Museums in San Jose
THE 10 BEST Museums in San Jose
Museums in San Jose
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Museums
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Travellers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travellers across the globe.
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29 results sorted by traveller favourites
- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
Speciality & Gift Shops • Speciality Museums
Speciality Museums • Natural History Museums
Art Galleries • History Museums
Speciality Museums • Natural History Museums
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Speciality & Gift Shops • Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Speciality Museums
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
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Speciality & Gift Shops • Art Galleries
Art Galleries • Concerts
What travellers are saying
- RudySzymonChicago, IL1,666 contributionsThe museum not only shows the gold ornaments from the precolumbian area but also other kinds of artifacts. The top floor is the numizmatic museum of Costa RicaWritten March 24, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- RudySzymonChicago, IL1,666 contributionsMultiple exposition explaining the history of this country. In addition, a small space for butterflies and little botanical garden.Written March 24, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- AKtravelers22Juneau, AK567 contributionsLoved it here but only wish more signage was in English. I know it's not an English speaking country but the Gold museum has great interpretive screens with both. They are new however and May still be working on this.
Learned a lot and saw beautiful pieces.Written January 13, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - StephenCrossDublin, Ireland31,895 contributionsThis museum is located beside the main park, La Sabana. Decent size and make sure you check out the open area at the back. Free admission.Written April 6, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Dan Gillotte113 contributionsTrip Advisor doesn't seem to have a listing for the Museo Penitencerio that shares space with the Kids museum but it's ultimately separate.
A small but informative museum reckoning with the terrible history of this prison. The museum recreates the conditions using original cells. It includes actual graffiti from the prisoners as well as statues of inmates with authentic artifacts of the the period.
The museum does a good job at taking responsibility for the atrocious conditions they allowed at this site.Written October 18, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - CravelloOklahoma69 contributionsFrom vividly painted balsa masks to tightly woven indigenous baskets, the array of hand-crafted works offered at Namu are for every curious eye to behold and take home. Sadly, this gallery outlet has fallen victim to escalating focus on progress interests and will be (if not already) sealed away from public access forever, taking with it the much needed financial assistance it provided for the many creative peoples of Costa Rica - most of which relied on for survival. My visit in late 2015 (not 2024) was intentionally driven by my desires as an artist before landing in CR and Namu proved gem worthy, bolstered by its proprietor, Conall French as a bonus as well. After returning home to Oklahoma, I made additional purchases from love of traditional Centro American art alone and treasure those pieces dearly to this day. Losing Namu can be compared to an extinct appreciation of human reason; a trait for all to suffer by as the future unfurls for the few.Written February 25, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- LMA212014Los Angeles, CA17 contributionsIf you are looking for the unique souvenir, this is a MUST place to shop. It is a bit of challenge to find because it's so small but so worth the effort! The guys at the shop were so helpful in describing all the local crafts by region! This is a Free Trade shop which is great to support. I found a hand painted vessel, made from the outside of a local fruit. I collect Christmas ornaments from places we visit and this is one I will be using to remind me of Costa Rica.Written May 22, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- LnihiserDunedin, FL237 contributionsI highly recommend this museum if you are in Costa Rica. It is well worth it. It has many artifacts, and it also talks about the history of Costa Rica when it began, slavery, coffee fields. The history is from the very beginning of Costa Rica, how it was founded and it does bring you all the way up to present day. This is definitely worth the time to see and it’s only $11.Written December 12, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Lisa GAurora, IN595 contributionsWe enjoyed our visit and found the displays and didactics to be well organized and interesting. There are 5 levels and they showcase the pre-Columbian history of Costa Rica through jade. It's definitely worth a visit.Written December 28, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- StephenCrossDublin, Ireland31,895 contributionsFree admission to the museum of contemporary art. It’s an interesting building. We did not get to the area upstairs which was a pity.Written April 9, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Carl0s_HdzBrownsville, Texas, United States22 contributionsYou can enjoy and learn about thousands of different species, you must know that non of them are alive, they are dissectedWritten January 4, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sue C182 contributionsThis is the house of a former Dr and President of Costa Rica
I needed something short to do and this fit the bill perfectly, it is a small museum but with an interesting history about a man who made many changes socially and medically for the people of Costa Rica
When I visited, the entrance was free and there was a small exhibition at the back - a somewhat sad and upsetting theme but I understand they change often and this one will be gone in a few weeksWritten October 23, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - jronkowskiChicago, IL202 contributionsDo you like contemporary art. Depending on the show you might like this place. It was free the day I went because only 2 rooms were open. I saw mostly video art. Check the website and if the show appeals it might be worth a look . But if this is not your thing skip it. The contemporary sculpture in the lovely nearby park is free and definitely worth a look. .Written March 1, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- R who travelsBrighton, UK368 contributionsIt's not a theme park. It doesn't involve technology.
Let's just get that straight right from the start!
This is a university museum/exhibit with knowledge and intellect behind it. It is a great collection of display cases of insects, some of which are rather faded now. BUT the uni technician who shows you round has great knowledge and love of what he does, as well as excellent English and Spanish.
After looking at the exhibits, all in one room, plenty of display cases, he offers you the chance to come and see some of the live specimens. His knowledge is extensive as he explains the use of different bugs to breakdown polystyrene, which bugs are edible etc.
We saw scorpions and Holden Ord spiders too. Wonderful!
Then the boys got to look under the scope at any (dead) insects they chose.Written August 6, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - heemskerk fThe Hague, The Netherlands46 contributionswe went to the centro to visit the galeria nacional. but did not want to visit the children's museum (as ours are 19 en 20). we asked the grumpy man at the infodesk and the friendly man at the ticket booth but no one spoke english. the made us clear we had to pay tickets and go throught the childrens museum first. inside it turned out that the galeria was closed! it seemed as this was already a long time and it will not be open soon again. the only art we saw was in de the hall made by the local painting group; my 83 year old mother-in-law and farmer's wife does much better. we are not sure whether the staff is just ignorant or this is just a rip off. the childrens museum (as we were in and paid for it anyway) was not so bad by the way. nearly everything only in spanish but the historic part was still interesting.Written August 24, 2016This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
