Overview
San José, Costa Rica's mile-high capital, sits in the green Central Valley and is the main gateway to the country's rainforests, volcanoes and beaches. The city rewards a day or two with fine architecture, strong museums and a lively food scene, and its climate stays mild all year. This page shows live fares to help you find cheap flights to San José.
Best time to fly to San José
Costa Rica has two seasons. The dry season, roughly December to April, brings the sunniest weather and the busiest, most expensive flights, peaking over Christmas, February half-term and Easter. The green season, May to November, has bright mornings, afternoon rain, lower fares and fewer visitors, with September and October the wettest in the Central Valley. San José itself stays spring-like at around 20–27°C. See the When to book chart above for the month-by-month pattern.
Airlines and routes
British Airways has flown the only direct route, London Gatwick to San José, seasonally in the winter months; the outbound leg takes about 11 hours. Otherwise, and from airports such as Manchester, you connect through one hub — Iberia via Madrid, KLM via Amsterdam, Air France via Paris, Lufthansa via Frankfurt, or United, American and Delta via US cities like Newark, Miami and Atlanta. Copa also links via Panama City. With a stop, allow around 15–19 hours in total. It pays to compare the seasonal Gatwick flight against a connecting departure from your nearest airport.
Things to do in San José
San José keeps its best sights in a walkable centre, ideal for a night or two before you head to the coast.
- Teatro Nacional: a lavish 1897 opera house with marble staircases, painted ceilings and an elegant café.
- Pre-Columbian Gold Museum: more than 1,600 gold artefacts displayed underground beneath Plaza de la Cultura.
- National Museum of Costa Rica: pre-Columbian stone spheres and a walk-through butterfly garden in a former army barracks.
- Mercado Central: a bustling covered market from 1880 for local diners, spices and freshly roasted coffee.
- Barrio Escalante: the city's most fashionable district, full of craft breweries and standout restaurants.
At Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)
Costa Rica's main airport is in Alajuela, about 20 km north-west of central San José, usually 30 to 45 minutes by road and longer in rush hour. Official airport taxis are bright orange and metered, costing roughly US$25–30 to the centre. Pre-booked private transfers, ride-hailing apps and inexpensive public buses also run, and car hire desks sit just outside arrivals for onward drives to the volcanoes or beaches.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to San José
- Book winter trips early: for December to April departures, reserving several months ahead usually secures the best fare — check the price charts on this page.
- Consider the green season: May, June and November often bring the lowest prices, with dry mornings before the afternoon rain.
- Stay flexible with dates: midweek departures and avoiding UK school holidays can cut the cost noticeably.
- Compare direct and connecting: a one-stop routing via Madrid or a US hub can beat the seasonal Gatwick service, especially from regional airports.
Travel essentials
British passport holders do not need a visa for tourism and can stay up to 90 days, though you may be asked for a return or onward ticket and proof of funds. Keep your passport in good condition with at least six months' validity to be safe. The currency is the Costa Rican colón, but US dollars are widely accepted in hotels and tour offices. No vaccinations are required for entry from the UK unless you are arriving from a yellow fever risk country; check the latest NHS and GOV.UK travel advice before you fly. Tap water in San José is generally safe to drink.
