People often ask me to list the top five things to do or see in San Jose, Costa Rica’s Capital City. Without straying too far from the ‘heart of town’, here’s my recommendations (my personal top five):

1. Plaza de la Cultur – Great place for people watching; very colorful scene where you’ll find many craftsmen, jugglers, street preachers, mimes as well as musicians performing Incan folk music.
2. Historical Barrio Amon, northern edge of downtown – old mansions, Victorian and Caribbean architecture, cafes & art galleries
3. The Gold and Art Museums – near the Plaza de La Cultur
4. Spirogyra Butterfly Garden – small butterfly garden located not far from city center
5. El Pueblo – lively entertainment & shopping complex located near Hotel Tournon. Many restaurants, bars, shops and nightclubs

You can see all these places and attractions at a very leisurely pace in one day.