With 335.007 inhabitants, San José is the most populous city in Costa Rica. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything San José has to offer.
If you’re looking for affordable options, Sapore Trattoria (San Jose, Avenida Segunda, 1 cuadra al oeste de la Plaza la Democracia) and Olive Garden Aleste (San José, del cruce de la Galera Curridabat 2km al norte Frente al Colegio Sek) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Ilha da Costa (Ciudad del Este Centro Comercial) and Doma Escalante (#1146, esquina sureste de la rotonda El Farolito) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in San José.
Looking for warm weather? Then head to San José in April, when the average temperature is 21 °C, and the highest can go up to 26 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 14 °C, with an average temperature of 18 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 300 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in San José, with an average rainfall of 0 mm.
San José is served by 2 airports: San José Tobias Bolanos Intl (SYQ) and Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO). The closest to the city centre of San José is San José Tobias Bolanos Intl, which is located 6 km from the city centre. Further away is Juan Santamaria Airport, 14 km from the centre of San José. The shortest flight to San José from India departs from Mumbai and takes around 36h 44m.
The most popular bus station is San José Terminal Buses, located 0.8 km from the city centre of San José. San José Tralapa is also a commonly used station, and is 1.1 km from the city centre.
From 5-star hotels such as the Real InterContinental Costa Rica at Multiplaza Mall to great affordable options like the Hotel Suites Cristina, San José offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around ₹ 5,740 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to ₹ 11,753 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hotel Sura B&B and Casa Jardin Del Mango. There are also lots of holiday rental options in San José, with prices from ₹ 1,084 to ₹ 31,351 per night. Mata Redonda is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in San José are about 24% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Mata Redonda - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as La Sabana Hotel Suites Apartments, Rincón del Valle Hotel & Suites and Crowne Plaza San Jose La Sabana, An IHG Hotel. The average nightly price for a double room in Mata Redonda is ₹ 3,547.
Merced - Hotel Novo, Auténtico Hotel and Hotel Quinta Avenida have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Merced will cost you about ₹ 1,492 per night.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in San José is the Deal Mobility Rent a Car branch at Provincia de Alajuela, Alajuela, Costa Rica, which is 12 km from the city centre.
Expect to pay ₹ 121 per litre in San José (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between ₹ 1,451 and ₹ 1,934.