Car Hire San José - Mini guide to San José
San José is the capital of Costa Rica and a bustling cosmopolitan city. While lacking vast numbers of historical buildings, the city possesses a vibrancy which makes it an appealing place to spend time.
Sights worth seeing in San José include: the National Arts Centre, which hosts numerous contemporary and historical art exhibits; and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design. The National Museum is housed in a former army barracks that was the scene of fighting during the civil war of 1948, and you can still see hundreds of bullet holes in its walls. Inside, you will find displays on Costa Rican history and culture from pre-Columbian times to the present.
To explore the city by foot, start on the Plaza de la Cultura. Visit the Gold Museum and stroll up Avenida Central to the Museo Nacional; then head over to the neighbouring National Arts Centre. After visiting all these museums, you can indulge in some shopping at the nearby open-air stalls in the Plaza de la Democracia.
Costa Rican restaurants serve hearty food, although the cuisine is nothing to get too excited about. What Costa Ricans do well though, is party, and this is reflected in San José's nightlife. The stretch of bars, clubs and restaurants at San Pedro, near the university, is where much of the action takes place.
Costa Rica is blessed with some wonderful places to visit - all within a half-day drive of San José. Particularly recommended is Monteverde, which features a glorious cloud forest. Alternatively, Arenal boasts a spectacular volcano and lush vegetation. Manuel Antonio is a delightful beach and national park where you can sunbathe on white sands while observing monkeys at play.
By car, enter San José via the Inter-American Highway. Buses arriving from Panama pass first through Cartago and then through San Pedro before letting passengers off in downtown San José; buses arriving from Nicaragua generally enter the city on Paseo Colón. Juan Santamaría International Airport is about 20 minutes from downtown San José. The cheap and frequent Alajuela-San José buses run along this route and will take you into San José.
