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San Jose

Trip Planner : Central America / Costa Rica / Province of San Jose / San Jose Metro / San Jose

Museums Nightlife Adventure

A trip to San Jose, the capital, commercial center, and cultural hub of Costa Rica, gives you a chance to experience the lively atmosphere and rich cultural past of this vibrant country. At first glance, given its lack of colonial-era architecture, the city appears a gritty, bustling metropolis, but scratch the surface and you'll find plenty to do and see. Numerous museums and notable buildings, a bustling nightlife and dining scene, as well as a great central location make San Jose worth a visit when vacationing in Costa Rica. When using our Costa Rica road trip planning site , you're building your holiday based on your own interests, visitor reviews, and the informed opinions of our well-traveled writers.

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Top San Jose tours

Costa Rica Day Trip from San Jose BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $107

Tortuguero National Park BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $108

Arenal Volcano and Tabacón Hot Springs Day Trip from San Jose BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $143

Irazu Volcano, Orosi Valley and Lankester BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $102

Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $99

Rainforest Adventure Atlantic Aerial Tram Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $107

San Jose Tropical Rainforest Adventure including Chocolate Tasting BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $112

San Jose City Sightseeing Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $53

Cartago Day Trip by Rail from San Jose: Bike Ride and Market Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $50

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Best things to do in San Jose

Popular

River Rafting & Tubing

Visit for: 3h 30min

National Museum (Museo Nacional)

Precolumbian Gold Museum

Visit for: 1h 30min

Side Trips

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Poas Volcano National Park

Museums

Visit for: 1h 30min

Museo de Arte Costarricense

Visit for: 1h 30min

Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle

Visit for: 1h 30min

Hidden Gems

Visit for: 1h 30min

Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo

Ruinas de Ujarras

Visit for: 1h 30min

Kid Friendly Attractions

Museo de los Ninos

Canyoning & Rappelling Tours

Visit for: 3h 30min

Simon Bolivar Parque Zoologico y Jardin Botanico Nacional

Visit for: 2h 30min

Shopping

Central Market (Mercado Central)

Visit for: 1h 30min

La Bodega de Chema

Featured attractions

Parque La Sabana

Guayabo National Park and Monument

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Places to visit with San Jose

Carara Best for: Nature Escazu Best for: Adventure, Golf, Zoos & Aquariums Santa Ana Best for: Zoos & Aquariums, Shopping, Golf San Isidro del General Best for: Wildlife Canaan Best for: Sightseeing

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Where to stay in San Jose

Browse hotels, guesthouses, and unique homes and book your stay on the world's leading accommodation sites.

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Recently planned trips to San Jose

2 days in San Jose BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES January, hidden gems PREFERENCES: January ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Medium 3 days in San Jose BY A USER FROM COSTA RICA December, popular PREFERENCES: December ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 9 days in Costa Rica BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES February, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: February, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 9 days in Costa Rica BY A USER FROM PUERTO RICO December, popular PREFERENCES: December ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 3 days in San Jose BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES December, kids, popular PREFERENCES: December, kids ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 60 days in Costa Rica BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM January, popular PREFERENCES: January ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 29 days in Central America BY A USER FROM SWITZERLAND April, kids, culture, historic sites, wildlife, popular PREFERENCES: April, kids, culture, historic sites, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 8 days in Carara & San Jose BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES December, kids, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, wildlife, fast-paced, popular PREFERENCES: December, kids, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Fast-paced 8 days in Costa Rica BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES December, kids, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, wildlife, fast-paced, popular PREFERENCES: December, kids, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Fast-paced 17 days in Panama & San Jose BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES October, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, wildlife, hidden gems PREFERENCES: October, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Medium 14 days in Costa Rica BY A USER FROM CANADA November, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, shopping, wildlife, popular PREFERENCES: November, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, shopping, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 17 days in Costa Rica & Nicaragua BY A USER FROM BRAZIL December, popular PREFERENCES: December ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium

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