10-15 minute walk to the sights. The hotel is located in a historic building with high ceilings, original wood finishes, and authentic Costa Rican decor.
In addition to the quiet location, other things we liked were the availability of parking and huge breakfast buffet, which totally lived up to expectations.
Interestingly, Hotel Aranjuez is actually named after the barrio that it is in. This neighborhood once hosted the country’s first electric power plant. This gave San Jose the distinction of being the first city in Latin America, and just the third city in the world, to have electricity.
$75-115/night with breakfast included. No rooms have A/C. Check Rates and Availability.
Hotel Presidente
If you prefer to be right in the action, Hotel Presidente is in the heart of downtown San Jose. Located diagonal from Plaza de la Cultura where many attractions are located, this medium-sized hotel has modern rooms and an upscale facility. Rooms range from basic but comfortable standards to spacious, elegant suites.
A highlight of Hotel Presidente is the rooftop restaurant, which has a great cocktail and wine menu as well as good international-style food. We really enjoyed the city views at night from this spot.
Although the hotel is in the busy downtown, the soundproofing of the rooms is good.
All rooms have A/C. Rates include breakfast. $100-250/night. Check Rates and Availability.
Gran Hotel Costa Rica
Another hotel that might appeal to history enthusiasts is the Gran Hotel Costa Rica. The Gran Hotel is an important building, dating back to the 1930s. Its construction was ordered by the Costa Rican Congress to fill the need for a first-class hotel in the city.
The hotel sits right across from the National Theater in Plaza de la Cultura. It has hosted diplomats and celebrities over the years. In 1963, John F. Kennedy stayed here during his visit to Costa Rica.
A few years ago, the Hilton chain purchased it and underwent a full renovation. During our stay, we really enjoyed the modern amenities alongside the historical charm.
$100-900/night, depending on room choice. Check Rates and Availability.
Safety Tip: Like any city in the world, San Jose has rough areas that you’ll want to avoid. In the areas we have visited near downtown San Jose, though, we have felt very safe walking around as there are plenty of people out and about. We don’t venture out after dark too much and recommend grabbing a taxi if you feel at all uneasy. Cabs and Ubers are cheap and plentiful. For more tips, read our post Safety Tips for Your Next Trip to Costa Rica.
San Jose Airport Hotels
Would you rather stay closer to the airport instead of in downtown San Jose? Our post Best Hotels Near San Jose Airport gives options that are conveniently located but in more scenic areas.
Things to Do in Downtown San Jose, Costa Rica
Museums
The main attraction for tourists visiting San Jose are the museums. If you only have a limited amount of time, we recommend the National Museum and Pre-Columbian Gold Museum.
National Museum
What we like most about the National Museum (Museo Nacional de Costa Rica) is that you learn a little about a broad range of topics related to Costa Rica’s history. San Jose has several museums that go into great detail about very specific topics, but the National Museum gives a good taste of Costa Rica’s overall history.
Displays of pre-Columbian artifacts like stone spheres, carved sculptures, pottery remnants, jewelry made from gold and jade, and even a butterfly garden are part of the experience. For those interested in Costa Rica’s famed abolishment of the military in 1949, this museum is housed in the historic Bellavista Fort. There are exhibits explaining the fort’s significance.
Our family has been to the National Museum a couple of times and it’s always an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
National Museum Cost and Hours: $11 adults; free for children under 12. Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on Sunday when it opens at 9:00 a.m. Closed Monday.
Gold Museum
The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (Museo de Oro Precolombino) is a nice supplement to the National Museum and only a short ten-minute walk away.
Inside the Gold Museum, you can stroll through several floors of gold artifacts created by indigenous people that date back to AD 0. Like the National Museum, displays and models of historical reenactments are set up in chronological order so it’s easy to learn about how indigenous cultures changed over time.
One thing that we really like about the Gold Museum is the video, which breaks up the exhibits nicely and gives a great overview of the history.
Gold Museum Cost and Hours: 8,400 colones (about $16.50) adults; 6,300 colones (about $12) students; free for children under 12. Open 9:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Jade Museum
The Jade Museum (Museo del Jade) is right across the street from the National Museum. This newer museum has five floors and teaches not only about jade found in Costa Rica but also has other pre-Columbian and indigenous exhibits like pottery. It only takes a couple of hours to explore the whole place.
Jade Museum Cost and Hours: $16 adults; $5 students; $3 children ages 6-12. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Children’s Museum
If you have kids, a wonderful place to spend the day is the Children’s Museum (Museo de los Ninos).
This elaborate museum has so many different exhibits for kids of all ages. You’ll find everything from space, Ancient Egypt, and dinosaurs to displays on going to the dentist, a pretend grocery store, and recycling. There are even some exhibits about Costa Rica’s history and culture, including a mini coffee farm and banana processing plant. Our kids love coming here whenever we’re in San Jose. Learn more about the museum with our separate post.
Children’s Museum Cost and Hours: 3,000 colones (about $6) adults; 2,500 colones (about $5) children over 90 cm (35 inches). Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Monday.
Museum of Contemporary Art and Design
For a quick (free) stop, we recommend the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (Museo de Arte y Diseno Contemporaneo). This small museum beautifully displays contemporary pieces from Costa Rican and international artists. The museum is diverse and well-curated. Most of the signs are in Spanish.
Museum of Contemporary Art and Design Cost and Hours: Entrance is free. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.
The National Theater
The National Theater (Teatro Nacional) is another historical site you won’t want to miss. The opulent building was constructed between 1891 and 1897, but the beautifully decorated rooms and stage are still used for performances today.
The architecture and decor of the theater is a mishmash of European influences. It includes marble sculptures as well as wall and ceiling murals from both French and Italian artists.
The Theater does free tours of the building so that you can learn about the history and see all the art work. Tours are done by a group of actors who dress up in period attire from the 1890s. They will take you around to show you some cool secrets and insights about the building that you wouldn’t otherwise pick up on. One example is the ballroom’s mechanical floor that can be raised or lowered for events.
National Theater Cost and Hours: 3,500 colones (about $7) adults; free for children under 12. Guided tours are offered on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Markets and Shops
Downtown San Jose is also a great place to go shopping, especially for souvenirs.
The Municipal Crafts Market (Mercado Municipal de Artesanias) has lots of your more typical souvenirs like T-shirts, coffee, mugs, etc., but there are also some vendors selling handmade items. This market is now in a new, more spacious location on Avenida 6 between Calle 5 and 7.
For a more authentic experience, check out Mercado Central. This sprawling Central Market has hundreds of shops, stalls, and local restaurants spread out along the many corridors. Here, you will brush shoulders with locals who come to do their shopping.
Mercado Central has almost everything you could imagine, from spices and medicinal herbs to flowers to souvenirs and rich Costa Rican coffee. Located in the heart of downtown, taking up a block on Avenida 1 and Avenida Central at Calle 6.
Restaurants in San Jose, Costa Rica
Something about San Jose that really impresses us are the selection of great restaurants. This brings us back to when we lived in Boston, where we could walk just a few blocks down the street and have our choice of food and drink from around the globe.
Cafe Rojo
For lunch, near the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and National Theater, Café Rojo is a great spot. This cute restaurant is inside a typical Barrio Amon wooden house. They serve up Vietnamese-inspired food and have strong coffee served French Press-style if you’re in need of a pick-me-up. Has vegan and gluten-free options.
Stiefel Pub
Stiefel Pub is a highly recommended place to find craft beer in San Jose. This is a true pub that feels like a bar. They serve their own beer and have a chalkboard full of choices from other Costa Rican brewers. Siefel Pub is located in Barrio Otoyo, just north of the main area of downtown.
Restaurante Wong’s
Right next to the National Museum is this staple, Restaurante Wong’s. Busy with both locals and tourists, this casual Chinese restaurant serves up delicious Dim Sum. Portions are big so come hungry. Our family of four ordered only three dishes but still had a lot of leftovers!
Conclusion
Overall, San Jose has really surprised us over the years. Although intimidating at first, the downtown is a destination in itself and shouldn’t be overlooked. From the modern museums and gourmet restaurants to the parks and outdoor spaces, San Jose offers a glimpse into urban life in Costa Rica. Most Ticos, in fact, live in the San Jose metro area so if you’re looking to explore the local culture, it’s a must. Of course, San Jose isn’t the tropical rainforest or misty cloud forest, which draws all the crowds, but if you have a day or two to explore, it’s definitely worth your time.
Have you visited San Jose? What did you think?
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Looking for more information to plan your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
La Paz Waterfall Gardens: Wildlife Close Up – If you’re looking for a day trip from San Jose to see wildlife, La Paz, a little north of San Jose, has nicely done enclosures with birds and animals plus a hike to waterfalls.
A Classic Costa Rica Coffee Tour at Cafe Britt: Cafe Britt is one of Costa Rica’s best known coffee producers. Their tour is only 30 minutes from San Jose near downtown Heredia.
The Truth About Visiting Poas Volcano: Poas is the most popular volcano to visit from San Jose. Learn some important facts before heading out to see this active volcano.
Destinations: Plan your whole trip with our Destinations page. We cover more than 50 towns and cities in Costa Rica on this website.
SJO Airport: Learn what to expect when arriving at San Jose Airport.
Top Things to Do in Costa Rica: From magical blue waterfalls and misty cloud forest to quintessential activities like hot springs and coffee tours, get our picks for the best things to do.
