Must-SeeCastillo San Felipe del Morro
The great Spanish fortress at the mouth of San Juan Bay, six levels of walls above the sea, with a wide green lawn where families fly kites.
San Juan
A 500-year-old walled city of blue cobblestones and huge Spanish forts, with big Atlantic beaches and great nightlife.
Founded in 1521, San Juan is the oldest city under the US flag. Old San Juan's pastel streets, walls and two enormous forts are a World Heritage Site, and it's a real, lived-in neighborhood too.
Beyond the walls it's a modern Caribbean capital, with long beaches in Condado and Ocean Park, murals and music in Santurce, and some of the best food in the region.
- Best Time
- December–May
- Time Needed
- 3 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round
- Getting There
- Nonstop flights from most big US East Coast cities to San Juan (SJU), about 3 to 4 hours from Miami or New York.
The Short List
12 sights, 7 of them free. Tick off what you've seen and rise from Sailor to Captain of San Juan.
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Must-See
Must-See
Must-SeeCastillo San Cristóbal
The largest fort Spain built in the Americas, guarding the city's land side, with tunnels and the haunted Devil's Sentry Box.
Must-SeeOld San Juan
Seven square blocks of pastel houses, blue cobblestones and iron balconies, about 500 years old, with the umbrella street on Calle Fortaleza.
Worth a Detour
Paseo de la Princesa and the City Walls
A shaded promenade below the massive old walls, ending at the red San Juan Gate, the city's old front door.
Worth a DetourLa Fortaleza
The governor's blue-and-white mansion since 1533, the oldest executive residence in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere.
Cathedral of San Juan Bautista and Ponce de León's Tomb
One of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas, holding the marble tomb of the explorer Juan Ponce de León.
Worth a DetourCondado, Ocean Park and Isla Verde Beaches
The city's long Atlantic beaches: Condado's towers and Ocean Park's kite surfers and low-key guesthouses, with Isla Verde by the airport.
If You're Nearby
Museo Casa Blanca
The house built for Ponce de León's family, who lived there for 250 years, with a lovely garden above the bay.
If You're NearbyLa Placita de Santurce
A market square by day and the city's best street party on Thursday to Saturday nights, with salsa, rum and old-school bars.
If You're NearbySanturce Street Art and Museo de Arte
Huge murals around Calle Cerra, and the island's great art museum in a former hospital.
Casa Bacardí
A tour and tasting at the world's largest premium rum distillery, across the bay by a cheap little ferry.
Piñones
Beachside kiosks east of the city for fried alcapurrias and coconut water, with a long boardwalk through the mangroves.
Neighborhoods
- Old San JuanThe walled colonial city, with forts, plazas, shops and bars.
- CondadoBeach hotels and restaurants along Ashford Avenue.
- Ocean ParkA quiet, residential beach area with guesthouses and kite surfers.
- SanturceMurals, the art museum, and La Placita's nightlife.
- Isla VerdeResorts on a wide beach, near the airport.
Getting Around
Old San Juan is best on foot, though hilly, and driving there is a pain. Taxis and ride-share cover the short trips to Condado, Ocean Park and Santurce. The small AcuaExpreso ferry crosses to Cataño. For El Yunque, Ponce or the ferries to Vieques and Culebra, rent a car or book a tour.
Plan Your Visit
- Day 1: El Morro and San Cristóbal, then the streets of Old San Juan and the Paseo de la Princesa at sunset.
- Day 2: morning on the beach at Ocean Park, the art museum and Santurce's murals, then La Placita at night.
- Day 3: a day trip to El Yunque.
Know Before You Go
- US citizens need no passport from the mainland. The dollar is the currency, and most people speak Spanish, with plenty of English in tourist areas.
- Hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking from August to October. Check forecasts and consider travel insurance.
- Cruise days fill Old San Juan: go early or stay for the evening.
- The power grid has been unreliable since Hurricane Maria in 2017, so outages can happen.
Where to Stay
Stay in Old San Juan for atmosphere, or Condado or Ocean Park for the beach.
What to Eat
- MofongoMashed fried green plantains with garlic, often stuffed with seafood or meat. The island's signature dish.
- LechónSlow-roasted pork. Serious fans drive to the lechoneras of Guavate, about an hour south.
- Alcapurrias and bacalaítosFried fritters from beach kiosks, especially at Piñones.
- MallorcaA sweet, sugar-dusted breakfast bun, classic at old cafés and bakeries in town.
- Piña coladaPuerto Rico's own. Two San Juan bars claim the original.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
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Go Next
Must-SeeEl Yunque National Forest
Puerto Rico
The only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, an hour from San Juan, with waterfalls and tree frogs.
Full Guide
Worth a DetourVieques
Puerto Rico
A sleepy island of wild horses and empty beaches, home to one of the world's brightest bioluminescent bays.
Full Guide
Worth a DetourCulebra and Flamenco Beach
Puerto Rico
A tiny island with Flamenco Beach, often ranked among the world's best, and rusting Navy tanks on the sand.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the US Territories list.