The main hub for flights to San Jose is Juan Santamaria International Airport, which is only a few kilometers from the city's center. This is a full-service facility with all of the expected cafés, restaurants and gift shops along with a duty-free store for international travellers on San Jose flights. Guests have the convenience of banking facilities which includes an exchange bureau, and ATMs. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the airport as well. Many airlines fly there to include some budget carriers, so you can find cheap flights to San Jose, if you do some price comparisons before buying tickets. 

If you arranged for a rental car when you bought airfare to San Jose you can pick up your car at one of the rental agencies in the airport. Otherwise, there is a cheap bus right outside the parking lot that will take you to town. Make sure you have local collones in small denominations to pay the fare. There is also an express shuttle that can take you to your hotel. Once you get into San Jose the taxis and city buses are the least expensive public transportation. If you choose to drive a rental you should watch out for the multitude of motorbike drivers who erratically pass in and out of the congested traffic. 

There are numerous museums in San Jose for those who enjoy exploring local culture, and the exhibits are quite diverse. There is a children's museum appropriately named, “Museo de los Niños”, and another venue that may please the kids is the Insect Museum which is located on the campus of Universidad de Costa Rica. For those who like pretty things there are the Gold and Jade Museums, and art enthusiasts will enjoy the Museo de Arte y Diseñocontemporáneo.

San Jose has plenty of places to shop for souvenirs and local wares. Some popular places are Boutique Annemarie, Mercado Artesania, and the El Pueblo shopping mall. You can also buy fine cigars at The Costa Rica Cigar Store. If you want some of the excellent Costa Rican coffee for reasonable prices you should get it at local supermarkets rather than stores that target tourists. The Mercado Central is a perfect place to sample local cuisine such asceviche, which is raw fish simmered in lime, as well as any of the bakery confections. The El Pueblo shopping district morphs into a club scene when the sun goes down, and you can also find plenty of clubs and bars in San Pedro.