National Theater of Costa Rica

A must see! It's gorgeous and has so much history. We were fortunate enough to have a couple of actors as our guides. They were hilarious and informative. I got so many beautiful pictures

Even if you don't have time to do the tour pop into the foyer and have a look round or grab a coffee in the lovely cafe. Definitely worth it

I was here on a food tour of city that included this theater because it was on the route.

Its a very nice structure, and i like the story behind one of the sculptures (the one on the right, mother and baby). The artists defiance in past.

Was only in lobby and looking for 5 min, but very nice theater.''

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One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. You could spend hours here looking at all the intricacies of the art and architecture. I was lucky to have a guide to share lots of information. This it's a can't miss place in San Jose.

I visited the lovely cafe here. A calm space amidst the noisy bustle of San Jose. Visitors to Costa Rica will quickly discover how expensive it is to eat out. It is reasonably priced here compared to other venues, and considering the location. It is possible to book a tour of the theatre but try to do a few days in advance as it quickly gets booked. Try their cafe con leche made in the traditional way at the table. Well filled sandwiches. Hope to try their cakes on our next visit.

Beautiful theatre! A unique look into a bit of the past of Costa Rica, our guide Eileen was lovely and it was great to talk with the conservator-restorers working on the gold doors/frames upstairs. Highly recommend the tour and the cafe inside as well!

Historical spot with most of the original architecture intact. It's a gorgeous place and worth spending some time watching a play. They also have a cafe and it's a cute little spot with a variety of options. This spot is great for a date or just a night out.

I read about this theater in the Lonely Planet guide which promised it would be an excellent tour, and it was! The theater is grand and gives a glimpse into the culture and history of the area. The knowledgeable tour guide and the clever surprise made it fun and fascinating. Please note that English tours are given at 1 and 4 o’clock while Spanish tours are given at 2 and 3 o’clock. We had people in our group from Algeria, France, China, and California, so it was extra fun. This was well worth the time and the money.

Beautiful place. Amazing history. The chairs can be removed so the floor can be raised to stage level in 8 hours using a lot of manual labor to provide a ballroom. Presidential box in the middle of 2nd tier has a private restroom. That's real 24-karat gold gilding. Would love to see a performance here.

I was passing through so I decided to catch a few outside pictures.

Beautiful place and had a bilingual guide. Such an architectural accomplishment.

Absolutely amazing! We did the English tour and did not expect actors to guide us. They were playing the role of President Rafael and his wife Manuela. Incredible tour for just 3500 colones per person, that covers the history, art, and architecture of the theatre. Lasts about 40min

Amazing! Beautiful. Want to see a show there now.

Beautiful building. The tour is inexpensive, the guides do an amazing job and the interior is amazing. Definitely worth it.

A beautiful and ornate theater featuring two guides dressed in period costumes describing the past in this historical playhouse.

Breathtaking. Amazing. Awe inspiring. It's quite difficult to find words that accurately describes the experience. Tonight's show was a symphonic opera and it is one to remember for life. The architecture is amazing an the acoustics are flawless. If you're looking for a magnificent experience with a magnificent impact I highly recommend you attend the National Theater. And by the way they, have a display of beautiful statues and carvings that are absolutely stunning. I would return time and time again and would recommend my friend and family do the same. I totally love this place.

The front of house theater tour is informative and comprehensive ...a beautiful restoration. Be sure to enjoy the cafe...a little slice of Vienna.

One of our most beautiful and iconic buildings ever built.

This National Theater is without a doubt a national treasure that holds the past trapped within its walls. It was built on the Oligarquía Cafetalera era, to be more precise by the lower class. The ones in power, were the owners of the coffee plantations, the provided a small percentage of money to build this master piece, the biggest part was provided by the lower classes via taxes. The richest people did not want to share the floor with the poorest ones, so a third floor was built with exterior separate entrances to those lower classes. The rich people did not know that the best acoustic and view of the orchestra was being enjoyed by the ones on the isolated floor with wooden pews.

The vast majority of sculptures and paintings were done by Italian artists. In fact there is only one sculpture inside the lobby area which was built by a Costa Rican artist. It depicts a woman with and infant on her laps representing misery. He wanted to remind the rich that the lower classes were the ones who build that jewel.

I strongly recommend everyone to visit this magnificent building.

n the center of downtown San Jose, the National Theater of Costa Rico proudly stands. In Beauty, Elegance, Design and Craftsmanship it rivals any Theater anywhere in the world. It is breathtaking. Here is a small sample of the work that the craftsmen of Costa Rica created over six years of painstaking detailed construction, from 1891 to 1897. Don't visit the country without taking a tour of this amazing structure.

Fun tour!!! Lots of European flare and interesting history. The dramatic tour guides were funny and did a great job explaining the place in character.