The art of urban appreciation: a new San José

San José, Costa Rica's Atlantic Train Station in 1908

Downtown San José, Costa Rica, the city tourists love to hate, is on the upswing. Beautiful historic buildings like the Atlantic Train Station are being renovated, a new commuter train line is fully operational, art festivals abound, and even the graffiti seems to be improving in quality.

The city has brought back its Saturday “Love Your City,” a festival of  arts, music, and yoga in downtown parks. And on Wednesday, Feb 8, the third season of Art City Tours kicks off. From 5 to 9 pm, many major museums and galleries offer free admission. You can take an electric bus (for free) to the various museums and galleries, bike it, or go a pie (on foot). Biking or walking, the tour is self-guided. You can create you own route or follow one of the suggested Art City itineraries. Sign up at their online Art City Tours registration page; they also have an Art City Facebook page.

San José graffiti

If you opt to go by bus, be at either the Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo (MADC, or the Museum of Art and Contemporary Design, at 5th Street and 3rd Avenue) or the Museo del Jade, INS (the Jade Museum, in the INS building, on 5th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues) at 5 pm. Buses are scheduled to start their tour at 5:30 pm.

And as a reminder that we’re still in San Jose, after all, organizers remind us to tomar consideraciones básicas de seguridad (take basic security precautions); and to formar grupos de al menos 4 personas para el recorrido (form groups of at least 4 people if you’re walking).

Stacey Auch, founder, Barrio Bird Tours

If you miss this art tour, consider booking a private tour with Stacey Auch, founder of Barrio Bird Tours. Originally from the U.S. and now a San José resident, Stacey offers a variety of tours, emphasizing everything from food to photography to retiring in Costa Rica. I took her art tour and was amazed at how much I learned about a city I thought I already knew.  From graffiti art to historic architecture, Stacey knows San José. She’ll make even long-time residents feel like they’re seeing the city for the first time.