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El Salvador San Salvador travel guide
20 things to do in San Salvador. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in San Salvador
- Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador — catholic cathedral in El Salvador (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Museo de la Palabra y la Imagen — War museum in San Salvador, El Salvador (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Museo de la Fuerza Armada de El Salvador — museum in El Salvador (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Teatro Nacional de San Salvador — theatre located in the Historic Downtown San Salvador, El Salvador (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Museo de Arte de El Salvador — art museum in San Salvador, El Salvador (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Dar-Ibrahim Mosque — mosque in San Salvador, El Salvador (visit ≈ 30 min)
- San Salvador El Salvador Temple — temple of the LDS church (visit ≈ 30 min)
- La Laguna Botanical Garden (visit ≈ 45 min)
- El Boqueron National Park — national park in El Salvador (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Plaza Gerardo Barrios — plaza and cultural heritage site in San Salvador, El Salvador (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe — church in San Salvador (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Parque Cuscatlán — park in El Salvador (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Teatro Presidente — building in San Salvador, El Salvador (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Museo de Historia Natural de El Salvador (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Museo Nacional de Antropología Dr. David J. Guzmán (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Monumento al Mar — fountain in San Salvador, El Salvador (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Monumento a La Constitución de El Salvador — Monument in San Salvador, El Salvador (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Monumento a la Memoria y la Verdad — cultural heritage site in El Salvador (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Iglesia de María Auxiliadora — catholic parish church in San Salvador, El Salvador (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Our Lady of Fatima Church, Los Planes de Renderos — church in San Salvador Department, El Salvador (visit ≈ 30 min)
2-day San Salvador walking itinerary
Starting point: City centre. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 6.9 km · 9,370 steps · 1 h 32 min on the way): Plaza Gerardo Barrios → Teatro Nacional de San Salvador → Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador → Museo de la Palabra y la Imagen → Dar-Ibrahim Mosque → Parque Cuscatlán
- Day 2 (≈ 6.7 km · 9,040 steps · 1 h 29 min on the way): Museo de Historia Natural de El Salvador → Museo de la Fuerza Armada de El Salvador
Day trips
- Joya de Cerén — 23 km from the centre
Good to know before visiting San Salvador
- Fine: Drug offences carry severe penalties.
- Fine: Photographing military sites, police and government buildings is prohibited.
- Warning: Emergency security measures continue; carry ID as police checks are frequent.
- Warning: Surf beaches have strong currents.
- The currency is the US dollar.
- Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality and change often; check official government sources before you travel.
- Emergency: 911
- Plugs: A/B, 120V
- Tap water: Don't drink tap water; use bottled.
- Tipping: About 10% is customary.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: El Salvador, Wikivoyage — El Salvador, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
San Salvador travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in San Salvador?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Add extra days for day trips (Joya de Cerén).
- What are the top things to do in San Salvador?
- Highlights: Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador, Museo de la Palabra y la Imagen, Museo de la Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, Teatro Nacional de San Salvador and Museo de Arte de El Salvador. The map has 20 things to do in total.
- What is the emergency number in San Salvador?
- Emergency: 911.
- Do you tip in San Salvador?
- About 10% is customary.
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