San Jose

Sophisticated by day and frisky by night, Costa Rica’s diverse capital San Jose has a rackety charm, set in the Central Valley. It shares the same colonial heritage as any other Latin American city. From the charming Belle Époque to the sublime Neoclassical, the city boasts a variety of architectural styles. Wandering its culture-ladened streets, you will feel the electrifying fusion of old and new. San Jose owes its cosmopolitan swagger to the medley of art galleries, edgy dive bars, and eclectic music halls. Together, they steal away all the attention from the city’s luxurious renown.

Two themes dominate city tours in San Jose: an open-air museum of historic buildings and a hedonistic way of life. Museums bristle with invaluable artifacts from American jade to pre-Columbian gold. Colonial architecture is in full bloom in Barrio Amon. There, ivy-swathed two-storied buildings come in all colors. Yet, indisputably the most appreciated structure in all of San Jose is the Teatro Nacional. The building combines austerity and intricate design on its cream-colored facade. As for the exhilarating daily scenes, head to the Central Market. Relatively quiet, the parks of San Jose are a delight to spend peaceful afternoons. They bring cultural expressions to the foreground in an atmospheric setting.

In the pavement cafes and cozy eateries, the true charm of San Jose unravels before your eyes. Unbridled joy radiates through every street in the city’s downtown. The youthful spirit of the university area dominates it. Centro Comercial El Pueblo is the beating heart of this intoxicating nighttime mojo. Pay a visit to spice up your night in San Jose.