Alajuela

Birthplace of Juan Santamaría, Costa Rica's national hero, this Central Valley city sits close to San José with a walkable centre dense with historic churches and a lively food-and-drink scene. The country's main international airport, named after Santamaría, lies just south of the city, making Alajuela a practical first or last stop, with mountain scenery in the surrounding region.

• Population47,494
• Nearest water from center0.5 km
• Nearest mountain from center8.1 km