Overview to San Salvador: Travel Guide and Tourist Information

  San Salvador Cityscape

It’s probably fair to say that San Salvador is a bit off the backpackers’ trail, but those who make the effort to visit the city are pleasantly surprised. A bit raw around the edges, San Salvador can be a touch intimidating at first. But persevere and a real diamond in the rough emerges.

Slung low across a rare plane amongst mountainous surroundings, the city is a seething hive of activity set in a region of tranquility. There’s a certain chaos to life here, and the visitor should be ready to barter and haggle their way around. But that’s all part of the San Salvador's charm!

The atmospheric mêlée of the bustling, dilapidated center of town (El Centro) proves the perfect place to start getting to know the city. Here, noisy streets are lined by buildings in various degrees of disrepair and populated by street sellers busily hawking their wares.

Plaza Barrios is the heart of El Centro and is flanked by the captivating Catedral Metropolitana and the imposing Palacio Nacional. Southwest of the Barrio, the massive Mercado Central sells just about everything, and continues to grow despite the best efforts of the authorities.

The suburbs to the west give off a swanky, modern vibe. With cinemas, bars and nightclubs, Paseo General Escalon is the center of the city’s nightlife. The boulevard begins at the Monumento El Salvador del Mundo, San Salvador’s most venerated plinth.

Part of the city’s appeal comes from its proximity to Central America’s rugged countryside. To get more than just a glimpse of this countryside - and the city itself - drive or hike up the Puerta del Diablo rock formation for a view of the city that is guaranteed to take your breath away.

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