Flights to San Salvador

From the airport

El Salvador International Airport lies about 45 km south-east of the city, and the drive along the highway usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, longer at rush hour. Official airport taxis and pre-booked transfers wait outside arrivals, and many hotels arrange pick-ups. The airport is closer to the coast than to the capital, so some travellers head straight to the beach and visit the city later.

The historic centre

The centre has been restored in recent years, with pedestrian streets and refreshed plazas. The Metropolitan Cathedral, with its white dome and colourful tiled facade, faces Plaza Gerardo Barrios, and its crypt holds the tomb of Archbishop Óscar Romero, made a saint in 2018. Nearby stand the columned National Palace and the ornate National Theatre. Iglesia El Rosario looks plain from outside, but its curved interior glows with stained glass.

Food, museums and neighbourhoods

Pupusas, thick corn tortillas stuffed with cheese, beans or pork and served with pickled cabbage, are the national dish, and pupuserías are found on almost every street. The Museo Nacional de Antropología explains the country's Maya and Pipil heritage, while the Plaza de las Américas is home to the Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo. San Benito and the Zona Rosa have restaurants, galleries and bars.

Day trips and timing

El Boquerón National Park, on the slopes of San Salvador volcano, has trails to a viewpoint over a wide, deep crater. Joya de Cerén is around 40 minutes west, and Suchitoto and Lake Ilopango are within easy reach. Ilopango fills an old volcanic caldera east of the city, with lakeside restaurants and boat trips. The city's height keeps temperatures around 23 to 30°C all year, with the drier months running from November to April.

Planning a trip to San Salvador? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll find the right flights for you.