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.

Where to Eat in San Salvador

If you’re looking for affordable options, Monarca (Boulevard el Hipodromo #729) and La Gastroteca (Hotel Suites Las Palmas) are great picks.

When to visit San Salvador

San Salvador in March
Estimated hotel price
$136
1 night at 3-star hotel
San Salvador in March
Estimated hotel price
$136
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 6 miles from the city center. Further away is San Salvador El Salvador Intl, 20 miles from the center of San Salvador.

Car

Another option to get to San Salvador is to pick up a car rental from San Luis Talpa, which is about 18 miles from San Salvador. You’ll find branches of Avis and FlexWays, 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 6 miles from the city center. Further away is San Salvador El Salvador Intl, 20 miles from the center of San Salvador.

Car

Another option to get to San Salvador is to pick up a car rental from San Luis Talpa, which is about 18 miles from San Salvador. You’ll find branches of Avis and FlexWays, among others, in San Luis Talpa.

Airports near San Salvador

Airlines serving San Salvador

KLM
Good (1,365 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,802 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (9,126 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,801 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,595 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,680 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,987 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,580 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (7,613 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (8,271 reviews)
Frontier
Good (3,718 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (842 reviews)
Avianca
Good (3,140 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (2,123 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (2,056 reviews)
EVA Air
Excellent (1,382 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (12,924 reviews)
Air Transat
Good (397 reviews)
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Where to stay in San Salvador

Average rates range from around $77 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $112 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of San Salvador

Most booked hotels in San Salvador

Barceló San Salvador
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, 2722 reviews)
$109+
Holiday Inn San Salvador
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 701 reviews)
$127+
Hilton San Salvador
5 stars
Excellent (8.8, 776 reviews)
$152+
Real InterContinental San Salvador at Metrocentro Mall
5 stars
Excellent (8.6, 637 reviews)
$150+
Quality Hotel Real Aeropuerto
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 719 reviews)
$159+
Beverly Hills: Hotel & Business
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1058 reviews)
$87+

Renting a car in San Salvador

Renting a car in San Salvador costs $40 per day, on average, or $159 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

Expect to pay $4.09 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 $49.06 and $65.41. The most frequently booked car type in San Salvador is Full-size (Mitsubishi L200/Triton or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Suzuki Celerio or similar) are, on average, 68% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in San Salvador costs $40 per day, on average, or $159 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

Expect to pay $4.09 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 $49.06 and $65.41. The most frequently booked car type in San Salvador is Full-size (Mitsubishi L200/Triton or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Suzuki Celerio or similar) are, on average, 68% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.