Old San Juan
Viejo San Juan, the historic district of the Puerto Rican capital, is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Puerto Rico. Established in 1521, Old San Juan is one of the oldest settlements in the Americas and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich cultural and architectural heritage. Come prepared with water and a hat, it gets hot here! I usually spend 4-6 hours walking the walled city. If you are renting a car, I park here to be close to the southern part of the city or here to start right next to El Morro. Either one works and both can fill up on busy days.
El Morro
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, also known as El Morro, is a 16th-century fortress located at the entrance of San Juan Bay and the main tourist attraction here. Entrance costs $10 per adult and is free for National Park pass holders. It was built by the Spanish to protect the city from attacks by sea and is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Puerto Rico. Visitors can explore the fortress’s various rooms full of antiques and information plaques and enjoy stunning views of the ocean and city from the top of the fort. If you visit at night, you won’t be able to enter, but the fort is lit up and is well worth walking around.
Museum of the Americas
For those interested in the history of the Americas, visit the Museo de las Américas (pictured above on the left). The museum houses a collection of artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the region from pre-Columbian times to the present day. Visitors can see everything from Taino artifacts to contemporary art from Puerto Rico and beyond.
The City Streets
Of course, no visit to Old San Juan is complete without a stroll around the city’s charming streets and shops. To me, this is the best part about a visit to OSJ. From high-end boutiques to local artisan shops, there’s something for everyone here. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, walking the blue cobblestone streets to enjoy the colonial architecture is well worth your time. Calle de la Fortaleza may be the best. My favorite gift shop is full of work from local artists.
Located in the heart of Old San Juan, the Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista is the second oldest cathedral in the Americas boasting an impressive history and architecture. Originally constructed in 1521, the cathedral has undergone several renovations over the centuries, resulting in a unique blend of Gothic and Baroque styles. Inside there are intricately carved wooden doors, stained glass windows, and vaulted ceilings.
The blue cobblestones you’ll find on some of the streets were brought to Puerto Rico from Spain in the early 16th century as ballast for ships. The stones are made of blue basalt, a type of volcanic rock, and were later used to pave the streets of Old San Juan. The blue hue is caused by the oxidation of the iron in the rock over time. The stones were initially black, but exposure to the elements caused them to turn their now emblematic shade of blue.
La Fortaleza is an iconic manor located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Built in the 16th century, it is the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the Americas, serving as the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico (closed to all but scheduled tours). You can catch a glimpse of it from here, down a closed street that is decorated with colorful hanging umbrellas.
Food
If you are looking for a place for lunch or dinner, you can never go wrong with Restaurante Raíces. Raíces offers quality, traditional Puerto Rican dishes. It’ll cost more than some other places, but in this case, you really get what you pay for. Every time that friends or family visit me, I take them to Raíces and it never disappoints. This may be the best place to try mofongo, and carnivores should try the enormous chuleta Kan Kan. Stay away from the fish tacos (there are better places for that).
Cool off with some quality gelato at Anita La Mamma del Gelato
Usually a long line, but so worth it! Located conveniently near attractions like Parque de las Palomas and La Fortaleza. Every flavor is good! I can’t help but get the watermelon mint as one of my flavors every time. Try some samples before settling on a couple of flavors (you’ll want more than one, trust me).
Barrachina is one of the two places I am aware of that claim to have invented the piña colada. Whether they did or not, their piña colada is good! I suspect it’s at least 50% sugar judging by how sweet it tastes. Walking the streets of Old San Juan gets hot fast, this is a great way to cool down.
The Puerta de San Juan is the main, and only remaining entrance into the walled city from colonial times. Spanish sailors would arrive at the island after sailing from Europe, they’d enter and walk directly to the cathedral just up the road to give thanks for their safe passage.
Playita Puerta de San Juan
This is a small beach outside of the Puerta de San Juan. It’s a great place to cool off from walking around Old San Juan. The view from the beach of the 300-year-old walls and recently restored turrets is beautiful. You’ll have to scramble over large rocks to make it to the narrow strip of sand.
Escambrón Beach
If you still have some light at the end of the day and are deciding where to spend it, drive over to Balneario del Escambrón. It’s the best beach in the area and I go all the time. You can find a free parking spot along the perimeter of Luis Muñoz Rivera Park, or just pay $5 for the parking at the beach. Relax on the beach, surf, snorkel, or rent a scooter to explore the surrounding area.
When night falls, you can count on things coming alive at “La Placita“. There are places to eat and plenty of places to drink. Live music can be found in at least one place. There is often an area with salsa music and salsa dancing. This plaza can get packed on the weekends.
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