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Costa Rica · San José

Museums and theatres in San José

The capital’s museums cover the country’s pre-Columbian, political and artistic history, and most are within walking distance of the centre. Check closing days: several do not open on Mondays.

12 places

  1. Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and Numismatic Museum1

    Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0

    CultureOpen

    Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and Numismatic Museum

    Beneath Plaza de la Cultura, next to the National Theatre1.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    ₡8,800
    Hours
    9:00 to 16:30
    Booking
    Not stated

    Central Bank museum on three underground levels beneath Plaza de la Cultura, with about 1,586 pre-Columbian gold objects. The same building and ticket include the Numismatic Museum and temporary galleries.

    Source: Museos del Banco Central de Costa Rica · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    ₡8,800 for foreign adults (₡6,950 for foreign students). One ticket covers all galleries.
    Hours
    Daily 9:00 to 16:30. Announced closures for the rest of 2026: 1, 24, 25 and 31 December, plus two maintenance days between November and December; also 1 January 2027.
    Booking
    Tickets are bought online. Use only the museum’s official ticket office.

    Nearby: Plaza de la Cultura (0 km) · National Theatre (0 km) · Downtown free walking tour (0 km)

    Sources: Museos del Banco Central de Costa Rica

  2. National Museum of Costa Rica (Bellavista Barracks)2

    Photo: Pequeño mar, CC BY-SA 4.0

    CultureOpen

    National Museum of Costa Rica (Bellavista Barracks)

    Calle 17, between Avenida Central and Avenida 2; entrance from Plaza de la Democracia2.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    $11
    Hours
    8:30 to 16:30
    Booking
    Not stated

    History and archaeology museum, founded in 1887, in the former Bellavista Barracks, where José Figueres abolished the army on 1 December 1948. It has pre-Columbian galleries, displays on the barracks’ history and a butterfly garden.

    Source: Museo Nacional de Costa Rica – Visitar · 2026 · +3

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Foreign visitors: $11 general and $6 students; under 12 free. Since 30 April 2026 entry is free on Saturdays and Sundays for everyone, and for over-65s.
    Hours
    Tuesday to Saturday 8:30 to 16:30 and Sunday 9:00 to 16:30. Closed every Monday.

    Tip: The entrance and ticket office are on the west façade, on Plaza de la Democracia; the museum says the butterfly garden has reopened.

    Nearby: Plaza de la Democracia (Square of Democracy and the Abolition of the Army) (0.1 km) · Castillo Azul (Blue Castle) (0.1 km) · Legislative Assembly Building (0.1 km)

    Sources: Museo Nacional de Costa Rica – Visitar · Museo Nacional de Costa Rica – Inicio · Museo Nacional – Los secretos del jardín: Abolición · Wikipedia – Museo Nacional de Costa Rica

  3. Jade Museum (Museum of Jade and Pre-Columbian Culture)3

    Photo: Abel Christian Apaza Amanqui, CC BY-SA 4.0

    CultureOpen

    Jade Museum (Museum of Jade and Pre-Columbian Culture)

    Avenida Central, calles 13 and 13 bis, opposite Plaza de la Democracia2 km from the centre

    Entry
    $16
    Hours
    8:00 to 17:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Museum run by the INS insurance institute, founded in 1977 and in its own building opposite Plaza de la Democracia since 2014. It presents itself as the world’s largest collection of American jade, alongside pre-Columbian ceramics and stonework.

    Source: Museo del Jade – Información · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Foreign visitors: adults $16, students $5, children 6–12 $2, seniors $11, under 5 free. On Wednesdays there is 2-for-1 on the foreign adult rate (at the physical ticket office).
    Hours
    Monday to Sunday 8:00 to 17:00. Closed 1 January, 1 May, 15 August and 25 December.

    Tip: Bring your passport or ID: everyone is asked for it to apply the right rate.

    Nearby: Plaza de la Democracia (Square of Democracy and the Abolition of the Army) (0.1 km) · Legislative Assembly Building (0.1 km) · National Museum of Costa Rica (Bellavista Barracks) (0.1 km)

    Sources: Museo del Jade – Información · Wikipedia – Museo del Jade

  4. National Theatre4

    Photo: AndSalx95, CC BY-SA 4.0

    CultureOpen

    National Theatre

    Plaza de la Cultura, downtown San José1.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    ₡3,500
    Hours
    9:00 to 16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Neoclassical theatre opened on 21 October 1897 with “Faust”, partly paid for with a coffee export tax. You can see it on a daytime guided visit or at an evening performance.

    Source: Teatro Nacional – Visitas guiadas · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    ₡3,500 for the guided visit for foreign visitors (children under 12 free).
    Hours
    Guided visits every hour from 9:00 to 16:00, in Spanish and English. One official page says Tuesday to Sunday and another disagrees on the days: confirm before you go.
    Booking
    Groups book through a form; up to 15 people per guide.

    Tip: The theatre discourages shorts and sandals. There is a café inside.

    Nearby: Downtown free walking tour (0 km) · Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and Numismatic Museum (0 km) · Plaza de la Cultura (0.1 km)

    Sources: Teatro Nacional – Visitas guiadas · Teatro Nacional – Preguntas frecuentes · Wikipedia – National Theatre of Costa Rica

  5. 5

    CultureOpen

    Children’s Museum and National Gallery (Costa Rican Centre of Science and Culture)

    Calle 4, Avenida 9, north of downtown1.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    ₡2,500
    Hours
    8:30 to 16:30
    Booking
    Not stated

    Interactive museum opened in 1994 in the former Central Penitentiary (1910–1979), a castle-like building. The ticket covers more than 46 hands-on rooms, the Penitentiary Museum and the National Gallery of art.

    Source: Museo de los Niños – Tu visita · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Children from 6 months ₡2,500 and adults (15+) ₡3,000, same price for foreign visitors. Free for people with disabilities and seniors. The National Gallery advertised free entry in 2026.
    Hours
    Tuesday to Friday 8:30 to 16:30; Saturday and Sunday 9:00 to 17:00. Closed Mondays.
    Booking
    Buy at the museum’s online ticket office: daily capacity is limited.

    Nearby: Mercado Borbón (0.6 km) · Barrio Amón (0.6 km) · Central Post Office Building and Philatelic Museum (0.7 km)

    Sources: Museo de los Niños – Tu visita · CIENTEC – Exposición en el Museo de los Niños 2026 · Wikipedia – Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture

  6. 6

    CultureOpen

    Costa Rican Art Museum (MAC)

    East end of La Sabana Metropolitan Park1.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    9:00 to 16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    National visual-arts museum, opened in 1978 in the former La Sabana airport terminal (1940), with a collection of about 6,000 works. Besides the galleries you can see the Salón Dorado, the airport’s old diplomatic lounge, and the sculpture garden.

    Source: Delfino.cr – MAC inaugura exposición de Ricardo Ulloa Garay · 2026 · +3

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Free entry.
    Hours
    Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 to 16:00.

    Tip: We found no current closure for restoration: in 2026 the museum kept opening exhibitions (April and August). Combine it with a walk in La Sabana.

    Nearby: La Sabana Metropolitan Park (0.6 km) · La Salle Natural Science Museum (1.3 km) · La Merced Church (1.7 km)

    Sources: Delfino.cr – MAC inaugura exposición de Ricardo Ulloa Garay · Museo de Arte Costarricense – sitio del museo · Agenda MCJ – Atisbos a la Colección (MAC) · Wikipedia – Museo de Arte Costarricense

  7. 7

    CultureOpen

    Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MADC), CENAC

    Avenida 3, calle 15, next to Parque España2.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    10:00 to 16:50
    Booking
    Not stated

    Museum of Central American contemporary art and design inside the National Culture Centre (CENAC), the former National Liquor Factory of 1856. It runs temporary shows; in 2026 there are exhibitions running until February 2027.

    Source: MADC – sitio oficial · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Free entry for locals and foreign visitors.
    Hours
    Exhibition rooms Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 16:50.

    Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Take the chance to walk around the CENAC courtyards.

    Nearby: Casa Amarilla (Foreign Ministry) (0.2 km) · Parque España (0.2 km) · Parque Nacional and the National Monument (0.2 km)

    Sources: MADC – sitio oficial · MADC – Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo

  8. Central Post Office Building and Philatelic Museum8

    Photo: Javier Losa, CC BY 2.0

    CultureOpen

    Central Post Office Building and Philatelic Museum

    Calle 2, between avenidas 1 and 3, downtown1.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    ₡775
    Hours
    8:00 to 12:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Eclectic building from 1914–1917 by Catalan architect Luis Llach, declared heritage in 1985 and still the postal headquarters. The first floor holds the Postal, Telegraph and Philatelic Museum, with stamps from the country’s first issue (1863) and old telegraphs.

    Source: Correos de Costa Rica – Museo Filatélico · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    ₡775, the price of a postcard, which you can send anywhere in the world.
    Hours
    Monday to Friday 8:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00.

    Tip: The façade can be seen for free at any time; the museum is closed at weekends.

    Nearby: Melico Salazar Popular Theatre (0.2 km) · Central Market (0.2 km) · Downtown San José food tour (0.2 km)

    Sources: Correos de Costa Rica – Museo Filatélico · Wikipedia – Edificio de Correos y Telégrafos de Costa Rica

  9. 9

    CultureOpen

    Dr. Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia Historical Museum

    Barrio Escalante, 100 m east and 100 m north of Santa Teresita church3 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    9:00 to 17:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Museum set up in 1991 in the former president’s house, covering the 1940–1944 social reform (social security fund, Labour Code, University of Costa Rica). It also has an art gallery with temporary shows.

    Source: SICultura – Museo Dr. Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Free entry.
    Hours
    Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 17:00.

    Tip: It fits well before a meal in Barrio Escalante, a few blocks away.

    Nearby: Barrio Escalante and Calle 33 (0.2 km) · Specialty coffee in San José (0.2 km) · Feria Verde (Aranjuez organic market) (0.4 km)

    Sources: SICultura – Museo Dr. Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia

  10. 10

    CultureOpen

    University of Costa Rica Insect Museum

    UCR main campus, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, next to the School of Music4.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    ₡750
    Hours
    9:00 to 12:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Small university museum with a collection of about one million insects, plus live specimens and a leafcutter-ant colony.

    Source: La Teja – Museo de Insectos de la UCR · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    ₡750 per person, cash only (January 2026). A 2024 UCR listing gave ₡1,450 for foreign visitors.
    Hours
    Monday to Friday 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 16:00 (January 2026). Other sources list afternoons only: call ahead.

    Nearby: San Pedro, UCR campus and Calle de la Amargura (0.5 km) · Barrio Escalante and Calle 33 (1.7 km) · Specialty coffee in San José (1.7 km)

    Sources: La Teja – Museo de Insectos de la UCR · UCR – Museo de Insectos · Confluencias – Museo de Insectos UCR

  11. 11

    CultureOpen

    La Salle Natural Science Museum

    Sabana Sur, on the Ministry of Agriculture grounds2.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    ₡2,500
    Hours
    8:00 to 16:00
    Booking
    Not needed

    Natural history museum founded in 1960 with over 65,000 items on display: fossils, skeletons, stuffed animals, minerals and shells, in classic-style cases.

    Source: Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Adults ₡2,500; seniors and children aged 2–12 ₡1,800.
    Hours
    Tuesday to Saturday 8:00 to 16:00 and Sunday 9:00 to 17:00. Closed Mondays.
    Booking
    No booking needed; pay at the ticket office.

    Nearby: La Sabana Metropolitan Park (0.8 km) · Costa Rican Art Museum (MAC) (1.3 km) · La Merced Church (3 km)

    Sources: Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle · Chepetown – Museo La Salle, Día de los Museos 2026 · Wikipedia – Museo La Salle

  12. 12

    CultureOpen

    Melico Salazar Popular Theatre

    Avenida 2, calles 0 and 2, diagonally across from the Metropolitan Cathedral1.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    9:00 to 12:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Ministry of Culture theatre opened on 7 October 1928, designed by José Fabio Garnier and named after Costa Rican tenor Melico Salazar. It hosts concerts, dance and shows for most of the year.

    Source: Delfino.cr – Cartelera del Melico Salazar para octubre · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    Box office Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00.

    Tip: Prices depend on each show; in October 2026 there are concerts almost every week. Check the listings before you go.

    Nearby: Parque Central and its bandstand (0.1 km) · Metropolitan Cathedral of San José (0.1 km) · Central Post Office Building and Philatelic Museum (0.2 km)

    Sources: Delfino.cr – Cartelera del Melico Salazar para octubre · SICultura – Teatro Popular Melico Salazar · Wikipedia – Teatro Popular Melico Salazar

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