San Salvador

Travel Guide
Iglesia Don Rua featuring a garden and a statue or sculpture
The sprawling capital of El Salvador has a turbulent history, which is well documented in its museums and still visible in its national monuments.

El Salvador’s capital has a modern edge, yet at its core the traditional charms of Central America are maintained. Walk San Salvador’s long, straight boulevards and explore its maze of narrow streets to find trendy bars and bustling markets. Sport and the arts define the city’s modern-day residents and their enthusiasm for soccer and culture is contagious.

Learn more about Mayan history and admire ancient ceramics at the Museo Nacional de Antropología David J. Guzmán. Visit the Joya de Ceren Archaeological Site to see how indigenous farmers lived before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. To experience how fanatic the locals are about soccer, see a game at the Estadio Cuscatlan. Art lovers shouldn’t miss the Museo de Arte de El Salvador.

While the San Salvador Volcano is a stunning backdrop to the city and provides great hiking trails, there were devastating landslides from its slopes in 1986 during an earthquake. Destructive on another level was the civil war, which raged until 1992. Since then, many of the city’s grand buildings have been restored, such as the Catedral Metropolitano and the impressive Palacio Nacional.

When walking around, be aware of your surroundings and take all necessary precautions to avoid becoming a target of criminals, especially after dark. To find out where it is safe, ask the locals about their favorite local attractions. During weekends, buy crafts and see street artists along the Paseo del Carmen in the San Tecla neighborhood. Another popular choice is the Zona Rosa nightlife strip with clubs and restaurants.

El Salvador has an international airport and long-distance bus connections to other Central American countries. Surrounding the capital are coffee plantations, volcanoes and surfing beaches. To ensure your safety when traveling around, always opt for a taxi or organized tour over driving by yourself. To see the country’s largest crater lake, take a taxi to the Lago de Ilopango just east of the city.

Where to stay in San Salvador

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San Diego

You'll enjoy the beaches and parks in San Diego. You might want to make time for a stop at San Diego Beach or El Amatal Beach.

San Diego
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Playa San Diego

Playa San Diego might not have many top sights, but San Diego Beach and El Amatal Beach are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Playa San Diego
Museo de Arte de El Salvador which includes signage

Zona Rosa

If you're spending some time in Zona Rosa, Museo de Arte de El Salvador and Bambu City Center are top sights worth seeing.

Zona Rosa
San Salvador featuring religious aspects and a church or cathedral

San Salvador Historical Center

If you're spending some time in San Salvador Historical Center, Palacio Nacional and Catedral Metropolitano are top sights worth seeing.

San Salvador Historical Center
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Xanadu

When in Xanadu, you can plan a visit to El Palmarcito Beach and Sunzal Beach, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Xanadu
Argueta Hotel
Argueta Hotel
2.5 out of 5
Km40, Autopista Comalapa, San Luis Talpa, La Paz
The price is NT$2,044 per night from Mar 31 to Apr 1
NT$2,044
per night
Mar 31 - Apr 1
Stay at this hotel in San Luis Talpa. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in our reviews. Discover ...
7.6/10 Good! (451 reviews)
"y"

Reviewed on 2024/3/6

Argueta Hotel
Barceló San Salvador
Barceló San Salvador
4.5 out of 5
Ave Las Magnolias Y Blvd Del Hipodromo, San Salvador, SS
The price is NT$3,001 per night from Apr 19 to Apr 20
NT$3,001
per night
Apr 19 - Apr 20
Stay at this luxury hotel in San Salvador. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,733 reviews)
"Excellent service, very friendly staff"

Reviewed on 2024/3/26

Barceló San Salvador
Real InterContinental San Salvador at Metrocentro Mall, an IHG Hotel
Real InterContinental San Salvador at Metrocentro Mall, an IHG Hotel
5 out of 5
Blvd. de Los Heroes, San Salvador, SS
The price is NT$6,018 per night from Apr 19 to Apr 20
NT$6,018
per night
Apr 19 - Apr 20
Stay at this spa hotel in San Salvador. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 3 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,009 reviews)
"Friendly staff, centric property but a lot of traffic to go everywhere."

Reviewed on 2024/3/18

Real InterContinental San Salvador at Metrocentro Mall, an IHG Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Plaza Hotel and Suites
Plaza Hotel and Suites
3.5 out of 5
87 Avenida norte y 11 Calle Poniente, San Salvador, SS
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in San Salvador. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (935 reviews)
Overall good value
"The only con was that it was confusing to get to plaza hotel room, other than that I recommend adding breakfast, because it was exceptional, the best I’ve experienced at any hotel. Can’t complain about the room size!"

Reviewed on 2024/3/27

Plaza Hotel and Suites
Novo Hotel & Suite
Novo Hotel & Suite
3 out of 5
Final 61 Avenida Norte Colonia, Escalon, San Salvador, SS
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in San Salvador. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Monumento al Salvador del Mundo and Metrocentro ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (364 reviews)
"Attentive staff and very helpful! I enjoy staying here and the price is reasonable. Breakfast are included with the room and I enjoy it each morning."

Reviewed on 2024/2/5

Novo Hotel & Suite
Coco Surf Tropical Village
Coco Surf Tropical Village
3 out of 5
Blvr. Conchalio, La Libertad, La Libertad
Stay at this 3-star beach villa in La Libertad. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Popular attractions Sunzal Beach and Punta Roca Beach are ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (46 reviews)
"Location was good. Off the beaten path a bit but you could walk the beach to a few little restaurants. 15 min drive to El Tunco for shops and nightlife. Furniture coud have been more comfortable (cement "couches" with a pad over them). Door seals had large cracks so a few ants got in. Overall though, ..."

Reviewed on 2024/2/28

Coco Surf Tropical Village
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of San Salvador

4.4
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
173
" "5 - Excellent 50%
4 - Good
140
" "4 - Good 40.46242774566474%
3 - Okay
29
" "3 - Okay 8.38150289017341%
2 - Disappointing
2
" "2 - Disappointing 0.5780346820809249%
1 - Terrible
2
" "1 - Terrible 0.5780346820809249%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Apr 3, 2020

We find such beauty in El Salvador. There so many beautiful place to see. Our driver was amazing. Took us to places that were out standing. Felt very safe everywhere we went.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 29, 2020

Everyone told me it is dangerous but I did not witness anything like this though I stayed in a nice area and didn't go out too much at night.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 25, 2020

Heavy traffic most of the time. Mucho trafico casi todo el tiempo.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 19, 2020

I really loved it's people so friendly and kind

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 11, 2020

Go out and explore!! Beautiful sightseeing.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 11, 2020

Beautiful country