El Salvador travel guide
What to see in San Salvador
The capital, at the foot of a volcano, with a renovated historic centre and a church of concrete and stained glass.
Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides
- 5 must-see places
- Best time: from December to May
San Salvador highlights
The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.
- Metropolitan Cathedral
With the tomb of Saint Óscar Romero.
- El Rosario Church
Coloured stained glass set in concrete.
- National Palace
Neoclassical.
- San Salvador Volcano
El Boquerón crater.
- Joya de Cerén
A Maya village on the outskirts.
Day trips from San Salvador
We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.
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When to travel to San Salvador
The months with the fewest warnings to travel to San Salvador are from December to May. If you can, avoid from August to October (hurricane season).
- Jan no warnings
- Feb no warnings
- Mar no warnings
- Apr no warnings
- May no warnings
- Jun with warnings
- Jul with warnings
- Aug with strong warnings
- Sep with strong warnings
- Oct with strong warnings
- Nov with warnings
- Dec no warnings
- from June to November
Hurricane season
Hurricanes can form from June to November; August, September and October are the riskiest months. There are almost always days of heavy rain and humid heat.
What to do: Book with free cancellation, take out travel insurance that covers weather events and check the National Hurricane Center’s forecasts a few days before you go.
- from June to October
Rainy season
It rains almost every afternoon, sometimes with tropical storms.
What to do: The dry season, from November to April, is the best; for surfing, the big waves arrive from March to October.
Where and what to eat
To eat like a local: a pupusería. The dishes you can’t miss are in the El Salvador guide.
Frequently asked questions about San Salvador
What to see in San Salvador?
Metropolitan Cathedral, El Rosario Church, National Palace, San Salvador Volcano and Joya de Cerén.
What to see in San Salvador in one day?
Don’t miss Metropolitan Cathedral, El Rosario Church, National Palace, San Salvador Volcano and Joya de Cerén. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.
What’s the best time to travel to San Salvador?
The months with the fewest warnings to travel to San Salvador are from December to May. If you can, avoid from August to October (hurricane season).
What day trips can you take from San Salvador?
Joya de Cerén.
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The app is currently available in Spanish.
More in El Salvador
Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.