San José, Costa Rica: Is It Worth to Visit?

San José, Costa Rica is often seen as just a gateway to beaches and rainforests — but how does the capital actually feel if you come from Europe or North America? In this video, we share our personal experience of urban life in San José from an outsider’s perspective. This is not a tourist guide and not a local opinion. It’s an honest look at the city through a European perspective — with its beauty, contrasts, and everyday realities. We explore what surprised us the most about the capital of Costa Rica: pedestrian streets, local markets, cheap pastries, coffee culture, public transport, safety, chaotic architecture, and neighborhoods where people actually live. Some things feel familiar, others feel very different — and that contrast is exactly what makes San José interesting. If you're from Europe, the US, or Canada and you're thinking about visiting Costa Rica, living abroad, or simply want a more realistic perspective beyond Instagram travel content — this video is for you. This video reflects a personal experience at a specific moment in time. Different people experience the same city very differently. Subscribe if you enjoy honest travel stories and real-life perspectives from different countries. 🔔 #Travel #Europe #NorthAmerica #USA #Canada #LivingAbroad #TravelReality #ExpatLife #CostaRica #SanJoseCostaRica 00:00 Intro 00:55 City Center 01:51 Main Street Avenida Central 02:32 The biggest market 03:07 Local Pasteurise 03:26 Graffiti 04:01 The best Chinese Restaurant in the City 04:31 Public Transport 05:23 Traffic 05:45 The City Chaos 06:15 Unique Street Names 06:47 Wires 07:13 The best Coffee and Deserts 07:55 Safety 09:13 La Sabana Neighbourhood 09:33 Coffee in Costa Rica 10:35 Safety again, but with a twist 11:10 Robbery in the park 12:49 Bike Maraphones and Sport 14:33 History of Costa Rica 15:17 University of Costa Rica 16:11 San Jose Zoo 17:47 The most beautiful money in the world 18:05 Grosheries in San Jose for 2 people 18:59 Coconuts 19:28 Pura Vida 20:40 Costa Rica Chocolate All music licensed by Epidemic Sound.