San José Central Market

We did a guided tour of the San José Central Market and it was an awesome experience. This is the perfect place to really feel the true vibe of the city. The market is lively, busy, and full of energy, but in a way that feels welcoming and exciting rather than overwhelming. There is so much food culture packed into one place, incredible fruits, local dishes, spices, coffee, and lots of unique items you will not find elsewhere. Even though it is crowded and active, people were patient, helpful, and friendly, which made the experience even better. If you want an authentic snapshot of everyday life in San José and a deep dive into local flavors and culture, this is a must visit. Strongly recommend making time for it, especially with a tour to really appreciate everything going on.

I love markets in any place. This one is pretty big and a real labyrinth to get lost in, which I love about this kind of places. There was food, spices, herbs, souvenirs, bags, clothes, even animals there for sale. The prices in general were a big higher than in other places we visited, but still a normal price for a central place in the capital. We did manage to get a few things cheaper though than in other cities we visited. There are sodas serving food at the market as well, but they have very limited sitting and I didn't feel we'll have a relaxed meal there with three young children. We had a nice time exploring the place and buying the last souvenirs before heading back home. We also walked the shopping district outside the market which was also fun and nice to see. Definitely recommend a stop I'd you are in San Jose and don't have a lot of time.

This is a very large market in central San Jose. It has vendors selling everything - from fruit and meat and spices to shoes and clay pigs! They also have many vendors selling food items to eat there. Every place was busy. It was fun to just walk around!