The Best Things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico
There are SO many things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico. San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico and the most populated city. It is such a fun place to visit, full of culture and history. The buildings are colorful, the ocean is beautiful, and the people are kind. I’ve visited more than once and LOVE it. Puerto Rico is an amazing place, and their capital city is worth spending time in.
Colorful houses and glimpses of the ocean in Old San Juan.
Wander the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan.
Don’t stick to an itinerary. Just wander. Look around at the colonial, pastel homes. Get a sense of the culture and feel of this town. It’s dreamy. This activity is also free.
Cruise ships drop off a boat-load (get it?) of people, but don’t let that affect you. Wander farther from the port, and you will find yourself alone on the darling streets. Our feet were so tired at the end of the day, but I kept saying, “maybe we can look at more streets?” I was obsessed.
Not only are the forts cool on their own, but they provide amazing views.
Visit 500 year old forts.
$7 gets you into both forts, Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristobal. Built in the 1500s to protect the island, the forts provide history and beautiful views of the city. It’s about a 1 mile walk between the two, and it’s worth seeing both. They are both US National Historic Sites.
Lovely view from the bridge. (Not pictured: My really red, sweaty face)
Go for a run.
San Juan boasts some great running trails with even better views. We ran down Ashford Avenue, in Condado. We had views of the ocean and got to run across the bridge (with a pedestrian running trail!) connecting Old San Juan with the rest of the city. There are other great options for runners too. Just remember that it is hot and humid!
Puerto Rico Magic
Watch the sunset at Condado Lagoon.
I am addicted to sunsets. I did some research and didn’t find amazing options for sunset-watching in San Juan. Because it’s the North Coast, you don’t get a perfect view of the sun sinking into the ocean. I did read that you can watch it from outside San Felipe del Morro but didn’t have a chance to check that out. We found a nice spot on Condado Lagoon. There were locals out with their dogs, kayakers on the water, and a fun dance class going on. It felt like we had happened upon something special. And the reflections on the water were stunning.
Things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico – Eat!
Puerto Rico has a lot of American restaurants and fast food. Not in Old San Juan, though. Take advantage of the Puerto Rican food options. You can use Yelp to find a restaurant, ask a local, or take my advice and eat at El Jibarito. It was delicious. My boyfriend and I both had the chicken with rice and beans. We also ordered Yuca Mofongo, which was awesome. The chicken was tender, the beans were flavorful, and I couldn’t stop repeating “this is SO good.”
If you are looking for a rooftop restaurant with amazing food, head to Punto de Vista. The wait can be long on the weekend, but you can get a drink at a different bar in the area while you wait. They have the best mofongo (creamy garlic sauce – yum), a nice view, and fantastic employees. My boyfriend claims they have the best chicken tacos he has ever eaten.
Just a short walk from our Airbnb
Go to the beach!
If you’re coming to Puerto Rico, I’m going to assume this is already on your list. There are different options; the hard part will be deciding which one to lay your towel down on. Visit Escambron Beach to swim and snorkel. Check out Condado Beach with its hotels, casinos, and waves. Or Ocean Park Beach.
On our first day in Puerto Rico, we arrived at 3pm, got to our AirBnb, and walked to the beach. I was in love with this place from that very moment. Turquoise waters, sun on my skin, and I was happy.
Getting to San Juan:
Most flights land in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The airport is small, easy to maneuver, and close to all of San Juan. You can now uber to and from the airport. Taxis have set rates listed at the queue. If you are renting a car, it is worth looking into taking a taxi to a car rental agency in the city and getting one from there; we saved hundreds doing it this way.
Where to Stay:
There are many Airbnb options, hostels, and hotels. We stayed in the Placita de Santurce area for $41 per night, and it was great. Many cheap options exist that are within walking distance of the beach.
San Juan felt safe to us at all times. We used basic precautions like not walking alone at night, being aware of our surroundings, etc. We also avoided the city during their May 1st May Day protests.
It is definitely worth staying a couple days in San Juan to check out the city and the surrounding areas. While San Juan felt like a dream, it is also worth it to rent a car and explore other parts of the island.
More on Puerto Rico from Nurse to Nomad
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The cobblestones me streets are so beautiful. Great advice to just wander through without an agenda. We love sunsets too! We found the best sunsets on Puerto Rico to be in Rincon, on the west side of the island. Have you had a chance to visit there?
That’s great to know! Unfortunately, I didn’t get to visit Rincon, but I’ve heard awesome things. Next time 🙂
So many places to visit, but we went for a family holiday by car and really enjoyed it. By the way, gorgeous photos!
Hopefully you got to explore more than just San Juan if you had a rental car. The whole island is so beautiful. Thank you!!
I can’t believe how many amazing restaurants there are in San Juan!
Right? The food there is so fantastic.