<\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBathe yourself in Costa Rican history by visiting the country\u2019s first capital city, Cartago. The city is just a 40-minute bus ride from San Jos\u00e9 and is the<\/em> place to learn about Costa Rica\u2019s past. <\/p>\nImmediately upon arrival, I felt the stark contrast between Cartago and San Jos\u00e9. Where the latter has tall buildings and an urban edge, the former has a mix of old and new, with the most central part of the city featuring the so-called ruins of an unfinished cathedral. They are as mysterious as they are photogenic, but they are only the beginning of the historical gems you\u2019ll find here. <\/p>\n
Head to the Cartago Municipal Museum and browse for free. I went there looking for a mural that depicts the history of Costa Rica and was blown away by its size, detail, and imagery.<\/p>\n
I suggest visiting Cartago in the morning, grabbing a quick meal in the Municipal Market, and exploring on foot. From there, you can also easily Uber to the abovementioned Lankester Botanical Garden to round out an awesome day trip.<\/p>\n
10. Admire the city\u2019s street art<\/h3>\n\n
<\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nLike many Latin American cities, San Jos\u00e9 has street art on just about every block. Besides simply decorating the city with vibrant colors, these murals also serve to tell San Jos\u00e9\u2019s story. While I was able to stumble upon plenty of murals simply by walking around Barrio Am\u00f3n, Barrio Bird, and the city center, a more efficient way to learn about these murals is by taking a tour like this one offered by Barrio Bird Walking Tours.<\/p>\n
Where to Stay in San Jos\u00e9<\/h2>\n\n
<\/noscript>Barrio Am\u00f3n has some gorgeous architecture and cute caf\u00e9s.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nI honestly got very lucky with my accommodations in San Jos\u00e9, because I can\u2019t image a better neighborhood to stay in than Barrio Am\u00f3n, one of the city\u2019s oldest and safest neighborhoods. There are plenty of other areas, including downtown San Jos\u00e9, that I wouldn\u2019t recommend. If you\u2019re visiting for the first time and want to stay somewhere central, quiet, and safe, choose Barrio Am\u00f3n or Barrio Escalante.<\/p>\n
I adored my Airbnb in Barrio Am\u00f3n. The location made it easy to walk everywhere, plus it was in a safe area with plenty of restaurants and caf\u00e9s nearby. If you\u2019re backpacking or just want to meet other travelers, Selina is a great option, and it was just down the street from where I stayed.<\/p>\n
Staying Safe in San Jos\u00e9<\/h2>\n\n
<\/noscript>I was only standing here for a few seconds to take this photo before feeling like I needed to GTFO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nLike many Central American cities, San Jos\u00e9 has a reputation for not being the safest place to visit. Pickpocketing is common, especially in crowded areas and at night. As a solo female traveler, I have to admit that there were a few moments during my short time in town when I felt my danger radar ping. However, I still think this city is a decent one for travelers like me.<\/p>\n
That said, I don\u2019t recommend walking anywhere alone at night in San Jos\u00e9, period. Uber is affordable here, so if you have to walk more than a couple blocks, just grab one. I also don\u2019t recommend walking with your wallet or phone in your hand or pockets at any time of day. Instead, keep them in a fanny pack or an inside pocket of a backpack worn on the front of your body. Even locals do this, so don\u2019t feel silly about doing likewise.<\/p>\n
I also don\u2019t recommend wandering around neighborhoods you aren\u2019t familiar with. Besides the downtown walking streets in Barrio Am\u00f3n and Barrio Escalante, I didn\u2019t do a whole lot of exploring on foot here. That\u2019s because when I walked from my Airbnb to a restaurant only 15 minutes away, I found myself in a neighborhood I didn\u2019t feel entirely safe in. In order to not have a repeat of that moment, I decided to plan my routes before heading out from then on, and took Ubers if there was more than a 10-minute walk through a neighborhood I wasn\u2019t familiar with yet.<\/p>\n
Pin me for later:<\/p>\n\n <\/noscript><\/figure>\n <\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nBefore visiting San Jos\u00e9, I wasn\u2019t so sure how much I\u2019d enjoy a Costa Rican concrete jungle, as opposed to the lush green ones that most people flock to. However, I found that there were some enchanting pockets that proved wrong most of the negative things I\u2019d read about San Jos\u00e9 being filthy and unappealing. I stand by giving it a chance and having an open mind, as there\u2019s so much to love about this vibrant city.<\/p>\n
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