San Jose

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National Museum of Costa Rica
No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Costa Rica

National Museum of Costa Rica

6.1
5.0/5
6 reviews
National Museum of Costa Rica is located in the heart of San Jose, next to Plaza de la Democracia. The yellow fortress-like building is a piece of history in itself: the outer walls still bear bullet marks from the 1948 civil war. On December 1 of that same year, José Figueres Ferrer famously swung a sledgehammer against the western wall of the barracks to announce the abolition of the army. Later, the barracks were officially converted into a museum, transforming from a military fortress into a cultural space. The visit begins at the butterfly garden near the entrance. The central courtyard displays several Diquis stone spheres; these perfectly round prehistoric stone spheres are highly recognizable artifacts of Costa Rica, and their discovery sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2014. The museum's exhibitions follow a chronological timeline: the Pre-Columbian hall uses hundreds of artifacts, such as pottery, jade carvings, and grinding stones, to tell the story of the life and beliefs of the inhabitants before the arrival of the Spanish; the Gold Hall displays animal-shaped gold ornaments and miniature shaman figures; the Colonial and Republican History halls use old photographs and artifacts to show how coffee, bananas, and the railway changed the country; in the exhibition area converted from old prison cells, graffiti carved by prisoners in the 1930s and 1940s still remains on the walls. After viewing the exhibitions, you might want to head to the second-floor terrace and the central courtyard to overlook downtown San Jose.San Jose · 1.3km from downtown

Experiences you can't miss in San Jose

Featured Culture & history in San Jose

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Britt Coffee Tour from San José
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4.7/5
· 27 reviews
Duration: 2 hrs
English
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FromSAR 337.80
San José Highlights Audio Tour: Cultural Treasures and Historical Landmarks
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Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
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FromSAR 26.85SAR 33.57
San José: Guided Historical & Cultural Walking Tour
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 2.5 hrs
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BarCrawl in Downtown San Jose
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Duration: 3 hrs
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FromSAR 142.64SAR 150.15
Small Group Cultural Walking Tour in San Jose
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 3 hrs
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San José: Hacienda La Chimba Coffee Experience Tour
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Duration: 1 hr
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San José Exclusive Bar Pub Crawl with Drinks and Club Entries
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FromSAR 128.75SAR 135.53
San Jose: Central Market Bites and Sights Walking Tour
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4.9/5
· 42 reviews
Duration: 3 hrs
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97.6% of travelers recommend
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FromSAR 112.34SAR 118.26

Featured Food & drink in San Jose

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San Jose: Cacao & Chocolate Workshop
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5.0/5
· 2 reviews
Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
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FromSAR 142.64SAR 150.15
2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara
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5.0/5
· 66 reviews
Duration: 2 hrs
English
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FromSAR 243.97
San Jose: Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour including Markets
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4.9/5
· 912 reviews
Duration: 210 mins
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FromSAR 131.37
Poas Coffee tour, La Paz Waterfall and Poas Volcano
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 10 hrs
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FromSAR 337.00SAR 354.74
Coffee Farm tour, Poas Volcano Park and La Paz Waterfall
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San José: Poás Volcano, La Paz Waterfall & Coffee Tasting
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4.7/5
· 17 reviews
Duration: 1 day
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FromSAR 374.43SAR 394.14
San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class
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4.8/5
· 245 reviews
Duration: 4 hrs
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96.3% of travelers recommend
FromSAR 213.94

Featured Outdoor & sports in San Jose

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Full-day 1-day tour to Tortuga Island from San Jose, Costa Rica
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Duration: 9 hrs
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FromSAR 680.40
Costa Rica San Jose: Manuel Antonio National Park 1-day tour
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Costa Rica San Jose round-trip Monteverde cloud forest 1-day tour
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Rafting Pacuare River One Day from Turrialba
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4.9/5
· 181 reviews
Duration: 6 hrs
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99.4% of travelers recommend
FromSAR 371.58
Zip Line, Rappel, Hiking La Carpintera Tour in San Jose
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4.9/5
· 360 reviews
Duration: 3 hrs
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La Leona Waterfall Hike
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4.9/5
· 221 reviews
Duration: 3–4 hrs
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FromSAR 187.67
From San José: Monteverde Hanging Bridges Day Trip
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FromSAR 816.59SAR 859.57

Featured Spa & wellness in San Jose

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San José: Arenal Volcano, Waterfalls, Coffee and Hot Springs
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4.7/5
· 287 reviews
Duration: 14 hrs
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51 consecutive positive reviews
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FromSAR 588.62SAR 619.61
Arenal : Suspension Bridges + Hot Springs + Falls from San Jose
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4.7/5
· 28 reviews
Duration: 12 hrs
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Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose
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4.8/5
· 312 reviews
Duration: 14 hrs
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FromSAR 619.30
Arenal Volcano and Thermal Hot Springs from San Jose
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4.5/5
· 109 reviews
Duration: 13 hrs
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FromSAR 769.43
San José: Arenal Volcano, Hot Springs, & Zip Lining w/ Meals
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4.9/5
· 110 reviews
Duration: 14 hrs
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85 consecutive positive reviews
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FromSAR 659.98SAR 694.72
San Jose: Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs Day Trip
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4.7/5
· 24 reviews
Duration: 1 day
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FromSAR 534.59SAR 562.73
San Jose Today's weatherCloudy 16-24℃
San Jose weather for the next 2 days11/5: 17-25℃, 11/6: 17-26℃

What travellers say about San Jose

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099***5014 August 2022
5.0
The overall environment is good, the facilities are complete, and it also meets the epidemic prevention standards. It's good

National Museum of Costa Rica

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YoYo_1I8Q7O5O1 December 2025
5.0
Stepping into the marble hall of the Costa Rica National Theatre, I was immediately struck by the mural "A Harvest of Coffee and Bananas" on the ceiling—the smiles of the peasant women carrying fruit baskets on their heads made even the gilded crystal chandeliers seem humble. I discreetly touched the cracks in the red velvet seats; the pine frame from 1877 had been deliberately preserved during the renovation. During intermission, I slipped onto the terrace to watch a street performer dance reggae under the theatre's archway, his radio static clashing with the Mozart melodies drifting from inside the hall, echoing between the colonial-era columns. Most unforgettable was discovering a secret hidden in the orchestra pit floor: the conductor had each musician carve their initials, and a century later, those letters remained clear under the lights, like lingering echoes yet to be played.

National Theater of Costa Rica

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What are the must-do things in San Jose?

Don't miss these attractions in San Jose: National Museum of Costa Rica, National Theater of Costa Rica, and Central Avenue. If you like Culture & history, try Britt Coffee Tour from San José. If you enjoy Food & drink, try Costa Rica San Jose Poas volcano coffee plantation and La Paz waterfall 1-day tour.

You can give Costa Rica San Jose Poas volcano coffee plantation and La Paz waterfall 1-day tour and San Jose: Cacao & Chocolate Workshop a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

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