San José

San José is the capital city of the country and bears the same name as the province. It is the political and administrative centre of Costa Rica and its infrastructure is well suited for tourism.

San José has buildings that represent a true architectural heritage. Amongst them we can mention the National Theatre, the former Bellavista Headquarters (now National Museum), the Colegio de Señoritas (all-girls high school), the Edificio Metálico (Metal Building) (near the Parque Morazán), the Railway Museum (in front of the old station to the Atlantic) and the Central Post Office building.

Other attractions of the province are:

The Jade Museum Housed in the National Insurance Institute (INS), it has an interesting collection of over 6000 pieces of green, black and blue jade. You can also see objects in gold and pre-Columbian ceramics. Streets 9-11, Avenues 7-9, San José Tel:+506 2287.6034/2223.5800 ext. 2584
	The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum Located under the Plaza de la Cultura, this museum offers a fine view of Brunca Indian’s gold art and explains the different techniques used to work in gold. You can also find stone and ceramic objects. Street 5, Central and Second Avenues, San José. Tel: +506 2243.4202
The Numismatic Museum It offers one of the best collections of old banknotes and coins of Costa Rica. Central and Second Avenue, Street 5, San José (next to the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum). Tel: +506 2243.4202
	The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design Located within the National Cultural Centre (old National Liquor Factory) this museum has collections of contemporary paintings and sculptures of Costa Rican art, as well as temporary exhibitions. Avenue 3, Street 15, San José. Tel: +506 2257.7202 / 2257.9370
The Children´s Museum Located in the old central jail in San José. The prison was converted into a museum and the visitor can now find didactic and interactive exhibits on different issues such as the rights of children, the universe, science, environment and life in the city. Avenue 9, street 4, San José. Tel: +506 2258.4929
	The National Museum Located opposite the Plaza de la Democracia and to the side of the Legislature, the National Museum presents a comprehensive tour of the history, society and culture of Costa Rica. Visitors can see collections of pre-Columbian, colonial and recent history. The Museum is located in the former Bellavista Headquarters, where the army was officially abolished in 1948 by José Figueres Ferrer after the Civil War. Street 17, Central and Second Avenues, on the east side of Plaza de la Democracia, San José. Tel: +506 2257.1433
Around San José Thanks to its location in the Central Valley, from San José you can visit in one day many other sites of interest such as the La Cangreja National Park, Los Quetzales National Park, the Turrubares area, the Poás volcano (Alajuela province), the Irazú volcano and Orosi Valley (both in the province of Cartago).