# Most Popular Destinations in Costa Rica: San José

> San José is Costa Rica's capital and biggest city, in the Central Valley, and most international visitors pass through it. It's worth a day or two for the National Theatre, the Gold Museum and day trips to the Poás and Irazú volcanoes, and it has city yoga studios for classes before or after a retreat.

Source: https://costarica-yoga-retreats.com/most-popular-destinations-in-costa-rica-san-jose/
Last checked: 2026-11-04

**Update, November 2026:** We've rechecked this guide. Hotel Grano de Oro and the Adventure Inn are still open. We couldn't confirm the Mansión del Parque Bolívar or the Tropical Bungee jump on the old Colorado River bridge are still operating, so we've taken them out; check locally if you're interested.

San José is Costa Rica's capital and largest city, set in the Central Valley at about 1,170 meters (3,800 feet). It's the country's political, business and cultural center, and the wider metro area is home to a large share of the population. The city grew fast in the 20th century, so it has fewer colonial buildings than many Latin American capitals, but it has good museums, a beautiful theater, lively markets and an easy, mild climate.

![San José at dusk](/static/img/old/2012-09-san-jose1.webp)

Most international visitors fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), which is in Alajuela, about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown depending on traffic. Many people stay a night near the airport or in the city before heading to the coast.

![San José's lights at night](/static/img/old/2012-09-san-jose2.webp)

## Where to stay

**Hotel Grano de Oro.** A boutique hotel in a converted mansion off Paseo Colón, west of downtown, known for its restaurant and quiet, homely feel. It's listed on the major booking sites.

![The front of Hotel Grano de Oro](/static/img/old/2012-09-grano-de-oro-2.webp)

**Adventure Inn.** A family-run hotel near the airport, which says it's usually 10 to 15 minutes from SJO and offers a free airport shuttle and breakfast. It's handy for a first or last night. Website: [adventure-inn.com](https://www.adventure-inn.com/).

![The front of the Adventure Inn](/static/img/old/2012-09-adventure-inn-costa-rica.webp)

For more on these hotels, see our article on [hotels in San José](/top-3-hotels-in-san-jose/).

## Things to do in the city

**National Theatre (Teatro Nacional).** Opened in 1897, it's the city's grandest building, with a neoclassical front, marble staircases and painted ceilings. You can take a tour, have coffee in its café, or see a concert or play. Website: [teatronacional.go.cr](https://www.teatronacional.go.cr/).

![The National Theatre's columned front](/static/img/old/2012-09-national-theater.webp)

**Pre-Columbian Gold Museum.** Underground beneath the Plaza de la Cultura, next to the theater, the Central Bank's museums hold more than 1,500 pre-Columbian gold objects, along with coins and Costa Rican art. Website: [museosdelbancocentral.org](https://museosdelbancocentral.org/).

![Pre-Columbian gold pieces on display at the Gold Museum](/static/img/old/2012-09-museo-del-oro-gold.webp)

**Yoga.** San José and its suburbs have plenty of yoga studios with drop-in classes. [Yoga Mandir](/yoga-mandir/) in San Pedro teaches classes and a Spanish-language teacher training. For retreats outside the city, see our [guide to where to do yoga in Costa Rica](/where-to-do-yoga-in-costa-rica/).

## Day trips

**Poás Volcano National Park.** About an hour or so from the city, Poás has a viewing platform over a huge active crater, which sometimes holds a turquoise acid lake. The park has closed and reopened several times in recent years because of volcanic activity, so check its status and buy tickets online from SINAC, the national parks service, before you go.

![Poás Volcano under a colorful sky](/static/img/old/2012-09-poas-volcano-national-park.webp)

**Braulio Carrillo National Park.** A large, steep, rainforest-covered park on the highway between San José and the Caribbean, named after a 19th-century Costa Rican president. It includes Barva Volcano and its crater lakes and has hiking trails through cloud forest.

![A small river in Braulio Carrillo National Park](/static/img/old/2012-09-braulio1.webp)

**Irazú Volcano National Park.** Near Cartago, Irazú is Costa Rica's highest active volcano, at about 3,432 meters (11,260 feet). From the top you look into several craters, and on a clear morning you may see both the Pacific and the Caribbean. Go early, before the clouds roll in.

![The crater landscape at Irazú Volcano](/static/img/old/2012-09-irazu-volcano.webp)

Also nearby: [La Paz Waterfall Gardens](/la-paz-waterfall-gardens-a-must-see-place-in-central-highlands/), and the coffee farms and towns of the [Central Highlands](/central-highlands-the-path-to-eco-tourism-paradise/).

## Frequently asked questions

### How far is the airport from downtown San José?

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is in Alajuela, about 20 to 30 minutes' drive from downtown, longer at rush hour.

### Is San José worth visiting?

For a day or two, yes. The National Theatre, the Gold Museum and day trips to volcanoes and waterfalls make it a good stop before or after the coast.

### Is Poás Volcano open?

It has closed and reopened several times in recent years because of volcanic activity. Check SINAC's website for its current status and buy tickets online before you go.

### Can I do yoga in San José?

Yes. The city and suburbs have many studios with drop-in classes, and Yoga Mandir in San Pedro runs a Spanish-language teacher training.