Gaudy’s

San José


Popular with shoestring travelers for years, this homey hostel inside a sprawling modernist house northeast of Parque La Sabana has 13 private rooms and three dormitories. The owners keep the design scheme minimalist and the vibe mellow, with professional service and well-maintained rooms. There’s a communal kitchen, a TV lounge, a pool table and a courtyard strung with hammocks.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby San José attractions

1. Monumento León Cortés

0.26 MILES

This bronze statue of the 1930s Costa Rican president stands regally at the eastern entrance to La Sabana park.

2. Museo de Arte Costarricense

0.29 MILES

This Spanish-style structure served as San José’s main airport terminal until 1955. The remodeled museum features regional art, a sculpture garden, a huge…

3. ICE Building

0.5 MILES

Headquarters for the Costa Rican Electricity Institute.

4. Parque Metropolitano La Sabana

0.57 MILES

Once the site of San José’s main airport, this 72-hectare green space at the west end of Paseo Colón is home to a regional art museum, a lagoon and…

7. Mercado Borbón

0.88 MILES

The Mercado Borbón is a true sensory experience of sights and smells, and you might catch the daily hand-truck race among the workers. The focus is on…

8. Mercado Central

0.95 MILES

Though josefinos mainly do their shopping at chain supermarkets, San José’s crowded indoor markets retain an old-world, authentic feel. This main market,…