Avenida Central Boulevard
Landmark · San José & Central Valley
San José's pedestrian spine, running from the Mercado Central to Plaza de la Cultura: street musicians, old bank buildings, shoe-shiners and the city in full swing.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 20 min
- Best time
- midday
- Kids
- 6 / 10
- View
- 3 / 10
- Crowds
- 9 / 10
- Swimming
- 0 / 10
- Effort
- 1 / 10
- Location
- 9.934183, -84.080656 — Google Maps
Tip
Walk it east from the market to the theater and you'll pass most of downtown's sights in 15 minutes.
Be careful
Keep valuables out of sight and phones in hand only briefly; avoid the side streets west of the market after dark.
Places nearby
- Lolo Mora's Ice CreamFood & CoffeeTiny stall in the central market that has long sold one thing: a cinnamon-vanilla ice cream served in cups.
- Soda Tala #1 (Mercado Central)Sodas & Local FoodSoda Tala is a no-frills counter soda inside San José's Mercado Central, the 1880 market on Avenida Central, and it has been feeding locals for more than five decades.
- Café RojoFood & CoffeeSmall, much-loved café-restaurant in Barrio Amón with a Vietnamese-inspired menu of noodle bowls and rolls and good vegan and vegetarian choices.
- San José Free Walking TourTours & AdventureGuided walk through central San José covering the main squares, the National Theater area and the historic centre, advertised as a free tour, with morning and afternoon departures and a Spanish-language tour.
- La CriollitaFood & CoffeeLong-running Costa Rican restaurant in central San José serving generous plates of meat, chicken or fish with rice, beans and salad, Tico-style ceviche, chicken soup and daily specials, with a covered patio.
- Museo del Jade y de la Cultura PrecolombinaTours & AdventureMuseum of the Instituto Nacional de Seguros with one of the largest jade collections in the Americas, plus ceramics, gold and stone sculpture in five themed permanent rooms and two rooms for temporary shows.
Sources: OpenStreetMap way/49908596 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/49908596