Musée des enfants (Museo de los Ninos)

The whimsical painted exterior of the Children’s Museum hides a surprising history. The building was formerly a penitentiary with a brutal reputation. After the prison closed, it lay empty until the former first lady of Costa Rica, Gloria Bejarano de Calderon, had the idea of creating an informative space for children. The museum is dedicated to the idea of learning through playing and exploring, and welcomes many thousands of visitors each year.

Visit the Children’s Museum on its own with a skip-the-line ticket or as part of a sightseeing tour of San Jose.