Costa Rica is famous for its beaches, volcanoes, rain forests, etc. However, if there is one place you should definitely visit in Costa Rica, it is the Central Avenue in San Jose. The Central Avenue is a pedestrian walkway that stretches through all downtown San Jose. Walking down the Central Avenue you will find many historic buildings reflecting the architecture of the late 1800′s and early 1900′s.

One of the main attractions sits across from the Central Plaza, where artists gather to sell their work, and people sit on benches to feed the many kinds of birds as the day goes by. This building is The National Theater of Costa Rica. This ornate opera house was built in 1867 and has been in constant use ever since. There are shows at lunch time, in the early afternoon and in the evening almost every day. The shows usually range from $5-$10 USD, while a complete tour of the theater is $5 USD. Even if you don’t feel like taking the tour, go in for coffee and dessert at their wonderful cafe and enjoy a simple afternoon. The theater is open to the public from 9:00am to 4:00pm

As you continue your walk in downtown San Jose you can visit the old Post Office on Calle 2, between Avenidas 1 and 3. The Post office was finished in 1917 and is another gorgeous building worth visiting. In the second floor you’ll find the Philatelic Museum which holds a collection of Costa Rican and International stamps dating back to the first Costa Rican stamp. For more information on the Philatelic museum call (506)2223-9766.

Other landmarks are the National Art Museum and across from it, the National Park. The National Park  is an arboretum with a wonderful variety of fauna. Wherever you choose to go, you will have a great time in the Central Avenue of San Jose.

Related posts:

• The Central Market, Costa Rican souvenirs at a Great Price
• Music and Wine. San Jose’s Bustling Nightlife
• A Night out in San Jose at Terra U
• Arenal rainforest reserve night time river adventure
• A Night out at the Jazz Cafe in San Jose