9 Things to See and Do in and Around San José, Costa Rica
The Costa Rican capital of San José, or “Chepe” as it’s nicknamed to locals, has long been treated as a stopover on the way to beach towns and rainforests. But spend a few days in the city and you’ll find that it’s wildly underrated, with a cultural caché that rivals larger cities and unique excursions both within and in nearby Central Valley. When you take a trip to Costa Rica with WT, you’ll begin and end in San José. Most WT travelers spend their first or last night at the spectacular Hotel Bougainvillea, set in the leafy neighborhood of Santo Domingo de Heredia, 20 minutes from the airport. But before booking your flight, consider these other San José attractions sourced from WT’s guides and regional specialists—you might want to add on an extra day or two in the fascinating capital while you’re visiting Costa Rica.
1. Walk the gardens at Hotel Bougainvillea
Start your Costa Rica wildlife experience with a stroll around the gardens at Hotel Bougainvillea, where all WT’s Costa Rica itineraries begin. The hotel has a 10-acre expanse of botanical gardens in the quiet residential area of Santo Domingo de Heredia. Walk a series of pathways to spot more than 50 species of bromeliad, orchid, heliconia, and bougainvillea. This diverse flora attracts a great variety of butterflies and birdlife, including blue-crowned motmots, hummingbirds, palm tanagers, tropical kingbirds, and white-eared ground sparrows. Be sure to stop at the pond, designed to preserve the endangered tree front, and grab a Guaro Sour, Costa Rica’s national cocktail, at the garden bar.
WT Insider Tip: Take a morning stroll before breakfast when bird activity peaks—and bring your binoculars.
2. Marvel at the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica
In the 1980s, the county’s coffee barons wanted to build a cultural landmark that could rival European capitals so they pulled together funds derived from a tax on coffee exports to create the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica. The neoclassical theater remains one of the most striking buildings in San José—it’s worth a visit for its gilded interior and excellent café. It’s 15 minutes from Hotel Bougainvillea on Plaza de la Cultura in downtown San José. WT’s Costa Rica experts always recommend stopping by the theater for a coffee, taking a guided tour, or catching an evening concert, ballet, or theater performance.
WT Travel Tip: Check the performance schedule before your trip—catching a show here is a memorable way to spend an evening in the capital.
3. Explore San José’s museums
Within a few blocks are three world-class museums: the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Precolombino), Jade Museum (Museo del Jade), and the National Museum (Museo Nacional de Costa Rica). Start at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, an underground space beneath the Teatro Nacional that houses one of the largest collections of indigenous gold art in the Americas. Continue on to the Jade Museum, with the world’s largest collection of pre-Columbian jade set in a modernist five-story building designed to look like a block of jade. After perusing more than 7,000 artifacts, head to the top floor for sweeping views of the Central Valley. Finish your excursion at the National Museum where you can take in Costa Rica’s ecological, indigenous, colonial, and modern history before heading to the museum’s butterfly garden.
WT Travel Tip: If you don’t have time to stop in all three museums, stopping by the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and combining it with a visit to the Teatro Nacional makes for a quick and easy excursion.
4. Shop at Mercado Central
Every seasoned traveler knows that the best way to get to know a city is through its markets. Mercado Central in San José is one of the most authentic cultural experiences in the city, offering a look at local Tico life and the chance to sample Costa Rica’s incredible produce and cuisine. In addition to tropical fruits, you’ll find flowers, herbal remedies, handmade crafts, and prepared foods in the maze of vendor stalls. It’s the best place to try a traditional casado, or a plated lunch of rice, beans, plantains, and salad, with a choice of protein. Visit in the morning when the market is at its liveliest and the food at its most fresh. While it’s generally safe during daytime hours, remember to keep your valuables secure.
WT Travel Tip: Mercado Central is the best place to buy Costa Rican coffee beans directly from vendors.
5. Experience Tico life at Central Valley towns
If you have an extra day after seeing San José, consider visiting the charming towns of Sarchí and Grecia, both of which showcase Costa Rica’s artisan heritage and life in the countryside. Considered Costa Rica’s artisan capital, Sarchí, located 1.5 hours from San José, is known for its brightly painted oxcarts, or carretas, a national symbol and UNESCO-recognized cultural tradition. Visitors can browse studios and shops for hand-painted crafts, wooden furniture, and souvenirs, and if the timing allows, attend a workshop where artisans still handpaint the oxcarts. Next, head 20 minutes east to the walkable town of Grecia, known for Iglesia de la Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, a fascinating metal church made from prefabricated red steel plates shipped from Belgium in the 1890s.
WT Travel Tip: Combine Sarchí and Grecia into a single day trip from the hotel. If you plan on visiting Doka Coffee Estate, all three are in the same general direction northwest of San José. Traveling to all three would be a 70-mile circuit.
6. Visit Poás Volcano National Park
For one of the most accessible volcanic experiences in Central America, head 1.5 hours north of San José to Poás Volcano National Park—one of the most popular national parks in Costa Rica. Unlike Arenal Volcano, a highlight of all WT Costa Rican adventures, Poás is an active stratovolcano featuring one of the world’s largest active craters at nearly a mile wide. Book a limited timed entry slot in advance to hike 0.5 miles on a paved path through cloud forest before emerging at the volcano’s rim at 8,800 feet. From there, you can see the main crater, which is often filled with an acidic lake that shines turquoise and produces fumaroles and sulfur vents. If it’s a clear day, you may see as far as the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.
WT Travel Tip: Book a morning slot for the best chance of clear skies—clouds typically roll in by late morning. Dress in layers and bring a windbreaker; temperatures at the crater rim can be 20 to 30 degrees cooler than in San José.
7. Sample San José’s food scene
Think a traditional casado is all there is to Costa Rican cuisine? Think again—San José’s food scene is much better than it gets credit for, and has expanded significantly in recent years. In particular, the neighborhood of Barrio Escalante has turned into a culinary and specialty coffee hub, with several roasters offering tastings. Whether you’re looking for traditional sodas serving gallo pinto, like Soda Tapia, or upscale contemporary restaurants serving seasonal menus, such as Buchón Cantina, there’s a lot to be discovered. Keep in mind that Costa Ricans eat their main meal at lunch, so dinner tends to be lighter and enjoyed earlier than other Latin American countries.
8. Learn about conservation at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center
For an educational introduction to Costa Rica’s huge variety of wildlife, head to the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center, the country’s primary wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operation, located in the Central Valley about 30 minutes from San José. The center is home to animals that can’t be released back into the wild, with residents ranging from sloths and monkeys to toucans and crocodiles. In addition to seeing many of the species you’ll encounter on the rest of your trip, you’ll also have the opportunity to learn about the threats facing the country’s wildlife and how conservation efforts are stepping in.
WT Travel Tip: Book online to explore the sanctuary with a specialized guide, with an option for creating “environmental enrichment” for the residents.
9. Sample coffee at Doka Coffee Estate
Visiting a coffee estate is one of the best things to do in Costa Rica. And as one of the world’s finest coffee producers, Costa Rica is home to a number of estates that allow visitors to experience the full process, from plant to brew. A favorite of WT’s local experts is Doka Coffee Estate, located about 20 miles from San José. Its proximity to Poás Volcano and elevation at 4,500 feet create ideal conditions for growing Arabica coffee, the only type produced in Costa Rica following a 1989 mandate based on ensuring quality and soil health. Join a guided tour for a look at the whole production process, from nursery and plantation to milling and roasting. At the end, taste a variety of roasts to see if you can tell the difference between different processing methods.
WT Travel Tip: Visit during the harvest season, which runs roughly from November through March, to see the full operation in action.
Pair your time in San José with one of our three Costa Rica adventures. Our Costa Rica wildlife tour is an eight-day journey packed with wildlife-spotting opportunities through the cloud forests of Monteverde Reserve, the thermal-fed rainforests of Arenal Volcano National Park, and the Caribbean canals of Tortuguero National Park, and our Costa Rica private tour is a fully customizable adventure based on the same itinerary. Our Costa Rica family private tour is geared towards kids, visiting Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Arenal Volcano National Park, and kid-friendly Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Walk the gardens at Hotel Bougainvillea
- Marvel at the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica
- Explore San José’s museums
- Shop at Mercado Central
- Experience Tico life at Central Valley towns
- Visit Poás Volcano National Park
- Sample San José’s food scene
- Learn about conservation at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center
- Sample coffee at Doka Coffee Estate
Some of the must-see spots in San José, Costa Rica include bustling Mercado Central, the architecturally impressive Teatro Nacional, and museums like the Museo del Oro Precolombino, the Museo del Jade, and the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica.
Some of the most popular foods to try in San José, Costa Rica include gallo pinto, a traditional Central American rice and beans dish; casado, a plate that includes meat, plantains, rice, and beans; and coffee—the country is one of the world’s top coffee producers.
We recommend booking at least one day in San José, Costa Rica, so you can explore the city’s food scene, markets, and a museum. Two or three days in the city is preferable, because it’s a great jumping-off point for day trips to spots like Sarchí, Grecia, and Poás Volcano National Park.
Yes, like most of Costa Rica, San José is quite safe for tourists. Just like when visiting any major city, keep your valuables secured to deter pickpocketers, and stick to more touristed areas after dark.
September 9, 2026
