Cheap flights from Dublin to San Jose

Two calendars shape this route: the Irish one and Costa Rica's. Christmas and the Irish summer school break push demand up out of Dublin, so those weeks reward early booking. Costa Rica's dry season stretches from December into April and draws the biggest crowds, while June is the cheapest month in the fare calendar, arriving as the greener months begin. The price table here runs from September through June, which gives a full autumn, winter and spring to compare. If your dates flex, weigh a midweek departure against a weekend one, and price the shoulder months before you fix on dates.

Aer Lingus anchors the route from the Irish side; British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France and Turkish Airlines sell connecting itineraries through their own hubs. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Air Canada cover the North American end, and the transatlantic carrier decides where you change planes. Iberia Express is the low-cost name in the mix, so read what its fare includes: baggage and seat choice tend to come as extras. The full-service carriers usually fold a checked bag and meals into the long-haul fare, which can close a gap that looks wide. Nobody flies the route nonstop, so compare the connection, not just the headline fare.

Land in the evening and the drive into town happens after dark, so decide how you will cover it before you fly. Juan Santamaria International Airport serves the Costa Rican capital and sits a short drive from the centre of San Jose. Official airport taxis and pre-booked shuttles meet arrivals, car hire counters operate from the terminal, and public buses run into the city through the daytime. If your itinerary lands late, the buses may have finished by the time you clear arrivals, so arrange the transfer before departure. Use the official taxi rank outside the terminal rather than unmarked offers inside the hall.

Currency

CRC (₡)

Power sockets

Type A, B · 120 V

Language

Spanish

Emergency number

112, 911

Driving side

right

Calling code

+506

Internet domain

.cr

Population of San Jose

335 k (2025)

Time zone

UTC-06 (America/Costa_Rica)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check whether the fare is one ticket or separate bookings, because a missed connection on separate tickets is yours to rebook.
• Allow a generous connection, especially through the United States, where you clear entry formalities even when only changing planes.
• If you pick the low-cost carrier, price in checked baggage and seat fees before judging the total against a full-service fare.
• Check your passport against Costa Rica's entry rules for Irish citizens before you commit.
• Make sure the ticket names Juan Santamaria in Costa Rica rather than a same-named city elsewhere.
• Test June in the price calendar against your own dates, since the fare list prices it lowest.