The 15 Best Things to Do in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Spend the day wandering the colorful colonial streets and forts of Old San Juan.

Full of culture that hangs against the ever-changing backdrop of the ocean, Old San Juan is a perfect place to put your finger on the pulse of Puerto Rico. Find the best things to do in Old San Juan and enjoy your day in this beautiful place.

We spent one amazing day exploring Old San Juan and crammed everything we could into our visit. At the end of the day, we had tired legs, lots of photos and a greater love for Puerto Rico.

A Quick Overview of the Best Things to Do in Old San Juan

Map of Old San Juan with Things to do in Old San Juan

Use this map to plan you walking tour of things to do in Old San Juan. You can also find an Old San Juan map printed on several signs and posted around the town to help you navigate.

Facts to Know About Old San Juan

Before you step into the bright streets of Old San Juan, you should start with a little history. Here are a few Old San Juan facts to get you started in understanding this place (in no particular order):

• Old San Juan was founded in 1521 by Juan Ponce De Leon (who was also the first governor)
• Old San Juan is a small, parially walled city
• San Juan is a safe city to explore as long as you use normal tourist precautions
• Puerto Rico became part of the United States in 1898 when the US attacked during the Spanish-American War
• Several famous movies were filmed in Old San Juan, including: Dirty Dancing, Havana Nights, Amistad, Pirates of the Caribbean: Strange Tides, and Fast Five.
• Old San Juan is a small island connected to the rest of Puerto Rico by bridge

How Long do you Need in Old San Juan?

This depends a bit on what you want to do. If you are willing to do a fair amount of walking, you can easily see most of the Old San Juan in a day. If you only have 1/2 a day, you will still have plenty of time to walk around the streets and visit some of the forts (and maybe even get ice cream).

If you are visiting Old San Juan from a cruise ship and only have a few hours, you can easily see the highlights.

If you have the time, staying in or near Old San Juan is a great way to start or end your vacation. If you decide to stay here, there are plenty of streets to explore and excellent food.

If you’re looking for the best breakfast in Old San Juan, check out La Bombenero.

Top Things to do in Old San Juan

Simply Wander the Cobblestone Streets

lose yourself just wandering your streets, and this is a great way to start your day exploring. All of the streets are similar, but if you’re looking for some of the best views, make sure to check out Fortaleza Street. Don’t forget to look down while you wander as the cobblestone itself is beautiful!

There are a few specific sites to check out (and snap a few photos): the Puerto Rico Flag door, Hotel El Convento, and Plaza de la Rogativa.

Take a Walking Tour

One of the best things to do when you visit Old San Juan is to take a walking tour of the city. Since Old San Juan is small, it is easy to walk and a walking tour will start you off with a great understanding of the history and culture of the town.

There are several tour options. Some are short and will just give an overview of the main sites, while there are also a few tours that specialize in history and culture and include some stops to try some food or drinks.

Check out the Governor’s House

The Governor’s House (or La Forteleza) was originally part of the island’s original fortification and was meant to protect the island. It was remodeled in 1846 and has housed 170 Governors of Puerto Rico! You can get a 30 minute guided tour or just take a look at the outside of the house.

Enjoy a Pina Colada

Did you know that the Pina Colada was invented right in Old San Juan? One of the fun things to do in Old San Juan is to visit the exact place where this fun drink originated. Barrachina Restaurant also serves food and they are happy to give you a little history of the Pina Colada.

Relax in one of the Squares

Just in case you get tired on your wanders, there are several relaxing squares or plazas to take a break. Grab a cup of coffee or get an ice cream cone and enjoy some time in the shade. Many of these squares have benches, fountains or statues and are part of the walking tours.

Explore San Felipe del Morro Castle

The fort of San Felipe del Morro Castle stands sentinel over the harbor on the corner of Old San Juan. Walking from town, this impressive structure sits out on the point across a large yard where families fly kites and people sit and wander.

It costs $10 to get into fort (you can also get into Castillo De San Cristobal on the same ticket). We used out national parks pass to get into the park.

Once inside you will find out how large this fortress really is, although much of it is exposed to the elements if you’re visiting when the weather is poor. You can also take a tour or just wander on your own. Make sure you check out every level to see barracks, kitchens, and more.

Walk Around Castillo de San Cristobal (Saint Christopher’s Castle or Castillo San Cristobal)

The Castillo de San Cristobal sits on another corner of the island of Old San Juan. It was originally built to protect from land attacks and was named after the saint patron of land travelers, Saint Christopher. The views from here are spectacular and the fortress is much larger than it looks from the town side.

You can walk between both fortresses quite easily and both are worth a visit.

Visit the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista

This is the older catherdral in the United States and was origninally built from wood in1521. You can enter for free admire the stained glass and vaulted ceiling.

Shop in One of Boutiques

There are plenty of small little shops to grab a souvenir or t-shirt right in Old San Juan. We popped ino a few on our visit. Most of the shops are small and cater to tourists.

Eat some Puerto Rican Food

Old San Juan is the perfect place to try some of the delicious Puerto Rican food this island has to offer. The are many restaurants in Old San Juan and you can easily find a place to eat by wandering around.

Typical Puerto Rican food is a combination of creole cooking with plenty of international influence. Make sure you try the traditional Mofongo, which is probably the most famous food found in Puerto Rico. Mofongo is made from fried plantains and served alongside many dishes here. You can find plantains on many menus served either savory or sweet.

Other traditional Puerto Rican food includes pork, rice and beans, and silky coconut custard.

Walk on the Paseo del Morro

The Paseo del Morro is a walkway under the looming walls of the Castillo San Felipe del Morro. The path follows the edge of the hill and walls and the ocean. This is a beautiful walk.

Count the Old San Juan Cats

One of the most random things to do in Old San Juan is to find as many cats as you can! Originally introduced to help control the rat population, they can be found in all parts of Old San Juan longing, stalking and doing all those catlike things.

These cats have become part of Old San Juan, so make sure to snap a few photos while you’re here!

Enjoy some Live Music

In the evenings, you can often find live music on the streets of Old San. Particularly on Sunday evenings, if you visit Plaza Darsena between 5:30 and 8:00, you will find local bands playing a mix of traditional and modern music. Simply sit and relax or get up and dance to the music.

Explore Isla Verde

While there aren’t any Old San Juan beaches right in town, Isla Verde is not far away. Especially if you are visiting Old San Juan on a cruise ship, this will be the closest and best beach for a visit. To get Isla Verde you can take a shuttle, taxi or drive.

The beach itself is white sand and lined with hotels and restaurants. It’s not the pristine and quiet beaches you will find in other parts of Puerto Rico, but if you are in San Juan and was a beautiful place to soak up the sun or take a swim – this is your best option.

Get out of the City for a Tour

If you are visiting Old San Juan for the day, an excellent option is to book a tour outside the city as well. There are many options, such as helicopter tours, tours to El Yunquue National Forest, and day trips to go snorkeling. Most of these tours include transportation, are offered as either full day or half day excursions.

How to Get to Old San Juan

Getting to Old San Juan is relatively easy. There is public transportation directly from the city of San Juan and there is limited service on a free trolley. Another easy option is to drive into the city, which is what we did when we visited. There are several bridges that connect Old San Juan and there are parking lots and parking garages you can use throughout the area. Parking in Old San Juan is pretty simple, so just drive in and park!

You can also find tours that visit Old San Juan and some of these offer transportation.

Where to Stay in Old San Juan

If you are planning to visit Old San Juan for the day, you can easily get here from any of the surrounding area or airport, but if you are planning to spend a few days here, and do everything on the list of things to do in Old San Juan, you may want to consider staying right in town. There are several excellent choices for hotels – check out the list below for some of the best options:

Hotel El Convento – located right in the middle of Old San Juan, this is an excellent place to stay for a night or two.

The Condada Plaza – more of a luxury hotel, this is a great place to stay, especially if you have several nights.

Villa Hernencia Hotel – Excellent location and value

Looking to explore more of Puarto Rico?

• Things to do in Culebra
• Visiting El Yunque National Forest
• 7 Day Adventure Travel Itinerary for Puerto Rico
• 11 Things to do in Puerto Rico