San SalvadorCapital
El Salvador · Country profile
San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador, the smallest of the Central American republics, a busy, friendly, hard-working city in the valley between the volcanoes that has emerged from a difficult past with a genuine optimism and a fast-changing present. The historic centre holds the cathedral, the national palace and the modernist church of the Rosario, and the modern districts spread the restaurants, the malls, the coffee shops and the daily life of the contemporary capital. The city is the natural base for the whole country, from the surf beaches of the Pacific to the coffee highlands and the ruins of the Maya. Safe, improving and genuinely warm, San Salvador is the surprising, underrated heart of a country defying its old reputation.
About San Salvador
San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador. The city's documented population is around 290,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the US Dollar (USD) and Spanish is spoken; the dialling code is +503.
The Cathedral, the Rosario and the Plazas of the Centre
San Salvador is a compact, busy capital that is quickly outgrowing its old reputation, and the visitor finds a friendly city of the markets, the coffee and the daily hustle. The historic centre with its churches and its plazas anchors the town, while the modern districts, with their malls and their restaurants, carry the present. The city is small and easy, and the volcanoes and the lakes of the surroundings rise within easy reach, with the surf coast an hour away. It is a working, optimistic city, warming up fast and genuinely proud of its country’s turnaround, and it makes a practical, welcoming base for the whole of El Salvador.
The Dry Season, the Pupusas and the Lakes of the Trip
The seasons run the tropical year, with the dry season from November to April the best window and the rainy season from May to October bringing the storms. The historic centre, the cathedral and the modernist church are the essential walk, and the great crater lakes and the surf towns of the country are the classic day trips. The US dollar is the currency, the Spanish is the language and the cards work in the modern areas. The city is safe in its main tourist areas with the current improvements and the usual care at night. The coffee and the pupusas of the country are the great local pleasures. Bring the layers for the cool highland evenings.
The Coffee, the Surf and the Nights of the Modern Districts
The historic centre of the city, with the cathedral, the national palace and the striking modernist church of the Rosario, is the essential circuit, and the museums of the city, from the history of the country to the modern art, fill out the picture. The great crater lakes of the region, the Ilopango and the Coatepeque, offer the swimming and the viewpoints within a short drive, and the surf beaches of the coast and the flower towns of the highlands are the classic excursions. The nightlife and the restaurants of the modern districts hold the evening life of the city. The coffee of the country, among the best in the region, and the legendary pupusas of the streets give the local table its signature. The city is small, friendly and genuinely on the rise.
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- Country
- El Salvador
- Population
- 290,000
- Capital
- San Salvador
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +503
- Country code
- SV
Frequently asked questions
Is San Salvador the capital of El Salvador?
Yes — San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador.
What currency do I need in San Salvador?
The local currency is the US Dollar (USD). Languages spoken in El Salvador include Spanish.
What is the dialling code for El Salvador?
The international dialling code for El Salvador is +503.
Flying out of San Salvador? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.