According to the 2000 census, the city had a population of 309,672 people in San José Canton: the latter half of the 20th century was a period of rapid growth for the city, considering that in 1950 its population was a mere 86,900. The metropolitan area of San José exceeds the canton limits and surpasses one million inhabitants.

San José City lies in the Torrid Zone, like the rest of the country, but its elevation gives it a mild climate. The temperature ranges between 18 °C and 26 °C. The rainy season is from April to late November but cloudiness and rainfall can occur during the dry season. Relative humidity tends to range between 60% and 90%.

The National Theather and the Melico Salazar offer hectic calendars of cultural activities, featuring theather and dance groups and orchestra music throughout the year.

Besides the nightlife in San José, there are many museums and other attractions offering alternative ways of exploring the city. One of these is the Gold Museum, which offers a rare look at various gold artifacts of the ancient Latin American civilizations. An interesting attraction for the less adventurous is the Lankester Botanical Gardens just outside of San José.

There are some cafés in the downtown area, in the Central Mail building, The National Theather and the Melico Salazar, where national coffee is prepared and served in typical Costa Rican ways.

Source: Wikipedia