This is an authentic experience. Indoor bustling market in the center of downtown San Jose with vendors selling all sorts of items including fruits and vegetables, flowers, clothing and electronics. This place is filled with locals and tourists like me are few, but I felt comfortable here. There are several places with a counter and seats to grab some food so make sure you take advantage of trying some local fare while here.

Get to see a bit of every day real local Costa Rican life at this indoor market! You can see lots of different sections, the food court bring the most interesting- try the local ice cream which has been in the market since 1901! It feels safe to walk around, it’s not the type of market where you get harrassed, everyone is just getting on with their day. Some surprises in there - chickens in cages for sale, and puppies - to be honest, that I’m not comfortable with as it feels the spaces are too small for the animals, albeit they looked well. These tend to be near the edge, a bit more hidden and are only one or two out of the whole market. The flower stalls are pretty, and there are interesting food and herb stalls to explore. It’s clean inside the market and feels safe, as a solo female. I would however say the area outside is not so pleasant and you may get harrassed and shouted at quite aggressively by unfortunate homeless, just walk past quickly and get inside. Perhaps worth getting an Uber rather than walking up unless you’re with other people. Definitely somewhere to visit if you’re staying in San Jose as it’s part of the whole local experience,

This market was an amazing experience if you want to see more of Costa Rica, but it was not the tourist friendly place we expected. Parking is impossible to find and we ended up in a bad area where multiple locals told us to get out of there as soon as possible. There were a few souvenir shops in this market but we didn't see any other tourists. It was primarily locals coming for local food and other items. I think there are probably better places to experience the culture and do some shopping.

With not too many options of things to do in San Jose, we opted to check out the market and city center. Things to keep in mind if you are considering it. 1. Traffic is pretty crazy, we drove and finally parked in a lot we found. Street parking is basically impossible. 2. Some describe the area as unsafe, I would disagree. Would I be there after dark? No. During the day? It’s fine. 3. My family loves to experience culture and explore. This area is full of locals and not many tourists. 4. The market is full of little shops and restaurants. 5. My family enjoyed being in the city center but it may not be for everyone.

We wandered around here during our recent stay in San Jose and enjoyed the market. There are lots of places to eat here (we had some nice ceviche) and many shops with souvenirs if you are looking for that sort of thing. There is also a nice range of produce and vegetables although Mercado Borbon (not far away) is better for this sort of thing. It is definitely worth coming here though if you like the market scene and are looking for something to do in San Jose.

You can stroll for a long time in this completely covered central market. Wander through the small alleys and enjoy the diverse smells and colors of the different fish, meat, flower, animal, souvenir and other shops! In-between the shops you will find local food restaurants with good and cheap food, including the special ice cream shop Lola Mora.

Market. One of my favourite words. It’s a place where you uncover the life blood of a community. And this one in San Jose rose to the challenge. The smell is what hits you first - fish! Then as you move further into the bowels of this what seems endless building, you come across meats, herbs, flowers (Australian gum tree leaves), fruit, vegetables, flowers, touristy trinkets, sweets, candles, ice cream and so much more. I encourage you to engage with the smallholders who are as curious about you, as much as you are about them. This is not a market where they will badger you to buy something. This is a “people’s market” where everyday San Jose residents purchase their food and other goods. With all due respect, once you’ve finished walking around, I recommend you sanitise your hands. So many touch points here for a westerner without a strong constitution could pick up.

For me this market was one of the best places to visit in San Jose. There are any shops and great local places to eat. It is nice to walk around for an hour, but it is not so big, so then an hour is sufficient. Do not forget to grab a bite.

Busy indoor market. Lots of herbs and food. Nice vibe in there. Find La Sorbetera de Lolo Mora - magic sorbet bar. Great, busy staff in uniform and a popular venue. Try the original sorbet its yummy.