San Salvador Sightseeing Guide

Opening days decide a sightseeing plan in San Salvador, so this page is organised by when each sight welcomes visitors. The state of exception declared in 2022 is still in force, so carry a copy of your passport photo page and expect police ID checks. Petty crime and robberies are reported, according to the UK FCDO , so keep valuables out of sight and use official taxis.

Open every day

BINAES, the national library. It is open 24 hours a day and free to enter. Reopened in November 2023, it has seven levels and sits in the Centro Histórico close to Plaza Gerardo Barrios. The top level, level 7, is a rooftop terrace with a restaurant and a gallery.

Metropolitan Cathedral and Romero crypt. The cathedral faces Plaza Barrios. Saint Óscar Romero is buried in the crypt, which is open from about 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Saturday and 07:00 to 18:00 on Sunday. The crypt address is 2ª Avenida Sur #213. Visit quietly. The crypt page lists current hours.

Teatro Nacional exterior. The 1917 theatre on Plaza Morazán can be admired from the street at any hour. Guided night tours ran from 10 October to 1 November 2026, from 18:00 to 24:00, from the plaza.

Tuesday to Sunday only

Palacio Nacional. Guided visits are offered on these days. Entry is $5 for non-resident foreigners, $3 for Central Americans and resident foreigners and $1 for Salvadorans. Opening hours follow a Ministry of Culture schedule, so check it before you go. The fees come from an elsalvador.com report .

Joya de Cerén. The UNESCO site about 36 km from the city is open from 09:00 to 16:00 and costs foreigners $10.

Wednesday to Sunday

Parque Saburo Hirao. Hours are 09:00 to 16:00. The park holds the Natural History Museum, so check on arrival whether it is open. Salvadorans pay $1 and resident foreigners pay $3.

By Mass only

Iglesia El Rosario. Tourist visits have been suspended until further notice since 10 September 2026. The church opens for Mass only: Monday 07:00, Tuesday to Friday 07:00 and 17:30, Saturday 07:00 and 16:30, and Sunday 09:30, 11:30 and 16:30. Photography is not allowed inside. The architect was Rubén Martínez, and the outside is worth seeing at any time.

Check before you go

MUNA. Non-resident foreigners pay $10, resident foreigners $3 and Salvadorans $1. Confirm hours at the door.

Sightseeing tips

  • Spread the centre over a morning and the museums over another day.
  • The dollar is the currency, and only a few shops accept bitcoin.
  • Monday is the quiet day: the palace and the archaeological sites are closed.

Read more: Walking tours and Attraction tours .

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