Museo Nacional De Costa Rica
Museo Nacional De Costa Rica
Museo Nacional De Costa Rica
4.5
8:30 AM - 4:30 AM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 4:30 AM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 4:30 AM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 4:30 AM
Friday
8:30 AM - 4:30 AM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 4:30 AM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 AM
About
This 19th-century building contains a well-organized exhibits on Costa Rica's history and culture.
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- RogerDR26Tallahassee, Florida78 contributionsOK: to clarify: this museum experience is FIVE stars FOR COSTA RICA. It’s NOT the Louvre, NOT the Smithsonian. BUT forCosta Rica, it is an excellent experience, ASSUMING you have some interest in the history and evolution of its peoples (beginning with the native peoples who settled this land thousands of years before Columbus/Colón first sighted it around 1500) and the evolving culture and economy of this small country. There is far more material here than can be absorbed in a 3-4 hour visit. If I were to go again, I’d ask if they would permit a lunch break, and return later the same day.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 15 October 2023
- The_Wanderer1992Columbia, Maryland2,615 contributionsEducationalWhile in Costa Rice, my husband and I stopped at this museum. This museum goes through the history of Costa Rica up until the present. This museum also has a small butterfly garden.We were not very knowledgeable about Costa Rica's history prior to visiting this museum, but left here, feeling like we learned a lot. My husband liked the fact that the descriptions were bright and easy to read. This museum is also neat as it was used as barracks during the Costa Rica Civil War in 1948. If you're ever in San Jose, I'd highly recommend visiting here.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 November 2023
- vcinmdColumbia, Maryland60 contributionsCosta Rica history, butterflies and more!My husband and I had one day in San Jose before our tour started and we are so glad we picked this museum from all the others in the area. We knew very little of Costa Rica history and learned so much. The exhibits were so interesting and there were many helpful details and videos to explain the exhibits. The outdoor courtyard was very pleasant. The butterfly garden was so beautiful and peaceful.Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 3 December 2023
- MarkONaperville, Illinois34 contributionsExcellent way to learn about Costa RicaWe really enjoyed the museum and felt like we were able to see everything in about 2 hours (and we tend to read most of the descriptions). We particularly enjoyed the history of Costa Rica portion, which was exhaustive and educational. The temporary exhibit of documentary photographs of a unique celebration was also eye opening.Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 21 December 2023
- Alicia37 contributionsLearning about the history of Costa Rica and walking amongst butterfliesI definitely recommend visiting this place. Aside from learning about the history of Costa Rica, you also get to walk through a garden of butterflies. At the time of my visit, there was also an "art" exhibition room of canvases and stones. Entry for an adult was CRC 5,750 or $11 where you'll spend roughly 2 hours (I made sure to check out every room and read all descriptions).Visited February 2024Travelled soloWritten 11 February 2024
- NonnyYork, United Kingdom93 contributionsOne of the best attractions in San Jose.We spent a very enjoyable 3 hours wandering around the museum & butterfly garden learning about the history & development of Costa Rica. The building itself is historically interesting & there is plenty of seating in the shady courtyard area. Well worth the visit.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 21 March 2024
- Lee LValhalla, New York2,290 contributionsNice National MuseumHad a free day in San Jose before my tour started so I went downtown to walk around and see a couple of museums. Started here which is a very nice museum, it was a fort for the Army before Costa Rica eliminated their military. It is a little expensive, around $20 if you are not a Costa Rican, but you can easily spend a few hours here. They have a butterfly garden when you walk in. The tower tells the story of the birth of the Republic. They have a series of rooms that depicts pre Spanish occupation up to independence and then a section which details what has happened since.Visited March 2024Travelled soloWritten 2 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,510 reviews
Excellent
677
Very good
607
Average
180
Poor
38
Terrible
8
Nelson D
Victoria, Canada15 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
We spent a few hours and learned a great deal about Costa Rica, it’s history, and it’s people.
The museum is well laid out and its exhibits are interesting, informative, and easy to take in.
Staff are friendly and helpful.
The museum is well laid out and its exhibits are interesting, informative, and easy to take in.
Staff are friendly and helpful.
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LolaGo1
Washington DC, DC6,624 contributions
Nov 2022 • Solo
Located near my hotel, I decided to visit it before leaving San Jose. Costs of entrance fees are posted at the window taking the payments. For children and adults, the fee is reduced from $11.00 to $6.00.
The first exhibit shows the Butterfly Garden where I noted some huge blue butterflies flying by. Other exhibits include the Pre-Columbian Artifacts, the colonization of Costa Rica, the history of its independence, etc.
What attracted me most are the huge , beautiful trees and plants around the museums. The gardeners were very helpful in letting me know the names of these plants and trees. There is variety in the exhibits presented.
Highly recommended to visit. Bathrooms are modern, clean, and are FREE!
The first exhibit shows the Butterfly Garden where I noted some huge blue butterflies flying by. Other exhibits include the Pre-Columbian Artifacts, the colonization of Costa Rica, the history of its independence, etc.
What attracted me most are the huge , beautiful trees and plants around the museums. The gardeners were very helpful in letting me know the names of these plants and trees. There is variety in the exhibits presented.
Highly recommended to visit. Bathrooms are modern, clean, and are FREE!
Written 29 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David A
Bentonville, AR181 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
Very nice! We walked several blocks from the Central Market on a pedestrian street. Foreigners pay $11 per person. The permanent exhibits are excellent. All in Spanish AND English. Be sure to walk through the casas (houses) of the commanders. The temporary exhibit of nocturnal animals was a bit weak but the location in the former barracks jail cells was interesting. (Clean bathrooms, too!!). This museum tells a complete history of the area and Costa Rica. Well done!!
Written 12 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alicia
37 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
I definitely recommend visiting this place. Aside from learning about the history of Costa Rica, you also get to walk through a garden of butterflies. At the time of my visit, there was also an "art" exhibition room of canvases and stones.
Entry for an adult was CRC 5,750 or $11 where you'll spend roughly 2 hours (I made sure to check out every room and read all descriptions).
Entry for an adult was CRC 5,750 or $11 where you'll spend roughly 2 hours (I made sure to check out every room and read all descriptions).
Written 11 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim
1,081 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
The Museo Nacional De Costa Rica costs USD 11 per foreign adult, and it is a great museum to learn about the history of costa rica. The museum offered a rich collection of artifacts and exhibits, and can easily get you entertained for several hours. Plus, the included bottlefly garden is super fun! If there is only one museum to visit in Costa Rica, we recommend the Museo Nacional De Costa Rica.
Please note that the museum closes on Monday. You may want to plan accordingly.
Please note that the museum closes on Monday. You may want to plan accordingly.
Written 16 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith L
Lancashire, UK33 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
A beautiful building, full of history and crammed to the gills with Costa Rican history. From the initial entrance through the butterfly house, to the pre-history and struggle for independence - all clearly and sympathetically displayed and labelled. A superb example to broaden your knowledge of this amazing country - highly recommended.
Written 1 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NesligĂĽl D
Istanbul, TĂĽrkiye6,617 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
This museum used to be an army quarter but when the army was abolished in 1948, it was turned into a museum. You can trace the history of Costa Rica from the Diquis tribes and the interesting objects they used and the amazing spheres they created to the times of the Spanish rule.
You can also see the jails downstairs. There are also temporary exhibitions here.
Definitely one of the places to see in San Jose.
You can also see the jails downstairs. There are also temporary exhibitions here.
Definitely one of the places to see in San Jose.
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul S
New York City, NY32 contributions
Jan 2021 • Couples
The National Museum, situated in a former military fortress, starts with an incredible butterfly garden, offering great opportunities for photos of the beautiful species Costa Rica offers.
The museum's permanent exhibit offers an honest and comprehensive timeline of the country's history, from Pre-Columbian through modern day Costa Rica, with English labels for every piece.
Unfortunately the Pre-Columbian portion was closed during our visit, but the rest of the exhibit really built on the colonial history of the Americas I learned in school, and helped me understand how Costa Rica became the nation it is today. A trip to the museum is absolutely worth it just for this exhibit if you have any interest in Costa Rica's history and culture.
The special exhibits on nocturnal animals and birds' nesting habits were interesting, but a bit lacking in substance and attention to detail in some respects (e.g. the english translation for one animal was actually for another creature - the spanish label seemed to be correct, however).
The museum's permanent exhibit offers an honest and comprehensive timeline of the country's history, from Pre-Columbian through modern day Costa Rica, with English labels for every piece.
Unfortunately the Pre-Columbian portion was closed during our visit, but the rest of the exhibit really built on the colonial history of the Americas I learned in school, and helped me understand how Costa Rica became the nation it is today. A trip to the museum is absolutely worth it just for this exhibit if you have any interest in Costa Rica's history and culture.
The special exhibits on nocturnal animals and birds' nesting habits were interesting, but a bit lacking in substance and attention to detail in some respects (e.g. the english translation for one animal was actually for another creature - the spanish label seemed to be correct, however).
Written 13 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee L
Valhalla, NY2,290 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
Had a free day in San Jose before my tour started so I went downtown to walk around and see a couple of museums. Started here which is a very nice museum, it was a fort for the Army before Costa Rica eliminated their military.
It is a little expensive, around $20 if you are not a Costa Rican, but you can easily spend a few hours here. They have a butterfly garden when you walk in. The tower tells the story of the birth of the Republic. They have a series of rooms that depicts pre Spanish occupation up to independence and then a section which details what has happened since.
It is a little expensive, around $20 if you are not a Costa Rican, but you can easily spend a few hours here. They have a butterfly garden when you walk in. The tower tells the story of the birth of the Republic. They have a series of rooms that depicts pre Spanish occupation up to independence and then a section which details what has happened since.
Written 2 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robocop2013
Orlando, FL17 contributions
Apr 2022
Great place to learn about the history of Costa Rica. You will need to pass through a butterfly garden, which is beautiful. The building was a fort until 1948, when Costa Rica abolished the army. You can spend hours touring the building and the different exhibits. Great exhibits that show the history of Costa Rica. Worth visiting. You can spend as much time as you wish.
Written 3 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sorry for slow response — I don’t know, I wasn’t driving. I would guess there are commercial parking lots in the vicinity, as they seem to be throughout much of central San José
Written 7 March 2024
Hola, it: ÂżQuĂ© te gustarĂa saber sobre esta atracciĂłn? su historia
Written 1 June 2018
Este edificio era el cuartel del ejĂ©rcito en San JosĂ© ( Cuartel Bellavista) y como consecuencia de la revoluciĂłn en marzo de 1948, el primero de diciembre de ese mismo año el Presidente de la Junta Fundadora de la Segunda RepĂşblica, JosĂ© Figueres Ferrer aboliĂł el ejĂ©cito el 1 de diciembre de 1948 y a partir de 1950 , el Museo Nacional creado en 1887, pasĂł a ocupar este edificio. Anterior a esa fecha , el Museo habĂa ocupado otras 3 sedes.
Written 9 June 2018
8:30a.m. to 4:30 p.m. great place to visit
Written 22 April 2017
catm970
Denver, Colorado
I don't speak or read Spanish. will I be able to get much out the museum or do you need to know some Spanish to understand the context of the exhibits?
Written 8 October 2016
A Tripadvisor member
Coventry, United Kingdom
As others have said, many of the exhibits have English information as well as Spanish. I don't speak Spanish either but I enjoyed my visit.
Written 29 October 2016
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