Editing San José, Costa Rica

{{Short description|Capital and largest city of Costa Rica}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{other uses|San José (disambiguation)#Costa Rica}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = San José
| official_name            = Ciudad de San José de Costa Rica
| settlement_type          = [[Capital city]]
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
  |  border                 = infobox
  |  total_width            = 290
  |  perrow                 = 1/2/2/2/2
  |  caption_align          = center
  |  image1                 = San Jose Costa Rica Skyline, December 2023.png
  |  alt1                   = Skyline of San José in 2023
  |  caption1               = [[Skyline]] of San José in 2023
  |  image2                 = La Sabana-Costa Rica 2.JPG
  |  alt2                   = La Sabana Park
  |  caption2               = [[La Sabana Metropolitan Park|La Sabana Park]]
  |  image3                 = Cuartel Bellavista este.jpg
  |  alt3                   = National Museum of Costa Rica
  |  caption3               = Southeastern face of the [[Museo Nacional de Costa Rica|National Museum]]
  |  image4                 = Front of National Theater in San Jose Costa Rica night.jpg
  |  alt4                   = National Theatre of Costa Rica
  |  caption4               = [[National Theatre of Costa Rica|National Theatre]]
  |  image5                 = Parque Morazán SJO.jpg
  |  alt5                   = Morazán Park
  |  caption5               = Morazán Park
  |  image6                 = Edificio Metálico SJO.jpg
  |  alt6                   = The Edificio Metálico
  |  caption6               = The ''Edificio Metálico''
  |  image7                 = Museo Nacional.JPG
  |  alt7                   = Entrance of the National Museum
  |  caption7               = Entrance of the National Museum
  |  image8                 = Paseo Colón 01.jpg
  |  alt8                   = ''Paseo Colón'' avenue
  |  caption8               = ''Paseo Colón'' avenue
  |  image9                 = Metropolitan Cathedral in San Jose, Costa Rica.jpg
  |  alt9                   = Metropolitan Cathedral of San José
  |  caption9               = [[Metropolitan Cathedral of San José|Metropolitan Cathedral]]
}}
| image_flag               = Bandera de San José (Costa Rica).svg
| flag_size                = 100x67px
| flag_alt                 = 
| image_shield             = Blason de San José (Costa Rica).svg
| shield_size              = 100x80px
| shield_alt               = 
| image_blank_emblem       = San José - City Brand Logo.png
| blank_emblem_type        = Wordmark
| nickname                 = {{lang|es|Chepe}} ("Joe")
| motto                    = {{Lang|la|Ad Meliora}}{{nbsp|2}}<small>([[Latin]])<br/>''"Towards better things"''</small>
| image_map                = Sjo map.svg
| mapsize                  = 275px
| map_caption              = Borders of San José city within San José canton, where East sector of Uruca district is excluded.
| pushpin_map              = Costa Rica#North America
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_map_caption      =
| coordinates              = {{Coord|09|55|57|N|84|04|48|W|region:CR|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{Flag|Costa Rica}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces of Costa Rica|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[File:Blason de San José (Costa Rica).svg|30px]] [[San José Province|Province of San José]]
| parts_type               = Districts
| parts_style              = coll
| parts                    = 10 total, 1 partial.
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = [[Mayor of San José, Costa Rica|Mayor]]
| leader_name              = [[Luis Diego Miranda Méndez]] (PJSJ)
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| leader_title2            = 
| leader_name2             = 
| leader_title3            = 
| leader_name3             = 
| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = {{circa}} 1739
| established_title2       = Capital as of
| established_date2        = 16 May 1823
| established_title3       = 
| established_date3        = 
| area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref                = Metric
| area_footnotes           = 
| area_total_km2           = 44.62
| area_total_sq_mi         = 
| area_land_km2            = 
| area_land_sq_mi          = 
| area_water_km2           = 
| area_water_sq_mi         = 
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_urban_km2           = 
| area_urban_sq_mi         = 
| area_metro_km2           = 2044
| area_metro_sq_mi         = 
| population_as_of         = 2022
| population_note          = 
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 352381
| population_blank1_title  = [[Demonym]]
| population_blank1        = Josefino/a
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_metro         = 2158898
| population_density_metro_km2 = 1056.2
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = auto
| population_urban         = 1543000 (March 2<span>0</span>13)<ref>{{cite web |title=Demographia World Urban Areas PDF (March 2013) |url=http://www.inec.go.cr/Web/Home/GeneradorPagina.aspx |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Censos de Costa Rica |access-date=24 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120125018/http://www.inec.go.cr/Web/Home/GeneradorPagina.aspx |archive-date=20 November 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
<!-- GDP --------------->
<!-- GDP --------------->
| demographics_type1       = [[GDP|GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)]]
| demographics1_footnotes  = 
| demographics1_title1     = Year
| demographics1_info1      = 2023
| demographics1_title2     = Metro
| demographics1_info2      = $30.2&nbsp;billion<ref name="TelluBase">{{cite web|url=https://tellusant.com/repo/tb/tellubase_factsheet_cri.pdf|publisher=Tellusant|title=TelluBase—Costa Rica Fact Sheet|access-date = 2024-01-11}}</ref>
| demographics1_title3     = Per capita
| demographics1_info3      = $20,700
| timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset               = -06:00
| timezone_DST             = 
| elevation_m              = 1172
| elevation_ft             = 
| area_code                = + 506
| blank_name               = '''[[Human Development Index|HDI]]''' (2019)
| blank_info               = 0.828<ref>{{cite web |title=Subnational Human Development Index |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/CRI/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0 |access-date=22 February 2021 |archive-date=25 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725081850/https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/CRI/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0 |url-status=live }}</ref><br /><span style="color:#090">Very High</span>
| blank1_name              = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank1_info              = [[Tropical savanna climate|Aw]]
| website                  = {{URL|https://www.msj.go.cr/SitePages/home.aspx|msj.go.cr}}
}}
[[File:Stone sphere.jpg|thumb|Stone sphere created by the [[Diquis culture]] in the courtyard of the [[Museo Nacional de Costa Rica|National Museum of Costa Rica]]. [[Stone spheres of Costa Rica|The sphere]] is the icon of the country's cultural identity]]
[[File:San Jose, Costa Rica Astronaut Image.jpg|thumb|250px|San José viewed from the [[International Space Station]]]]

'''San José''' ({{IPA|es|saŋ xoˈse|lang}}; meaning "Saint Joseph") is the [[capital city|capital]] and largest city of [[Costa Rica]], and the capital of [[San José Province]]. It is in the center of the country, in the mid-west of the [[Costa Rican Central Valley|Central Valley]], within [[San José Canton]]. San José is Costa Rica's seat of national government, focal point of political and economic activity, and major transportation hub. San José is simultaneously one of Costa Rica's [[Cantons of Costa Rica|cantons]], with its municipal land area covering 44.62 square kilometers (17.23 square miles)<ref name="ignarea">{{Cite web |author=Instituto Geográfico Nacional de Costa Rica |date=2024-06-20 |title=División Territorial Administrativa, 2024 – Totales de Provincias, Cantones y Distritos de Costa Rica |trans-title=Administrative Territorial Division, 2024 – Totals of Provinces, Cantons and Districts of Costa Rica |url=https://files.snitcr.go.cr/boletines/DTA-TABLA%20POR%20PROVINCIA-CANT%C3%93N-DISTRITO%202024.pdf |access-date=2024-07-16 |language=es |format=PDF}}</ref> and having within it an estimated population of {{formatnum:352381}} people in 2022.<ref name="2022popest">{{Cite web|author=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos|author-link=National Institute of Statistics and Census of Costa Rica |date=2023 |title=Resultados Estimacion de Poblacion y Vivienda 2022 |trans-title=2022 Population and Housing Estimate Results |url=https://admin.inec.cr/sites/default/files/2023-11/reResultadosEstimacionPoblacionVivienda2022_3.xlsx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604233425/https://admin.inec.cr/sites/default/files/2023-11/reResultadosEstimacionPoblacionVivienda2022_3.xlsx |archive-date=2024-06-04 |access-date=2024-04-21 |language=es |format=XLSX}}</ref> Together with several other cantons of the central valley, including [[Alajuela]], [[Heredia, Costa Rica|Heredia]] and [[Cartago, Costa Rica|Cartago]], it forms the country's [[Greater Metropolitan Area (Costa Rica)|Greater Metropolitan Area]], with an estimated population of over 2 million in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/costa_rica.htm |title=Costa Rica - Country Profile - Nations Online Project |website=www.nationsonline.org |access-date=1 July 2019 |archive-date=11 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611075823/https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/costa_rica.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The city is named in honor of [[Saint Joseph|Joseph of Nazareth]].

Founded in 1736 by order of [[Cabildo (council)|Cabildo de León]], the population of San José rose during the 18th century through the use of colonial planning. It has historically been a city of strategic importance, having been the capital of Costa Rica three times. More than a million people pass through it daily. It is home to the [[Museo Nacional de Costa Rica]], the [[National Theatre of Costa Rica]], and [[La Sabana Metropolitan Park]]. [[Juan Santamaría International Airport]] serves the city.

San José is notable among Latin American cities for its high quality of life,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://revistasumma.com/ciudad-panama-y-san-jose-tienen-la-mejor-calidad-de-vida-de-la-region/ |title=Ciudad Panamá y San José tienen la mejor calidad de vida de la región |last=Rosales |first=Daniel |date=2016-02-23 |website=Revista Summa |language=es-ES |access-date=2019-06-14 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418094255/http://revistasumma.com/ciudad-panama-y-san-jose-tienen-la-mejor-calidad-de-vida-de-la-region/ |url-status=live }}</ref> security, level of globalization, environmental performance, public service,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ticotimes.net/2015/08/09/costa-ricas-capital-among-top-latin-american-cities-cleanest-air |title=San José's air among cleanest of Latin American cities |website=The Tico Times Costa Rica |date=9 August 2015 |language=en-US |access-date=2019-06-14 |archive-date=6 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606133648/https://ticotimes.net/2015/08/09/costa-ricas-capital-among-top-latin-american-cities-cleanest-air |url-status=live }}</ref> and recognized institutions. In 2012, San José was one of the safest and least violent cities in the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thecostaricanews.com/costa-rica-still-one-of-the-safest-places-in-latin-america/12340 |title=Costa Rica still one of the safest places in Latin America |date=17 June 2012 |publisher=The Costa Rica News |access-date=8 July 2013 |archive-date=9 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709073241/http://thecostaricanews.com/costa-rica-still-one-of-the-safest-places-in-latin-america/12340 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is considered a "Beta-" global city by [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network|GaWC]]. San José joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2016.

==History==
{{For timeline}}
The population of San José grew during the eighteenth-century colonization planning, which was different from the traditional foundation plans of Spanish cities in the continent of Central America.

Founded in 1736 by order of [[Cabildo (council)|Cabildo de León]], its objective was to concentrate the scattered inhabitants of the Aserrí Valley.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/historia-de-san-jose-ciudad-hace-200-anos/QVMJQ6J4ARAJJAQNNSNNB4B5SE/story/ |title=Historia de San José: Ciudad hace 200 años |work=La Nación, Grupo Nación |access-date=2018-11-01 |language=es-LA |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015201828/https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/historia-de-san-jose-ciudad-hace-200-anos/QVMJQ6J4ARAJJAQNNSNNB4B5SE/story/ |url-status=live }}</ref> De León thus ordered the construction of a chapel near the area known as {{lang|es|La Boca del Monte}} which was completed a year later. That year St. Joseph was chosen as parish patron, hence its name. The chapel, which was very modest, was erected with help from the church of Cartago.<ref>{{cite web|language=es-ES|title=viajes a Costa Rica|url=https://archive.org/details/monteverde|website=archive.org - ES}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

Unlike neighboring Cartago, San José was not founded by formal decree and thus lacked a city government. It was not until the enactment of the Constitution of Cádiz in 1812 that San José had its first city government. On 18 October 1813, the area was first defined as a city by presbyter Florencio del Castillo, on behalf of the Spanish government, a title which was then lost in 1814 when [[Ferdinand VII of Spain]] annulled the proceedings of the courts. The municipal government was restored in 1820 along with the title of city and in 1823 San José became the capital of Costa Rica.<ref name="auto"/><ref>[http://www.spanishabroad.com/prog_teen/cityg_sanjose/history.htm History of San José, Costa Rica] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303224952/http://www.spanishabroad.com/prog_teen/cityg_sanjose/history.htm |date=3 March 2012}}, by [http://www.spanishabroad.com/index.htm Spanish Abroad, Inc.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817041833/http://www.spanishabroad.com/index.htm |date=17 August 2007}}</ref> This makes San José one of the youngest capital cities in [[Latin America]] by year of conception.

Population and economic growth were spurred by improvements in access to water and the installment of the Tobacco Factory in 1782. The accumulation of capital brought by tobacco plantations allowed the city to economically surpass neighboring provinces.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/historia-de-san-jose-ciudad-hace-200-anos/QVMJQ6J4ARAJJAQNNSNNB4B5SE/story/ |title=Historia de San José: ciudad hace 200 años |work=La Nación, Grupo Nación |access-date=2018-11-01 |language=es-LA |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015201828/https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/historia-de-san-jose-ciudad-hace-200-anos/QVMJQ6J4ARAJJAQNNSNNB4B5SE/story/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first modern urban neighborhood carries the name of its founder, the French [[coffee]] entrepreneur [[Monsieur Amon]], and was created in the late 19th century, in line with [[Belle Époque]] contemporary architecture. Barrio Amon, as well as the National Theatre, remain symbols of the so-called Costa Rican coffee golden age.

Today San José is a modern city with bustling commerce and brisk expressions of art and architecture. Spurred by the country's improved tourism industry, it is a significant destination and stopover for foreign visitors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0843474.html |title=San José, city, Costa Rica |access-date=28 August 2007 |archive-date=14 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014122835/http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0843474.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

San José exerts a strong influence because of its proximity to other cities ([[Alajuela]], [[Heredia, Costa Rica|Heredia]] and [[Cartago, Costa Rica|Cartago]]) and the country's demographic assemblage in the Central Valley.<ref>[http://www.worldbank.org/urban/symposium2005/papers/pujol.pdf In San José, Costa Rica, effective metropolitan planning and selective infrastructure investment can improve the quality of life for the poor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806084959/http://worldbank.org/urban/symposium2005/papers/pujol.pdf |date=6 August 2007 }}, by Rosendo Pujol, researcher of [http://www.produs.ucr.ac.cr ProDUS] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020530160254/http://www.produs.ucr.ac.cr/ |date=30 May 2002 }} on the World Bank Urban Research Symposium in Brasilia, Brasil, 4–6 April 2005</ref>

==Districts==
The borders of San José city, as defined in the Administrative Territorial Division<ref name="divadm">{{cite web |title=División Territorial Administrativa de la República de Costa Rica Decreto Ejecutivo N° 40184-MGP, del 9 de enero de 2017, publicado en el Alcance N° 52, a La Gaceta N° 48 del 8 de marzo de 2017 |url=https://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/editorialdigital/libros/historiaygeografia/division_17.pdf |access-date=29 April 2020 |archive-date=22 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222202946/http://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/editorialdigital/libros/historiaygeografia/division_17.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and stipulated in the Executive Decree 11562 of 27 May 1980,<ref name="decr1980">{{cite web |title=Decreto Ejecutivo 11562 del 27/05/1980 |url=http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_articulo.aspx?param1=NRA&nValor1=1&nValor2=10695&nValor3=11458&nValor4=-1&nValor5=62093&nValor6=27/05/1980&strTipM=FA |access-date=31 May 2022 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531040148/http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_articulo.aspx?param1=NRA&nValor1=1&nValor2=10695&nValor3=11458&nValor4=-1&nValor5=62093&nValor6=27%2F05%2F1980&strTipM=FA |url-status=live }}</ref> assign the borders of San José canton except an East sector of Uruca district. Therefore the city is composed of the totality of the districts of [[Carmen (district)|Carmen]], [[Merced District|Merced]], [[Hospital District|Hospital]], [[Catedral District|Catedral]], [[Zapote District, San José|Zapote]], [[San Francisco de Dos Ríos District|San Francisco de Dos Ríos]], [[Mata Redonda District|Mata Redonda]], [[Pavas District|Pavas]], [[Hatillo District|Hatillo]], [[San Sebastián District, San José|San Sebastián]] and partially of [[Uruca District, San José|Uruca]] district.

== Demographics ==
{{CR Census population}}
For the 2022 population estimate,<ref name="2022popest" /> San José had a population of {{formatnum:352381}} inhabitants, more than any other canton in the country and up from {{formatnum:288054}} people, according the [[Costa Rica 2011 Census|2011 census]].<ref name="censo2011">{{cite web |title=Censo. 2011. Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito |url=https://www.inec.cr/censos/censos-2011 |access-date=26 September 2020 |website={{Lang|es|Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos}} |lang=es}}</ref> The canton has a population density of {{Pop density|352381|44.62|km2|prec=1}}

Most of the population is distributed in the peripheral districts around the downtown (the districts of [[El Carmen, San José, Costa Rica|El Carmen]], [[Merced, San José, Costa Rica|Merced]], [[Hospital, San José, Costa Rica|Hospital]], and [[Catedral, San José, Costa Rica|Catedral]] are known as {{lang|es|casco central}} similar to a downtown or financial center, only 18% of the canton population inhabits these districts).

In 2022, the canton had 0.92 men per woman,<ref name="2022popest" /> a small change from 0.90 men per woman in 2011. In 2000, the province had 100% of urban population. 17.33% of its inhabitants are under ten, and 7.67% are over 65.

== Government ==

=== Mayor ===
{{Main|Mayor of San José, Costa Rica}}
According to Costa Rica's [[Local government in Costa Rica|Municipal Code]], mayors are elected every four years by the population of the canton.<ref name="codmuni">{{Cite web |author=Asamblea Legislativa de la República de Costa Rica |author-link=Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica |date=13 May 2024 |title=Código Municipal |trans-title=Municipal Code |url=http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?nValor1=1&nValor2=40197 |access-date=20 July 2024 |website=Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica |language=es}}</ref> As of the latest [[2024 Costa Rican municipal elections|municipal elections in 2024]], the Together San José candidate, Luis Diego Miranda Méndez, was elected mayor of the canton with 23.95% of the votes, with Yariela Franciny Quirós Álvarez and Fernando Antonio Vega Guillén as first and second vice mayors, respectively.<ref name="2024alcdec">{{Cite web |author=Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones |author-link=Supreme Electoral Court of Costa Rica |date=21 February 2024 |title=N.° 1658-E11-2024 - Declaratoria de elección de alcaldías y vicealcaldías de las municipalidades de los cantones de la provincia de San José, para el período comprendido entre el primero de mayo de dos mil veinticuatro y el treinta de abril de dos mil veintiocho. |url=https://www.tse.go.cr/juris/relevantes/1658-E11-2024.html |access-date=20 July 2024 |language=es}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Mayors since the [[2002 Costa Rican municipal elections|2002 elections]]<ref name="decs">{{Cite web |author=Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones |author-link=Supreme Electoral Court of Costa Rica |title=Resoluciones declaratorias de elección |url=https://www.tse.go.cr/declaratorias.htm |access-date=20 July 2024 |website=Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones |language=es}}</ref>
!Period
!Name
!Party
|-
|[[2002 Costa Rican municipal elections|2002–2006]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Johnny Araya Monge|Johnny Francisco Araya Monge]]
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Bandera de Partido Liberación Nacional.svg|frameless|border|upright=.1]] [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|PLN]]
|-
|[[2006 Costa Rican municipal elections|2006–2010]]
|-
|[[2010 Costa Rican municipal elections|2010–2016]]
|-
|[[2016 Costa Rican municipal elections|2016–2020]]
|[[File:Bandera Partido Alianza por San José Costa Rica.svg|frameless|border|upright=.1]] PASJ
|-
|[[2020 Costa Rican municipal elections|2020–2024]]
|[[File:Bandera de Partido Liberación Nacional.svg|frameless|border|upright=.1]] [[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|PLN]]
|-
|[[2024 Costa Rican municipal elections|2024–2028]]
|Luis Diego Miranda Méndez
|[[File:Bandera Partido Juntos SJO Costa Rica (2023-Presente).svg|frameless|border|upright=.1]] PJSJ
|}

=== Municipal Council ===
Like the mayor and vice mayors, members of the Municipal Council (called {{lang|es|regidores}}) are elected every four years. San José's Municipal Council has 11 seats for regidores and their substitutes, who can participate in meetings but not vote unless the owning regidor ({{Lang|es|regidor propietario}}) is absent.<ref name="codmuni" /> The current president of the Municipal Council is Together San José Party member, Mariana de los Ángeles Zúñiga Pérez, with the regidor for More San José Party, Juan Diego Gómez González, as vice president.<ref name="concmuni">{{Cite web |author=Municipalidad de San José |date=19 June 2024 |title=Sesión Ordinaria 010 - 2024 |url=https://www.msj.go.cr/docu/ActasMunicipales/Corporaci%C3%B3n%202024%20-%202028/Sesiones%20Ordinarias/Sesi%C3%B3n%20Ordinaria%20010%20del%2009%20de%20julio%20de%202024.pdf |access-date=23 July 2024 |website=Municipalidad de San José |language=es}}</ref> The Municipal Council's composition for the 2024-2028 period is as follows:

{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="margin:auto;"
|+ Current composition of the Municipal Council of San José after the [[2024 Costa Rican municipal elections|2024 municipal elections]]<ref name="2024regdec">{{Cite web |author=Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones |author-link=Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones de Costa Rica |date=12 February 2024 |title=N.° 2218-E11-2024 - Declaratoria de elección de regidurías de las municipalidades de los cantones de la provincia de San José, para el período comprendido entre el primero de mayo de dos mil veinticuatro y el treinta de abril de dos mil veintiocho. |url=https://www.tse.go.cr/juris/relevantes/2218-E11-2024.html |access-date=20 July 2024 |language=es}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="6" |[[File:Costa_Rica_San_José_Municipal_Council_2024.svg|frameless|center]]
|-
! colspan="6" |'''Political parties in the Municipal Council of San José'''
|-----
! colspan="3" rowspan="2" |Political party
! colspan="3" | Regidores
|-
!№
!Owner
!Substitute
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Bandera Partido Juntos SJO Costa Rica (2023-Presente).svg|frameless|border|upright=.2]]
| rowspan="3" |Together San José (PJSJ)
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#511261" |
| rowspan="3" |3
|Mariana de los Ángeles Zúñiga Pérez<sup>(P)</sup>
|María Andrea Rudín Montes de Oca
|-
|Rafael Ángel González Ovares
|Gregory Manuel Garro Jiménez
|-
|María Bernardita Fallas Vargas
|Isabel Rosemary Mesen Salazar
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Bandera de Partido Liberación Nacional.svg|frameless|border|upright=.2]]
| rowspan="3" |[[National Liberation Party (Costa Rica)|National Liberation Party]] (PLN)
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#008800" |
| rowspan="3" | 3
|Ulises Alexander Cano Castro
|Rafael Ángel Ramírez Badilla
|-
|Iztaru Alfaro Guerrero
|Olga Dinia Pérez Bonilla
|-
|Rolando Luis Murillo Cruz
|Carlos Estefano Castillo Arias
|-----
|[[File:Bandera del Partido Unidad Social Cristiana.svg|frameless|border|upright=.2]]
|[[Social Christian Unity Party]] (PUSC)
| bgcolor="#104B90" |
| 1
|Álvaro Salas Carvajal
|Alexander Vega Garro
|-
|[[File:Bandera Partido Frente Amplio Costa Rica.svg|frameless|border|upright=.2]]
|[[Broad Front (Costa Rica)|Broad Front]] (FA)
| bgcolor="#F7DF00" |
|1
|Yorleny Karina Córdoba Moya
|David Contreras Mora
|-----
|[[File:Bandera Partido Progreso Social Democrático Costa Rica.svg|frameless|border|upright=.2]]
|[[Social Democratic Progress Party]] (PSD)
| bgcolor="#39D430" |
| 1
|Ricardo Antonio Arce Díaz
|Jazmín del Carmen Pineda León
|-
|[[File:Bandera Partido Más San José Costa Rica.svg|frameless|border|upright=.2]]
|More San José (PMAS)
| bgcolor="#ED313F" |
|1
|Juan Diego Gómez González<sup>(VP)</sup>
|Greivin Chaves Quesada
|-
|[[File:Bandera Partido Liberal Progresista Costa Rica.svg|frameless|border|upright=.2]]
|[[Progressive Liberal Party (Costa Rica)|Progressive Liberal Party]] (PLP)
| bgcolor="#FF7300" |
|1
|José Manuel Jiménez Gómez
|Marco Tulio Ramírez Chan
|}

==Climate==
San José has a [[tropical wet and dry climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Aw'').<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/7v.html |title=CHAPTER 7: Introduction to the Atmosphere |publisher=PhysicalGeography.net |access-date=September 17, 2016 |archive-date=15 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015060602/http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/7v.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Precipitation varies widely between the driest month ({{cvt|6.3|mm}}) and the wettest month ({{cvt|355.1|mm}}), while average temperatures vary little.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thebritishgeographer.weebly.com/the-climate-of-tropical-regions.html |title=The Climate of Tropical Regions |publisher=The British Geographer |access-date=September 17, 2016 |archive-date=7 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107041317/http://thebritishgeographer.weebly.com/the-climate-of-tropical-regions.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The hottest month is April with an average temperature of {{cvt|23.7|C}}, while the coolest month is October with an average temperature of {{cvt|21.8|C}}.
{{Weather box
|location = San José ([[Juan Santamaría International Airport]])
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 31.5
|Feb record high C = 33.3
|Mar record high C = 33.4
|Apr record high C = 34.5
|May record high C = 33.3
|Jun record high C = 32.1
|Jul record high C = 31.7
|Aug record high C = 32.0
|Sep record high C = 32.0
|Oct record high C = 31.4
|Nov record high C = 30.9
|Dec record high C = 31.7
|Jan high C = 28.2
|Feb high C = 29.1
|Mar high C = 29.9
|Apr high C = 30.3
|May high C = 28.8
|Jun high C = 28.2
|Jul high C = 28.2
|Aug high C = 28.3
|Sep high C = 27.8
|Oct high C = 27.1
|Nov high C = 27.2
|Dec high C = 27.9
|year high C = 28.4
|Jan mean C = 22.6
|Feb mean C = 23.0
|Mar mean C = 23.5
|Apr mean C = 23.7
|May mean C = 22.9
|Jun mean C = 22.5
|Jul mean C = 22.6
|Aug mean C = 22.4
|Sep mean C = 22.0
|Oct mean C = 21.8
|Nov mean C = 21.9
|Dec mean C = 22.3
|year mean C = 22.6
|Jan low C = 18.5
|Feb low C = 18.7
|Mar low C = 18.8
|Apr low C = 19.1
|May low C = 19.2
|Jun low C = 19.0
|Jul low C = 19.0
|Aug low C = 18.8
|Sep low C = 18.3
|Oct low C = 18.5
|Nov low C = 18.3
|Dec low C = 18.3
|year low C = 18.7
|Jan record low C = 11.7
|Feb record low C = 13.2
|Mar record low C = 14.5
|Apr record low C = 14.9
|May record low C = 14.4
|Jun record low C = 15.8
|Jul record low C = 15.2
|Aug record low C = 16.0
|Sep record low C = 15.8
|Oct record low C = 15.3
|Nov record low C = 14.5
|Dec record low C = 14.2
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 6.3
|Feb rain mm = 10.2
|Mar rain mm = 13.8
|Apr rain mm = 79.9
|May rain mm = 267.6
|Jun rain mm = 280.1
|Jul rain mm = 181.5
|Aug rain mm = 276.9
|Sep rain mm = 355.1
|Oct rain mm = 330.6
|Nov rain mm = 135.5
|Dec rain mm = 33.5
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 3
|Feb rain days = 3
|Mar rain days = 5
|Apr rain days = 10
|May rain days = 23
|Jun rain days = 22
|Jul rain days = 20
|Aug rain days = 22
|Sep rain days = 26
|Oct rain days = 25
|Nov rain days = 17
|Dec rain days = 8
|Jan humidity = 68
|Feb humidity = 68
|Mar humidity = 66
|Apr humidity = 70
|May humidity = 77
|Jun humidity = 83
|Jul humidity = 80
|Aug humidity = 83
|Sep humidity = 85
|Oct humidity = 87
|Nov humidity = 79
|Dec humidity = 74
|Jan sun = 285.2
|Feb sun = 266.0
|Mar sun = 282.1
|Apr sun = 240.0
|May sun = 182.9
|Jun sun = 144.0
|Jul sun = 151.9
|Aug sun = 158.1
|Sep sun = 147.0
|Oct sun = 161.2
|Nov sun = 177.0
|Dec sun = 244.9
|year sun = 2440.3
| Jan percentsun  =79
| Feb percentsun  =80
| Mar percentsun  =75
| Apr percentsun  =65
| May percentsun  =47
| Jun percentsun  =38
| Jul percentsun  =39
| Aug percentsun  =41
| Sep percentsun  =40
| Oct percentsun  =44
| Nov percentsun  =50
| Dec percentsun  =68
| year percentsun =
| Jan light = 11.6
| Feb light = 11.8
| Mar light = 12.1
| Apr light = 12.4
| May light = 12.6
| Jun light = 12.7
| Jul light = 12.6
| Aug light = 12.4
| Sep light = 12.2
| Oct light = 11.9
| Nov light = 11.7
| Dec light = 11.6
| year light=
| source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_787620_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von San José (Int. Flugh.) / Costa Rica
| publisher = Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure
| access-date = September 17, 2016}}
</ref>
| source 2 = NOAA (sun 1961–1990)<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/CS/78762.TXT
| title = Juan Santamaria Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201031204957/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/CS/78762.TXT
| archive-date = 2020-10-31
| url-status = dead
| access-date = July 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=global-summary-of-the-day&stations=78762099999&startDate=1700-01-01&endDate=2023-12-31&dataTypes=MAX,MIN,PRCP
| title = Global Surface Summary of the Day - GSOD
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = January 26, 2023
}}</ref> Weather Spark<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://weatherspark.com/y/15463/Average-Weather-in-San-Jos%C3%A9-Costa-Rica-Year-Round
|title = Climate and Average Weather Year Round in San José
|publisher = Weather Spark
|access-date = 12 Dec 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Education==
[[Costa Rica]] has developed high education levels. As of 2011 97.6% of the population over 10 was literate,<ref>{{cite web |author=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos |title=Censos 2011 {{!}} Instituto Nacional De Estadistica Y Censos |url=http://www.inec.go.cr/censos/censos-2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214043335/https://www.inec.go.cr/censos/censos-2011 |archive-date=14 December 2020 |access-date=2018-11-01 |website=www.inec.go.cr |language=es}}</ref> 96% of children aged 6–11 attend primary school and 71% of students of high-school age attend high-school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unicef.org/costarica/docs/cr_pub_Folleto_MICS_Educacion.pdf |title=Costa Rica- Alfabetizacion y Educación (Costa Rica- Literacy and Education) |author=Costa Rica Ministry of Education, Unicef, MICS |date=2011 |website=Unicef.org}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The country as a whole has the highest education levels in Central America and one of the best in Latin America. This is especially true for San José, the nation's educational hub home to a large number of public and private universities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.altillo.com/universidades/costarica/universidades_costarica_sanjose.asp |title=Universidades de San José (Privadas y Públicas) |publisher=Altillo.com |access-date=8 July 2013 |archive-date=3 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403085828/http://altillo.com/universidades/costarica/universidades_costarica_sanjose.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

University of Santo Tomas, the first university of Costa Rica, was established here in 1843.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archivo.ucr.ac.cr/ustot.html |title=La Universidad de Santo Tomás (1843-1888) |website=Universidad de Costa Rica archive |access-date=19 November 2018 |archive-date=30 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130225938/http://archivo.ucr.ac.cr/ustot.html |url-status=live }}</ref> That institution maintained close ties with the Roman Catholic Church and was closed in 1888 by the progressive and anti-clerical government of President Bernardo Soto Alfaro as part of a campaign to modernize public education. The schools of law, agronomy, fine arts, and pharmacy continued to operate independently, but Costa Rica had no university proper until 1940, when those four schools were re-united to establish the modern [[University of Costa Rica|University of Costa Rica (UCR)]], during the reformist administration of President Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia. The [[University for Peace]], an intergovernmental organization with university status, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1980, is located in San José.

The city's public education system is composed of pre-schools, elementary and high schools (from grades 7 to 11), which are located in all of the city's districts and are under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Education. Nevertheless, private institutions do exist within the city. These educational institutions range from pre-schools to universities. Most tend to be bilingual, teaching subjects in either French or English and Spanish, among other languages, apart from just teaching a certain language.

==Security==
San José is one of Latin America's safest cities. As of 19 June 2012, both city and nation reduced their crime indices considerably.{{clarify timeframe|date=May 2017}} Nationwide, crime was reduced from 12.5 to 9.5 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants.

In 2012, new police equipment was issued by the government, and the security budget was increased. President [[Laura Chinchilla]]'s government donated vehicles and other equipment to the police department on at least two occasions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prensalibre.cr/pl/nacional/59781-china-dona-200-patrullas-con-garantia-de-repuestos.html |title=CHINA DONA 200 PATRULLAS CON GARANTÍA DE REPUESTOS |publisher=Prensalibre.cr |access-date=8 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130210070506/http://www.prensalibre.cr/pl/nacional/59781-china-dona-200-patrullas-con-garantia-de-repuestos.html |archive-date=10 February 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The city's greater metropolitan area (in Los Yoses, San Pedro) also serves as the headquarters of the [[Inter-American Court of Human Rights]].

==Major landmarks==
{{Panorama|image=File:San Jose 2020 by @caya here-2.jpg|height=200|alt=San José panorama|caption=San José skyline with mountains in the background}}
[[File:National Theater of Costa Rica.jpg|thumb|right|250px|National Theatre]]
[[File:Plaza de la Central Costa Rica.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Plaza de la Cultura]]
[[File:National Museum of Costa Rica.JPG|thumb|right|250px|National Museum of Costa Rica]]
[[File:ParqueOkayama.jpg|thumb|250px|Okayama Park]]

===Theaters and auditoriums===
San José has a number of theaters, many with European-inspired architecture. These buildings serve as the city's main tourist attractions, not only because of their architecture, but because of the cultural, musical, and artistic presentations and activities, which include traditional and modern Costa Rican and San Josefinan culture.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-23 |title=San Jose Costa Rica: Complete Guide to the Capital City |url=https://www.costaricavibes.com/destinations/central-valley/san-jose/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The most well-known are:
*The National Theater of Costa Rica (''[[Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica]]'').
*The Melico Salazar Theater (''[[Teatro Popular Melico Salazar]]'').
*The National Auditorium of The Children's Museum of Costa Rica (''[[Museo de los Niños]]'').

The [[National Theater of Costa Rica]] (considered the finest historic building in the capital and known for its exquisite interior which includes its lavish Italian furnishings<ref>{{cite book |author=Baker, C.P. |title=Costa Rica |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] [[Eye Witness Travel Guides]] |year=2005 |page=60}}</ref>) and the Melico Salazar Theater present drama, dance performances and concerts throughout the year. Nevertheless, other 'smaller' theaters can be found throughout the city and provide a large array of entertainment.

El Teatro Variedades (1892) is San José's oldest theater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://si.cultura.cr/infraestructura/teatro-variedades.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022104843/http://si.cultura.cr/infraestructura/teatro-variedades.html |title=Teatro Variedades |website=si.cultura.cr |archive-date=October 22, 2014}}</ref>

===Museums===
{{See also|List of museums in Costa Rica}}
San José is also host to various museums. These museums allow visitors to view Costa Rican history, scientific discoveries, pre-Columbian era culture and art, as well as modern Costa Rican art. The city is also host to the nation's museum of gold and museum of jade.

Some of the city's main museums are:

*The Children's Museum ([[Museo de los Niños]])
*The National Museum of Costa Rica ([[Museo Nacional de Costa Rica]])
*The Museum of Pre-Columbian Gold ([[Pre-Columbian Gold Museum|Museo de Oro Precolombino]])
*The Costa Rican Museum of Art ([[Museo de Arte Costarricense]])
*The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design ([[Museum of Contemporary Art and Design|Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo]])
*The Museum of Jade ([[Museo del Jade Marco Fidel Tristán Castro]])

===Parks, plazas, and zoos===
San José is home to many parks and squares (plazas in Spanish); where one can find gazebos, open green areas, recreational areas, lakes, fountains, statues and sculptures by Costa Rican artists and many different bird, tree and plant species.

====Parks and zoos====
The city's primary parks include:

*The National Park (''Parque Nacional'')
*Morazán Park (''Parque Morazán'') — with Neoclassical Temple of Music (''Templo de la Música'') pavilion
*[[La Sabana Metropolitan Park|La Sabana Metropolitan Park (''Parque Metropolitano La Sabana'')]] — largest park and "the lungs of San José," in Mata Redonda District (west city)
*Peace Park (''Parque de la Paz'')
*Okayama Park (''Parque Okayama'') — [[Japanese garden|Japanese style garden]] and architectural elements, ornamental [[pond]]s, and garden sculptures
*Simón Bolívar Zoo — the city's only zoo, with a large variety of native Costa Rican and exotic animals and plant species

====Plazas====
[[Plaza]]s, or [[town square]]s, are very prominent across San José's districts.

*[[Plaza de la Democracia]]
*Culture Square — ''La Plaza de La Cultura''

==Transportation==
San José has several internal transportation networks that connect the city districts and metropolitan area; as well as national transportation networks that connect the city to other parts of Costa Rica.

San José is undergoing modernization in transportation. In February of 2011, the former mayor, [[Johnny Araya Monge|Johnny Araya]], along with then Costa Rican President, [[Laura Chinchilla]], announced the establishment of an urban tramway system that will, in its first phase, cover the central core of the city going from west to east.

On 27 September 2012, San José disclosed plans to install its first street signs, about 22,000 signs and plaques. It is estimated that the lack of proper street names for directions causes the loss of $720 million a year by the Inter-American Development Bank in 2008, due to undelivered, returned or re-sent mail.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cota |first=Isabella |title=San Jose, Costa Rica to install its first street signs |url=https://news.yahoo.com/san-jose-costa-rica-install-first-street-signs-001544571.html |publisher=Yahoo News |access-date=28 September 2012 |archive-date=11 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211153425/http://news.yahoo.com/san-jose-costa-rica-install-first-street-signs-001544571.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Roads ===
The following national road routes cover the city:
{{columns-list|
*[[File:CR RNP 1.svg|25px]] [[National Route 1 (Costa Rica)|National Route 1]]
*[[File:CR RNP 2.svg|25px]] [[National Route 2 (Costa Rica)|National Route 2]]
*[[File:CR RNP 3.svg|25px]] [[National Route 3 (Costa Rica)|National Route 3]]
*[[File:CR RNP 27.svg|25px]] [[National Route 27 (Costa Rica)|National Route 27]]
*[[File:CR RNP 39.svg|25px]] [[National Route 39 (Costa Rica)|National Route 39]]
*[[File:CR RNS 100.svg|25px]] [[National Route 100 (Costa Rica)|National Route 100]]
*[[File:CR RNS 101.svg|25px]] [[National Route 101 (Costa Rica)|National Route 101]]
*[[File:CR RNS 104.svg|25px]] [[National Route 104 (Costa Rica)|National Route 104]]
*[[File:CR RNS 108.svg|25px]] [[National Route 108 (Costa Rica)|National Route 108]]
*[[File:CR RNS 110.svg|25px]] [[National Route 110 (Costa Rica)|National Route 110]]
*[[File:CR RNS 167.svg|25px]] [[National Route 167 (Costa Rica)|National Route 167]]
*[[File:CR RNS 174.svg|25px]] [[National Route 174 (Costa Rica)|National Route 174]]
*[[File:CR RNS 175.svg|25px]] [[National Route 175 (Costa Rica)|National Route 175]]
*[[File:CR RNS 176.svg|25px]] [[National Route 176 (Costa Rica)|National Route 176]]
*[[File:CR RNS 177.svg|25px]] [[National Route 177 (Costa Rica)|National Route 177]]
*[[File:CR RNS 204.svg|25px]] [[National Route 204 (Costa Rica)|National Route 204]]
*[[File:CR RNS 207.svg|25px]] [[National Route 207 (Costa Rica)|National Route 207]]
*[[File:CR RNS 209.svg|25px]] [[National Route 209 (Costa Rica)|National Route 209]]
*[[File:CR RNS 211.svg|25px]] [[National Route 211 (Costa Rica)|National Route 211]]
*[[File:CR RNS 213.svg|25px]] [[National Route 213 (Costa Rica)|National Route 213]]
*[[File:CR RNS 214.svg|25px]] [[National Route 214 (Costa Rica)|National Route 214]]
*[[File:CR RNS 215.svg|25px]] [[National Route 215 (Costa Rica)|National Route 215]]
*[[File:CR RNS 218.svg|25px]] [[National Route 218 (Costa Rica)|National Route 218]]
}}

===Buses===
Private bus companies connect different areas of the city with each other and the suburbs. Services to other parts of the country are provided by other private companies which have stations or stops spread all over the city center. There are also bus services between [[Juan Santamaría International Airport]] and downtown San José.

===Train===
The ''[[Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles]]'', or the state-owned railway institute, is in charge of all of Costa Rica's railways. In 2004, this institution began work on the establishment of an inter-urban railway network. This network would connect Tibás, Heredia, San Antonio de Belén, Pavas, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Sabanilla, and Curridabat, among other locations.

There are plans to expand this inter-urban railway system into Cartago, Alajuela, and the Juan Santamaría International Airport.

Trains run to Heredia from ''Estación Atlantico and San Antonio de Belen'' and from ''Estación Pacifico''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Horario de Tren, www.horariodetren.com |url=http://horariodetren.com/cr/ |title=Urban Train in Costa Rica |publisher=Horariodetren.com |access-date=8 July 2013 |archive-date=8 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708101836/http://www.horariodetren.com/cr/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Taxis===
San José public taxi services complement the urban transportation network. Taxis are characterized by their red color and belong to registered cooperatives. There are other taxi services which do not belong to the registered system, there are also taxis from the airport that are usually orange.

The car-sharing company [[Uber]] is active in Costa Rica and, despite repeated clashes with and strikes by taxi drivers protesting unfair competition, continues to operate in the country.{{when?|date=May 2022}}

===Airports===
The city is serviced by [[Juan Santamaría International Airport]] {{airport codes|SJO|MROC}}, {{cvt|23|km|0}} west of downtown, in the city of [[Alajuela]], which is one of the busiest airports in Central America. In 2011, the airport was named the 3rd Best Airport in Latin America/Caribbean from the Airport Service Quality Awards by Airports Council International.<ref>[http://www.airportservicequalityawards.com/best-airport-region-latin-america-carribean "ASQ Award for Best Airport in Latin America - Caribbean"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218014039/http://www.airportservicequalityawards.com/best-airport-region-latin-america-carribean |date=18 February 2012 }} ''Airports Council International''. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012</ref> In 2023, Juan Santamaría International Airport received 5.6 million passengers, most of them from international flights. 

The airport is undergoing a modernization plan, which is expected to be brief. The previous remodeling done to the airport cost around $7 million.

Another important airport in San José is [[Tobías Bolaños International Airport]] {{airport codes|SYQ|MRPV}}. It is located {{cvt|8|km|0}} north-west of the city proper and {{cvt|11|km|0}} south-east of Juan Santamaría International Airport.

==Cuisine==
{{Main|Costa Rican cuisine}}
Costa Rican cuisine, called {{lang|es|comida típica}} ("traditional food"), is generally not spicy. Throughout San José, the most popular food is the national dish of {{lang|es|gallo pinto}} ("painted chicken"), which is black beans served with white rice. ''Gallo pinto'' is usually served for breakfast with tortillas and {{lang|es|natilla}}, a thin sour cream. Costa Rican restaurants serving traditional food at an affordable price are called ''[[:wikt:soda#Spanish|sodas]]'' and usually offer substantial {{lang|es|casados}} for lunch and dinner. A ''casado'' (meaning "married" or "married man" in Spanish) consists of rice, beans, and meat, with cabbage-and-tomato salad, fried plantains, and tortillas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalgourmet.com/destinations/costarica/costcuis.html |title=Costa Rica: Cuisine |publisher=Globalgourmet.com |access-date=8 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728112031/http://www.globalgourmet.com/destinations/costarica/costcuis.html |archive-date=28 July 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[San José Central Market]], in downtown San José, has numerous food markets and sodas.

==Sports==
{{expand section|date=July 2019}}
[[File:Radiation Survey at U-20 Women’s World Cup (02817838).jpg|thumb|[[Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica (2011)|Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica]]]]
The city's major football club is [[Deportivo Saprissa]], which has won a record 36 league titles. The team plays its home games at the [[Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá]], which is located in [[Tibas]]. Another top-level club, [[C.F. Universidad de Costa Rica|Universidad]], plays at the Estadio Ecológico.

San José hosted the [[2015 FIBA COCABA Championship]], where the [[Costa Rica national basketball team]] finished 2nd. Playground was the ''Gimnasio Nacional''.

==International relations==
{{See also|List_of_twin_towns_and_sister_cities_in_Central_America#Costa_Rica|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Costa Rica}}

===Twin towns – sister cities===
San José is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{|class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Athens]], Greece
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina
*{{flagicon|VEN}} [[Caracas]], Venezuela
*{{flagicon|ROC}} [[Taipei]], Taiwan
*{{flagicon|CHI}} [[Santiago]], Chile
*{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Madrid]], Spain
*{{flagicon|PER}} [[Chimbote]], Peru
*{{flagicon|PER}} [[Huancayo]], Peru
*{{flagicon|PER}} [[Juliaca]], Peru
||
*{{flagicon|PER}} [[Lima]], Perú
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Miami-Dade County]], United States
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[McAllen]], United States
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], United States
*{{flagicon|ISR}} [[Kfar Saba]], Israel
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Okayama]], Japan
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Guadalajara]], Mexico<ref name="Guadalajara sisters">{{cite web |url=http://www.guadalajara.gob.mx/dependencias/relacionespublicas/versioningles/sistercities.html |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120302011742/http://www.guadalajara.gob.mx/dependencias/relacionespublicas/versioningles/sistercities.html |archive-date=2 March 2012 |title=Sister Cities, Public Relations |publisher=Guadalajara municipal government |access-date=12 March 2013}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Mexico City]], Mexico
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Ecatepec]], Mexico
*{{flagicon|NCA}} [[Managua]], Nicaragua
||
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Beijing]], China
*{{flagicon|SLV}} [[Ahuachapán]], El Salvador
*{{flagicon|GUA}} [[Guatemala City]], Guatemala
*{{flagicon|GUA}} [[Quetzaltenango]], Guatemala
*{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Goiânia]], Brazil
*{{flagicon|VEN}} [[Maracay]], Venezuela
*{{flagicon|URU}} [[Montevideo]], Uruguay
*{{flagicon|HON}} [[San Pedro Sula]], Honduras
*{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Jayapura]], Indonesia
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Bari]], Italy
|}

==Notable people==
This is an alphabetical list of notable people who were born in or have lived in San José. 
*[[Manuel Aguilar Chacón]], former head of state of Costa Rica
*[[Randall Arauz]], environmentalist
*[[Alicia Avilés]], community leader
*[[Randall Azofeifa]], football player for [[C.S. Herediano|Herediano]]
*[[Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia]], former president of Costa Rica
*[[Daniel Cambronero]], goalkeeper
*[[Joel Campbell]], football player who used to play for [[Arsenal F.C.]]
*[[Franklin Chang-Díaz]], former astronaut 
*[[Laura Chinchilla]], former president of Costa Rica
*[[Manuel de la Cruz González]], artist
*[[Mirta González Suárez]], psychologist and writer
*[[Maribel Guardia]], actress and singer
*[[Jens Hoffmann]], writer and art curator
*[[Eunice Odio]], writer
*[[Virginia Pérez-Ratton]], artist
*[[Floria Pinto]], artist
*[[Raquel Rodríguez]], football player for [[Portland Thorns FC]] and the [[Costa Rica women's national football team]]
*[[Fernando Sánchez Campos]], politician
*[[Ariel Sexton]], mixed martial artist for [[ONE Championship]]
*[[Harry Shum Jr.]], dancer and actor
*[[Daniel Zovatto]], American actor

==See also==
{{Portal|Costa Rica|Cities}}
{{See also|Timeline of San José, Costa Rica#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of San José, Costa Rica}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|San José, Costa Rica}}
*{{wikivoyage-inline|San José (Costa Rica)|San José, Costa Rica}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080301132748/http://www.msj.go.cr/ Municipalidad de San José: office of the Mayor of San José]
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=San José de Costa Rica |short=x}}
*{{Cite NIE |wstitle=San José (Costa Rica) |short=x |display=San José. The capital of Costa Rica}}

{{Costa Rica topics}}
{{Provincial capitals of Costa Rica}}
{{List of North American capitals}}
{{Provinces and cantons of Costa Rica}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:San José, Costa Rica|San José]]
[[Category:1738 establishments in the Spanish Empire]]
[[Category:Capitals in Central America]]
[[Category:Capitals in North America]]
[[Category:Greater Metropolitan Area (Costa Rica)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1738]]
[[Category:Populated places in San José Province]]
[[Category:San José (canton)]]