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San José

Costa Rica travel guide

What to see in San José

The capital, in the Central Valley, with the National Theatre and the gold and jade museums.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 6 must-see places
  • Best time: from December to April
  • Stay in Barrio Amón
  • Typical food: Casado
Photo: Bogdan Migulski · CC BY 2.0

San José highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. National Theatre of Costa Rica

    A 19th-century neoclassical theatre.

  2. Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

    Pre-Columbian gold beneath the Plaza de la Cultura.

  3. National Museum of Costa Rica

    The country’s history in a former barracks.

  4. Metropolitan Cathedral

    The main cathedral, facing Parque Central.

  5. Central Market

    A covered market with traditional stalls.

  6. La Sabana Metropolitan Park

    A large city park with lakes and a museum.

Where to stay in San José

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Barrio Amón · Barrio Escalante · Escazú

Day trips from San José

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to San José

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to San José are from December to April. If you can, avoid September, October (green season (rains)).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with strong warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov with warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • from May to November

    Green season (rains)

    From May to November it rains almost every afternoon; September and October are the wettest months on the Pacific side (the Caribbean works the other way round).

    What to do: Do excursions in the morning; in September and October, the Caribbean side (Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero) is usually better.

Typical food of San José

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to San José from your kitchen).

Casado
Photo: Grendelkhan · CC BY-SA 4.0

Casado

The dish of the day at San José’s sodas (popular eateries): rice, beans, salad, ripe plantain and meat, chicken or fish. Its name comes from what a married man (casado) eats at home.

  • Serves 4
  • 1 h

Ingredients

  • 400 g rice
  • 400 g stewed black beans
  • 4 steaks, chicken breasts or fish fillets
  • 2 ripe plantains
  • 1/4 cabbage, 1 carrot and 2 tomatoes for the salad
  • 1 onion
  • Lime, coriander, oil and salt

How to make it at home

  1. Cook the white rice and heat the beans.
  2. Marinate the meat with garlic, salt and lime and griddle it with the onion rings.
  3. Slice the plantains lengthways and fry them until caramelised.
  4. Make a salad of shredded cabbage, grated carrot and tomato with lime and salt.
  5. Serve everything together on one plate, each thing in its place.

The trick: A little vegetable picadillo or a corn tortilla make it a proper casado.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the soda (a local eatery). The dishes you can’t miss are in the Costa Rica guide.

Frequently asked questions about San José

What to see in San José?

National Theatre of Costa Rica, Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, National Museum of Costa Rica, Metropolitan Cathedral, Central Market and La Sabana Metropolitan Park.

What to see in San José in one day?

Don’t miss National Theatre of Costa Rica, Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, National Museum of Costa Rica, Metropolitan Cathedral, Central Market and La Sabana Metropolitan Park. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in San José?

The handiest areas to stay are Barrio Amón, Barrio Escalante and Escazú.

What’s the best time to travel to San José?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to San José are from December to April. If you can, avoid September, October (green season (rains)).

What day trips can you take from San José?

Poás Volcano and Coffee in the Central Valley.

What is the typical food of San José?

Casado. The dish of the day at San José’s sodas (popular eateries): rice, beans, salad, ripe plantain and meat, chicken or fish. Its name comes from what a married man (casado) eats at home.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.