Attraction Tours in the Salvadoran Capital

October 31, 2026

Tours around San Salvador cluster into four styles. The table below sets them side by side.

Tour style	Main sites
Maya route	Joya de Cerén, San Andrés, Tazumal
Centro Histórico walk	cathedral, Palacio Nacional, Teatro Nacional, Plaza Barrios
Romero visit	cathedral crypt, Divina Providencia hospital chapel
Theatre night tour	Teatro Nacional

The state of exception declared in 2022 remains in force. Carry a copy of your passport photo page and expect police ID checks on the way.

The Maya route

Joya de Cerén, San Andrés and Tazumal are often sold together as one route. Joya de Cerén is a UNESCO site about 36 km from the city, where ash from the Loma Caldera eruption of about 600 CE buried a village. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 16:00 and charges foreigners $10. San Andrés opens on the same days and hours and charges about $3 to $5. Tazumal, in Chalchuapa about 80 km west, shares those days and hours and charges foreigners about $5. Casa Blanca, a second site in Chalchuapa, has a small museum.

Because the distances add up, expect a very long day if you cover all three. The elsalvador.com Joya de Cerén article sets out the fees. For prices on offer, search GetYourGuide .

The Centro Histórico walk

A guided walk covers the cathedral, the Palacio Nacional, the Teatro Nacional and Plaza Barrios. Guided visits to the Palacio Nacional run Tuesday to Sunday. Foreign visitors pay $5 if they are not resident, while residents and Central Americans pay $3 and Salvadorans pay $1. Opening hours depend on the Ministry of Culture schedule.

Romero sites

Saint Óscar Romero’s tomb is in the cathedral crypt, and the crypt is at 2ª Avenida Sur #213. The crypt is open roughly 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Saturday and 07:00 to 18:00 on Sunday. The Divina Providencia hospital holds the chapel where he was killed on 24 March 1980 and the Centro Monseñor Romero rooms. University students lead the tours. Confirm the hours and fee in advance, and visit with respect. See the cathedral crypt page .

Theatre night tour

The Teatro Nacional, built in 1917, offered guided night tours from 10 October to 1 November 2026, from 18:00 to 24:00. The meeting point was Plaza Morazán. Ask locally about any new dates and about the ticket price.

Choosing well

Ask whether entry fees are included in the tour price, since foreigners pay more than Salvadorans.
When going on your own, use official taxis or ride-hailing.
Monday is a poor day: the Maya sites and the Palacio Nacional are closed.