Things to do in San Juan

San Juan is the busiest cruise port in the Caribbean and a major tourist destination for North American travellers. It is a city with much to offer its visitors: the beauty and history of the old town, artistic treasures of the Museo de Arte and sun-soaked beaches only minutes from the city centre.

The best way to see the sights and experience the city's attractions is to take a walking tour; either using a guidebook or professional guide. The city is compact and flat, meaning it's ideal to explore on foot. Travellers can take regular rests at the charming piazzas while exploring the old town. Also, the area can get busy and crowded as the day wears on.

High tourist season is from December to April, while June to November is far quieter. A note of caution though is that the island can experience hurricanes during this period.

Old San Juan photo

Old San Juan

Encompassing about seven blocks, this area dates back about 500 years to the Spanish occupation when it served as a military stronghold that even withstood Sir Francis Drake's armi…

Old San Juan

Encompassing about seven blocks, this area dates back about 500 years to the Spanish occupation when it served as a military stronghold that even withstood Sir Francis Drake's armies. The original cobbles on the streets are blue-tinged and were originally used as ballast on Spanish ships. More than 400 restored 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings fill Old San Juan, drawing thousands of tourists who walk the narrow, steep streets every day. The old town is enclosed by thick, high walls and features numerous attractive plazas bearing sculptures and memorials.

Fort San Felipe del Morro photo

Fort San Felipe del Morro

Built in 1540, the mighty six-level fortress of San Felipe del Morro towers 140 feet (43m) above the sea on San Juan Bay, its 18-foot thick (5m) walls having proved a worthy defenc…

Fort San Felipe del Morro

Built in 1540, the mighty six-level fortress of San Felipe del Morro towers 140 feet (43m) above the sea on San Juan Bay, its 18-foot thick (5m) walls having proved a worthy defence against many an invasion. One of the largest fortifications in the Caribbean, it is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, lookouts and ramps, offering spectacular views from atop its ramparts. In Old San Juan, stands El Morro's partner in defending the city, Castillo San Cristobal, built in the 17th century to a confusing and intricate modular design.

Website www.nps.gov

Opens 9am - 6pm

La Fortaleza photo

La Fortaleza

La Fortaleza was built in 1540 as a fortress to guard the entrance to the San Juan harbour, but later became the official residence of the governor. During the following centuries,…

La Fortaleza

La Fortaleza was built in 1540 as a fortress to guard the entrance to the San Juan harbour, but later became the official residence of the governor. During the following centuries, the original structure has been remodelled and expanded, with a neoclassical façade being added in 1846 to lend a certain palatial trait to the place. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the oldest administrative mansion still in use in the New World.

Address Fortaleza Street, Old San Juan

Museo de Arte photo

Museo de Arte

Puerto Rico's showcase art gallery is housed in a former city hospital in Santurce and offers a permanent and visiting exhibition. The aim is to highlight the island's heritage thr…

Museo de Arte

Puerto Rico's showcase art gallery is housed in a former city hospital in Santurce and offers a permanent and visiting exhibition. The aim is to highlight the island's heritage through the work of local artists, such as Francisco Oller, who studied in France with Cézanne, and Jose Campeche, a late 18th-century classical painter. The museum has been described as a living textbook of Puerto Rico, providing an overview of the island's history through the medium of art. The museum also hosts events such as concerts and festivals throughout the year.

Address 299 De Diego Avenue, Santurce

Website www.mapr.org

Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque) photo

Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque)

The Caribbean National Forest, 35 miles (56km) east of San Juan, is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Park system and was named El Yunque by the Spanish. I…

Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque)

The Caribbean National Forest, 35 miles (56km) east of San Juan, is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Park system and was named El Yunque by the Spanish. Its 28,000 acres contain about 240 different species of tree and numerous other plants, from tiny, delicate wild orchids to gigantic ferns. Visitors can start their visit at the El Portal Tropical Forest Centre where there are films, exhibits and interactive displays. Maps are available of the dozens of walking trails through the forest, graded according to difficulty. Nearby is Puerto Rico's best beach, Luquillo Beach, famous for its soft white sand and towering coconut palms.

Website www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean

Casa Bacardi Visitor Centre photo

Casa Bacardi Visitor Centre

Undoubtedly one of the top tourist attractions in Puerto Rico, a trip to the Casa Bacardi Visitor Centre is a must for travellers to San Juan. Following exile from Cuba in the 1950…

Casa Bacardi Visitor Centre

Undoubtedly one of the top tourist attractions in Puerto Rico, a trip to the Casa Bacardi Visitor Centre is a must for travellers to San Juan. Following exile from Cuba in the 1950s, the Bacardi founders moved to Puerto Rico and set up a small rum distillery on the outskirts of San Juan. It now produces a jaw-dropping 100,000 gallons of rum per day and 21 million cases per year. Tours of the Casa Bacardi Visitor Centre last about an hour, as tour guides show visitors around a variety of exhibits and vintage rum stills, as well as explain the company's history. It culminates in a visit to an on-site, classically-styled bar, where a bartender will show you the proper methods of preparing Cuba libres and mojitos.

Address Bay View Industrial Park

Website www.casabacardi.org

Isla Verde photo

Isla Verde

Isla Verde is San Juan's trendiest area and home to many of its best beach resorts and upmarket hotels. The area's name is inspired by the colour of the water in its bay: a rich gr…

Isla Verde

Isla Verde is San Juan's trendiest area and home to many of its best beach resorts and upmarket hotels. The area's name is inspired by the colour of the water in its bay: a rich green, turquoise hue that proves irresistible to swimmers and divers. The beautiful beach boasts soft sand and the shade of tall palm trees, while visitors can also enjoy world-class spa treatments and a vibrant nightlife. Isla Verde is home to two of the island's best casino hotels and a wide range of raucous clubs and bars with live music. A natural base for well-heeled travellers to San Juan, Isla Verde makes for a luxurious home away from home during your holiday in Puerto Rico.