In a nutshell
- San José is the capital of Costa Rica — not the most beautiful city, but absolutely worth a stop on your itinerary.
- This guide covers everything you need to know about things to do in San José, Costa Rica — one to two days is all you need.
- Short on time? Explore the city on a guided tour that combines sightseeing with local food. Our pick: Sightseeing and Tasting Tour.
- Our top hotel pick is Hotel Casa 96 — a charming, family-run place in a central location with seriously great value for the price.
- Airport transfers are easiest by private transfer — book it online in advance and skip the hassle after a long flight.
What You Need to Know About San José
San José is Costa Rica’s capital city. With roughly 340,000 residents, it is also the country’s largest city.
Especially if you’re doing your Costa Rica road trip by bus, you’ll automatically pass through here, since the city is the hub for almost all bus connections.
Honestly, San José is not the most beautiful city — we’ve seen more stunning metropolises in other countries across North and South America.
That said, you shouldn’t skip San José entirely, because the capital is still one of the most important highlights in Costa Rica in our book. The National Theater alone, with its beautiful Spanish colonial architecture, is absolutely worth a visit. Still, one to two days is plenty.
For the best weather on a city trip to San José, aim for December through April — that’s also the best time to visit Costa Rica. In other months, there’s less sunshine and more rain.
Where Is San José Located?
San José sits essentially in the middle of Costa Rica. The Pacific coast lies to the west, the Caribbean to the east. Head north and you’ll reach Arenal Volcano and Monteverde.
Juan Santamaría International Airport is also to the north, about 12 miles away. To help you get your bearings, we’ve marked San José on a map below.
Everything You Can Do in San José
Since San José didn’t exactly blow us away, we only spent one day in the city. We didn’t do a ton — but here’s what you definitely shouldn’t miss when visiting San José, Costa Rica.
Sightseeing Tour in San José
The most important spots in San José are super easy to explore on foot. We did it with a guided free walking tour.
Our guide showed us some genuinely cool sights — like the National Museum and the National Theater — and shared fascinating facts along the way.
Alternatively, you can join a guided tour that combines sightseeing with food. Your guide will introduce you to some truly delicious Costa Rican specialties.
Mercado Central in San José
Our favorite spot in San José is definitely the Mercado Central. It’s colorful, lively, and always buzzing. Beautiful flowers sit next to fragrant spices, handmade ceramics, and little trinket shops.
For us, it’s the perfect place to pick up a great souvenir. But the Mercado Central has something even better going for it: really great food! We could barely make up our minds at all those delicious stalls.
Our tip: Try the ice cream at La Sorbetera de Lolo Mora. There’s only one flavor: vanilla with a hint of cinnamon and clove. The shop has been around since 1910, and the recipe hasn’t changed since.
We’d also recommend the guided combo tour of history and food here — it stops at the market too.
It’s also ideal if you only have a little time in San José — for example, before your flight. Luggage storage is even included.
City of Colour Murals in San José
Another really cool spot is the City of Colour Murals. Murals are wall paintings, and that’s exactly what you’ll find here: tons and tons of street art. We absolutely loved the colorful imagery.
Your guide might take you there anyway — if so, even better. But if not, you should definitely make a detour.
You’ll find the City of Colour Murals on Calle 17, right around the corner from the National Museum.
Hotels and Accommodations in San José
San José has a huge variety of places to stay for every budget. We recommend staying as close to the city center as possible.
Hotel Casa 96: A small, family-run hotel in a central location. The rooms are decorated with a lot of love and care.
BEE Suites San José: Beautiful, modern apartments with great views over the city. It’s about a 15-minute walk to downtown.
Hotel Presidente: A hotel with bright, spacious rooms and a stylish rooftop bar with views over San José. Located right in the center, next to the main attractions.
Getting to San José by Car or Bus
Flying into Costa Rica, you’ll land at Juan Santamaría International Airport, just about 12 miles from San José. Getting to the city center is super easy.
Getting There by Car
If you’re traveling around Costa Rica by car, you can simply enter San José — or even better, your accommodation’s name — into your GPS.
Getting There by Bus
From the airport, buses run with the company Tuasa roughly between 3:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., heading directly into downtown San José (see the schedule). When traffic is light, the ride takes only 35 minutes. A one-way ticket costs about $1, paid directly to the driver in colones.
To reach the bus stop, exit the airport on the arrivals level. You’ll see another building on the opposite side of the street. Walk around the left side of that building.
You’ll likely spot a few people already waiting there. The Tuasa bus is red. Just make sure its destination is listed as San José.
If you’re arriving in Costa Rica overland — from Panama or Nicaragua, for example — getting to San José is just as easy. Since San José is the bus hub, nearly every bus from the border towns heads to the capital.
Getting from the Airport by Private Transfer
If you prefer more comfort, you can also book a private transfer online in advance. By Western standards, it’s still quite affordable.
After a long flight, it might even be the most relaxed option. Alternatively, you can always grab a taxi or Uber on the spot.
Private Transfer to/from SJO Airport
Our Personal Tips for Your Visit to San José
Be sure to do a sightseeing tour. You’ll see the highlights of San José and pick up some great insider info along the way. Our recommendation: Sightseeing and Tasting Tour.
If you have limited time on your Costa Rica vacation, we recommend saving San José for the end of your trip. That way, you’re close to the airport on your last day and can still fit in something fun.
Once it gets dark, avoid walking around alone on the streets. Take a taxi or Uber instead — even for short distances. They’re really not expensive.
In a dedicated article, we’ve covered everything about safety in Costa Rica in detail. We also share important tips on how to stay safe.
