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 5 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 Brutto - El Salvador (Av La Capilla, Plaza Bambu) are great picks.

When to visit San Salvador

San Salvador in November
Estimated hotel price
C$ 80
1 night at 3-star hotel
San Salvador in November
Estimated hotel price
C$ 80
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to San Salvador in March, when the average temperature is 25 °C, and the highest can go up to 30 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 18 °C, with an average temperature of 23 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in August, when precipitation is around 330 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in San Salvador, with an average rainfall of 0 mm.

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 centre. Further away is San Salvador El Salvador Intl, 33 km from the centre of San Salvador. The shortest flight to San Salvador from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 5h.

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 centre. Further away is San Salvador El Salvador Intl, 33 km from the centre of San Salvador. The shortest flight to San Salvador from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 5h.

Airports near San Salvador

Airlines serving San Salvador

KLM
Good (855 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,525 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,622 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,306 reviews)
Air France
Good (985 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,583 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,960 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,476 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,838 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (4,540 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (1,353 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (474 reviews)
Avianca
Good (1,329 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (815 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (773 reviews)
EVA Air
Excellent (858 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (5,783 reviews)
Air Transat
Good (273 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in San Salvador

From 5-star hotels such as the Real InterContinental San Salvador at Metrocentro Mall to great affordable options like the Best Western Plus Hotel Terraza, San Salvador offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around C$ 110 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to C$ 145 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, Excellent reviews)
C$ 135+
Holiday Inn San Salvador
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
C$ 156+
Hilton San Salvador
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
C$ 201+
Real InterContinental San Salvador at Metrocentro Mall
5 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
C$ 239+
Ximenas Guest House
2 stars
Good (6.2, Good reviews)
C$ 36+

Renting a car in San Salvador

Renting a car in San Salvador costs C$ 42 per day, on average, or C$ 210 if you want to rent it for 5 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 C$ 1.70 per litre 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 C$ 20.35 and C$ 27.14. Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in San Salvador, while also 68% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in San Salvador costs C$ 42 per day, on average, or C$ 210 if you want to rent it for 5 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 C$ 1.70 per litre 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 C$ 20.35 and C$ 27.14. Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in San Salvador, while also 68% cheaper than other types, on average.