San José Costa Rica
Oh right, maybe you have been traveling around Costa Rica for some days now. Your trip might be coming to an end, so you are going back to San José to take your flight home. But maybe you have one last day in San José Costa Rica! Do you want to make the most of it? How about if you dive into Costa Rica’s culture and history? This article is part 1 of a full itinerary for a one-day tour in Costa Rica’s capital.
San José is a small city, and you can see everything you must in one day. Luckily the most important landmarks are in the east part of the town, really close to each other. Since many tourists might have returned their rented car by now, I’ll make this itinerary walking friendly. Let’s do this!
National Theatre of Costa Rica / Plaza de la Cultura / Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
Costa Ricans considered these three places right next to each other the heart of San José city. Most of the buses that enter the city center have stops close to these places. There are also several parking lots around in case you still have a rented car. This is why this place is the starting point of our walking tour.
The National Theatre is considered the most beloved architectonical landmark in San José. This is a XIX eclecticism style building, which still receives plenty of cultural activities. It also has some galleries with expositions of paints, photos, and sculptures, and even a small cafeteria. The ticket entrance is around $12 (free for kids under 12 years old), and the theatre offers tours every day from 9 am until 4 pm. For more information, check their official website.
Right next to the theatre, you will find the Cultural Square or Plaza de la Cultura. This square is usually really crowded with people going from one side of the city to the other, going to their jobs, or maybe just sitting to enjoy the morning or afternoon. Around this square, you will find almost any fast-food restaurant and plenty of stores.
Below the “Plaza de la Cultura,” we find the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. This museum has a ticket entrance of $15 and $11 for students showing a student ID. This museum is one of the most famous museums from San José Costa Rica. Since the moment you enter the museum, you get transported to Costa Rica before Christopher Columbus. You get to see invaluable gold pieces from those years, and there’s also another section that shows you the development of the economy and currency in Costa Rica. Check more information about this museum on their official website.
Jade Museum / Democracy Square / National Museum
Right after the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, head east through the “Avenida Central”, after a 5-minute walk, you’ll reach the Jade Museum. This museum has important jade pieces of Costa Rican cultural heritage. It also has other pre-Columbian pieces, like the famous stone spheres. The ticket price for adults is around $16 and for students $5.
You’ll find the Democracy Square or “Plaza de la Democracia” and the National Museum of Costa Rica right next to the Jade Museum. The Democracy Square has always been an important meeting point among Costa Ricans.
The National Museum is a must-visit; this is my favorite museum in San José Costa Rica. This building was a military quarter named “Cuartel Bellavista” and played an essential role before Costa Rica went demilitarized in 1949. Inside, you will find a butterfly garden, pre-Columbian history section, Costa Rica history from XVI to date, quarter dungeons, and much more. The ticket fee for adults is $11 and for students $6. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday.
Related Articles: City Walk in San José Costa Rica Part 2
Costa Rica’s Parlament old and new buildings
Almost right next to the National Museum, just one block north, you will see a blue building. This blue building is called the “Blue Castle,” and until 2020, it was the home of the Legislative Power of Costa Rica. If you look a bit to the west, you’ll see one of the most controversial buildings of Costa Rica in the latest years. The new building for the Legislative Power of Costa Rica. People weren’t very pleased when they realized it was a huge gray building, because that didn’t represent Costa Rica at all. This building is open for the public from Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 6 pm, and Fridays from 9 am to 12 pm. For more information, and if you want a guided visit, I suggest calling the building administration (+506) 2243-2000.
Barrio Escalante
You might be feeling hungry by now, right? Well, let’s head to one of the most trendy neighborhoods in San José. Let’s go to Barrio Escalante. In the latest years, more and more restaurants have been opening around this neighborhood. From great Ramen places to amazing Burgers, here you will find almost any type of restaurant.
To get to this neighborhood, head northeast in the direction of “La Antigua Aduana,” which is a famous building in the zone. Pre-Covid times, this building used to hold essential conferences and pop-up markets of all kinds from time to time. As you keep walking past the “Antigua Aduana” and move in the direction of Road 33, you’ll start seeing more and more restaurants.
I personally recommend the following restaurants:
Right after you had something to lunch, it’s time to make the most out of the afternoon! In Barrio Escalante, you won’t just find good restaurants. There are also lovely cultural landmarks around. Near the restaurants I just mentioned, you will find a museum not as famous as the other ones already mentioned, but essential to Costa Rica’s history. The Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia Museum shows everything about the famous Costa Rican former president’s life. This museum is open from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and sometimes they have free entrance.
