- Mofongo relleno at the old-city criollo restaurants.
- Piña colada at the Caribe Hilton's Oasis Bar (the 1954 birthplace).
- La Placita for late-night alcapurrias and bacalaítos.
San Juan City Guide
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
San Juan is the Caribbean's oldest continuously inhabited European settlement's showcase: Old San Juan's blue cobblestones and pastel houses behind 16th-century walls, with the Condado and Isla Verde beaches minutes away. It is the island's cultural and nightlife capital.
The essentials: El Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal, the Paseo de la Princesa, and La Placita after dark. The piña colada was born here; the mofongo is mandatory.
What to do in San Juan
Old San Juan
- 1
Castillo San Felipe del Morro El Morro: the great 16th-century fortress on the headland. - 2
Castillo San Cristóbal The larger fortress: tunnels, the Devil's Sentry Box. - 3
Paseo de la Princesa The waterfront promenade under the walls: fountains, artisans. - 4
Catedral de San Juan The 1540 cathedral: Ponce de León's tomb. - 5
Calle Fortaleza The colourful street with the umbrella canopy.
Beyond the walls
- 1
La Placita de Santurce The market square turned nightlife strip. - 2
Condado Beach The city beach: calm water, the Ashford Avenue strip. - 3
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico The island's art museum in Santurce. - 4Distrito T-Mobile The entertainment complex by the Convention Center.
San Juan Hotel Guide
How to choose the best places to stay in San Juan. Verified properties below; for the full list, search live availability on Booking.com.
Where to eat
Getting there and around
Luis Muñoz Marín (SJU) is 15 minutes from Old San Juan. Taxis are fixed-price from the airport. The free Old San Juan trolley loops the historic quarter.
Eating in San Juan
Fledge Food has a full guide to how San Juan eats: its defining dishes and how to order them, street food decoded, the markets, and the neighborhoods to eat in.