Centro Nacional de la Cultura (CENAC), San Jose

Centro Nacional de la Cultura (CENAC), San Jose

This National Center for Arts and Culture is one of the most impressive venues in town. It takes up a whole city block and is crammed full of wonderful things to see. It is located in the building that used to house the National Liquor Factory of San Jose, Costa Rica. Now, as well as housing several performing arts centers and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, it also acts as the offices for the Cultural Ministry of the country.

This museum houses some of the finest contemporary art from the best of Costa Rican artists. Yet, some of the permanent collection includes the works of Jose Cuevas and Oswaldo Guayasamin from Equador, so you will not just find the art of the country here.

The Centro Nacional de Arte y Cultura is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Seniors and children under the age of 11 can get in for free. It will be a hard deal to beat, as you will be able to spend hours here learning about the art and culture of this exotic Central American country.

Tip:
Check what the museum is showing before you go, as expositions change frequently, but you will hardly regret it since this is by far one of the museums that you should know if you are in San José.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Jose. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Centro Nacional de la Cultura (CENAC) on Map

Sight Name: Centro Nacional de la Cultura (CENAC)
Sight Location: San Jose, Costa Rica (See walking tours in San Jose)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in San Jose, Costa Rica

Create Your Own Walk in San Jose

Create Your Own Walk in San Jose

Creating your own self-guided walk in San Jose is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
San Jose Introduction Walking Tour

San Jose Introduction Walking Tour

The history of San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, is that of growth and transformation. Founded in 1736 by the Spanish colonial administration (Cabildo de León) to concentrate the scattered inhabitants of the area, San Jose lacked formal city status until 1812. Surprisingly, but only two years later, the status was revoked. However, in 1820, it was reinstated, and San Jose became Costa...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Historical Buildings Tour

Historical Buildings Tour

What's known today as San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, came into being as a small settlement during the Spanish invasion, circa the mid-16th century. From a town of little importance, San Jose eventually evolved into a densely-populated cosmopolitan city, built mostly with proceeds from coffee trade.

The historic architecture of San Jose is a mix of European and Latin American styles...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Shopping and Food Walking Tour

Shopping and Food Walking Tour

Walking the pedestrian-friendly promenades of Costa Rica's capital – San Jose – is a great way to experience the local culture. Despite an occasional rainstorm, the country's tropical weather makes outdoor shopping an undeniably fun experience. The downtown part of San Jose has no shortage of department stores, traditional marketplaces and souvenir shops selling handcrafts.

The...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


17 Uniquely Costa Rican Things to Buy in San Jose

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Not to be confused with San Jose, the sunny California, San Jose, Costa Rica is the capital city of a wet (250 centimeters of rainfall per year) and colorful Latin American country renowned for its diverse craftsmanship (courtesy of the numerous indigenous tribes), splendid coffee and rich cultural...