San José (Costa Rica) Voyage Tips and guide

San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. The undisputed cultural and economic center of Costa Rica's central valley, where most of the population lives, San José is also the most important transportation hub for domestic travel even though the international airport is in Alajuela. Many international visitors bypass San José altogether or spend only the time it takes to change from one bus to another, but its museums, cultural output and the opportunity to meet the "real Costa Rica" make it well worth staying a few days.

San José is on a plateau in the Central Valley at 1,200 m (3,900 ft) elevation. It is ringed by lush green mountains and valleys. The population of the Central Valley - which could be described as the San José metro area - is probably half of the whole country. It is served by the primary airport (which is in nearby Alajuela) the University of Costa Rica, most if not all embassies, and many museums, cultural venues, hotels, markets, etc. It is the hub of the country.

During the nineteenth century, San José fought with nearby Cartago over the title of capital and the latter lost out on the title but kept more colonial architecture. Most events in Costa Rican history are tied to San José; it was here that Jose Figueres declared the abolition of the armed forces after winning the civil war in 1948 and whenever Ticos have a grievance that can't be resolved locally, they come to the capital to demonstrate and make their plight known.

Weather in San José varies throughout the year and is affected by Caribbean weather conditions.

Because of its elevation, San José is usually 21-27°C (70-80°F) though it can get chilly at night. The rainy season is from mid April through December. Summer is in January and February; winter includes the rainiest months from June to September.

9.993889-84.2088891 Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO  ^IATA) (The city closest to the airport is Alajuela.). 17 km (11 mi) from the center of San José. The airport is pretty close to what you'd be used to in the US or Europe, including pretty shameless price gouging (a ₡ 6000 burger, anybody?) and tacky souvenir shops. However, the experience is generally smooth, quiet and air conditioned.  

There is a local bus stop outside the airport. After arriving you will be directed out of the airport through a single exit on the ground floor. The bus stop would be straight ahead of you on the main road, but first you will have to walk past many taxi drivers, and then loop left around the large car park building to get to the stop. The stop is marked on Google maps as 'Public Bus Station Airport'. It should take less than five minutes to walk there.

A bus from here to downtown San José costs 650 colones (2023). Make sure to check the destination on the front of the bus, since buses leave from here to other destinations too. The bus has its own lane for much of the way, making it often a quicker option in rush hour traffic. Under good conditions the journey takes less than half an hour. Try to bring small change for the bus. The bus terminates next to Braulio Carrillo Colina Park in San José. From here you could take a taxi/Uber to your final destination, or there are further local buses.

The taxis charge around US$25 to take you to the city; be sure to take one of the licensed reddish-orange taxis that say "Taxi Aeropuerto." There are many unlicensed taxi drivers who will charge you almost twice as much as Taxi Aeropuerto. The taxis accept US dollars.

Uber and Didi work well throughout San Jose but the airport remains an exception as of June 2023. You may be able to find an Uber willing to pick up at the airport (out front at the bus stop or up a level at the departures section), but you might have to wait quite a lot longer than in almost any other location due to Uber's illegality and the presence of taxis and police at the airport. The taxis are theoretically required to use the meter, but rarely willing to do so and even the meter is at least 2x the cost of an Uber.

There is an ATM by the entrance to airport departures, and another right after you exit arrivals, that dispense colones (₡) or US dollars. However, they charge a large fee (4000 colones on a ~100 USD withdrawal as of 2023).

There is a bureau de change in the airport. As of 2023, this gave very good rates, less than 1% off the mid market rate when converting US dollars to colones. Check rates using your phone: there is free wifi in the airport.

There are several bus terminals in San José that operate domestically; these are listed at Costa Rica#Get around. It is important to know which bus terminal serves your bus route. Bus stops are usually every few blocks in the city.

International buses typically connect Managua with San José. TicaBus is the only company that also operates in Tapachula, Mexico via San Salvador and Guatemala City; and from Panama City to San José in the south.

• 9.9391-84.08382 Transportes Central Line, Terminal Atlatico Norte, corner 9a Av y Calle 12, ☏ +506 2221 9115. Travel between Managua and San José. Avoid walking to this terminal; take an Uber directly there. (updated Jul 2022)
• 9.9356-84.08693 Nica Bus, Terminal 7/10 entre las calle 10 y 8 en la, Av. 7, Paso De La Vaca, ☏ +506 2221 2679, [email protected]. Buses from Managua and Chinandega in Nicaragua. (updated Jul 2022)
• 9.9369-84.09064 Ticabus (Transportes Internacionales Centroamericanos), 200 m north and 100 m west of Torre Mercedes (Paseo Colón) (in front of the Magisterio Nacional Mortuary), ☏ +506 2296-9788. International bus company going across the Central American isthmus between Panama City and Managua. From Managua one route goes to Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula in Honduras while another continues along the Pan American Hwy to San Salvador, Guatemala City and Tapachula in Mexico. They also have another north-south route connecting El Salvador to Honduras. Also has routes from Panama and Nicaragua to Costa Rica. (updated Aug 2025)
• 9.9376-84.0885 TransNica, Calle 22, entre Avs 3a y 5a, ☏ +506 4404 0500, [email protected]. Service from Managua. Also operates in Honduras. (updated Jul 2022)

There are a few buses a day that leave from David, Panama to San José. The bus is about $20 and takes around 8 hr, which includes the border crossing at Paso Canoas. At the border, you will get off the bus, have your luggage inspected, get your Panama exit stamp, walk across the border to the Costa Rica immigration, and get your entrance stamp, luggage inspected again, and wait for the bus to get back on. Costa Rica immigration can be strict, and tourists will usually need to provide some sort of confirmation of an onward ticket out of Costa Rica within 90 days of entering. Onward tickets can include a flight out of San José, or a bus ticket coming back to Panama.

Trains have made a comeback in Costa Rica and, after being shut down for many years, several routes have been put back into service using second-hand equipment brought over from Spain and some very ancient wooden carriages that look like they have been taken from a museum. Lines are mostly single-track and level crossings have no lights or protection at all, which has led to several accidents. There's also no signaling. Overall it's an interesting experience if you have the time and it's the best way of getting to Heredia (a lot faster and more comfortable than the bus). There are plans to expand the network. Tickets are relatively cheap; a ride from San José to Alajuela will set you back ₡1005 for example.

For more information see the website of the national railway, Incofer.

• San José—Heredia—Alajuela Route. On weekdays, trains run between San José and Heredia every half hour in the mornings (6-9AM) and afternoons (3:30-8PM), leaving from Estación del Atlántico near the Parque Nacional. Some of these trains continue on to the UCR and U Latina in San Pedro. The 6PM departure from San José (returning at 7PM) is a big train, so you can almost always get a seat on this one. A few trains are extended all the way to Alajuela, some 2 km (1.2 mi) from the airport. (updated Aug 2025)
• Pavas—San Pedro de Montes de Oca—Curridabat Route. Another line runs through the south of the city, stopping at Estación del Pacifico, Sábana and heading west into Pavas and eventually turning round in a fairly dangerous slum area in the middle of the hills. If you take it east, it stops across the road from Estación del Atlantico and then goes to the UCR, U Latina and Curridabat. Timetables are very limited, with just one train per hour early in the morning and in the evening on weekdays. A service to Belén (just south of the airport) leaves from Estación del Pacifico. Services are approximately every half an hour 6-8AM and 4-6PM on weekdays only and take 35 minutes. (updated Aug 2025)
• Cartago Route. Trains to Cartago leave roughly three times in the morning and roughly half-hourly from 3PM to 7:30PM from Estacion Atlantica. (updated Aug 2025)

The main train stations of San José are named after the coasts they connected to the capital when the rail network covered the entire country.

• 9.9347-84.06886 Atlántico Railway Station (Estación del Ferrocarril al Atlántico). Despite the Atlantic being the less developed region of Costa Rica, this is the station with most services in the 2010s. All destinations reachable by train except Belén are served at least once daily from here. (updated Dec 2020)
• 9.9255-84.08067 Pacífico Railway Station (Estación de Ferrocarril al Pacífico). This station only sees service on the Pavas-Belén route, which is extended twice daily to the Estacion Atlantico as well (though in that case Belén is not served) (updated Dec 2020)

Public transport system includes buses, various administrations have mulled some type of light rail for the city but as of mid 2018 there has been nothing more than talks on the subject. Bus lines, maps, schedules and ticket prices are available on Moovit. This is the preferred bus navigation app among locals.

The bus system is reliable, comfortable, extensive, and very cheap. Buses operate on a system of single ride payment. There are no day, week, or month tickets and no transfers. The price will be prominently displayed near the entrance of the bus and you pay the same for riding a single stop or riding end to end. Bus routes vary in cost but most are around 500 colones per ride.

Taxis are moderate to fairly expensive in price; all taxis should have a meter. To go from the airport to somewhere in the city typically costs ₡5000-₡20000. Uber is popular despite being illegal throughout the country, and Uber costs significantly less than taking a taxi.

It is close to useless to give a taxi driver an exact street address or even street name. You have to point out some well-known building, park or hotel close to where you are going. Often there are no street signs and addresses are difficult to find, so be sure you know where you are going or you could get lost very easily. For major landmarks, listed businesses, or sites in Waze, give the exact name of the location rather than a street name or address on Google Maps.

Taxis (and particularly Ubers) may take roundabout routes to avoid traffic in the city center. Minor surface streets have become arteries for traffic in areas where road infrastructure has become inadequate. Fortunately, the grid layout around the city center center makes navigation easier than in the suburbs, where a lack of urban planning is evident. It's possible for an entire trip from one suburb/exurb to another to follow short, residential two-lane roads.

It is also possible to get around by bicycle in San José. If you want to buy a bicycle you find stores in Calle 6 / Av. 5 (Coca Cola) or south of "Avenida Segunda" on the corner or Av. 6 / Calle 4. In the south east corner of plaza Viquez you find a small bicycle store.

That said, streets in the city are not designed for bicycle traffic and roads are frequently congested by vehicular traffic. There is a limited network of bicycle trails in the city's suburbs.

The traffic lights don't have the yellow border around them and can be difficult to see. The city's road network is well utilized by locals (to overcapacity) so don't expect to get anywhere fast. On the other hand, motorcyclists delivering food weave in and out of traffic and travel quickly. If someone is driving you, make sure you clarify the location with that person before leaving, as locals are kind and might guess your intended destination in the hope of being correct.

Renting a car is usually not recommended for first-time visitors to Costa Rica—the hassle and potential for confusion is usually not worth the effort. However, travellers that are adventurous enough or have been to the country before may want to consider renting a car. Traffic can be bad in cities or on mountainous roads, and signs are sometimes non-existent. It can be easy to get lost (especially if you don’t have GPS or high-quality maps) and is tough to get back on track if you aren’t comfortable handling directions from a local speaking Spanish. There are other things to consider as well, including traffic laws, the price of gasoline, and driving time.

The main highway in San José is called "Circunvalación" and it's a ring-road that surrounds all the core areas of the city. It passes through San Pedro on its eastern side, poorer suburbs on the northern and western sides of the city, and Desamparados on its southern side. The traffic on the road can be chaotic, but it's the fastest road within the city by far. Most of the streets within the Circunvalación are surface streets and navigation times are slow during rush hour. The best road for cars in the city center is CR-2, which crosses from west to east.

• 9.933333-84.0763891 Museo de Oro Precolombino (The Gold Museum), ☏ +506 2243-4202, [email protected]. 09:15-05:00. An underground museum below Plaza de la Cultura. The collection consists of 1,600 pieces of pre-Columbian gold work dating from 500 AD to 1500 AD. Although not of the quality seen in the Andes, the animal pieces are very impressive and make the museum a must-see for those interested in art or history. The museum explains the processing and production of the pieces as well as their social, cultural, and religious meanings. The entrance fee includes the Numismatic Museum and the Temporary Exhibition Galleries, which are inside the same labyrinthine complex. There is a nice museum shop and a tourist office at the entrance. ₡5,500/local, US$11/foreigner, ₡4,500/student. It is cheaper to pay in colones here. (updated Jan 2015)
• 9.93639-84.07362 Museo del Jade (The Jade Museum), Avenida Central, Calle 13 (in Plaza de la Democracia), ☏ +506-2521-6610, [email protected]. 8AM-5PM. The museum has relocated to a large modern building next to the Artesanal Market. Most tourist maps still show the old location across from Hotel Hemingway, but the new location is 4 blocks away and closer to the Plaza de la Cultura. The brand new complex is now one of the hemisphere's premier museums and is worth the sizable entry fee. It hosts the largest collection of precolumbian jade in the Americas and explains how these impressive pieces were produced. The museum displays a wide variety of other objects made of gold, stone, bone, ceramics, and shells. There is a smattering of objects similar to those at the Museo de Oro (gold pieces) and Museo Nacional (stone spheres and ceramics). You can gain insight into the daily lives of the people in the precolumbian era with numerous bilingual English-Spanish. If you only have time for visiting one museum, this is the recommended choice, albeit the craftsmanship of the pieces at the Museo de Oro is higher. US$16/foreigner, $5/local. It is cheaper to pay USD than colones. (updated Jan 2024)

• 9.94099-84.0802273 Museo de los Niños (The children's museum) (Antigua Penitenciaría (the old prison)), ☏ +506 258-4929. M-F 9:30AM-3:30PM, Sa Su 10AM-4PM. This is an edutainment museum, and it was designed for Costa Rica's children, all the exhibits are in Spanish only. ₡600 for adults and ₡300 for children. (updated Jul 2018)
• 9.932736-84.0714394 Museo Nacional, Calle 17 Avenida 2, ☏ +506 257-1433. Tu-Sa 08:30-16:30, Su 09:00-16:30. The museum includes a large butterfly garden (with many morpho butterflies) and a collection of large stone spheres from the Diquis Valley near the Pacific Ocean, a permanent precolumbian exhibition, the barracks, the rooms of the army general and his family, and a couple of temporal exhibits. The museum building is an old fort called Cuartel Bellavista, in this place the Army was symbolically abolished by then president Jose Figueres Ferrer on December 1, 1948, after the last civil war and armed conflict in the country. $11/foreigner, $6/foreign student, ₡2500/local. (updated Feb 2024)
• 9.935389-84.0990555 Costa Rican Museum of Art (Museo de Arte Costarricense) (east end of Sabana Park), ☏ +506 2459 3545, [email protected]. Tu-Su 9AM-4PM. This used to be San Jose's main airport terminal back when La Sabana was the airport. (updated Aug 2018)
• 9.935499-84.0720196 Museo de arte y diseño contemporáneo (MADC), Centro Nacional de la Cultura, Antigua Fábrica Nacional de Licores. Avenida 3, calle 15, ☏ +506 2257-7202, +506 2257-9370. Tu-Sa 9:30AM-5PM. Definitely the main institution in Costa Rica dedicated to the broadcasting of contemporary art. Information on exhibitions, schedules and admission fees can be found at their website. US$4/foreigner, US$2/foreign student, ¢1800/local, ¢1200/local student, children under 5 years and seniors free, free entrance on the first Tuesdays of each month. (updated Dec 2017)

• 9.9183-84.19447 Hacienda la Chimba (in the hills southwest of Santa Ana), ☏ +506 8492 4242. A historic theme park, of sorts, known for its massive land art, the largest of which is "El Mano" or "The Hand". There is a hike about 3 mi (4.8 km) (or 6 mi (9.7 km) on the longer route) to this massive statue of a hand with several other examples of land art along the way. The trails can get slippery during the rainy season, so make sure to get one of the walking sticks at the visitor center. The town within the park is one of the best examples of colonial architecture in Costa Rica. (updated Aug 2025)
• 10.20441-84.1616378 La Paz Waterfall Gardens, ☏ +1 506 2482-2720, [email protected]. An hour away from San José you can find lovely trails through primary rainforest that take you past five beautiful waterfalls. The La Paz waterfall gardens also offer a hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, frog exhibit and large butterfly observatory. A restaurant and a hotel (the Peace Lodge) are at the site as well. (updated Aug 2025)

• 9.94-84.07289 Spirogyra Butterfly Garden, Calle 11 (at the end of the street), ☏ +506 2222 2937, [email protected]. Butterflies are kept within an enclosed area. Admission price is very low (about $6). The trails outside the enclosed area become muddy during the winter months (June-September). (updated Jan 2021)

The main downtown area is a bustling collection of well-laid out streets filled with bustling traffic and lined with eclectic, historic architecture. On the surface it is a gritty downtown area, but look inside and you'll find friendly people, quirky spots, and the historic side of San José that change your impression. A walking tour is the best way to see this area.

Every Thursday a dozens of young jugglers gather at the 9.9355-84.07531 Parque Morazán and juggle together, often with percussion music. It is a free event in public space. Normally you will be invited to play with them and it's a lovely experience if you like street art. For yoga, check out Downtown Yoga near Parque Morazan, which offers yoga and hooping classes for all experience levels.

There are a lot of tours and local events and doings in and from San José, including coffee tours, rafting (in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí), and canopy tours. Buses to Poas Volcano leave from Parque La Merced at 8:30 daily, and cost ₡2990 per person.

• 9.934578-84.1026192 La Sabana (West of San José, at the end of Paseo Colón). Daylight hours. Known as the lungs of San José, La Sabana is the largest park in the city. It has running trails, as well as a number of sports facilities, including football (soccer) and baseball fields, basketball courts, a track, and a rollerskating rink. Find pick-up basketball games here every weekend and holiday, and sometimes during the week. $0. (updated Aug 2018)

• 9.9331-84.0683 Cine Magaly, Calle 23, Barrio La California (one block south of Antigua Aduana), ☏ +506 2222 7116, [email protected]. Movie theater featuring films from various countries, Cine Magaly has a long history in San José dating back to the 1970s. It has participated in the European Film Festival. (updated Aug 2025)
• 9.9334-84.07954 Melico Salazar Popular Theater, Av. 2 (three blocks west of the National Theater), ☏ +506 2295 6000. Major theater on the western side of the city center with music concerts and dance lessons. (updated Aug 2025)
• 9.933133-84.0770175 National Theater (Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica), Plaza de la Cultura, ☏ +506 2010 1100. 9AM-4PM. Beautiful theater with a Baroque/Romantic era architectural style and interior art gallery. There is a coffee shop inside followed by eccentric (theatrical) tours, which take half an hour to an hour. Performances and concerts are frequently performed here. (updated Jul 2018)

Costa Rica in general, and San José in particular, is a great place to improve your Spanish language skills. Many people can speak some English and there are many Spanish classes available, including at the Universidad de Costa Rica, and in "immersion" classes in private homes.

• Academia Tica Spanish Schools. With campuses in Coronado (San José) and Jacó Beach (Central Pacific), is one of the longest standing schools in Costa Rica and one of the few with accredited programs. It also offers travel experiences, cultural activities and weekly excursions plus travel services. Groups range 2-6 students and special courses are also offered (DELE Exam preparation, Surf & Spanish, Spanish for specific purposes, etc.) (updated Aug 2025)
• Intensa. In San José, Alajuela and Escazú, offers conversational lessons and home stays. 

San José or rather its metro area is host to the most prestigious universities in the country. By far the granddaddy of them all is UCR which includes most Costa Ricans of rank and name among its alumni, including several former presidents and leading figures in business and media.

• 9.935833-84.0505561 Universidad de Costa Rica (Main Campus in San Pedro de Montes de Oca). (updated Jul 2018)

San Pedro Mall is a modern mall east of the city; it is three stories high.

Throughout the city, there are many shops with wooden and ceramic souvenirs. The wooden pieces, such as masks, plaques, and other forms of wall art, are all beautifully hand carved as well as hand painted and the artisan usually signs their work with their name and where it was made on the backside. The ceramic pottery and dishware is done in this similar fashion and are available in a variety of designs and colors. These make interesting and personally unique gifts to bring home to family and friends for a reasonable price.

• 9.9319-84.07121 Chietón Morén (one block southeast of the National Museum, across the tracks), ☏ +506 2221 0145, [email protected]. Handicraft shop featuring the art of indigenous communities from different parts of the country. (updated Aug 2025)
• 9.9313-84.07642 Municipal Crafts Market (Mercado Artesania) (Plaza De Las Garantia Sociales). Daily 8AM-8PM. One of the best places for getting souvenirs and handcrafted products. (updated Dec 2017)
• 9.9363-84.07313 Tienda Eñe (near Spanish Park on Calle 7). (Website on Instagram.) Clothing store focused on fashion and designer apparel. (updated Aug 2025)

The best coffees have deserved reputations for superb quality. Super markets/grocers and small coffee growers usually have better prices than shops that cater to tourists. Often packaged in 12-oz. sealed bags, you should only purchase roasted, whole beans rather than ground; for epicures, "strictly hard bean" (SHB). They will keep flavor longer until you can store them properly at home (Google for methods), and won't include sugar as often found in Costa Rican ground. Roasted coffee also prevents you from running afoul of agencies such as FDA/APHIS that requires special licensing for importing "green"/unroasted beans (may be considered plant material).

San José hosts coffee festivals throughout each year for local and worldwide coffee producers. These are typically held at convention centers, hotels, or the historic 9.9349-84.06721 Antigua Aduana building.

• 9.9348-84.06454 Cafeoteca (one block east from Parque Francia). Gourmet coffee shop and restaurant where you can watch the staff make each bag of coffee for you. The seating is partially inside and outside and there are pretty gardens here in the heart of Barrio Escalante. (updated Aug 2025)
• 9.9343-84.07825 La Mancha, Calle 1, ☏ +506 2221 5591, [email protected]. Specialty coffee shop and bookstore in a charming courtyard. (updated Aug 2025)
• 9.935-84.08236 MoKa (junction of Av. 1 and Calle 8), ☏ +506 2222 5981, [email protected]. Gourmet Costa Rican coffee shop in the northwestern corner of the Central Market. (updated Aug 2025)

To the south of San José, there are two towns home to major coffee producers. Santa María de Dota is home to Coopedota, and a few kilometres to the west is San Marcos de Tarrazú, which is home to CoopeTarrazú. In these towns you can purchase coffee from its source.

9°56′0″N 84°4′38″W

Map of San José (Costa Rica)

Costa Rica is among the more "Americanized" parts of Latin America and you'll find a wide selection of fast food establishments in San José. Locals have a fondness for foreign rather than "typical" (Costa Rican) cuisine and particularly for American cuisine. Even most Costa Rican restaurants will serve pizza, pasta, burgers, and fries.

Be careful with food being sold on the street. It has been found to at times to have contamination from not being washed properly. Fruits and vegetables sold in stores and official markets are safe to eat.

• 9.934883-84.0817681 Mercado Central (Central Market), Calle 8 / Av. Central. A very old, interesting and bustling food market, which also contains a number of small restaurants and quick-serve counters for the locals. You will find fresh cooked fish and shellfish, corn based dishes, sopa de pescado (fish soup) and such exotics as "squid in his ink", ceviche (small bits of raw fish "cooked" in lime juice), helado de sorbetera (artesanal local cinnamon ice-cream) and more. (updated Jan 2023)

• 9.932296-84.0730922 El Lobo Mestizo, Av. 2, Soledad, ☏ +506 8383 7098, [email protected]. Good food with a lot of choice for vegetarians. Try Mesoamerican dishes. Sometimes they do presentations of musicians. Nice staff and atmosphere. (updated Jan 2023)
• 9.947355-84.0550493 Pupusería Salvadoreña, Avenida 3, Calle 22 (Two doors down from the Pangea Hostel, across the street from St. Thomas Hotel in Barrio Amon), ☏ +506 2222-7214. M–Sa 6AM-8PM, Su 6AM-6PM. More food, Costa Rican & Salvadoran, for less money than most other places. Lots of workers grab meals-to-go in the morning. Delivery available. ₡1,000–3,000 (Oct 2017). (updated Jan 2023)
• 9.932386-84.0826124 Restaurante Pollos San José, Calle 8. Cozy place. Very good attention and fast service. You find Cantonese rice, pizza, fried or roasted chicken, beers, chicharrones and casados. (updated Jan 2023)
• 9.930827-84.0802755 Soda Lima (Restaurante Lima Limon), C. 2, Dolorosa. Nice Peruvian food. Spectacular corvina ceviche. Possibly the best ceviche in the city. Awesome huancaína sauce. Great attention. (updated Jan 2023)

• 9.9372-84.0776 Café Rojo, corner of Ave 7 and Calle 3, ☏ +506 2221 2425, [email protected]. Vietnamese fusion restaurant a couple blocks from Morazán Park. Serves brunch, desserts, and a wide range of drinks. (updated Sep 2025)
• 9.9366-84.06317 Colonia, ☏ +506 4030 4418, [email protected]. Latin American restaurant a few blocks north of the train station in Barrio Escalante. (updated Sep 2025)
• 9.933-84.06738 Limoncello (half a block east of Cine Magaly), ☏ +506 2257 6616, [email protected]. Mediterranean cuisine with a wide menu including octopus, fish, and pastas. (updated Sep 2025)
• 9.936726-84.0936159 Machu Picchu Restaurant, Paseo Colón 1st Ave (125 meters north from Kentucky FC restaurant), ☏ +506 2222 7384, [email protected]. Peruvian food and seafood. Try the causa rellena, ceviche, lomo saltado, ají de gallina and Peru's traditional and landmark drink: pisco sour. (updated Aug 2025)

• 9.9373-84.064110 DoMA Escalante, El Farolito, Barrio Escalante. Classy restaurant in Barrio Escalante, down the street from the Dr. Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia Museum. They have an extensive menu of Spanish, Argentinian, French, and Italian wines, along with a smaller (but quality) menu of Italian-influenced dishes such as risotto and ravioli. (updated Sep 2025)
• 9.9314-84.074111 La Esquina de Buenos Aires, Calle 11 esquina Ave 4 (Detrás de la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Soledad), ☏ +506 2223 1909, [email protected]. Upscale Argentinian restaurant with a particularly wide variety of cocktails and mixed drinks. Entrees include pasta dishes such as lasagna and linguini, fish, chicken, and desserts. (updated Sep 2025)
• 9.933547-84.09302712 Restaurante Grano de Oro, Calle 30 Avenida 2/4 (inside the Hotel Grano de Oro), ☏ +506 2255 3322. Beautiful restaurant. A breakfast menu costs around ₡7500 with coffee, or treat yourself to the banana-macadamia nut pancakes for ₡7000 (Aug 2018). The entrees are diverse and creative. Don't hesitate to try the soup of the day, even if it sounds less than exciting. Duck is on the menu. Numerous seafood dishes are cooked very nicely, as is the beef and pork. (updated Jan 2023)
• 9.9385-84.076413 Restaurante Silvestre (junction of Ave 11 Calle 3A), ☏ +506 2221 2465, [email protected]. The location of the restaurant is a historic house built in the 19th century. The restaurant itself offers a 7-course tasting menu for 54,000 colones (2025). (updated Sep 2025)
• 9.930633-84.07412614 Tin Jo, Paseo de los estudiantes, ☏ +506 2221 7605, [email protected]. Pan-Asian restaurant featuring Japanese, Thai, Chinese, and Indian food. Don't be put off by its simple exterior. The restaurant is clean, beautifully decorated and offers excellent service. (updated Aug 2025)

Most of the bars/nightlife scene in the city is in Barrio La California, known as "La Cali" for short, and the city center.

• 9.9286-84.07731 Bar La Bohemia (De Lumaca, 100 m al sur. San José.), ☏ +506 2222-0225. La Bohemia is a classic San José bar, complete with small tapas (called bocas), old men with decades of being regulars, and traveling guitar duos playing for tips. Plus it's dog-friendly. Tip: buy a bottle of wine; it's cheap and better-than-average quality. Closes early some nights. Corner, Art Deco style. (updated Aug 2018)
• 9.937031-84.0763482 Bar Poás, Avenida 7, Calle 3 y 5 (Two doors down from the Pangea Hostel, across the street from St. Thomas Hotel in Barrio Amon), ☏ +506 2-223-8677. noon-2:30AM. Photos of regular customers adorn the wall of this dimly lit but friendly bar and restaurant. A decent menu of Gringo and Tico food is available. Try the award-winning Chili con Carne. There's always an interesting group of characters there who are willing to dispense advice about San José and Costa Rica. (updated Jan 2023)

San José is a very tolerant city. Most bars are gay friendly. There is a small but vibrant gay life in San José from lesbian bars, to saunas and twink discos.

• La Avispa is the oldest gay disco in Costa Rica. Big place with Latin music and dancing, pop. It has the most popular crowd and is recommended if you want to try the local flavor. Sundays late afternoon and evening is the best time to go.
• Club OH: Huge electronic music place with open bar on Fridays and Saturdays. It has a VIP area with better quality liquors and another DJ. Live drag shows at midnight. Best day to go is Saturday.
• ^{[dead link]} El 13 (200 metros Sur de AyA Paseo de los Estudiantes Avenida 14, Calle 9), ☏ +506 2221-3947. 9PM-1AM. Large historic home, with eclectic decoration and clientele. El 13 has some great thematic nights, as well as the very popular "Planchatón," which features classic campy ballads in Spanish. Hours vary depending on the day. (updated Aug 2018)

As San José is the undisputed economic, cultural, academic and political center of the country there are plenty of hotels and hostels of all kinds aimed at Ticos and foreigners alike who are here on business or pleasure.

• 9.9304-84.07231 Casa Ridgway, C 15, Av 6/8, ☏ +506 2221-8288. A comfortable Quaker hotel with a shared kitchen and dining area available for use, a great place to meet like-minded travelers, a simple breakfast is included. Dorms, singles, doubles, triples available US$10-12/person. 
• 9.931-84.06862 Costa Rica Backpackers, Avenida 6, calle 21,23, ☏ +506 2221-6191, [email protected]. Great place to meet other travelers in town, affordable and comfortable hostel, facilities include an outdoor pool, kitchen, free internet and bar. Great place to party! Dorm US$9. 
• 9.9386-84.09543 Gaudys Hostel, Cnr Ave 5/Calle 36-38 (close to Parque La Sabana, 2 km west of town), ☏ +506 7220 0646, [email protected]. Free breakfast, internet and WiFi, kitchen and laundry use, storerooms, dorms from US$12. 
• 9.9346-84.06974 Hostel Casa del Parque, On the corner of Avenida 3 and Calle 19 (Barrio La California), ☏ +506 2233-3437, [email protected]. 40 comfortable beds with real mattresses in dorm style rooms of 6 to 8 beds and one double room. Five full bathrooms with hot water. There is also a common room equipped with cable TV, free internet, and coffee. Excellent hosts, knowledgeable and friendly. Dorm bed $8. 
• 9.9353-84.095 Hostel Casa Colón, Paseo Colon, C 24 North, in front of Torre Mercedes, right in the corner, ☏ +506 2256-0276, [email protected]. Dorms, private rooms, private and shared bathrooms, huge flat screen TVs, big lounge with wire/wireless high speed internet 24/7, video surveillance, international restaurant and cafe-bar, airport shuttle service, free tourist info and travel tips, free maps, free parking, typical Costa Rican breakfast included, plenty of services around the area 
• 9.9369-84.08646 Hotel Danubio, calle 18, avenida 3 (75 m North of estacion Coca Cola), ☏ +506 2221-9446. Check-out: 1PM. Clean and safe and extremely peaceful. You'll get a good night's sleep here without having to worry about all the hippies in CR, free internet/Wi-Fi, and a friendly knowledgeable staff. Singles from US$18, doubles from $25. 
• 9.940172-84.0892787 Stray Cat Hostel, Avenida 9 y Calle 20, Barrio Mexico (7-min walk from Centro Multicultural Botica Solera and 3 km from La Sabana Metropolitan Park), ☏ + 50671664336, [email protected]. Laid-back with a colorful, artsy vibe. The simple mixed-sex and female-only dorms have private lockers and bunk beds with reading lights. Breakfast is included. Other amenities include a guest kitchen, and a dining area with vibrant murals on the walls, plus a common lounge and a reading room. US$10. (updated Jun 2019)

• 9.9308-84.0688 Costa Rica Guesthouse, ☏ +506 2223-7034, [email protected]. From US$35 a night, in downtown San José, housed in a beautifully restored 1904 building. 23 decorated private rooms with king size beds, semi-orthopedic mattresses and free Wi-Fi access. Especially designed for couples, families and people looking for a little extra comfort, Costa Rica Guesthouse is the upscale hotel at budget price. 
• 9.94325-84.145789 Courtyard by Marriott San José, Autopista Prospero Fernandez, Calle Marginal N., Plaza Itskatzu San José, ☏ +506 2208-3000. The Courtyard San José is near San José's industrial parks, businesses, international companies and within minutes from shopping, nightlife plaza and restaurants. Spacious rooms, free high-speed Internet, on-site restaurant, outdoor pool and health club. (updated Nov 2019)
• 9.9376-84.074110 Hemingway Inn, Avenida 9, Calle 9, Barrio Amon (behind I.N.S.), ☏ +506 221-1804. Former mansion turned into a hotel. Friendly staff. Quiet neighborhood. Safe and secure. Decent price for the area: US$35-45 for a double including traditional breakfast with Gallo Pinto and Tamales. Hotel has a small bar and hot tub on the premises. The hotel will organize eco-tours for the rest of Costa Rica. Free Internet service and Wi-Fi. 
• 9.9337-84.165111 Hotel Out of Bounds (Hotel Out of Bounds Escazu), Escazu, ☏ +506 2288-6762, [email protected]. US$70. 
• 9.933536-84.07780412 Hotel Presidente, Central Ave Blvd, 7th Street, ☏ +506-2010-0000, toll-free: +1-877-540-1790. In downtown San José, on the walking boulevard of Avenida Central and Calle 7 (seven street). 4-star accommodations with rooms starting at US$85 + tax per night. Free internet. Buffet breakfast included. 
• 9.937-84.076413 Hotel Santo Tomas, Av. 7 between Calle 3 and 5, Barrio Amon, ☏ +506 255-0448, fax: +506 222-3950. Pleasant bed and breakfast inn, English-speaking staff, single rooms are small, some downstairs rooms quite spacious. Rates from US$80, including breakfast. 
• 9.9381-84.142814 Residence Inn San José Escazu (15 minutes from downtown San José), ☏ +506 2588-4300. Complimentary hot breakfast daily, outdoor pool and fully functional gym. The Residence Inn San José also has two meeting rooms. 
• 9.942664-84.09267615 TRYP San José Sabana Hotel, Avenue 3, calles 38 y 40, ☏ +506 2547 2323, toll-free: +1-888-411-5487 (US number). Centrally located hotel with conference facilities. 

• 9.945688-84.10734616 Barceló San José, ☏ +506-2220-2034, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. 
• 9.9762-84.156917 Doubletree Cariari by Hilton San José, Canas Highway San Antonio de Belen (5 minutes from the Airport), ☏ +506 2239-0022. Distinctive architecture with lots of plants and a great swimming pool. US$89-229. 
• 9.939087-84.10939718 Hilton Garden Inn San José La Sabana, Boulevard Ernesto Rohrmoser (northwest corner of La Sabana Municipal Park at the intersection of Avenida de Las Américas and Boulevard Ernesto Rohrmoser), ☏ +506-2-520-6000, toll-free: +1-800-445-8667. Check-in: 3, check-out: noon. A modern hotel on the 13th-20th floors of a high-rise building in downtown San José, the Hilton Garden Inn offers a gym, an outdoor pool, a business center, a 24-hour mini market and even free parking in a secure parking garage in the building. These amenities come at a price, with rates comparable to Hilton Garden Inns in the United States, but the location is excellent and the staff are very helpful and friendly. US$140-170 per night. (updated Sep 2016)
• 9.931637-84.07487419 Hotel Fleur de Lys (50 m north of Drs. Echandi Clinic), ☏ +506 223-1206, [email protected]. Comfortable European-style small hotel with eclectic class and grace. Excellent restaurant on site, suites feature jacuzzis. 
• 9.933605-84.09522520 Hotel Grano de Oro (just off Paseo Colon), ☏ +506 255-3322, [email protected]. Converted from a tropical Victorian mansion, the 35-room hotel maintains the warmth and comfort of a private home. Hallways lined with period photographs and original art meander through the building and present lush tropical flower arrangements and luxuriant plants at every turn. The restaurant is beautiful, opening upon a courtyard with a fountain at the center. Service is prompt and efficient, and the staff mostly speak very serviceable, if not near-perfect, English. The rooms are comfortable, but most lack air conditioning which means you will be awakened by bird calls most mornings. 
• 10.002135-84.19756721 Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton San Jose-Airport, Hwy 1 Airport Blvd, Alajuela, ☏ +506-243-60000. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Close to the international airport and many Costa Rican company headquarters. 
• 9.945941-84.15603822 InterContinental Costa Rica at Multiplaza Mall, ☏ +506-2-2082100, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Located amid tropical gardens. It has 261 rooms and suites. Each room is equipped with a mini-bar, hair dryer, air conditioning and a system of electronic key. Services : gym, swimming pool, jewelry shop, tennis court, restaurant, bar, conference rooms and gift shop. 
• 9.945683-84.19235823 Quality Hotel Real San José, El Paseo Real, Costado Este Centro Empresarial Forum, Santa Ana, ☏ +506 2204-6700, fax: +506 2204-6800. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Quality Hotel Real San José has 154 rooms, 16 mini-suites and rooms for disabled people. Also it has a restaurant, pool, business center with computers, printers and internet access high speed. US$80-140. 
• 9.93366-84.07757124 Gran Hotel Costa Rica, 2nd Ave. between streets 1 and 3, ☏ +506 2103 9000, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Historic downtown hotel built in the 1930s and renovated in 2018. Rooms are spacious and clean with modern furnishings. On-site restaurant, bar, gym. (updated Aug 2025)

See also: Common scams

In San José and throughout the nation's urban centers, the traffic is wild and dangerous. It is not the norm for cars to stop for pedestrians; in fact, they generally drive very fast, which can make crossing streets dangerous. Traffic laws and particularly "Alto/Stop" signs are frequently disregarded by locals (although that doesn't mean you should do the same).

Take caution in the area to the northwest of the city center, and do not visit at night. The area around the Coca Cola Bus Terminal is not safe during the day or night. There is a risk of theft in La Cali, particularly for foreigners. The city center is safer during the day, and the commercial suburbs to the northeast, such as Barrio Escalante and San Pedro, are quite safe. During the daytime, most tourist areas are safe for those in groups, but note that the distance from a tourist area to a poor area can be one block. Most crime is driven by extreme poverty among refugees from Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Don't trust strangers. As an example of a situation which is common and depends upon trust: if you have a flat tire on main highways, don't accept help except from an established service station. Opportunistic petty thieves use false kindness to try to steal anything possible, and could even turn the situation into a car-jacking. Petty theft is a risk, including from valet parking staff and housekeepers in hotels.

If you travel by an inner city bus, try not to put your luggage into the storage space above the seats. If you put your rucksack between your knees you will have better control of your belongings. Car theft is a problem in San José; make sure you take the necessary actions to reduce the chances of having your vehicle, or anything within your vehicle, stolen. For example, bring a club (steering wheel lock) or park in locked fence areas or the city's parking buildings.

Taxi cabs that you choose to travel in must have a yellow triangle sticker on the front doors with the plate number. This demonstrates that that particular vehicle and the driver are legitimate. If anything were to happen, you (as a tourist) would know who to file a complaint with, etc. Do not enter any vehicle that does not have this larger triangle sticker on it (usually on the door) because the driver is most likely an illegal taxi, which means that you are choosing someone who may not be properly licensed or have met the requirements for transporting other people. The airport is a frequent "hot-spot" for these sort of incidents to occur quickly, because someone can come up to you (knowing that you are a tourist, not aware of their customs or regulations, and will exploit that), grab your luggage, and start loading it into their car. If this happens, be sure to check the vehicle for the yellow triangle as well as wrestling your luggage back out of the car. The orange taxis at the airport are the official airport taxis.

Ubers are safe, but make sure you have ordered your Uber first. Some unmarked taxi drivers outside bus terminals claim to be providers of the Uber service, but you can't know they are telling the truth, so using the app to call drivers is the safest bet.

Be particularly careful with your passport and other documentation. Police may stop you for not carrying your passport or a photocopy of the main page and the entry stamp (better than carrying your passport), although this is not common.

Generally speaking if you stick to the tourist spots in the city you will be safe; avoid showing off valuables more than necessary. Don't pull out your phone in public areas; never show large amounts of cash; and avoid walking at night, either right downtown or in the suburbs. You should watch your belongings and stay with a group of people you trust if walking through the city. Given the affordability of buses and taxis, you do not need to walk in the more dangerous parts of the city.

San José, as the largest city in Costa Rica, has the largest hospitals, both public and private. Tourists can use the private hospitals, and pay with cash or credit card. The wait is significantly shorter than at public hospitals. The bigger private hospitals in the country are considerably more expensive than the many, smaller private hospitals throughout the city. Some doctors can speak English or provide translator services. Most private doctors and hospitals do take foreign insurance plans, but ask beforehand. If you are unlucky enough to have your child get really sick he or she will be transferred to the only children's hospital in the country in San José, which is public.

Be careful purchasing street food. Food in established markets and supermarkets is not a problem.

Cable TV channels have many American English language channels. Fox News, CNN, CNBC, TNT, HBO, ESPN, ABC, NBC, and CBS stations are broadcast from New York City.

On Amnet in San José ABC, CBS, and NBC are broadcast on channels 69-71 respectively. The feeds are from Denver, Colorado.

• Canada. 
• China (from the house of D. Oscar Arias 100 m to the south and 50 m to the east, Rohrmoser, Pavas San José), ☏ +506 22914811, fax: +506 22914820. 
• Japan, Torre la Sabana Piso 10 (Sabana Norte, 300 m east and 25 m north of I.C.E.), ☏ +506 2232-1255, fax: +506 2231-3140. 

• United States, Calle 120 Avenida 0, Pavas, ☏ +506 2519-2000, fax: +506 2519-2305. 

Being the capital, San José is the hub for all travel in Costa Rica. This means you can go anywhere from here. You can take the local buses for local travel within the city or to neighboring cities (such as San Pedro, Cartago or Heredia) or the more expensive bus services from Interbus or Gray Line Fantasy Bus. You can also take buses to other farther destinations (such as Limón Province or Puntarenas) There is also a lot of smaller airports dotted around the country for minor destination hopping.

There is an exit tax (US$26 for visitors and residents) to leave the country, although this is normally included in the price of your plane ticket and does not require any further action. If your ticket does not already include the tax you can pay for it at a bank (any BCR or Banco Nacional) and get a receipt or at a counter at the airport.

• A trip to Jacó, on the Pacific Coast, is a delight, although the highway that goes there is not a superhighway. Surfing is great, and since many young chefs are surfers, you can get some really great dining at amazingly low prices. On your way to Jacó, stop for lunch at "Mirador del Cafetal" (View of the Coffee Plantation), just beyond Atenas. Views are spectacular!

• A little farther down the coast, a stop at Manuel Antonio National Park is a must. This park lies about 3½ hours by car or 20 minutes by plane south of San José in Quepos, Puntarenas. Of Costa Rica's dozens of national parks, Manuel Antonio has long been one of the jewels, an idyllic combination of exuberant forest, white-sandy beaches, and rich coral reefs. The guardians of this beautiful wilderness are now attempting to harness its popularity by limiting the number of ecotourists. This park is one of the country's smallest and only remaining habitats for the red-backed squirrel monkey. Open Tu-Su.
• The town of Manuel Antonio, just outside the national park, is located along the coast line and offers snorkeling, skin diving, surfing, and fishing galore. After a visit to the rain forest that gets you hot and sweaty, nothing beats jumping in to the refreshing ocean.
• An easy 2-hour drive north-west of the capital, Costa Rica's most favored rainforest getaways in La Fortuna, San Carlos. The Arenal Volcano and Lake are within driving distance. There is spelunking, white-water rafting, and rappeling for those who aspire to do it all, and the Tabacón Hot Springs for those who do not.
• AirPanama flies from Juan Santamaría Airport to David, Panama three times a week.