The capital of El Salvador, surrounded by leafy volcanoes. San Salvador is the cultural, educational, political, and financial hub of the country — home to 2 million people, colonial architecture, and some of Central America's best street food.
Open MapsPlaces you've visited
Mercado Central
The city's main market — three floors of produce, textiles, and pupuserías. Go hungry.
El Rosario Church
A brutalist concrete shell that hides a kaleidoscope of stained glass inside. Unlike anything else in Central America.
El Boquerón National Park
A volcanic crater 25 minutes from downtown. Hike the rim trail for views over the entire metropolitan area.
Zona Rosa
The city's nightlife and restaurant district. Upscale by day, lively by night. Good cocktail bars.
San Salvador rewards a slow approach. Skip the tourist buses, walk the mercados, eat the pupusas at the corner stall that has the longest line. The city is loud, warm, and genuinely welcoming in a way that no guidebook can prepare you for.