Before you set off Walking is practical in the Centro Histórico and less so almost everywhere else. Since 2022 the country has operated under a state of exception that remains active, so keep a photocopy of your passport photo page on you and be ready for police ID checks. FCDO reports petty crime and robberies, and it advises against walking alone on remote trails. Go in daylight, carry only what you need and take an official taxi or ride-hailing car to the start.

How much time you have decides what to see. This page sorts San Salvador’s sights into a two-hour visit, a half day and a full day. Since 2022 the country has operated under a state of exception that remains active, so keep a photocopy of your passport photo page on you. FCDO also reports petty crime and robberies, so take official taxis and keep valuables out of sight. See the FCDO safety page for the latest.

Romance in San Salvador comes down to three simple choices: a view, a table or a walk. The city is a working capital in an inland valley, with no beaches of its own, so there are no resort-style options here. The coast is 35 to 45 km south and its strong rip currents make it a place for strolling on the sand, not for swimming. Since 2022 the country has operated under a state of exception that remains active, so keep a photocopy of your passport photo page and be ready for police ID checks.

San Salvador works best as the first and last night of a longer trip. This page offers three route sizes, from two to four days, and each one starts and ends in the capital. Since 2022 the country has operated under a state of exception that remains active, so keep a photocopy of your passport photo page on you. Two days: the capital and one outing Spend day one in the Centro Histórico.

The rainy season runs from June to November and brings floods and landslides, so it helps to keep a wet-day plan beside a dry-day one. This page splits San Salvador’s family outings that way. Since 2022 the country has operated under a state of exception that remains active, so parents should carry a photocopy of their passport photo page and expect police ID checks. On a wet day Tin Marín Children’s Museum.

The capital sits in a valley, and the excursions fan out in three directions. East is a lake, south is the Pacific coast and west holds the ruins and the flower route. Since 2022 the country has operated under a state of exception that remains active, so keep a photocopy of your passport photo page on you. Choose an official taxi, a ride-hailing car or a tour, since FCDO advises against public buses.

Choosing a tour is easier when you know the questions to ask. This page answers the common ones for San Salvador. Since 2022 the country has operated under a state of exception that remains active, so keep a photocopy of your passport photo page with you whichever tour you pick. Which tour covers the old centre? A guided Centro Histórico walk takes in the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Palacio Nacional, the Teatro Nacional and Plaza Barrios.

A budget view works well in San Salvador, because many of the best things to do cost little or nothing. Prices below are in US dollars, which is what you use everywhere, and only a few businesses take bitcoin. Since 2022 the country has operated under a state of exception that remains active, so keep a photocopy of your passport photo page on you and be ready for police ID checks.