14 Things to Do in San José, Costa Rica (with Tips from a Local)

This post was written by Emily Becker, a Costa Rica-based freelance writer for BMTM.

If you are visiting Costa Rica, you will most likely fly into the country’s largest airport, which is in San José. While many travelers claim that the city isn’t worth spending more than a day in, I wanted to give it the chance it deserves.

As it happens, I loved San José. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but I can appreciate a good amount of grit in a place. Because I think it’s a destination that you shouldn’t skip over, here’s my take on how to have an awesome time in the country’s capital:

1. Explore Spirogyra Butterfly Garden

The Spirogyra Butterfly Garden is truly magical, and I still can’t believe it exists in such a busy, urban center. It calls itself the lungs of the city, and for good reason. Besides having an enclosed butterfly garden with dozens of species flying around, the property encompasses a dense piece of jungle right on the Río Torres.

The organizers of Spirogyra are working hard to conserve native butterfly species and keep the river free of contamination. Their efforts are evident as soon as you step onto the footpath: it feels like you’ve completely left San José and are immersed in the Costa Rican jungle, all while still being in the heart of the city.

It costs 3,600 colones ($5 USD) to visit Spirogyra Butterfly Garden, which includes access to the entire property. Definitely prepare for mosquitos and a muddy trail if visiting in the rainy season!

2. People-watch in Morazán Park

There are plenty of beautiful parks in San José, but my favorite is Morazán, right in the heart of downtown. Though most of the city feels like a monstrous concrete jungle, this park makes me feel like I’m witnessing a flashback to San José’s elegant past. In the springtime, the enormous trees are in full bloom with pink, purple, and white flowers, and there’s a chance you’ll be able to catch a street festival here in the dry months (December through April).

This park is always bustling with residents going to work and school, tourists passing through, and people hanging out on the benches. This is my favorite place to sip a coffee and people-watch, so if you want to get a taste of local life, Morazán Park is the ideal place to take it all in.

3. Hike to the summit of Pico Blanco

If seeing a new city from above is your cup of tea, there’s no better lookout than the summit of Pico Blanco in nearby Escazú. After living in the area for over a year, this is still my favorite hike in Costa Rica, and it’s enjoyable all year round because of the temperate weather.

The hike starts at the foot of a mountain near the San Antonio neighborhood. If you have a rental car, there’s a safe parking lot at the trail entrance for 1,000 colones (about $2 USD) per hour. You can also take a taxi or Uber to the trailhead using the location linked above.

The hike to the summit takes 1.5–2 hours — and it’s a steep one! There are parts where you have to do a bit of climbing on big boulders, so I’d classify this as a medium to hard hike. Once you reach the top, it’s quite windy and brisk, so I recommend bringing a jacket if you plan to stay up there for a while. The panoramic views of San José and the central valley are breathtaking, though, making the tough trek completely worth it. I also have seen armadillos, blue morpho butterflies, deer, and other wildlife on the trail!

4. Take home Costa Rican art from eÑe

I love taking home something special from my travels, and I was blown away by the artistry and variety of handmade gifts and treasures at eÑe. This small shop is in the heart of Barrio Otoya, across the street from Morazán Park. Inside, you’ll find everything from handmade ceramics to Costa Rica–inspired jewelry, clothing, art prints, and more. My favorite thing about eÑe is that everything in the store is made by Costa Rican artists — no mass-produced souvenirs here!

5. Explore Barrio Otoya and Barrio Amón

Architecture can make or break a destination for me. To be honest, when I first set foot in San José, I kept asking myself, “Where’s all the old architecture?” because I didn’t see much of it downtown. Considering the city was founded in 1848, this was a surprise.

However, I found what I was looking for in Barrio Otoya and Barrio Amón. This is San José’s oldest and most historically significant area, evident in the intricate colonial designs on the buildings, which differ from others I’ve seen in other Latin American cities, and the significant Baroque and Gothic influences in these neighborhoods. Being a lover of history and architecture, I absolutely adore this part of San José!

I recommend starting at the corner of Calle 11A and Avenida 7 and walking east for a block, then turning left and making a loop. There are murals to stop and look at, cute shops to peruse, and some great restaurants to dine at, like Steiffel Pub and Café Otoya.

6. Visit Hacienda La Chimba

If you adore coffee as much as I do, don’t pass up the opportunity to check out Hacienda La Chimba. Here you’ll find 65 hectares of nature trails and coffee fields, and an entire museum dedicated to everything Costa Rican coffee. The Mantra Trail has an awesome viewpoint, where you can walk out onto a huge wooden hand. I wanted to explore the trails more, but unfortunately, there was a downpour right when I arrived.

Even with the rain, I enjoyed visiting La Chimba. The breakfast and coffee were spectacular, and the scenery even more so. There are also many activities you can take part in, including zip-lining and going on a coffee-related tour; it seemed quite expensive, at around $25 for just an hour, so I skipped it and explored on my own instead. If you were to visit during the the coffee plantation’s harvesting and processing season in September, however, the tour might be worth it, as you’d be able to actually see the place in action.

7. Try a Henry Blend at La Mancha

Speaking of coffee, the best brew is at La Mancha in downtown San José, and nobody will ever convince me otherwise. Located in the Steinvorth Building, it has been around for the better part of a decade and sources its coffee from small farms throughout Costa Rica. For me, it was love at first sip when I visited the place in 2022. Now, I can’t seem to stay away.

While a cup of plain black coffee will knock your socks off with its robust and complex flavor, I recommend ordering the Henry Blend, because you can’t get a drink like it anywhere else. It contains cold-brew coffee, coffee-peel tea, and limón criollo, aka mandarin-lime juice. It’s refreshing, punchy, and the perfect pick-me-up before you continue your adventure around town.

8. Learn about Costa Rican history at Mercado Borbón

If you want to learn about a Latin American city and its people in the quickest way possible, go to the biggest fruit and vegetable market in town: Mercado Borbón. Here you’ll also find a mind-blowing variety of fruits and vegetables, some that look like they belong on another planet!

There are also several areas of Mercado Borbón that hold an important place in the history and culture of San José, a story of resistance and resilience that paints a colorful picture of Costa Rican grit, like the banana stand above. This specific vendor was one of the first in the country to sell bananas autonomously, without the control of multinational companies.

I visited the market on a food and sightseeing tour. I was lucky enough to be the only person who signed up that day, so my guide, a San José native, was happy to answer all of my questions.

9. Enjoy the sights, smells, and tastes of the Mercado Central

Mercado Central is definitely better known than Mercado Borbón, which is evident in how packed it gets in the mornings. Here you’ll see locals doing their fruit and vegetable shopping, tourists checking out the souvenirs, and businesspeople grabbing a quick empanada before work. My guide explained that Mercado Central is the beating heart of San José, and I can see why!

This sprawling market has everything you can imagine, from exotic fruits to herbal remedy stands to small coffee shops, and much more. It’s also home to Costa Rica’s first and most famous ice cream spot: La Sorbetera de Lolo Mora.

10. Stroll through the Museum of Costa Rican Art…

The Museum of Costa Rican Art is small but mighty, featuring paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces by Costa Rica’s most famous artists. There are both indoor and outdoor spaces, with a wide range of works that demonstrate the country’s artistic diversity.

The museum is free, which was a huge draw for me, considering that others in San José can cost up to $20 to visit. I only spent about an hour there, as it’s quite small, but it’s right next to Parque La Sabana, so you can hit up both places if you’d like.

11. …and don’t forget to check out the Gold Room

I almost missed this, because I didn’t see at first that the museum had a second level. Up the winding staircase you’ll find signs pointing to the “Salon de Oro,” which contains a 360-degree golden mural depicting quotidian scenes from Costa Rica’s past. The room was actually once an airport lounge (the present-day La Sabana park next door was the site of San José’s airport until the late 1940s). It’s quite impressive and worth taking a lap around to see the mural’s small details.

12. Venture out to Lankester Botanical Garden

Lankester Botanical Garden, part of the University of Costa Rica, is well worth the hourlong drive from the center of San José. Here you can find a mind-boggling collection of orchids, many of which I had never seen before and looked like magnificent works of art. There’s also a serene Japanese garden, which includes a traditional tea and meditation room replica and Zen garden.

There are tours available, which you have to schedule ahead of time. This would be great if you’re especially enthusiastic about plants, but I enjoyed simply roaming around the gardens and observing on my own.

13. Take a day trip to Cartago, Costa Rica’s old capital

Bathe yourself in Costa Rican history by visiting the country’s first capital, Cartago. The city is just a 40-minute bus ride from San José and is the place to learn about the country’s past.

Immediately upon arrival, I felt the stark contrast between Cartago and San José. Whereas the latter has tall buildings and an urban edge, the former has a mix of old and new, with the most central part of town featuring the so-called ruins of an unfinished cathedral. They are as mysterious as they are photogenic, but they are only the beginning of the historical gems you’ll find here.

Head to the Cartago Municipal Museum and browse for free. I went there looking for a mural that depicts the history of Costa Rica and was blown away by its size, detail, and imagery.

I suggest visiting Cartago in the morning, grabbing a quick meal in the Municipal Market, and exploring on foot. From there, you can also easily Uber to the abovementioned Lankester Botanical Garden to round out an awesome day trip.

14. Admire the city’s street art

Like many Latin American cities, San José has street art on just about every block. Besides simply decorating the capital with vibrant colors, these murals also serve to tell San José’s story. While I was able to stumble upon plenty of murals simply by walking around Barrio Amón, Barrio Bird, and the city center, a more efficient way to learn about them is by taking a tour, like this one offered by Barrio Bird Walking Tours.

Where to Stay in San José

I honestly got very lucky with my accommodations in San José, because I can’t image a better neighborhood to stay in than Barrio Amón, one of the oldest and safest neighborhoods. (There are plenty of other areas, including downtown San José, that I would not recommend.) If you’re visiting for the first time and want to stay somewhere central, quiet, and safe, choose Barrio Amón or Barrio Escalante.

I adored my Airbnb in Barrio Amón. The location made it easy to walk everywhere, plus it was in a safe area with plenty of restaurants and cafés nearby. If you’re backpacking or just want to meet other travelers, Selina is a great accommodation, just down the street from where I stayed.

Staying Safe in San José

Like many Central American cities, San José has a reputation for not being the safest place to visit. Pickpocketing is common, especially in crowded areas and at night. As a solo female traveler, I have to admit that there were a few moments during my short time in town when I felt my danger radar ping. However, I still think this city is a decent one for travelers like me.

That said, I don’t recommend walking anywhere alone at night in San José, period. Uber is affordable here, so if you have to walk more than a couple blocks, just grab one. I also don’t recommend walking with your wallet or phone in your hand or pockets at any time of day. Instead, keep them in a fanny pack or an inside pocket of a backpack (worn on the front of your body). Even locals do this, so don’t feel silly about doing likewise.

I also don’t recommend wandering around neighborhoods you aren’t familiar with. Besides the downtown walking streets in Barrio Amón and Barrio Escalante, I didn’t do a whole lot of exploring on foot here. That’s because when I walked from my Airbnb to a restaurant only 15 minutes away, I found myself in a neighborhood I didn’t feel entirely safe in. In order to not have a repeat of that moment, I decided to plan my routes before heading out from then on, and took Ubers if there was more than a 10-minute walk through a neighborhood I wasn’t familiar with yet.

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Before visiting San José, I wasn’t so sure how much I’d enjoy a Costa Rican concrete jungle, as opposed to the lush green ones that most people flock to. However, I found that there were some enchanting pockets that proved wrong most of the negative things I’d read about San José being filthy and unappealing. I stand by giving it a chance and having an open mind, as there’s so much to love about this vibrant city.

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