Information
Landmark: Children’s Museum (Museo de los Niños)City: San Jose
Country: Costa Rica
Continent: North America
Children’s Museum (Museo de los Niños), San Jose, Costa Rica, North America
Overview
In San José, families flock to the Children’s Museum of Costa Rica (Museo de los Niños), a bright, bustling spot that’s earned its place as one of the city’s most loved attractions.The museum sparks curiosity with interactive exhibits, hands-on projects, and lively programs that draw in kids of every age, from building tiny wooden bridges to exploring glowing fossil displays.The Museo de los Niños, opened in 1994 in Barrio Tournón, San José, sits inside the Centro Costarricense de la Ciencia y la Cultura, in what was once a stark gray penitentiary now painted in bright yellows and blues, filled with hands-on exhibits exploring science, technology, history, art, and culture.Interactive Exhibits: The museum features more than 40 themed rooms, where you can spin ancient pottery wheels, lift curious levers, and dive into hands-on activities that spark exploration and discovery.Highlights range from stargazing in the astronomy hall-where you can trace constellations in a dark, domed room-to hands-on anatomy displays that bring the human body to life.Step into Costa Rica’s lush ecosystems in the ecology section, learn the basics of robotics and coding in the tech lab, or watch sparks fly in the electricity and energy zone.Kids can slip into the roles of doctors, firefighters, or chefs in lifelike play areas, and the cultural exhibits walk you through the nation’s history from ancient artifacts to modern stories.There are dedicated play zones filled with games that sharpen problem-solving, plus rotating exhibits that keep each visit fresh.Workshops in art, science, and tech, lively shows, and seasonal celebrations add to the mix.All of it unfolds inside a building that once served as a penitentiary, its heavy doors and high walls a reminder of a very different past.Once a stark prison, the building now bursts with color and laughter, a clear sign of Costa Rica’s devotion to its youth and culture.Bright murals splash across the façade, drawing in children and families to explore one of the world’s most distinctive museums.It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays, with affordable admission and discounts for kids and local residents.The space is wheelchair accessible, family-friendly, and part of the Centro Costarricense de la Ciencia y la Cultura, which also houses the National Auditorium for cultural events and the Gallery of Contemporary Art and Design.Plan to spend two to three hours, especially if visiting with children under twelve, and arrive early to skip the crowds.You can bring snacks for the designated areas, though cafés are onsite.This remarkable shift from cell blocks to classrooms stands as a vivid emblem of the country’s commitment to peace, learning, and the generations to come.Why visit?At the Children’s Museum, laughter mixes with wide-eyed wonder as kids explore hands-on exhibits that spark curiosity and feed their creativity.It’s a great place for families, where you can explore science, culture, and the environment together-maybe peering through a telescope or touching a fossil-while simply enjoying each other’s company.Whether you’re a kid or just feel like one, the Museo de los Niños will spark your imagination-maybe you’ll even leave with paint under your fingernails.
