Old San Juan, Puerto Rico is a charming neighborhood that’s packed full of history and sites to see. Founded over 500 years ago, many people are surprised to learn that Old San Juan is the oldest city in the United States. Today, the city retains its historical charm and is famously known for its colonial Spanish architecture, brightly painted buildings and cobblestone streets. Although Old San Juan is small, you can easily spend a couple full days exploring this beautiful area. Ready to plan your trip to Puerto Rico? Keep reading for the 16 best things to do in Old San Juan!
FAQ: The Best Things to do in Old San Juan
- How long should you spend in Old San Juan?
- At least one day, but I recommend two. Check out my post all about how to have the best 48 hours in Old San Juan.
- What is the difference between Old San Juan and San Juan?
- Old San Juan is a neighborhood in the city of San Juan. It’s located on a small island that’s connected to the rest of San Juan by bridges.
- Can you walk to the beach from Old San Juan?
- Yes! Playa del Capitolio is about 15 minutes from Old San Juan and Balneario El Escambrón (Escambron Beach) is around 30.
- Do you need a car in Old San Juan?
- No, Old San Juan is small and very walkable. If you’re staying in Old San Juan, definitely walk everywhere and Uber to other parts of the city.
- Can you walk around Old San Juan at night?
- Yes, it’s very safe and also very pretty at night. You’ll also find great nightlife – especially near La Factoria bar.
- What is the drinking age in Puerto Rico?
- The drinking age in Puerto Rico is 18.
The 16 Best Things to do in Old San Juan
1: Wander the Colorful Streets
The first thing I recommend doing when arriving in Old San Juan is taking some time to wander around the streets.
Old San Juan is small and extremely walkable and this is a great way to get oriented, see colorful architecture and start your day. Every single street is beautiful and it’s truly a photographer’s dream.
If you’d like to take a guided walking tour to learn more about the important sites and history of the city, there are tons of great options.
Walking tours of Old San Juan:
2: Tour El Morro
Visiting El Morro is always a top recommendation for the best things to do in Old San Juan!
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, shortened to El Morro, is a military fort overlooking San Juan Bay. Construction of this fort began in the 16th century by the Spanish and now this impressive fort is open to the public 7 days a week.
Tickets are $10 for adults and free for children 15 and under.
TIP: once you’ve paid the entry fee to El Morro, you can also visit Castillo San Cristobal (mentioned below) without having to pay another entry fee.
Some walking tours of Old San Juan include entrance to El Morro as well as a guided tour.
Guided Tours of El Morro:
- Inside El Morro Castle & Old San Juan Walking Tour
- El Morro Fort Entry Ticket & Old Town Walking Tour
- Explore El Morro Fort: History and Walking Tour of Old San Juan
El Morro Lawn and Kites
To get to El Morro, you’ll walk across a beautiful lawn area. This is the windiest point of Old San Juan and you’ll often see people relaxing on the lawn and flying kites.
Be sure to also walk down the lawn to the Cementerio Santa María Magdalena de Pazzi (The Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery). Located on the water, just outside of the walled city, this colonial era cemetery dates back to 1893.
3: Walk Along Calle Norzagaray for Ocean Views
Calle Norzagaray is one of the central streets in Old San Juan and parts of it also boast beautiful ocean views. You can walk between both major forts in Old San Juan, El Morro and San Cristobal, while enjoying the ocean views and architecture on the way.
With no stops, the walk between the two forts is 15-20 minutes.
Starting at San Cristobal, walk along the sidewalk passing by the entrance to La Perla neighborhood and the Museum of San Juan, finally ending up on the lawn of El Morro.
4: Visit Castillo San Cristobal
Castillo San Cristobal is the second most famous fort in Old San Juan, after El Morro. San Cristobal was built to protect San Juan from Eastern attacks, and therefore, is located on the opposite side of Old San Juan from El Morro. Construction began in 1634 and took 150 years to complete.
Tickets to San Cristobal are $10 for adults and free for children 15 and under. Your ticket for San Cristobal will also grant you free access to El Morro, and vice versa.
PC: Discover Puerto Rico
5: Explore La Perla on a Guided Tour
La Perla is one of the most infamous places in Puerto Rico and happens to be nestled right along the Atlantic coast in Old San Juan.
This neighborhood has had a difficult past and used to be known for being one of the most dangerous areas on the island. La Perla is outside of the walled city of Old San Juan and since its creation has been largely neglected by the government.
However, in the past few years, especially following the production of Luis Fonsi’s famous hit Despacito, who’s music video was filmed in La Perla, the neighborhood is becoming more open to tourists. This being said, it’s still largely residential and nowhere near as touristy as the rest of Old San Juan. There are some streets you should not visit and many locals will warn you not to visit at all.
Guided Tour of La Perla
If you want to visit La Perla, which I highly recommend, definitely do it on a guided tour. This way, you’ll be visiting the neighborhood safely and respectfully and in a way that supports locals and their businesses.
I highly recommend taking a tour with Carolina from La Perla Like a Local. You’ll learn the history of the neighborhood, meet locals, support small businesses and really gain an understanding and appreciation for La Perla. You will also feel completely safe.
After the tour, you’ll also be much better equipped to visit La Perla again on your own. There are great bars in the neighborhood, beautiful street art and everyone we met was so friendly and welcoming.
You will see some travel blogs and websites saying “it’s totally okay to visit La Perla, no one will stop you and it’s safe!” While this is true in some cases, I still don’t recommend visiting on your own, especially on a first trip. If you do choose to explore on your own:
- Know exactly where you’re going.
- Don’t take photos without asking first (especially of residents or their homes.)
- Understand that there is no police presence in this area and it is still known for drug trafficking.
I don’t say any of this to scare you, but instead so you understand where you’re visiting and how to do it in a way that is safe for you and respectful to locals who call La Perla home.
6: Have a Piña Colada at Barrachina and El Caribe Hilton
Fun fact: the Piña Colada was invented in Puerto Rico! However, there’s a long standing debate over which establishment, Barrachina or El Caribe Hilton, really made the first one.
Both spots serve up delicious drinks, but they have slightly different flavors. I recommend trying both to see which you prefer!
El Caribe Hilton (one of the *supposed* piña colada inventors) is located just 5-10 minutes by car from downtown Old San Juan and is a great place to stay.
If like a good cocktail, a craft-cocktail walking tour is a fun way to discover great bars and try some delicious drinks.
7: Check out the Art Galleries
Old San Juan is filled with a variety of art galleries and shops. You’ll find handmade souvenirs as well as paintings and ceramics. It’s so fun to pop in and out of these shops and purchase an art piece to bring home.
A few of my favorite art shops and galleries include:
8: Take an Art Class
In addition to visiting art galleries, taking an art class is so fun and such a great way to learn more about local art and culture. I took a painting class at San Juan Sip & Paint and it was a blast.
I’m not a very good painter, but with the step by step instructions from the artist, my painting turned out pretty cute. You also get a beverage to sip on (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), making this a fun date night, friends night or even a family activity.
If you’d rather make something you can wear, you can also take an espadrilles making class. Espadrilles are traditional Spanish shoes that have now spread in popularity across many parts of the world. These shoes are cute and such a fun souvenir to wear home and on other trips!
9: Take a Food Tour and Eat at Delicious Restaurants
Puerto Rican food is delicious and there are so many fantastic restaurants to check out in Old San Juan. A great way to get acquainted with the local dishes when traveling is to take a food tour – it’s always a huge highlight of my trips! Food tours are so much fun and such a great way to try many different menu items.
They’re also a great way to learn about local restaurants, get recommendations from your guide and decide where you want to go back to for more meals.
Food Tour Recommendations:
If you don’t want to take a food tour, but instead want to jump right into trying out local restaurants, a few of my favorites for traditional Puerto Rican food are:
- Deaverdura (there will likely be a line)
- Cafe el Punto
- Cafeteria Mallorca (breakfast and lunch)
10: Eat Mofongo, Tostones, Mallorcas and Paletas
As we’ve been discussing, there is so much great food in Puerto Rico! A few must-try dishes on a first trip to the island definitely include mofongo, tostones, mallorcas, and, my favorite, paletas.
Plantains are very popular in Puerto Rico and many traditional dishes are plantain-based or have plantains as a side dish.
Many side dishes, like tostones, are served with the famous mayo-ketchup. This dipping sauce, as you could probably guess by the name, is made by mixing mayo and ketchup. I don’t really like mayo or ketchup on their own, but for some reason I really like mayo-ketchup.
Must-try Puerto Rican foods:
- Mofongo is a dish made with boiled and mashed plantains that are served with a protein, usually chicken or shrimp, as well as a sauce or broth.
- Some restaurants also serve a vegetarian version.
- Tostones are crispy, fried smashed plantains.
- Mallorcas are a fluffy, sweet bread (kind of like fried dough) that are sprinkled with powdered sugar. Many people eat mallorcas with ham and cheese, but there are several varieties.
- Paletas (or popsicles) are one of my favorite things to eat in Puerto Rico. You can get fruit flavors with a water base, or ice cream bars with a milk base. There are so many flavors to choose from and all of them are worth a try.
- My favorite popsicle shop is Señor Paleta (it’s also the most famous), but Zippops Gourmet Paletas are also excellent.
These are just a few delicious foods you’ll find in Puerto Rico! Also be on the lookout for amarillos (fried sweet plantains), alcapurrias (deep fried meat fritters), bacalaítos (fried cod fritters) and empanadillas (fried turnovers with a variety of fillings).
11: Visit the San Juan Cathedral
Built in 1540, the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist is the oldest cathedral in the USA and the second oldest in the Americas. It’s also among the oldest buildings in San Juan.
It’s located right next to the historic Hotel el Convento, a former convent dating back to 1651.
12: Drink Puerto Rican Coffee
If you’re a coffee lover, you’ll love Puerto Rico! Puerto Rican coffee is so good and there are so many fantastic coffee shops around Old San Juan.
A few of my favorites include:
Don’t forget to grab a bag of local coffee (or two!) to bring back home!
13: See the Umbrella Street and Governor’s Mansion
This section of Fortaleza Street, starting next to Anita La Mamma Gelato (very good, by the way) and ending at La Fortaleza (the Governor’s Mansion), is known for its colorful hanging umbrellas.
Depending on the time of year, these umbrellas are swapped out for other equally beautiful decorations, like kites or flags.
This street is one of the top photo spots in Old San Juan, however, for the past several months (and likely for the foreseeable future) the street is closed. You can still see the umbrellas, but you can no longer walk under them. They’re still pretty to see, but it makes taking photos a little difficult.
There is a constant police presence in this area as well as barricades blocking the street, so it’s definitely not possible to pass through for photos directly under the umbrellas.
14: Make your own Bracelet at Caribbean Beads
This little hidden gem is such a fun place to go to make your own jewelry! At Caribbean beads you can choose from a huge variety of beads, charms and chains to be expertly assembled into a one of a kind piece of jewelry.
I went with a group of friends and we all had so much fun picking out charms and making bracelets. The prices are very affordable as well, with all of our bracelets ranging from $14-$20.
This is the perfect activity for rainy weather!
15: Relax on the Beaches
Puerto Rico is known for its amazing beaches. Although Old San Juan isn’t the beachiest place on the island, there’s still a couple decent beaches within walking distance.
Start on Paseo Puerta Tierra, a walking path with ocean views, and shortly you’ll come to Playa del Capitolio.
As its name suggests, Playa del Capitolio is right in front of the Capitol Building. This little beach isn’t great for swimming, but it’s a nice place to come to read a book, watch the sunset or look for sea glass. There are no amenities, so you’ll need to bring everything you need.
If you keep walking for another 20 minutes along Paseo Puerta Tierra, you’ll arrive at Balneario El Escambrón. This beach and park area has bathrooms and vendors and is somewhere you could easily spend an entire afternoon.
From Balneario El Escambrón, you can walk or Uber back to the old town for a few dollars. If it’s after sunset, I recommend Ubering as the street lamps aren’t the best and the path is less busy at night.
16: Have a Drink at the Famous La Factoría
A trip to Old San Juan isn’t complete without a night out at the famous La Factoría! This bar has been named the best bar in the Caribbean and is often featured as one of the 50 Best Bars in the World.
What makes La Factoría especially unique is that it’s six bars in one, all connected through hidden (and not so hidden) passageways. Each of these bars has its own unique vibe, music and drink menu. It’s so fun to wander through La Factoría checking out the different rooms.
Tip: if you want to visit all six bars, plan to go after 11pm, as sometimes not all of the rooms are open until then.
If you’re traveling solo or in a small group, a great way to meet new people and enjoy a night out is to go on an Old San Juan Bar Crawl!
For those who’d like to experience more bars outside of Old San Juan, definitely consider a tour to La Placita de Santurce. This is the perfect area for bar-hopping, nightlife, great music and dancing.
You can also easily visit La Placita on your own. There are tons of bars right next to one another and it’s a very fun time. Keep in mind that these bars are not at all fancy and feature an indoor-outdoor vibe.
More Fun Tours
If you have extra time in Old San Juan, there are even more fun and unique tours and activities to partake in. Below are a few great options!
- Old San Juan: Sunset Cruise with Drinks
- Guided Water Bike Tour with El Morro Fort Views
- Old San Juan Murder Mystery Tour
- Old San Juan Segway Tour
The Best Hotels in Old San Juan
Old San Juan has a great selection of hotels, ranging from small, family run establishments to adults-only luxury properties. When visiting Puerto Rico, I love to stay right in Old San Juan, as everything is very walkable and the area is so beautiful.
Old San Juan isn’t beachfront though, so if you’re looking for a hotel with a beach, I recommend staying in the Condado neighborhood (known for its beaches) and Ubering into the old town.
Hotels in Old San Juan:
- Decanter Hotel
- Navona Studios
- El Colonial – Adults Only
- Hotel El Convento
- Villa Herencia Hotel
- Fortel Hostel
Hotels in the Condado area:
- Caribe Hilton (between Old San Juan and Condado)
- Casa Wilson Inn
- Condado Ocean Club
- Casa Botanica Hotel (close to Condado)
- Trópica Beach Hotel (close to Condado)
Ready to start exploring? I hope you enjoyed this post about the best things to do in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico! If you have any questions, please leave us a comment below or DM us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad.
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♡Kate
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