When I visited San José for the first time in 2022, I arrived with a chip on my shoulder after having read article after article about how dangerous the city is. Now that I live only 30 minutes away, my opinion has changed dramatically. While many travelers — especially solo women — avoid Costa Ricas capital, I think theyre missing out by skipping it.

　　If you want to experience San José, these are my top 10 safe ways to do so, including where to stay, transportation tips, and more.

　　Table of Contents

　　Toggle 1. Leave your flashy jewelry at home.2. Use your cards instead of cash.3. Wear your backpack on the front.4. Stay away from large crowds.5. Map out your walking path.6. Opt for Uber instead of taxis.7. Dont engage with scammers.8. Stay in at night.9. Only use ATMs inside a bank.10. Organize airport transportation ahead of time. 1. Leave your flashy jewelry at home. You might be surprised how many times Ive seen thieves snag gold chains and flashy earrings off people in San José. This doesnt have to happen to you if you leave your shiny jewelry at home. If you decide to bring it anyway, I suggest locking it in your hotels safe while you explore San José.

　　There are other places in Costa Rica where you can wear all the bling you want, just not on the streets of San José.

　　2. Use your cards instead of cash. Carrying large amounts of cash stresses me out when I travel. If I dont have to carry bills, I dont. Since Costa Rica uses both the colón and the dollar, its both easy and cost-effective to pay with a US debit or credit card. Plus, most places take cards. I only ever use cash at the weekly farmers market.

　　If you decide to go as cash-free as possible, make sure to let your bank know youll be traveling to Costa Rica. If possible, also bring a backup debit or credit card in case one gets lost or stolen.

　　3. Wear your backpack on the front.

　　In downtown San José, I see (Costa Ricans) wearing their backpacks on the front of their body to avoid pickpockets. If ticos do it, so should you! This is especially necessary in big markets like Mercado Borbón or Mercado Central, where pickpockets are common.

　　4. Stay away from large crowds. Avoid large crowds or crowded places as much as possible. Some sites on your San José itinerary, like the big markets, may be exceptions, but if you see a sea of people gathered anywhere downtown, its best to steer clear. I dont see this happen often, but occasionally, there may be marches or protests. These have sometimes gone awry, and they can be unpredictable or volatile.

　　Also, pickpockets choose large crowds, because its easier for them to snatch someones phone or wallet without being noticed. As a visitor, theres no reason to engage with these large gatherings anyway, so if you see one, I suggest going elsewhere.

　　5. Map out your walking path. San José isnt a city I recommend exploring on foot without a plan. Sure, there are plenty of places in Latin America where wandering the streets can be fun, exciting, and even magical. Sadly, this isnt one of them. Even in areas like Barrio Amón, Otoya, or Escalante, it is easy to take one wrong turn and end up somewhere you may not feel safe.

　　Download an offline map of San José and know your destination if youre heading out to walk somewhere. Some routes are great for a stroll during the day, including the entirety of Paseo Colón (from the pedestrian street to La Sabana), the few blocks around Parque Francia near Barrio Escalante, or the pedestrian streets near the Teatro Nacional.

　　The areas in green on the map below are the safest in San José to explore on foot:

　　6. Opt for Uber instead of taxis. Uber is the easiest and safest way to get from place to place in San José. Taxis are also safe, but drivers will often overcharge foreigners, so I always take Uber (which can also be cheaper). Choosing Uber over taxis is a general travel safety rule for me, because I like that I can report a driver if anything strange or inappropriate happens; they also know they will be held accountable for their actions and are less likely to try anything dicey. Plus, with Uber, you always know what youll pay to get from point A to point B. Taxis can be unpredictable and end up asking for more than what you bargained for.

　　7. Dont engage with scammers.

　　There are a lot of common scams in San José to watch out for. People will often approach travelers and ask them for money or help with directions (in English) while an accomplice takes advantage of the distraction to rob them. Ive seen this happen before, in the middle of the day, near the Teatro Nacional.

　　Even if it feels rude, I always ignore random people who try to stop me in the street in San José. It doesnt always feel good, but there are too many scammers out there. Not everyone who approaches travelers on the street is one, but its impossible to know. Ticos outright ignore them, so they wont be fazed if you do too.

　　8. Stay in at night. I dont love writing this, but I dont recommend walking around at night in San José. The only exception to this is Barrio Escalante, which is well lit and mostly has restaurants, bars, and shops. This area (see the map above) is a hub for college students and young professionals and is quite lively in the evening, so it feels safer than the rest of the city.

　　When in doubt, hop in an Uber. There are so many great restaurants to go to for dinner (or take a food tour!), and you shouldnt have to miss out on them. Even if its only a few blocks away, it never hurts to spend a couple of bucks on an Uber for some peace of mind.

　　9. Only use ATMs inside a bank.

　　This is a rule of thumb for anywhere in the world. ATMs inside banks in San José usually have a guard, which makes taking out cash much less stressful. The ATM fees in Costa Rica can be outrageous, however, as much as $10 USD per transaction. Some banks have higher fees than others, and the lowest one Ive found for taking out colones is Banco Popular, which has three locations within the green walking zone on the map above.

　　10. Organize airport transportation ahead of time. Taxi scams run rampant at the San José airport, so I recommend organizing transportation before you land. One option is to order an Uber, though taxi drivers will often heckle travelers while they wait for their car to arrive. Another option is to arrange a shuttle, which will likely be more expensive yet much easier and safer. You can book a shuttle through Viator here.

　　***

　　When people ask me, Is San José safe? I often dont know how to respond, because its more complex than a yes-or-no answer. Yes, San José can be a safe place to visit for solo female travelers, but no, its not the safest place in Costa Rica. Petty theft is the most common crime travelers encounter here, but it is easy to avoid. If you stay safe by following the advice above, youll have a positive experience in San José.

　　If youve been here, what do you think? Did you find San José safe?