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Most people travel to Costa Rica for the wildlife and the scenery. San Jose, the capital, is often just a stopover on the way to explore the riches this country offers. I can attest from personal experience that those riches range from abundant to astounding. I met my future husband in Costa Rica, diving with hammerhead sharks off of Cocos Island. But that’s another story. We recently returned to recreate our trip and opted to spend several days after diving exploring the capital city. We were delighted. There are so many things to do, from a cooking class to exploring the markets to visiting a wildlife refuge. So, here are our San José Costa Rica highlights. There are nine diverse and interesting places to explore. Consequently, you will never be bored in San José.
By the way, I am not even touching on the wonderful array of restaurants in this capital city. Everything from Argentine steakhouses, to Middle Eastern fare (belly dancing show included), to German bakeries. And of course, the tasty local Costa Rican cuisine is plentiful.
Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
In the heart of San José, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum of Costa Rica is one of the country’s most fascinating cultural attractions. First and foremost, the museum showcases an extraordinary collection of ancient gold artifacts created by indigenous cultures long before the arrival of the Spanish.
In addition, visitors can explore beautifully crafted jewelry, ceremonial objects, and symbolic figures that reveal the spiritual and social importance of gold in pre-Columbian Costa Rica.
Furthermore, the modern underground design not only enhances the experience but also protects these priceless treasures. As a result, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum offers an essential introduction to Costa Rica’s rich history. This is a must-visit stop for travelers who love archaeology, culture, and heritage.
Museo del Oro Precolumbino
Address: Bajos de la Plaza de la Cultura. Avenida Central. Calle 5 San José Centro San José CR 10104, Av. Central, San Jose, Quesada Durán, Costa Rica
Hours:
Monday – Sunday 9 am – 4:30 pm
Mercado Centrale
In downtown San José, the Mercado Central of San José, Costa Rica, is a vibrant hub of local culture and everyday life. First, the historic market draws visitors in with its maze of narrow aisles filled with fresh produce, spices, coffee, and traditional snacks.
In addition, small sodas serve classic Costa Rican dishes, offering an authentic taste of local cuisine. Furthermore, souvenir stalls and herbal shops highlight the market’s long-standing traditions.
Mercado Central is definitely one of the best places in San José to experience local flavors, friendly energy, and true Costa Rican culture all in one stop.
Central Market:
Address: WWM9+R59, Calle 8, San Jose Province, San Jose, Paso De La Vaca, Costa Rica
Hours:
Monday – Saturday 9 am – 6:30 pm
Sunday Closed
Municipal Crafts Market
Just steps from downtown landmarks, the Artisan’s Market in San José, Costa Rica, is the perfect place to discover locally made crafts and souvenirs. To begin with, the market features colorful stalls selling handmade jewelry, wooden carvings, textiles, and traditional Costa Rican art. In addition, many vendors are local artisans, which means your purchase directly supports small businesses. Furthermore, the relaxed, open-air setting makes browsing easy and enjoyable.
For craft lovers, the Artisan’s Market is an ideal stop for authentic gifts, cultural finds, and a deeper connection to Costa Rica’s creative spirit.
Municipal Crafts Market
Address: Calle 5 y 7, avenida 6, front of the Parque de las Garantías Sociales, San José, Capital, 10104, Costa Rica
Hours:
Daily 8 am–6:30 pm
Cooking Class
Of course, I had to find a cooking class. Because I am now in love with Casado (marriage), a flavorful Costa Rican combination of rice, beans, plantains, and a protein. How better to learn this than from a local?
Booking through Airbnb Experiences, I was not disappointed. Karla is so warm and funny, and welcoming. She even offered a dance class after the meal. We talked so much, it was way late when we sat down to eat. So, sadly, I skipped the dancing. However, there is always next time.
We started with an appetizer of plantains and made a drink out of fresh tamarind to eat with the meal. Then, Karla gave me tasks to do as we cooked each portion of the meal in her family’s kitchen. Different family members popped in and out of the kitchen to welcome me to their home. The end result was rice and beans, a vegetable, an omelet, and a carrot salad.
I had a wonderful, delicious time with this warm and lovely Costa Rican family.
Airbnb Experiences
Arbol De Seda
Jade Museum
The Museo del Jade is a jewel among San José Costa Rica highlights. Because it showcases the world’s largest collection of pre-Columbian jade, offering a vivid window into the artistry and beliefs of the region’s ancient Indigenous cultures. Furthermore, visitors can explore detailed exhibits on archaeology, symbolism, and daily life before European contact.
Inside its modern, multistory space are intricately carved pendants, tools, and ceremonial objects that reveal how jade was used to symbolize life, power, and spiritual protection. For people such as the Chorotega and Nicoya, jade wasn’t merely decorative—it connected the living to ancestors, nature, and the divine.
The museum brings these traditions to life, highlighting how this luminous green stone helped shape identity, status, and cosmology across pre-Columbian Costa Rica. Furthermore, the museum’s sleek, modern design enhances the storytelling experience. As a result, the Jade Museum is a must-visit attraction in San José for travelers interested in history, culture, and indigenous heritage.
Jade Museum
Address: 13 bis, y, Av. Central, San Jose Province, San Jose, Costa Rica
Opened: October 31, 1977
Hours:
Daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m
More San Jose Costa Rica Highlights:
National Theater of Costa Rica
The country’s most cherished architectural showcase and one of San José Costa Rica Highlights, it opened in 1897 and was funded through a special tax on coffee exports.
Modeled after the grand opera houses of Europe and designed in an elegant neoclassical style, the theater dazzles with marble staircases, gilded details, and European-inspired murals.
The most famous one is the Allegory of Coffee and Bananas that once appeared on the old five-colón bill. In the theater’s foyer, there used to be two separate smoking rooms: one for men and one for women. They are now repurposed into a beautiful cafe and an event space.
National Theater of Costa Rica
Address: Avenida 2, C. 5, San Jose, Catedral, Costa Rica
Hours: Monday – Sunday 9 AM – 4 PM
The lobby and cafe are free to enter. The theater can only be visited on a guided tour. Highly recommend.
Costa Rican Museum of Art
This small but stunning gem is housed in the former terminal of Costa Rica’s first international airport, La Sabana. Entry is free. The museum features elegant galleries filled with works by Costa Rican artists and surrounded by a peaceful sculpture garden.
However, the showstopper is the Golden Room, a beautifully preserved salon that was the former diplomatic lounge. It is covered in carved wooden reliefs that narrate the country’s history from coast to coast. What was once a bustling airport departure hall is now a serene cultural retreat—proof that even old runways can lead to unexpected destinations.
Museo de Arte Costa Rican
Address: San Jose Province, San Jose, Sabana, Costa Rica
Hours:
Monday Closed
Tuesday – Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m
Refugio Animal de Costa Rica
If you are loving your cultural tours of San Jose but missing close-ups with the incredible Costa Rican wildlife, this animal refuge is easily accessible from San Jose. Depending on traffic, the drive from central San José is anywhere from 15 -30 minutes. The refuge takes in an average of 1,500 animals annually.
Most are injured, confiscated, or non-indigenous species. Their in-house veterinary clinic treats the animals, and the refuge releases and/or relocates the animals that can survive. Those that cannot be reintroduced in the wild are cared for in the refuge. These are now considered “Ambassadors of Education”.
Sloths, monkeys, deadly snakes, ocelots, turtles, and alligators are just some of the creatures you will see up close.
You can tour the refuge by yourself. A cement pathway runs through the property. However, I highly recommend the tour where you learn the backgrounds of the inhabitants and fascinating facts about each species.
Refugio Animal de Costa Rica
Address: San José Province, Santa Ana, 10094, Costa Rica
Hours:
Monday – Friday 9 am – 4:30 pm
Last One of these San Jose Costa Rica Highlights:
National Museum of Costa Rica
Visitors enter and exit the museum through a lush butterfly garden (of course) before leading into galleries that showcase many historical documents of the nation’s upbringing, significant events, and tragedies of the nation’s past.
Built in 1917, the Museum was originally used for quarters for soldiers used in the Costa Rica Civil War in 1948. The museum’s layout flows chronologically, beginning with impressive pre-Columbian artifacts. Then it moves on to exhibits on colonial life, natural history, and the evolution of Costa Rican identity.
Restored fortress halls and open courtyards create a beautiful mix of indoor and outdoor spaces. The museum has received hundreds of objects in recent years from the US This is part of efforts to repatriate artifacts that were removed earlier from Costa Rica.
National Museum of Costa Rica
Address: Cuesta de Moras, Av. Central, San Jose, Bella Vista, 10101, Costa Rica
Hours:
Monday Closed
Tuesday -Sunday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
So, do you like these San José Costa Rican Highlights? Then also check out some of these other posts:
5 VENTURESOME VENICE STOPS
EATING & EXPLORING BEAUTIFUL BOLOGNA
