When I went to Puerto Rico I expected it to be a pretty normal trip like I usually take to Florida whenever I have saved up enough for the flight and a couple of kitesurfing lessons. This trip though would remind me of each and every reason that I love traveling in the first place. Here I am going to recount some of those experiences and give you guys a bit of advice on things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
My days on the island on Puerto Rico were divided almost equally between San Juan and the city of Rincon on the west coast. Before leaving I had done extensive research on where to go in San Juan so I was better prepared than most people. There are lots of things that you can do in and around San Juan if you plan on staying in those areas within the categories of Adventure (Hiking, Kitesurfing), Water Tours (Cruises, Sailing), Historical Sites, Walking Tours and Cultural Tours. I am going to make guides for each of them so stay tuned.
I had decided on spending my mornings kitesurfing and my afternoons exploring the city. The first few days I spent in San Juan consisted of doing exactly this, after that even though I had planned differently I ended up going to Rincon with one of the people I met at the hostel I was staying at. In San Juan, each morning I would wake up around 7am and get breakfast in one of the nearby restaurants or if I had saved up food from the dinner the day before. Then I would go to the beach and chill till I felt energized again and then did a couple hours of kitesurfing before heading back to shower and go to explore the city.
Looking for bars in San Juan to hang out after dark? Check out my ultimate guide here: Top 8 Most Unique Bars in San Juan. If you are only in San Juan for a day and want the quick and dirty on the best way to spend it, I recommend checking out this A day in Calle Fortaleza which takes you through Old San Juan.
List of top 25 things to do in San Juan in 2020
- Old San Juan
- Castillo San Felipe del Morro
- Ocean Park Beach
- La Placita de Santurce
- Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzi Cemetery
- Puerto Rico Capitol Rotunda
- Plaza de Armas
- Bar Hopping
- Kitesurfing Classes
- Reef Snorkeling
- Puerto Rican Cuisine
- San Juan Shoreline
- El Yunque Day Trip
- Paseo de la Princesa
- Bioluminescent Bay Day Trip
- Paseo del Morro
- Castillo San Cristobal
- Tours on Airbnb by a Local
- Condado District
- Museum of Art
- San Juan Cathedral
- Chapel of Christ
- Calle Fortaleza
- Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian
- Bacardi Distillery Tour
1. Old San Juan
OSJ has cobbled streets narrow streets with colourfully painted houses and shops. It is exactly what you picture it is going to be. It is part of the old city and this can be seen in the architecture of the houses on the second floor that have exquisitely carved wooden windows to small balconies jutting out. The place is full of stray cats who will come to snuggle against your hand with just a little cajoling.
The first floor spaces are covered with shops selling touristy things, bars which have existed for uncountable years and some very good restaurants. This isn’t a place you need an itinerary for, just walk around these streets and without doubt you will discover a few jewels of your own. I wandered into a tiny garden down a small street with a huge tree in bloom that looked straight out of a fairytale.
2. Castillo San Felipe del Morro
The fort is part of the history of this place and should be visited on a sunny day. I should warn that being a tropical island, the weather in San Juan can change very very quickly so if it sunny then make your way over to the fort there and then. The 2 forts in San Juan are half an hour walking from one another located on opposite side Old San Juan. The tickets for both the forts cost $7 and the ticket for one can be used at the other one and is valid for 24 hours. The forts are great at showing the history of how the battlements around San Juan were built and any self-respecting tourist will visit these.
3. Ocean Park Beach
Of course if you are on a tropical island you have to get your sun in and the Ocean Park beaches have plenty of space for everyone. The beaches get pretty crowded during the afternoon and the weekends. One of the nights when I was tipsy from a little too much rum I decided that swimming in the ocean at midnight was a good idea and it did turn out to be. Go to one of the beaches and swim out under the stars. Swimming in the ocean at night feels completely different from swimming in the day. You can see the light of ships blinking in the night and see the Condado skyline to the west. It’s a pretty amazing feeling but make sure you aren’t going alone because its very deserted at night even though the ocean is calm and safe.
4. La Placita de Santurce
This is for those that love to party. I have learned that partying is defined very differently in the tropics vs mainland USA. You will not find any loud clubs blasting pop songs (unless you look very hard) but instead the locals enjoy open bars and salsa dancing in the streets. La Placita de Santurce is a famous square with open bars where people dance out into the street until late at night. It is full of energy and lots of places to drink and eat. This was my favorite place to go each night because of how cool it was.
5. Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzi Cemetery
I first noticed this cemetery when walking atop the wall of El Morro. From the top of the fort you can clearly see the white stones of the cemetery gleaming in the sun. This cemetery is the resting place of many prominent Puerto Rican residents like Pedro Albizu Campos and Jose de Diego. The cemetery is dotted with life sized marble sculptures and bright burial sites. The location across from the Atlantic Ocean symbolize the dead crossing over into the afterlife. You can reach the entrance to the cemetery by walking through the pretty streets of Old San Juan for 15 minutes from the fort.
6. Puerto Rico Capitol Rotunda
I walked across the grand rotunda of the Capitol both during the daytime and at night. It looks grandiose in any light, reflecting the importance of its purpose. The entrance to the building is free during the week. As you enter the building, gaze upon at an incredible mosaic of Puerto Rican history. From there make your way to the copies of the Puerto Rican and US constitutions and the proud flags flying besides each other outside.
7. Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas in any city is the central square for people to gather in the evening for games, socializing and enjoying local food. Our plaza in San Juan is laid out in the same style with a twinkling fountain, lots of leafy trees, seating around the plaza and small food stalls. The plaza is flagged by shops selling all kinds of souvenirs, paintings and other trinkets. When traveling it is one of my favorite things to do to sit in a plaza and have a local snack and watch the world slow down. The plaza is so lively and nice when the sun sets and excitement hangs heavy in the air.
8. Bar Hopping
It is said that San Juan is the birth place of the Pina Colada and it lives up to the legend. The drinks in every bar are marvelous and delicious. Come evening you can find people in every bar in the city enjoying the warm tropical weather and sipping on cocktails. San Juan has every type of bar to cater to your needs. You can choose to sip wine from a rooftop or a Lavender cocktail at a speakeasy. Checkout my guide to The Top 8 Bars in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I visited each of these bars and they proceeded to blow my mind repeatedly.
9. Kitesurfing Classes
Kitesurfing is a big sport on this side of the island. The island has a community of around 75 kite surfers who are very excited to teach newcomers how to kite surf as well. I recommend using one of the well known school rather than a shady company you found on the beach. As always I must warn that I have been kitesurfing for a couple months now and even I was scared on the waves on the beach since this was my first time kitesurfing in the open ocean. But if you wanna get some extreme sports in and get those abs burning then go ahead and get a couple lessons in. Lessons are usually $100 per hour. I love kitesurfing so I will say its worth it but it’s an extreme sport so its your call on this one.
10. Reef Snorkeling
On my last day we went snorkeling in a tiny bay just west of Condado. They promise that you will see lots of sea life and do they deliver on the promise! We saw fish of all type…I think I even saw a Dory fish. The school of fish would come near and I tried touching them but they were too quick. Didn’t stop me from chasing them all over (what can I say I am a 20 year old kid). If you are lucky you might even see some sea turtles lounging about. The highlight of the experience was when our guide found a sea horse and placed it in my hand. I could feel it floating across my arm and then wrapped itself around a branch. I loved the experience and the diverse sea life I got to see.
11. Puerto Rican Cuisine
What better way to spend the days then gorging on some amazing cuisine. Puerto Ricans really know how to live it up with their food. I went to so many places to try the food I can barely remember the names. Kasalta Bakery was one of my favorite places during the day and I went to get breakfast there every morning. Another of my favorites was the Chocolate Bar in Old San Juan that serves a chocolate menu which was delicious. Be sure to try dishes with the traditional sweet plantain. Can’t believe I didn’t know plantains existed before I went to Puerto Rico! Checkout this guide on Where to Eat in San Juan from bon appetít.
12. San Juan Shoreline
The beaches here are one of the top things to do in San Juan. They gleam, they shine and they are lustrously inviting with pure sand and turquoise waters. It looks exactly like the pictures is what I’m trying to say. The beach is one long stretch of sand from Punta Las Marias to Punta Piedrita. Along the shore are some busy spots with families playing ball and some completely bare beaches with no humans in sight. We walked along the beach a few miles and saw the sand rise and fall. This is a great way to spend an afternoon exploring the different beaches in the area.
13. El Yunque Day Trip
El Yunque is a huge protected tropical forest 2 hours from San Juan. It is a dream come true too. The tropical forest has hikes surrounded by trees heavy with mist, sunlight spraying through the leaves and clouds hanging low on the high peaks. The hikes are one of the best and surreal experiences you will have. The forest is home to mongoose, snakes, the Puerto Rican parrot and the Coqui frog who has a unique croak that echos in the rainforest.
There are many available tours that take you here but personally I highly recommend you rent a car instead and take your own leisurely time. The cost is half that of a trip and you can do whatever you want. Stop for a coconut on the roadside? Check. Visited multiple waterfalls? Check. Not be surrounded by random weird people? Definitely check. This awesome guide to Exploring the El Yunque Rainforest has all the information you could need to spend a gorgeous day hiking.
14. Paseo de la Princesa
This boardwalk was one of my favorite places in Old San Juan. The promenade and boardwalk overlook the sheltered bay and the real magic happens here during the weekends. The weekends bring out local food vendors, musicians and artisans all along the boardwalk. The fountain Fuente Raices in the middle has amazing sculptures which are a beauty in themselves. I found a vendor selling piragua which is a traditional sweet snack made with shaved ice and syrups that took the edge right off on the hot Sunday. It is the perfect place to get some snacks and chill out.
15. Bioluminescent Bay Day Trip
Dinoflagellates are tiny microorganisms that glow when disturbed and produce glowing sea waters. Puerto Rico has three bioluminescent bays where you can witness the marvelous glowing waters. Mosquito Bay in Vieques island off the coast of Puerto Rico, Laguna Grandes in Fajardo and La Parguera in Lajas. Per anecdotal accounts, the Vieques bay is the brightest followed by Fajardo and then La Parguera. Check out this Ultimate Guide to Puerto Rico’s Bioluminescent Bays and plan your trip the way you would like. This is not something you would want to miss!
16. Paseo del Morro
This is a hidden gem in the middle of the city that most tourists do not know about. The Paseo del Morro Trail is a dirt path right over the water outside the city walls. The trails skirts the wall for a 1 mile scenic stroll with an unending view of the ocean. You can start at either entrance from the San Juan Gate at the end of Paseo de la Princesa or the entrance from the Castillo San Felipe del Morro fort that leads straight into the encampment. You will feel like you entered a secret garden where the people are just a 100 meters away up on the wall but down where you walk on the dirt and wood, its completely quiet and serene.
17. Castillo San Cristobal
Serving as the counterpart to El Morro, Castilla San Cristobal spans 27 acres and was built to protect Old San Juan from attack by land. In my opinion, I liked this much better than El Morro because of how fun it was to explore. It has 3 levels that you can explore on your own using a brochure and it got real spooky when I went down an abandoned staircase leading out to a small encampment overlooking the rocks below. The best part is the view on the top level at the tip of San Juan over the entire city and ocean!
18. Tours on Airbnb by a Local
If you haven’t already discovered the ‘Experiences’ feature on Airbnb then this is the perfect opportunity. These experiences are provided by local people that know the area best. Some of the experiences that really caught my eye were a Culinary Walk of Old San Juan, Gilligans Islands Day Trip, Tropical Paradise Rainforest Photoshoot, Personal Photoshoot in Old San Juan and many more. There are no shortage of amazing things to do in San Juan and in my opinion, the locals are the best people to show you the real culture of the city.
19. Condado District
Condado is one of the more touristy beaches in the city but it has a charm that other beaches don’t. The streets are full of shops and restaurants catering to them. Ashford Avenue is where the upscale restaurants and shops are located. You can find everything from shopping, outdoor recreation like nighttime paddle boarding, casinos, dining and nightlife. Its straight out of a Enrique Iglesias video, not my type but you get the vibe. We went here during the day and ate at one of the restaurants which was pretty good.
20. Museum of Art
There are at least 5 great museums in San Juan that each deserve to be in this list for their own unique features. The one I recommend the most is the Museum of Art in Santurce. The museum showcases art from local craftsmen and has art from the 17th century to contemporary work. MARP has 24 galleries and a dynamic outdoor sculpture garden. The art is curated every year and allows into the glimpse of how the local art has grown over the years from the Spanish conquest to current times. If your artistic appetite isn’t satisfied yet then head over to the adjacent Museum of Contemporary Art that has even more amazing art pieces on view.
21. San Juan Cathedral
The San Juan Cathedral was built by the Spanish to spread Catholic ideology amongst the native Taino and African people. It is now the second oldest cathedral in the Americas. The church has ornately decorated ceilings, stained glass windows and exquisite art. It is also the resting place of one of the most famous Spanish explorers, Ponce de Leon. The mummy of St. Pio also sits regally in the cathedral, though odd for such a place. The cathedral is situated in Old San Juan and it is easy to walk over to it if you are in the area and see it for yourself. I passed it multiple times while exploring Old San Juan and found it to be an interesting token left behind from another era.
22. Chapel of Christ
This is one of the most curious monuments in Old San Juan. It is said that a young rider in 1753, Baltazar Montanez lost control of his horse at this spot and plunged doewn the cliffs. Miraculously he survived the crash and in honor of his savior Christ, built a chapel here. The altar inside the chapel is build with silver and gold. It is surrounded by beautiful oil paintings, the most famous of which is the El Mirago. Tiny silver ornaments surround the chapel to depict ailments that have been miraculously cured here. The chapel is taken care of by a local sisterhood and has unknown hours. It is either open of Tuesdays or Saturdays and during religious days.
23. Calle Fortaleza
This is the famous cobblestone street in Puerto Rico seen with umbrellas hanging over the street. The street leads from Plaza Colon to the Avenue Juan Ponce de Leon. It is lined with hotels, perfumeries, clothing stores, restaurants and craft shops. Even though Old San Juan is filled to the brim with photo opportunities, this street is the cherry on that sundae. The portion of the street that has the umbrellas is known as Umbrella Street and the umbrellas change color throughout the year. It is worthwhile to start your adventure into San Juan from this holy Instagram site.
24. Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian
This is Puerto Rico’s largest festival celebrated in January at the closing of the holiday season. During the multi day celebrations live performers, dancers, artists and musicians take over every corner of Old San Juan. The squares are filled with activities for the children and artisans set up shop. After sundown you can find adults dancing the night away at salsa parties out in the open. The festival is now ranked alongside Mardi Gras and the Rio Carnivals. It is a sight to behold the entire city coming together to celebrate their culture and heritage.
25. Bacardi Distillery Tours
I have always has a taste for mixology. I despise alcohol for some reason but I love making cocktails and taking just a sip. For those here who share the same inclinations, this tour will be awesome. The Bacardi Distillery Tour is rated as one of the best experiences to have in San Juan on pretty much any site. The distillery has 3 tours – the Historical Tour, the Rum Tasting Tour and the Mixology. I am not much of a taster if I am being honest so the Historical Tour is what I would prefer. The tour is one of a kind with history woven into new technology and you will definitely enjoy yourself.
Never visited Puerto Rico, but certainly thinking about it now when it is finally safe to travel again
This is a comprehensive and useful list of the things to do in San Juan. I am keen to try kitesurfing and you suggested using a school to learn in the skill.
This is a fantastic guide, I’d love to do all those things when I visit Puerto Rico one day! 🙂
A comprehensive list, but I am really missing seeing some photos! Would be so great to see how they all look like 🙂 Patricija
I would love to go reef snorkelling in San Juan! Puerto Rico has been on my bucket list for a long time, so I am hoping I can go once this situation is better. Thank you for the extensive guide!