San Jose’s downtown district is nicely compact so you can take in most of the sites by foot. There are a few charismatic remnants of its glory days, such as the coffee baron mansions in Barrio Amón. There are also a few very interesting museums worth checking out, especially the Gold Museum. But at the end of the day, Costa Rica is famous for its wildlife and nature, so be sure and get out of town and enjoy some of the amazing natural sites nearby.

Gold Museum (Museos del Banco Central de Costa Rica)
This distinct underground museum beneath the Plaza de la Cultura contains one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian gold in the world. More than 2,000 amazing shiny gold objects are on display under excellent lighting that really brings out the lustre in the each item. Coins, artefacts and numerous other gold items can be ogled at your leisure. 
Phone: +506 243 4202; www.museosdelbancocentral.org/content

INBio Park
This engaging park is a mix of nature, education and museum. Two large pavilions present the vast biodiversity of Costa Rica, and several trails allow visitors the chance to see it all firsthand. Enjoy a two-hour guided walk, view the butterfly garden and marvel at the sculptures by Jose Sancho, one of the country’s premier artists. 
Phone: +506 507 8107; www.inbio.ac.cr/en/default.html 

La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Although the waterfalls are a major attraction here in this expansive nature park along the La Paz River, there is also an orchid garden, trout pond, butterfly garden and hummingbird garden to round things off. Excellent trails make this an ideal place to walk and enjoy the nature, scenic waterfalls and primary forests. 
Phone: +506 482 2720; www.waterfallgardens.com

Lankester Gardens
For visitors from the northern hemisphere, orchids often capture the imagination, and these gardens present more than 800 of the 1,400 orchid species native to Costa Rica. It’s a kaleidoscope of colour and delicacy, viewed by strolling paved paths that move from shady groves to sunny gardens. Everything is beautifully manicured and well-marked. Since the gardens are out of town, you can combine this with a trip to Irazu Volcano. 
Phone: +506 552 3247

Mercado Central (Central Market)
Both a tourist attraction and a working local market, this sprawling web of stalls and footpaths sells just about everything you can imagine. This is the best place to pick up your Nicaraguan hammock or Panama hat, but it’s the Costa Rican coffee beans that are the real star. This colourful market buzzes every day and should not be missed.

National Museum (Museo Nacional de Costa Rica)
This is Costa Rica’s most important museum, dedicated to the history and culture of this nation. Its location inside a former army barracks reveals bullet holes still in the walls. The displays run from pre-Columbian times to the modern era, presenting history and culture based on the people who have inhabited Costa Rica. 
Phone: +506 257 1433