Things to Do in San Jose

Built using funds donated by Andrew Carnegie in 1912, Costa Rica's Yellow House is a noteworthy (and noticeable!) building that houses the Central American Court of Justice. It has since been appropriated for use as a presidential home, a temporary facility for the Legislative Assembly and, most often, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cult.

Travelers can explore the grounds on their own or take a self-guided tour through one of San Jose's most famous buildings. Once a week, local history experts offer official tours, which include a visit to the Museum Marques Manuel Maria Peralta, a gallery named after one of the country's most important diplomats that is stationed on site. 

Designed for kids, but just as fun for parents, the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose is one of those museums families happily go back to again and again. At traditional museums there’s a great of reading, looking and then reading some more. The Tech is all about touching and doing.

Feel what an earthquake is like on the Shake Platform. Feel like and astronaut when you take a seat in the Jet Pack Chair. Noisy and strong blasts of compressed air enable museum passengers to walk through space. If jet packs aren’t your speed, sit down in the lab in The Tech Health and Biotech Gallery. After gloving up, experience what life is like as a genetic engineer while learning how to incubate jellyfish bacteria. Those are just a few of the exhibits likely to grab your attention.

Avoid science overload by taking a movie break at the Hackworth IMAX® Dome Theater. With 280 seats, it’s the largest dome theater west of the Mississippi. Check the show times when you arrive at the Tech Museum. The theater plays educational and first-run flicks. There’s a snack bar complete with popcorn to make the movie experience complete.

This easy-to-spot structure was built in Brussels and imported to Costa Rica via France in 1896. Upon arrival in San Jose, it served as one of the country's very first schools. Because the original site was mostly swamplands, the Belgian company constructed the individual iron pieces overseas before assembling them onsite, once they arrive in Costa Rica. 

Today, Metallic Building serves as homage to public education and two primary schools"”Buenaventura Corrales and Julia Lang"”still operate inside its historic halls. Visitors can explore the grounds on their own, or participate in one of the city's historic walking tours to learn more about this iconic building. 

This lush public park at the center of San Jose was named after Francisco Morazan, an old-school general who tried to unite all of Central America into one common country. And while Morozan Park was once a hub for San Jose's grit and grime (it used to be a known for drug sales and prostitution), the park has recently undergone a complete renaissance. 

Travelers can safely wander through the green gardens that make Morazan Park a respite from the otherwise urban feel of San Jose and stretch out for an afternoon picnic on thick lawns under massive shade trees. The Templo de Musica, a concrete gazebo at the center of the land, is the highlight of any visit to Morazan Park"”especially when live local musicians are playing.