The Edificio Metálico (The Metalic Building) is a marvellous piece of architecture located next to the Morazan Parque. The Metallic Building was made in Belgium and then transported and assembled in San Jose in 1896. This kind of architecture is something unique in Costa Rica, and can only be compared to the Eiffel Tower.

The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (The Supreme Electoral Court) is a modern building, built in the late 1980s. It combines both western and Latin American architecture. It is located in the heart of the city.

The Iglesia de la Soledad has been one of the architectural highlights of San Jose since 1909. The church boasts of a neoclassical design with colonial touches. The church's prized possession is its colorful stained glass windows, which were imported from Switzerland. Behind the Church you can find the Mercado Nacional de Artesanías.

Teatro Nacional is the national theatre of Costa Rica. You will find it in the central section of town. This national treasure was started in 1891 with the construction of the building that would house the company. The first theatrical presentation was done in October of 1897. They performed Wolfgang von Goethe’s “Faust” to the delight of the crowd there.

The glory days of the theatre happened during the time when coffee exports for the country were at their best. There were many good patrons of the arts, and therefore the quality of the performers could not be beat. At one point, there was also a tax on coffee for the arts. That kind of free flowing money also shows in the design of the building that houses the company. If you ask about any local, the Teatro Nacional is considered the most historical structure in all of San Jose. It is well known for lavish furnishings and a beautiful, rich looking interior that was designed to even rival the great theatres of Europe.

In the front of the theatre is a statue of Calderon de la Barca and Ludwig van Beethoven, which are worth taking a moment to check out. Those statues are features on some of the paper money in the country. The theatre regularly performs several times a week, so you may want to catch a performance while in San Jose.

The Grand Hotel of Costa Rica is a true gem among the hotels of San Jose, Costa Rica, and it also happens to be the very first such hotel in the country. It was formed in 1928, and up till that time, there was no major first class hotel in the capital city. An act of the Constitutional Congress of the Republic of that year made it possible to get the hotel in town. The hotel got funding from the government, and in turn the hotel agreed to always sell Costa Rican coffee, as well as the hotel agreed to always keep two rooms available for the government to use for dignitaries and the like.

In 2004, President Abel Pacheco declared the hotel to be a national landmark of the country. The architecture of the place is also quite wonderful, expressing the best in Victorian style architecture. In recent times, the Choice International Hotel chain has acquired the hotel, and added it to its growing list of historic hotels that are being turned into Resorts. It remains a popular destination in the capital city not only because of its historicity, but because it also sits very close to the ocean and some of the best mountain side landscaping in the country. 
On December 7th, 2004, the Gran Hotel Costa Rica was declared by the President of the country Abel Pacheco a historical-architectural landmark of Costa Rica, not only for being the first major hotel of the country, but also for its long trajectory, its architecture, which represents the San José of those years, and the historical complex it forms with other landmarks in the area.

The Melico Salazar Theatre is located in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country, as it maintains a very heavy schedule of concerts, plays, and performances each year. In fact, many people have called this location the Madison Square Garden of the country.

Upon first glance, one will notice that it is quite a large building. It represents some of the best European Baroque style architecture in the country, but is not nearly as ornate as the Teatro Nacional just a block away.

Jose Raventos started the theatre in 1927 by buying land for the building. He had always dreamed of constructing a place to perform a type of Spanish operetta called Zarzuelas. The architect was Jose Garnier Ugalde. The location was ready to go by 1928, and the first performance given was the classic operetta Esperanze Irish.

A more lavish style gallery was added to the building in 1960, but it sadly burned in a fire just seven years later. For the next ten years, the location would not do well. It would take until 1985 for the old theatre to really get back on its feet again. In that year, the government passed a law declaring the theatre a “cultural institution especializada.” In that year, the theatre was given its current name to honor Manuel Melico Salazar.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of San Jose is located on Calle Central and 2nd Avenue in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. It was built in 1802, and has been the seat of the Catholic people of the city since. Sadly, in the early 1800s, the location was damaged by an earthquake. In 1871, it was rebuilt into the current structure that stands today.

The new center of worship combines Greek Orthodox, Neo Classical, and Baroque styles of architecture together in a way that honors the old and new portions of the church. The Doric style pilasters and neo classical pediment with steeples located on the side of the building are a fine example of how that melding of architectural styles happened.

You will want to pay a visit to the inside of this church also. The finely tiled Colonial floors and stainless windows are quite lovely. Various biblical themes adorn the windows. You will also want to check out the wooden Cherubs and figure of Christ at the altar.

In 1983, the church received a very special visit from Pope John Paul II. You will be able to see a marble plaque at the church commemorating the event. Two former archbishops, as well as an old Costa Rican President are buried in the basement of the building.

The Correo Central is the old historic Central Post Office of San Jose, Costa Rica. The neat thing is that it is still in full operation today. It was first opened in 1917, though the overall architectural design of the building would suggest that it is much older.

On the first floor of the building there is a Stamp Museum that is pretty neat, especially seeing as how the hobby of stamp collecting is very popular in the country. You can get classic examples from the history of the country here. Plus, how often do you see a stamp museum in an operating post office? The area is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. It is also open 8:00 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. Admission to the museum is free, since it is part of the post office.

There is a small park that is located right next to the building, which is a great spot to stop and rest. Some of the most beautiful fig trees in the country are located here, and provide a peaceful resting place for the wearing traveler.