Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

San Salvador travel guide

San Salvador Tourism | San Salvador Guide

You're Going to Love San Salvador

With 525 990 inhabitants, San Salvador is the most populous city in El Salvador. It is the most popular tourist destination in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything San Salvador has to offer.

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Where to Eat in San Salvador

If you’re looking for affordable options, El Xolo (Av. De La Revolucion) and Monarca (Boulevard el Hipodromo #729) are great picks.

When to visit San Salvador

San Salvador in December
Estimated hotel price
$147
1 night at 3-star hotel
San Salvador in December
Estimated hotel price
$147
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to San Salvador in March, when the average temperature is 77 °F, and the highest can go up to 86 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 64.4 °F, with an average temperature of 73.4 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in August, when precipitation is around 13″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in San Salvador, with an average rainfall of 0″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to San Salvador

Plane

San Salvador is served by 2 airports: San Salvador Ilopango (ILS) and San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL). The closest to downtown San Salvador is San Salvador Ilopango, which is located 10 km from the city center. Further away is San Salvador El Salvador Intl, 33 km from the center of San Salvador. San Salvador Ilopango is the most popular, with regular flights from Air Canada, Avianca, EVA Air and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest flight to San Salvador from the United States departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 2h 47m.

Car

Another option to get to San Salvador is to pick up a car rental from San Luis Talpa, which is about 28 km from San Salvador. You’ll find branches of Budget and Alamo, among others, in San Luis Talpa.

Plane

San Salvador is served by 2 airports: San Salvador Ilopango (ILS) and San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL). The closest to downtown San Salvador is San Salvador Ilopango, which is located 10 km from the city center. Further away is San Salvador El Salvador Intl, 33 km from the center of San Salvador. San Salvador Ilopango is the most popular, with regular flights from Air Canada, Avianca, EVA Air and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest flight to San Salvador from the United States departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 2h 47m.

Car

Another option to get to San Salvador is to pick up a car rental from San Luis Talpa, which is about 28 km from San Salvador. You’ll find branches of Budget and Alamo, among others, in San Luis Talpa.

Airports near San Salvador

ILSSan Salvador Ilopango
SALSan Salvador El Salvador Intl

Airlines serving San Salvador

KLM
Good (1,344 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,888 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,946 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,799 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,729 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,451 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,731 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,571 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,338 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,284 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (7,988 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,323 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (865 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,699 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (1,423 reviews)
EVA Air
Excellent (1,192 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (11,187 reviews)
Air Transat
Good (387 reviews)
Arajet
Good (25 reviews)
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Find flights to San Salvador

Where to stay in San Salvador

Average rates range from around $72 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $100 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hotel Tazumal House and Hotel Bella Luz Centro Historico.

Where to stay in popular areas of San Salvador

Most booked hotels in San Salvador

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Hyatt Centric Las Cascadas San Salvador
4 stars
Excellent (9.4, 283 reviews)
$170+
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Barceló San Salvador
5 stars
Excellent (8.9, 2634 reviews)
$122+
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Holiday Inn San Salvador
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, 685 reviews)
$121+
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Real InterContinental San Salvador at Metrocentro Mall
5 stars
Excellent (8.7, 677 reviews)
$163+
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Quality Hotel Real Aeropuerto
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 914 reviews)
$137+
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Hilton San Salvador
5 stars
Excellent (8.4, 747 reviews)
$176+
View

Renting a car in San Salvador

Renting a car in San Salvador costs $36 per day, on average, or $144 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 5% cheaper than airport locations in San Salvador.

Expect to pay $3.79 per gallon in San Salvador (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $45.42 and $60.57. The most frequently booked car type in San Salvador is Full-size (Ford Explorer or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Class Compact Car or similar) are, on average, 74% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in San Salvador costs $36 per day, on average, or $144 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 5% cheaper than airport locations in San Salvador.

Expect to pay $3.79 per gallon in San Salvador (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $45.42 and $60.57. The most frequently booked car type in San Salvador is Full-size (Ford Explorer or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Class Compact Car or similar) are, on average, 74% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in San Salvador

Mini

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$10/day

Mini

Mini

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$15/day

Mini
Find car rentals in San Salvador

San Salvador Travel Guide - View the KAYAK San Salvador city guide for the best San Salvador travel tips. To help you organize your San Salvador trip ideas, this San Salvador visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.