San Salvador

City · 🇸🇻 El Salvador

Population 330,543

Area 56 km²

Time zone America/El_Salvador

Official website www.sansalvador.gob.sv

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Featured Lists

Palacio_Nacional_de_El_Salvador.JPG / CC BY 3.0

San Salvador Essentials

San Salvador’s historic core features the Renaissance-style National Palace and the National Theater, the oldest in Central America. Architectural highlights include the modernist El Rosario Church, known for its rainbow stained-glass, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Beyond the center, the city offers cultural insights at the National Museum of Anthropology and the Museum of Art. Natural landmarks include the El Boquerón crater atop the San Salvador Volcano, while the Divine Savior Monument serves as a central national symbol.

10 places

House1090 / CC BY-SA 2.0

San Salvador Essentials

San Salvador’s landscape is defined by its volcanic surroundings and architectural resilience. This selection features the modernist concrete shell of El Rosario Church, famous for its rainbow-stained glass, and the grand National Palace with its ornate courtyards. Religious landmarks like the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Gothic-style Iglesia El Calvario sit alongside poignant memorials, including the 85-meter-long wall of the Monument to Memory and Truth. For nature, El Boquerón National Park offers trails around a massive volcanic crater overlooking the capital.

10 places

René Figueroa / cc-by-sa-2.0

Museums & Art Galleries

San Salvador’s cultural landscape spans grand historical architecture and intimate creative spaces. The National Palace provides a window into the city's political history, while the Word and Picture Museum archives social memory through multimedia collections. Artistic expression is highlighted through the contemporary works at the Museo de Arte (MARTE), the traditional clay miniatures of the Museum of Popular Art, and the iconic designs of Fernando Llort at Arbol de Dios. For interactive learning, Tin Marín offers hands-on exhibits, while the Spanish Cultural Center serves as a hub for contemporary workshops and galleries.

7 places

Olivia Isabel Flores / CC BY-SA 3.0

Religious Heritage

San Salvador’s religious architecture spans from colonial-era foundations to modernist icons. The city houses the Metropolitan Cathedral, final resting place of Saint Oscar Romero, and the modernist Iglesia El Rosario, famous for its rainbow stained-glass interior. Significant historical sites include the Neo-Gothic Basílica Sagrado Corazón and the Capilla Divina Providencia, the site of Romero's 1980 martyrdom. These landmarks reflect the country's deep Catholic heritage alongside influential evangelical centers like the Tabernáculo Bíblico Bautista.

9 places

House1090 / CC BY-SA 2.0

Parks & Nature

San Salvador’s green spaces range from the dramatic volcanic crater of El Boquerón, situated at 5,905 feet, to historic downtown plazas. Plaza Gerardo Barrios and Plaza Morazán serve as the city's civic heart, featuring monuments to national heroes and views of the Metropolitan Cathedral. Within the city, Parque Cuscatlán offers expansive lawns and memorial walls, while Saburo Hirao Park provides a tranquil setting with its Japanese-inspired gardens and children's play areas. These sites combine volcanic geology with urban history and community recreation.

5 places