Laid out in a grid of narrow, heavily trafficked one-way streets, San José’s tightly packed core contains the city’s most significant sights. The main artery, broad Avenida 2, throngs with honking taxis and buses threading past tree-shaded Parque Central. Running parallel to it and to the north is the Avenida Central, a pedestrian precinct lined with department stores, specialist shops, and places to eat. At the heart of this stroll-and-shop area lies the small concrete Plaza de la Cultura. Humming with activity all day, it’s a popular meeting place for young people and is packed with hawkers as well as musicians and other street entertainers.