If I say you and I are like the “heart of our parents,” I hope you will not mind it. Similar to this, “Old San Juan” is the heart of “Puerto Rico.” so this mean, every visit to Puerto Rico feels meaningless without visiting Old San Juan.
I have visited Puerto Rico more than 7 times, as I mentioned in my post “Things to Do in Puerto Rico,” and on each visit, I never miss “Old San Juan.”
In this post, I will share with you the top 10 things to do in Old San Juan, which I believe you must also visit. So, without wasting any more time, let’s start covering these things one by one.
Take the “Old San Juan Free Walking Tour”
If it’s your first time in Puerto Rico, you must book this tour online before you land in San Juan. This tour is guided by a “local person”, including college students as well.
The tour starts in the morning and wraps up within two hours. During these two hours, you’ll explore many beautiful buildings, stunning architecture, and the rich history of Old San Juan. Not only that, you will also get valuable information about other hidden gems and wonderful things to do in Old San Juan.
The tour is completely free; however, you can tip your guide if you enjoy the experience.
For the tour, I recommend wearing a t-shirt and comfortable sneakers. Women can wear sandals as well — no worries at all! Sunglasses will also come in handy, and do not forget to carry a bottle of fresh water with you.
Try Local Foods of Old San Juan
San Juan has so many amazing foods, but I’m going to share three that you absolutely need to try.
The first is called a Mallorca. We went to the famous Cafetería Mallorca to try one, and it is basically a soft, fluffy pastry that is grilled, buttered, and absolutely drowned in powdered sugar.
Diyana, David and I loved it immediately — it was, in fact, the very first thing we ate when we arrived in San Juan.
Next up is Mofongo. We went to a very cool spot called “Café Manolín” to try this. The place looks like an old-school diner — super authentic and super popular. Mofongo is mashed green plantain mixed with garlic and pork cracklings, stuffed with your choice of meat or seafood. We got ours with chicken, and Diyana fell in love at first bite.
Finally, because it is so humid in San Juan, make sure you try a Limber. You can find them all over the city, but in Old San Juan there is a spot simply called Limbers de San Juan. It is just 75 cents and it is a frozen fruit or cream treat served in a plastic cup — you squeeze it up and eat it like a popsicle. So refreshing, and the perfect antidote to a long day of walking around San Juan.
Explore Calle Loíza
For many reasons, this is the hipster part of the city. Here are a few destinations you should definitely check out.
The first is Libros Libres, which means ‘free books’ — and that’s exactly what it is. It’s a community take-a-book, leave-a-book spot on the street with hundreds of books just waiting for you to browse. A truly unique little gem.
The next stop is La Cueva Del Mar. I’m telling you, these are some of the best fish tacos I have had in a really long time. If you need your seafood fix while in San Juan, this is the place.
Finally, if you’re a fan of craft beer, I had so many locals telling me about a spot called El Tap. They have 46 different beers, wines, and sangrias on tap, many of them local Puerto Rican craft brews — really, really neat.
This street also has a lot of great street art and wonderful vibes.
Visit Museo Casa Blanca Museum
Address: 1 C. de San Sebastián, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
Opened: 1521
“Museo Casa Blanca” is one of the best hidden gems in Old San Juan. You can go inside the museum for just $5 admission. Inside, you will see a lot of things, including:
- Antique wooden furniture
- Historic paintings and decorations
- Religious items
- Old military artifacts
- Traditional household objects
- Beautiful interior courtyards
- Gardens
- Stone hallways
Next, you can explore the garden near the museum, which is totally free and open to the public. As you walk through the garden, you will feel like you are walking through a Spanish hacienda. If you feel too hot outside in Old San Juan, this is a great place to find some shade and rest for a while before your next plan.
Visit Playa El Escambron
The beach is located between Old San Juan and Condado Lagoon, just a 5–10 minute “Uber” ride from Old San Juan. I won’t say it is the nicest beach in PR, but it offers some amazing views to explore. The water is gorgeous and warm, and there is plenty of tree shade near the beach.
You will also find some beautiful buildings along the side of the beach. This beach is the best option if you are visiting with your family.
If you want to learn about the best beaches of Puerto Rico, don’t forget to visit my post titled “21 Best Beaches in Puerto Rico.”
Tour Casa Bacardi
I love this tour since 2020. It is the largest rum distillery in the world, according to Casa Bacardí’s official website. You can get there by Uber, taxi, or ferry (just $0.50 from Old San Juan) — pick the option that suits you best. Note that prices can vary over time.
The basic tour starts at $40 per person (plus tax). During your visit, you will experience:
- Guided tours
- Rum tasting sessions
- Mixology classes
- Beautiful outdoor pavilions with views of Old San Juan
- A large gift shop with exclusive Bacardí bottles and souvenirs
- Aging warehouses filled with rum barrels
- Tropical gardens
My wife “Diyana” is a rum lover — she especially loved smelling the different rums and was absolutely thrilled!!!!
You can buy your favorite rums here at cheaper prices. This place is family-friendly as well, so you can bring your kids too.
Have a Cocktail at La Factoria
If you’re looking for nightlife in Old San Juan, I’m going to tell you the same thing your Uber driver will tell you and your guidebook will recommend — go to La Factoría. You may recognize it because it was used as one of the filming locations for the “Despacito” music video. You may have heard of the song!
For research purposes, I had to try a few of their cocktails, and let me tell you — they live up to the reputation. Most cocktails are $10 or less. Seriously, some of the best cocktails I have had in a really long time, including an amazing mojito. On weekends, they have up to seven different rooms open, some with live music. During the week it may be fewer, but the vibe is still really cool.
This is the spot you want to visit in Old San Juan any night of the week. Trust me — you need to include a stop at La Factoría on Calle San Sebastián on your trip to San Juan.
Visit the Old San Juan Cemetery
It is open until 3:00 p.m. You just have to follow the tunnel down, enter the cemetery, and honestly, you will see cemeteries here unlike anything you have ever seen in your life. You will see a lot of sculptures here, right alongside the “Atlantic Ocean.”
This is one of the most peaceful places in PR — you should spend at least 30 to 45 minutes here. You’ll find the graves of many famous people, including:
- Pedro Albizu Campos
- José Ferrer
- Rafael Hernández
- Lolita Lebrón
- José de Diego
- Ricardo Alegría
- Tite Curet Alonso
- Ramón Rivero
- José Celso Barbosa
- Pedro Flores
Explore the two forts (Castillo San Cristobal and Castillo San Felipe Del Morro)
Probably, the most famous attractions in San Juan are the two forts: Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal. I have a big tip for visiting these spots — try to go either in the morning or in the late afternoon when the sun has gone down a bit, because it is really hot in San Juan and there is not a lot of shade inside. Trust me, you will thank me later as “Diyana” did, hahahaah!
The admission is $10 and it grants you access to both forts. Now, let’s start with El Morro. It was constructed in 1539 by the Spanish to protect the city from attacks by sea. It is more compact in size than San Cristóbal, but you can learn a lot of history inside, talk to the rangers, and the ocean views are absolutely spectacular.
You will feel like a Spanish soldier for a day, looking out into the sea.
Then we have San Cristóbal, which was constructed in 1634. It is the largest Spanish fortress in the Americas and you could spend far more time here than at El Morro — it is just so big. There are some areas where I barely saw another person and felt like I had the whole fort to myself. It is a wonderful place to walk around and feel like a part of history.
You need to visit both fortifications. It is about a 25 to 30 minute walk between the two. It could easily be one of the highlights of your entire trip to San Juan.
Spend a Night at La Placita de Santurce
From Thursday through Sunday night, La Placita de Santurce is one of the best nightlife options. It’s basically a large, open-air street party where there’s plenty going on — restaurants for food, bars for beer or cocktails, and you can wander around with your drink in hand while enjoying live music. It’s one of the best party spots in the entire city, and it stays open late.
If you like going out at night, don’t forget to add it to your list.
Where to Stay in San Juan
When it comes to hotels in San Juan, there are many fantastic options. I’m going to share three hotels with you that I think you should definitely check out.
The first hotel is Hotel El Convento, and if you want to stay in the heart of Old San Juan, this is the perfect place for you. This hotel is actually a restored 17th-century convent — yes, you’re sleeping in a 400-year-old building — and the inside is absolutely gorgeous. A rooftop pool, a beautiful courtyard, stunning views of the bay.
It’s a bit pricey, but trust me, the location alone is worth it. You can walk to everything in Old San Juan from here.
Next up is the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel. It is San Juan’s most famous luxury hotel, built in 1919, and it is located on the beach in Condado. It features marble floors, ocean views, multiple swimming pools, and the island’s finest amenities are available. If you truly want to feel special on this trip, this is the place.
Then we have the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. If you want a more traditional resort experience in Condado, this is the best choice — beach access, a large pool, a casino, and countless restaurants within walking distance. It’s a solid mid-to-high-end option and very popular with both families and couples.
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