55Doable with Planning
New York City
United States
Americas
NYC is challenging — street level is fine, but the subway will break you.
Best stroller: Compact
Costa Rica
San José
58/100Doable with Planning🌱 Limited data
San José sits in a mountain valley with mixed infrastructure — Costa Rican 'Pura Vida' culture is incredibly welcoming to families.
✅
Bring your stroller
This city is stroller-friendly. Compact strollers work best.
Key Factors
- •Generally manageable
- •Compact stroller recommended
Watch Out For
⚠️Mercado Central
📋 The Bottom Line
San José reflects Costa Rica's transition from developing to developed nation with modern areas alongside traditional challenges. The central valley location provides mostly flat terrain, though some areas have hills. Costa Rican culture embodies 'Pura Vida' - a genuinely family-friendly attitude where children are celebrated everywhere. Modern shopping centers and the growing expat community have improved family infrastructure significantly. The key is choosing areas wisely and embracing the laid-back Tico lifestyle.
Quick Facts
Overall Score58/100
Best StrollerCompact
Biggest ChallengeMercado Central
Data Quality🌱 Limited data
Gear Recommendations
- 🎒Compact stroller works well for mostly flat valley terrain
- 🎒Rain cover essential for wet season (May-November)
- 🎒Sun shade for tropical highland climate
- 🎒Lightweight for easy transport and restaurant access
Score Breakdown
Terrain20%
6/10Slopes20%
5/10Transit12%
5/10Elevators12%
5/10Facilities12%
6/10Crowding12%
6/10Friendliness12%
9/10Neighborhood Guide
🟢 Where It's Easy ✓
- •Modern shopping centers - multiplaza, fully accessible, air-conditioned
- •Sabana Metropolitan Park - flat, large green space, perfect for families
- •Escazú area - modern suburb, wide streets, expat-friendly
- •Hotel zones - international standards, family facilities
- •Downtown pedestrian areas - increasingly family-focused
🟡 Where You'll Struggle ⚠
- •Mercado Central - traditional market, overwhelming crowds
- •Some residential hills - valley edge terrain
- •Older downtown areas - mixed infrastructure quality
- •Rainy season flooding - some areas affected
🎒 When to Bring the Carrier 👶
- •Mercado Central - extremely crowded traditional market
- •Some older neighborhood hills
- •Traditional markets - packed vendor stalls
- •Steep areas around valley edges
Parent Wisdom
❌ What Parents Wish They'd Known
- ✕Mercado Central with stroller (it's chaos)
- ✕Rainy season without weather planning
- ✕Not exploring modern areas (infrastructure varies significantly)
- ✕Missing Pura Vida culture (incredibly family-welcoming)
- ✕Not trying local family restaurants (Costa Ricans love kids)
⭐ Parent-Recommended Spots
- ★Sabana Metropolitan Park - huge, flat, perfect for family picnics
- ★Modern shopping malls - air-conditioned, family dining, accessible
- ★Children's Museum - excellent, interactive, family-focused
- ★Traditional Costa Rican sodas (restaurants) - incredibly family-welcoming
- ★Zoo Ave (day trip) - wildlife rescue, educational, accessible
Similar Destinations
Other cities you might want to explore
38Challenging
San Francisco
United States
Americas
San Francisco's extreme hills make it one of the toughest US cities for strollers — flat areas exist but you have to find them.
Best stroller: Rugged
71Stroller-Friendly
Barcelona
Spain
Europe
Barcelona is stroller-friendly with planning — beach areas great, Gothic Quarter tricky.
Best stroller: Compact
Been to San José with your stroller?
Share a tip to help other parents navigate the city. Your experience could save someone a tough day!
Share Your Tip