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Whether you are an art, science or history buff, San Jose's museums offer something for everyone. Native American artifacts, pre-Columbian gold and modern paintings are just a few examples of what you'll discover in the capital city. Most of the main museums are in close proximity to each other, making a circuit tour by taxi or bus an easy option.
Costa Rican Art Museum
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Calle 42, Sabana Este (Behind the Leon Cortes-Castro Sculpture)
San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 2222-7155
Created just twenty years ago as the place for art lovers to see contemporary Costa Rican painting and sculpture, this museum offers modern art in every medium imaginable.
Hours:10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Monday
Costa Rican National Museum
Antiguo Cuartel Bella Vista
San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 2257-1433
Located in the old Bellavista Fortress, the National Museum houses Costa Rica's past surrounded by bullet-riddled stone walls. The National Museum is situated on 17th Street, between Central and Second Avenues, on the Cuesta de Moras. It is adjacent to the Plaza de la Democracia.
The National Museum offers a brief overview of the country's history, beginning with pre-Columbian artifacts, traveling through the time of the conquistadors, and gradually merging into the present. A small butterfly museum rounds out the collection.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Read more about the National Museum
Dr. Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia Museum
Avenida 11 between Calle 25 and Calle 27
Barrio Escalante, San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 2255-1218
This museum is like a wee keyhole that peeks into Costa Rica's history. The museum features a permanent exhibit of materials related to a respected figure from the country's past, former President Rafael Calderón. Various educational programs are offered as well.
Hours:Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Entomological Museum of University of Costa Rica
Faculty of Music of the University of Costa Rica
San Pedro, San Jose
Tel: 2225-5555 Ext. 318
This museum was founded in 1962. Visitors can examine more than a million specimens of butterflies and other insects collected from around the world.
Hours:Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Gold Museum
Plaza de la Cultura
Calle 5, between Avenida Central and Avenida Segunda
San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 2223-0528
Located beneath the Plaza de la Cultura, this museum is home to the most valuable collection of pre-Columbian gold in the world. More than 2,600 gold artifacts are on exhibit, as well as a history of Costa Rica's currency and a collection of rare coins and bills.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Jade Museum
Avenida 7 between Calle 9 and Calle 13
INS Building, Second Floor
San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 2223-5800, Extension 2584
It's not all jade, though the beautiful green stone takes center stage at the aptly-named museum. In addition to pre-Columbian jade jewelry, carved artifacts and display objects, you will find ceramics, precious stones and gold miniatures from different cultural areas of Costa Rica.
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
La Salle Natural Science Museum
Southwest corner of La Sabana
Colegio La Salle
San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 2232-1306
The museum features more than twenty thousand animal specimens from around the world.
Hours: Monday through Sunday from 7:30 to 4 p.m.
Museum of Contemporary Art and Design
Avenida 3 between Calle 15 and Calle 17
San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 2257-7202
Housed in the historic National Liquor Factory, this museum focuses on contemporary art from both Costa Rican and Central American artists.
Hours:Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Closed Sundays.
Museum of Criminology
Organismo de Investigacion Judicial
Corte Suprema de Justicia
San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 2223-0666 Ext. 2378
Criminals and the people who chase them will enjoy this close-up look at some of the most fascinating objects and evidence relating to crime in Costa Rica.
Hours: Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
National Children's Museum 
Calle 4 and Avenida 9
San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 2223-7003
Learning is fun at this interactive museum, where kids play with hands-on exhibits that focus on science and technology, as well as traditional culture, art and literature of Costa Rica.
Hours: Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4:30 p.m.; Weekends 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
National Center of Art and Culture
The former Fabrica Nacional de Licores (National Liquor Factory), located on Calle 11 between Avenida 5 and Avenida 7, regularly hosts various cultural activities and art exhibits.
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Postal Services Museum
Avenida 1, Calle 3
Segundo piso del edificio de Correos de San Jose
San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 2223-9766 Ext. 269
Founded in 1985 to display stamps and other objects related to the history and development of the Costa Rican postal service.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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