San Salvador is the vibrant capital of El Salvador and its largest city. Nestled in a valley surrounded by volcanoes and lush greenery, this bustling metropolis offers a captivating blend of history, culture, and modern energy. As the beating heart of the nation, San Salvador invites you to explore its history, savor its amazing food traditions, and uncover its unique charm.
The downtown core features inviting plazas, striking cathedrals, the National Palace, and lively markets. Scenic views await at spots like El Boquerón National Park. San Salvador offers something for every traveler!
Whether you’re drawn to the colonial architecture, intrigued by the resilient spirit of its people, or simply eager to experience Central American life up close, San Salvador promises an unforgettable adventure. Get ready to dive into a city that’s as warm and welcoming as its people!
Note: This guide can be paired with our How to Spend a Perfect Week in El Salvador guide and itinerary, as well as guides for each destination included. Find all the links at the bottom of this guide or by clicking here.
San Salvador – Historic District
Hiring a Guide for Touring the Historic District of San Salvador: Tour with a guide if possible. Our tour was led by Gerardo of Papagayo Adventures El Salvador (see the company Facebook page or email [email protected]).
Gerardo speaks perfect English and is a fantastic and knowledgeable guide. He is licensed to give tours throughout the entire country. A private tour of the historic district with Gerardo as your guide will be an unforgettable, rich experience.
Papagayo Adventures, which provides tours and transportation, is a family business started by Gerardo’s father. In El Salvador, private guides can be hired affordably, providing some protection, and making it a win-win situation!
Plaza Libertad
Liberty Plaza (“Plaza Libertad”) marks the geographical center of the city of San Salvador. The plaza is crowned by a marble and bronze monument, which is topped by the “Angel of Liberty” statue. The monument commemorates the nation’s struggle for independence from 1811-1911.
Iglesia El Rosario (Holy Rosary Church)
On the east side of Liberty Plaza is the Iglesia El Rosario. From the outside, the church looks like a nondescript concrete structure.
Step inside to see the astonishingly beautiful display of color created by its stained-glass windows. Every color of the rainbow is present, and the colored light casts onto the black and white tiled floor, creating stunning effects.
Look up to the wall above the door you came in to see the stained-glass Eye of God.
Plaza Gerardo Barrios
One block west of Liberty Plaza, Plaza Gerardo Barrios features a 1909 bronze statue of the former namesake president.
Surrounding Plaza Gerardo Barrios are the National Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador.
National Palace
The current National Palace (El Palacio Nacional de El Salvador), a national historic monument, was completed in 1911. Set on the wide Plaza Gerardo Barrios, this impressive building is a great photo spot, especially in front of “EL SALVADOR” spelled out in large colorful letters.
Metropolitan Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral in San Salvador is an important Catholic church located on Plaza Gerardo Barrios. Originally built in the late 16th century, the church has been rebuilt twice due to earthquake and fire, but still boasts its original Byzantine and Romanesque styles.
Many visitors come to pay homage to St. Oscar Romero, a hero and martyr of El Salvador’s civil war. There is a large painting of St. Romero to the right of the altar. Go downstairs to see the crypt where he is interred.
Entry to the Cathedral is free and it is open 8 AM – 5 PM with masses at 6 AM, noon and 5 PM.
Open Air Markets
Adjacent to Plaza Gerardo Barrios and just to the south are colorful open-air markets with farmers and vendors selling produce, souvenirs and cheap eats – definitely worth a stroll through!
August Festivities
Our guide, Gerardo, shared with us about the August Festivities (Fiesta de San Salvador), which is the largest and longest running festival and holiday in San Salvador. For six days each year, August 1-6, the entire city is caught up in celebration of the Transfiguration of Jesus, The Savior (“El Salvador”), and includes family and religious events as well as parades and partying.
Other Places of Note in San Salvador
Café Luz Negra
Located in the historic district, this independent coffee shop serves up delicious lattes, cappuccinos, frappes, and its signature drink, the Luz Negra. The Café also serves inexpensive pastries and other breakfast and lunch items, such as crepes, panini sandwiches, and pizza.
The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. While there are Starbucks and Juan Valdez chain locations in San Salvador, why not check out and support this local business?
Viva Epresso
Any coffee fan will be delighted with Viva Espresso, an upscale shop and coffee bar in the Col. San Benito area of San Salvador (map).
Super Selectos – Grocery Stores for your modern shopping needs
If you need a modern grocery store with all the essentials for cooking, snacking and picnicking, head to a Super Selectos location. Along with good grocery staples, its large produce section offers a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. It also has a nice bakery with delicious breads and pastries.
Plaza Futura
El Salvador’s World Trade Center area features the Plaza Futura, a modern outdoor plaza with shops and restaurants. When we visited early on Sunday afternoon, local artisans were selling craft clothing, skin care products, scents, home décor, gifts, and more.
We ate lunch in the outdoor dining area, where our server brought us menus from three different restaurants.
Look for the excellent photo spot overlooking the city and Lake Ilopango (Lago Ilopango).
Note: Driving and Walking in San Salvador
Traffic in downtown is heavy and chaotic with many one-way streets and a “survival of the fittest” vibe. Pedestrians do not have the right of way in El Salvador, so be careful crossing roads. Outside of San Salvador, each town seems to have at least one speed bump (tumulos). Sometimes these are hard to see and can sneak up on drivers.
Recommended Accommodation
We stayed at the new Hotel Sueños (book through booking.com). Its fantastic location near the World Trade Center and car rental locations, walking distance (1km) to a mall with a Super Selectos grocery store, and not far from the historic area attractions, makes it a great base for your time in San Salvador.
Our double-double room was clean and adequate with comfortable beds, air conditioning, a walk-in shower, and a small refrigerator.
Eduardo at reception took good care of us, helping with our luggage, and we met José, the owner. Both Eduardo and José speak English. José lived in the US for many years and recently moved back to El Salvador to open this hotel.
An excellent complimentary, in-house cooked breakfast is included with your stay. The breakfast staff was kind and thoughtful of our needs and made us feel at home.
If you don’t need fancy, Hotel Sueños is a great find!
Daytrip from San Salvador: El Boquerón National Park
This national park can be visited as a half-day trip from San Salvador. It is about 30 minutes from the city center to the park. Here you can see the massive El Boquerón crater, the park’s main attraction. The crater is about 550 meters deep and 1.5 km wide – quite an impressive sight!
There are hiking trails along the crater rim with scenic views of the city. At the time we visited, the park was closed for renovations, but we were able to see the crater using an alternate trail to the rim. As of the date of this writing, there should be a new, modern visitor center open.
Check with the visitor center about hiking to the bottom of the crater if you are looking for an adventure and a workout!
Dining Near El Boquerón Crater
After touring the El Boquerón crater, we stopped for lunch at Hacienda San Cristóbal. This restaurant serves delicious, fresh food in an open-air setting. There are fantastic views of San Salvador and Lake Illopongo, with mountains stretching into the distance. Check out the restaurant’s IG: @hsancristobal. Prices are affordable, with a large steak meal costing around $15 at lunch.
with View of San Salvador
Other Related Guides
How to Spend a Perfect Week in El Salvador (with links to each of the guides below)
Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Santa Ana Volcano with Stay on Lago de Coatepeque