San José is Costa Rica’s capital and main gateway, sitting in the Central Valley surrounded by coffee farms and volcanoes. Many travelers spend a night here between flights and trips to the rainforest or beaches, and the city has plenty of cheap hotels and guesthouses.
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The historic center near the National Theatre and museums, with boutique hotels in old mansions.
An upscale western suburb with malls, restaurants and business hotels.
The city’s food and café district, with small hotels and guesthouses.
Close to Juan Santamaría airport — handy for early flights and the first or last night of a trip.
A historic hotel from 1930 facing the National Theatre in the city center.
Check rates at Gran Hotel Costa RicaZoom and pan the map to compare hotel prices by neighborhood; rates come live from the booking sites.
December–April is the dry season and the busiest; May–November is the green season, with afternoon rain and lower rates.
Downtown and Barrio Escalante have plenty of budget hotels and guesthouses; Alajuela is good value if you only need a night near the airport.
For an early flight or a late arrival, Alajuela is much closer than central San José and avoids city traffic.
Poás and Irazú volcanoes, coffee farm tours and the La Paz Waterfall Gardens are popular day trips.