What To See And Do In San Jose.

Top 10 Places in 2016

Many visitors flock to Costa Rica for itsย laid-back beach townsย and supreme natural beauty. ย This makes the capital city of San Jose less of a destination in-and-of-itself, and more of a roadblock stopping them from getting where they want to go.ย Most foreign visitors enter the country throughย the Juan Santamarรญa International Airport, andย spend a single night in a nearby hotel before picking up and getting out of town first thing in the morning. This is a true shame as there are so many fun and fascinating things to do in San Jose for visitors willing to undertakeย a slightly different brand of Costa Rican exploration.

Beautiful day in downtown San Jose.

Founded in 1738, San Jose initially grew slowly and lacked a city government until 1812. Things picked up quickly though, and byย the 1820s Costa Rica was independent from Spain, with San Josรฉ as its capital. In the 1840s San Jose began exporting coffee to Europe, and relative prosperity ensued. Some of the cityโ€™s most magnificent buildings, including its famedย Teatro Nacionalย (National Theater), date back to this coffee-powered era. The city has gone through its ups and downs since then, but itโ€™s always emerged successfully from even its darkest periods.

San Jose today is an urban jungle in the truest sense of the word. ย Itโ€™s hectic, itโ€™s dirty, and you have to stay aware of your surroundings at all times. But that said, those willing to take the plunge will discover the city offers its history on full display. ย All surrounded by the breathtaking silhouettes of jagged mountain ranges.

So what do you say? Are you ready to brave the streets of the affectionately nicknamedย Chepe,ย and discover all the gems. ย Some hidden, some waiting in plain view that the city has to offer?

1. Enjoy a Showโ€“or Just a Coffeeโ€“at theย Teatro Nacional

Theย Teatro Nacionalย (National Theater of Costa Rica) is without contest the most famous

The most historic landmark of San Jose.

building in all of San Jose. Located just off theย Plaza de la Cultura,ย smack in the geographical center of the city. This handsome neo-classical structure emanates elegance, like Palace of Versailles-type elegance, albeit on a smaller scale.

It looks niceย from the street, but check out the inside as

And just as stunning on the inside!

well:

Construction on the building began in 1891 (when the entire cityโ€™s population still hovered under 20,000), and it was funded entirely by a tax on coffee. It opened in 1897 with a performance ofย Goetheโ€™sย Faust, and it has continued to hostย works of drama, music, and dance of the highest caliber ever since.

Theย Teatro Nacionalย hosts events nearly every day.ย  Or simply stop in at the theaterโ€™sย cafรฉย for a light meal, a dessert, and of courseโ€“what elseโ€“a delicious Costa Rican coffee.

2. EXPLORE THEย MUSEO DEL ORO PRECOLOMBINO

If nothing else, theย Museo del Oro Precolombinoย (Pre-Columbian Gold Museum) will remind you of why exactly the Spaniards were so set on conquering Latin America in the first place.

Magnificent examples of pre-columbian metalwork.

Though Costa Rica was never home to mighty empires like those of the Incas, the Mayans, or the Aztecs. ย But the indigenous people were very technically skilled in a number of field, metalworking certainly among them. San Josรฉโ€™s Pre-Columbian Gold Museum features some 1,600 individual pieces of gold work dated approximately from 500 B.C. to 1500 A.D.

If youโ€™ve already checked out theย Teatro Nacional, the museum is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. ย In fact, itโ€™s actually locatedย belowย theย Plaza de la Cultura,ย directly next to the theater. The entrance can be tricky to find โ€“ it looks like this:

This is the entrance you are looking for.

Additionally, entry to theย Museo del Oro Precolombinoย includes a visit to the neighboringย Museo de Numismรกticaย (Coin Museum), as both are administered by theย Banco Central de Costa Ricaย (Central Bank of Costa Rica).

3. TRY A FROZEN TREAT FROM COSTA RICAโ€™S FAVORITE LOCAL CHAIN, POPS

The sign to find for fabulous ice cream treats.

Eating ice cream at one of theย POPS locations is one of the real treats of summer. ย  Itย is a Costa Rican chain of ice cream shopsย with a presence throughout Central America, including over 40 locations in San Josรฉ alone. The heat of a Costa Rican summer afternoon should be enough to get you through the doors. ย But if not, listen to this – POPS offers many uniquely Costa Rican flavors like banana, coconut,ย dulce de leche (sweet milk),ย guanรกbanaย (soursop), andย casย (Costa Rican guava). All of this, of course, in addition to the more standard ice cream options. Not all flavors are available at all locations however, so if you needed an excuse to check out multiple POPS during your trip, there you go.

4. GET YOURSELF EDUCATEDย AT THEย MUSEO NACIONAL DE COSTA RICA

Theย Museo Nacional de Costa Ricaย (National Museum of Costa Rica) tackles as ambitiously wide a scope as the name would suggest, and manages to do so quite successfully.

Learn more about Costa Rica’s history.

To begin with, even the setting is something special. The walls of the historic Bellavista fortress, the ex-military barracks now home to the museum, are still pockmarked with bullet holes from Costa Ricaโ€™s 1948 civil war. It was here that, in 1949,ย President Josรฉ Figueres Ferrer announced the abolishment of Costa Ricaโ€™s military. ย As such the building had to be repurposed. The museum moved to this spot in 1950, and now displays the very pen that signed the constitution putting all of these events into motion.

For a quick primer on Costa Rican history, this is the place! The galleries start with exhibits of pre-Columbian artifacts, move on to the colonial era, and finally reach the early days of Costa Rican independence. A visit to theย Museo Nacionalย is certain to be both enlightening and entertaining. ย For that reason itโ€™s one of the most highly recommended things to do in San Josรฉ.

5. STAY OUT WAY TOO LATE ON THEย CALLE DE LA AMARGURA

It might not look like much in the image below, but thatโ€™s because the photo was snapped during the early-morning hours. In reality, the oddly-namedย Calle de la Amarguraย (Street of Bitterness) has the highest concentration of bars found anywhere in San Josรฉ, spread out over a range of about four blocks. Itโ€™s so famous throughout the city that most residents simply know it asย La Calle.

Where to go for a good time.

A quick disclaimerโ€“if youโ€™re over the age of, letโ€™s say 30, you might not feel totally comfortable fitting in among the crowd here. Theย Calle de la Amarguraย is located directly across from the main campus of the University of Costa Rica, and the college crowd undeniably reigns supreme.

Thereโ€™s something for most every taste here.ย Terra Uย andย Xcapeย tend to attract the younger crowd, and the Costa Rican version of the โ€œbro,โ€ whileย Caccioโ€™sย bills itself as a โ€œrockโ€ bar with the music always turned up to ten. Another favorite spot is actually about a block west ofย La Calleย itself. ย Bar Fitoโ€™sย is aย slightlyย more low-key affair with an awesome open-air courtyard and occasional live music, whileย Buffaloโ€™sย has a great kitchen and a pretty stacked jukebox to choose songs from.

Some travel guides warn visitors thatย La Calleย is a dangerous spot at night, so just keep that in mind. Yes there are drunks, and some hippie might try to sell you weed, but for the most part itโ€™s all pretty benign. Thereโ€™s certainly a seedy element, but 90% of the streetโ€™s denizens are college students or otherwise productive, well-adjusted members of society. Just keep your wits about you (at least somewhat), and you should be fine.

6. SHOP LIKE Aย LOCAL AT THEย MERCADO CENTRAL

If youโ€™re looking for a taste (or the sights, or the smellsโ€ฆ) of the โ€œauthenticโ€ San Josรฉ, look no further than the cityโ€™sย Mercado Centralย (Central Market). This massive indoor marketplace sellsย everything from tourist souvenirsย near the entrances to fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fish, flowers, clothes, accessories, spices, toys, and toiletries towards the center. ย Basically everything you could ever want, and then some.

The Central Market has something for everyone

This is far and away San Josรฉโ€™s largest market, occupying an entire city block on the Avenida Central about 250 meters northwest of theย Parque Central. To help you identify the place, hereโ€™s a photo of the outside:

Thousands of people come here to do their shopping daily. ย Though the vast majority are locals, you probably wonโ€™t be the only obviously-foreign person wandering around inside. Be wary of the fact that the marketโ€™s crowded, narrow aisles are an ideal habitat for thieves and pickpockets, but donโ€™t worry too muchโ€“just keep your wallet in your front pocket, your eyes on your bag, and you shouldnโ€™t have any problems.

7. SHOP LIKE A TOURIST AT THEย MERCADO NACIONAL DE ARTESANรAS

Just across theย Plaza de la Democraciaย from theย Museo Nacional de Costa Ricaย sits twoย longย rows of market stalls. If youโ€™re looking for the ultimate tourist/souvenir marketplace in Costa Rica, this is it – San Josรฉโ€™sย Mercado Nacional de Artesanรญasย (National Handicraft Market).

Letโ€™s be clear – most of the items found here are not exclusive to this specific marketplace. That said, there are a number of artisan merchants who do hand-make their own wares! However, the things that really make this market the place to visit are the convenience of being able to knock out your souvenir shopping all at once andโ€“of courseโ€“the prices.

Where to find souvenirs for everyone back home.

If youโ€™ve never shopped a Latin American marketย before, prepare for the bargaining adventure of a lifetime. Though not quite as cutthroat as many other markets in the region, haggling at theย Mercado Nacional de Artesanรญasย is more than acceptedโ€“itโ€™s expected. Try your best to negotiate and drive a hard bargain, but donโ€™t go over the top and act like a jerk. Remember that the merchants do need to make a living, after all.

Finally, if youโ€™re not much of a haggler yourself, hereโ€™s a quick pro-tip – the age-old technique of bargaining, feigning disinterest, and beginning to walk away stillย works like a charm.

8. SPLURGE ON ONE OF SAN JOSร‰โ€™S SURPRISINGLY GREAT RESTAURANTSย AND CRAFT BEER

Long a well-kept secret, the proliferation of websites like TripAdvisor are slowly making it known that San Josรฉ is home to a bafflinglyย large range of truly world-class restaurants.

Even if youโ€™re not usually the type to blow hard-earned cash on a fancy meal, spending a night at one of the cityโ€™s fantastic restaurants is truly one of the most highly-recommended things to do in San Josรฉ. You wonโ€™t regret it!

9. JOIN A SPORTS GAME, RENT A PADDLE BOAT, OR JUST TAKE A WALK IN THEย PARQUE METROPOLITANO LA SABANA

Theย Parque Metropolitano La Sabanaย (La Sabana Metropolitan Park), known simply asย La Sabanaย to locals, is the largest urban park in Costa Rica – think Central Park, San Josรฉย style. Often referred to as โ€œthe lungs of San Josรฉ,โ€ this is where manyย Chepeย residents gather for picnics, to play pick-up sports, or just to take a leisurely afternoon stroll.

Located just a bit west of the city center,ย La Sabanaย is home to two important San Jose institutions beyond its water features and its green space. First of all, itโ€™s where youโ€™ll find Costa Ricaโ€™s national stadium, frequently hosting athletic and musical events. Second, itโ€™s also home to the fineย Museo de Arte Costarricenseย (Museum of Costa Rican Art), located in the main building of what was long ago an airport!

Also, if you happen to be in town during the springtime, thereโ€™s a good chance youโ€™ll be able to catch part or all of the famedย Festivalย Internacional de las Artesย (International Arts Festival). Though the events are spread out all over the city,ย La Sabanaย is the festivalโ€™s home base. ย It features the biggest stages, as well as art installations, food vendors, entertainment for kids, and much more. Theย FIAย welcomes artists from up to 30 countries, as well as some of the biggest musical acts in Latin America. ย If scheduling permits, checking it out is truly one of the coolest things to do in San Josรฉ.

10. GET OUT OF TOWN ON A SHORT HALF-DAY TRIP!

Suggesting that one of the top things to do in San Jose is toย leaveย San Jose may seem contradictory. ย But theย point is that you donโ€™t need to spend a week traveling Costa Rica to see incredible natural sites! If youโ€™re in town, perhaps for business and have a spare afternoon, you can visit a volcano, tour a coffee plantation, go zipliningโ€ฆ Really, the choice is yours.

Just a quick trip outside of town, but out of this world.

The photo above shows theย Volcรกn Irazรบ, the tallest active volcano in Costa Rica. Itโ€™s reachable by car or bus less than an hour east from central San Josรฉ. On nice days the views are incredible. ย But if youโ€™ve got clouds, be warned that you probably wonโ€™t even be able to see the crater! If the weatherโ€™s not cooperating but you still want to visit a nearby active volcano, try theย Volcรกn Poรกsย on the western side of San Josรฉ.

One of the most popular coffee plantation tours in the Central Valley is theย Doka Estate,ย not far in fact from theย Volcรกn Poรกs. And as far as ziplining goes, there are too many options to listโ€ฆ Just ask your hotel/hostel/Costa Rican buddy for a suggestion.

So thatโ€™s it for the list of the top ten things to do in San Jose, Costa Rica! ย 

For more tips and deals Contact Us and weโ€™ll hook you up!

VIAThe Costa Rica News (TCRN)
Previous articleSchoolchildren in Costa Rica Learn About Biodiversity
Next articleOJOCAL COMMUNITY FOOD BANK
Creating a Conscious alternative news network that we feel the world needs. Pura Vida!