The Pedestrian Central Avenue
The pedestrianised Central Avenue is the heart and soul of San Jose. It is lined with shops, restaurants and bars. The avenue's mile-long brick pavement is busiest around 5pm when locals get off work and mill around downtown to hang out with friends, eat, enjoy live music and dance marimba. This is a great place to encounter the real urban Costa Rica and buy a few souvenirs. Bronze statues, elegant lampposts, and nostalgic architecture add beauty to the avenue. The Central Avenue connect major points of attraction: the Central Market, the Central Bank, the Cultural Plaza, the Gold Museum, the Jade Museum, the Arts and Crafts Market, Democracy Plaza, and the historical Congress buildings. Take a free walking tour to get a better understanding of downtown San José. Don't forget to tip your guide!