Top 13 Must See Things to Do in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Are you looking for things to do in Old San Juan during your next trip to Puerto Rico?
You can enjoy the city when visiting old San Juan for a day, but there is so much to do you might feel you missed out on part of the experience.
On my last cruise to the Caribbean, Old San Juan was one of my favorite stops. The vibrant colors, delicious food, and historical landmarks were stunning. The San Juan cruise port was an afternoon/evening stop. Although my friends and I saw a lot of the city, I want to go back to experience more Old San Juan has to offer.
For your itinerary, look at the activities in Old Town Puerto Rico and narrow it down based on your interests and some travel tips highlighted below.
You might prefer visiting one of the forts in Old San Juan with awe-inspiring ocean views or enjoying the vibrant nightlife with dancing and Piña Coladas. Whatever your preference, San Juan has something you’ll enjoy.
Top Things to Do in Old San Juan
Old San Juan used to be named “Ciudad de Puerto Rico,” meaning the City of Puerto Rico. The city has a rich history involving the Spanish colonial government.
The preserved old colonial vibe makes unique things to do in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. You can explore a Spanish fortress or enjoy a San Juan walking tour of the city through its blue cobblestone streets.
If you’re visiting Puerto Rico from the United States, you don’t need a passport since it is an unincorporated territory of the United States.
Whether you are stopping by on a cruise ship or planning to stay at a resort, there are many fun things to do in Old San Juan.
1. Colorful streets of Old San Juan
One of the things to do in Old San Juan for free is to walk around.
Sure, you can join a guided tour- and I’ll highlight a few later- but the charm of this old city is all around you.
Take in the colorful buildings while you walk along the blue cobblestones.
My friends and I saw a cobblestone street in the process of being repaired during our visit. It was so cool seeing this old-fashioned way of making streets in Old San Juan being preserved. It was like walking back in time.
The more you walk through the rainbow buildings, the more you’ll find great Instagram-worthy photo ops. There are balconies with flowers and street art that pop out at you. The brightly colored walls are a perfect backdrop to record your adventures.
Bonus: it’s one of the free things to do in Old San Juan. A vacation in the Caribbean can add up, but some islands are cheaper than others.
2. Castillo de San Cristobal
Do you want to continue walking into the past? Then you must visit Castillo de San Cristobal. The fortress is a popular attraction in Old San Juan and is only a 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal in Old San Juan’s harbor.
Part of the San Juan National Historic Site, Castillo de San Cristobal is a fortress built by the Spanish to protect against attacks by land.
Fun Fact: This fortress gets its name from Saint Christopher, the patron saint of land travelers.
The 27 acres of Castillo San Cristobal make it the largest fortress the Spanish built in the New World.
You can explore the dungeons, tunnels, and ramparts on your own or through a ranger-led tour. Check out the “Garita del Diablo,” or Devil’s Sentry Box, where legends say multiple soldiers mysteriously disappeared.
If you’re not a history person, you can still take in amazing views of the ocean and the city of San Juan.
3. Castillo de San Felipe del Morro
Another of the best places to go in Old San Juan is Castillo de San Felipe del Morro. The fort is a little further away but worth the 30-minute walk (it only took my group 15 minutes, but we are fast walkers) from the cruise terminal.
The purpose of Castillo de San Cristobal was to defend San Juan from invaders by land. Castillo San Felipe del Morro protected the city from invaders by sea.
El Morro and Castillo San Cristobal are both impressive military forts of Old San Juan, but I prefer El Moro if you have to choose one to tour.
When you walk up to El Morro, you are greeted with large green lawns. It was a little too windy for me (my hat kept flying off), but it was perfect for flying kites.
We stopped at an ice cream cart nearby before going into the fortress. I can never pass up ice cream, especially passion fruit-flavored ice cream!
Similarly to Castillo de San Cristobal, El Moro has dungeons, ramparts, canons, and all sorts of fortress nooks and crannies to explore. Fair warning- there are a lot of stairs, but the panoramic ocean views are worth every step.
Paseo del Morro is the boardwalk going around the fortress and eventually merges with Paseo de la Princessa.
4. Paseo de la Princesa
If you’re looking for something less fort-centered and more romantic, take a walk along the Paseo de la Princesa.
Start or end your walk of Paseo de la Princessa at the San Juan Gate. The walkway has old-fashioned street lamp posts with sweeping views that overlook the bay of San Juan. Fountains and gardens line the path.
The San Juan sunset is stunning over the water. After a romantic walk on land, you can book a sunset boat tour.
Try eating at the Princesa Cocina Cultura restaurant for a fancy, romantic dinner. They offer a “real Puerto Rican gastronomy.” Don’t worry- gastronomy is a good thing. It’s the art of cooking and eating good food.
Weekends are full of street vendors and performers along this historical pathway. If you have kids, they’ll love the live music and the Paseo de la Princessa playground.
If this sounds like your type of activity, book a walking tour of Old San Juan.
5. The Governor’s House, La Fortaleza
One of the National Heritage Site landmarks you’ll walk by on the Paseo de la Princesa is the Governor’s Mansion, La Fortaleza.
Take a guided walking tour of the Governer’s House rooms and gardens. Just check their website to see if it’s open to the public during your stay.
The street leading up to the Governer’s House is Fortaleza Street. It is the oldest street in the area and offers all kinds of shops, restaurants, and hotels.
You might recognize Fortazela Street as the one with colorful umbrellas over it. Sometimes the umbrellas are replaced with other art or the Puerto Rican flag, but it’s still a beautiful art display you can’t miss.
When I visited, the umbrellas were rainbow. My group couldn’t walk under the umbrellas since the street was closed to passers-by, but we could still get a great picture!
6. Eat, Eat, and Eat
Deaverdura on the corner of Sol St and Calle de la Cruz in Viejo San Juan is a must-try. It’s an Old San Juan restaurant, and their traditional Puerto Rican food was absolutely worth the 30-minute wait for a table.
The “pernil” (slow-roasted pork) was so tender and full of flavor. I also got the sampler platter with my friends, which was more than enough for all of us with the “pernil” and rice. The platter came with fried yucca, “morcilla” (blood sausage), and “tostones” (fried plantains).
The old city is also famous for its food trucks. If I hadn’t filled up on food from the restaurant, I would have stopped to buy from the San Juan food trucks on the walk back to the cruise ship.
If you’re a foodie, don’t leave Puerto Rico without trying mofongo. It’s fried plantains mashed up with “chicharrón” or pork rinds.
You can book a food tour so you don’t miss any Puerto Rican food highlights!
7. Enjoy a Rum Tour and a Piña Colada
Puerto Rico is one of the best Caribbean islands to visit for its history and food, but it’s also well known for its drinks.
Did you know that the Piña Colada was created in Puerto Rico? The story says a bartender at the Barrachina restaurant invented the Piña Colada.
If you don’t have time to make a reservation at Barrachina, you can walk up to their courtyard bar and order a Piña Colada. They even offer small cups of virgin Piña Coladas for kids if you’re traveling with family. The legend holds up because it was the best Piña Colada I’ve ever had.
San Juan Rum Tours are also popular, and this 75-minute Rum Tasting Tour takes you to the world-famous Casa Bacardi. You’ll taste many different styles of Bacardi rum and get a tour of the distillery.
Food, drink, and dancing are the top things to do in Old San Juan at night, so after your tour, check out more local businesses as you explore the city.
8. El Yunque National Forest
If you like more outdoor adventures like hikes and waterfalls, then don’t skip El Yunque.
El Yunque is the only rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system and is only a 40-minute drive from Old San Juan. I skipped this on my visit to Old San Juan because it would have taken up most of my afternoon/evening cruise port time.
Pick a hike and explore on your own, or choose from multiple tours that focus on everything from adventure, wildlife, and nature walks.
You can see amazing views from the Mount Britton Tower or swim in the natural pools below La Mina Falls.
A full-day tour of El Yunque picks you up from your hotel or the cruise terminal. The tour includes hiking to waterfalls and natural pools.
You can even slide down natural waterslides and have fun on rope swings and cliff jumping. Start at 8:00 am and end after 4-5 hours with lunch at the famous Luquillo Kiosks at Luquillo Beach before returning to your Puerto Rican resort.
9. Capilla del Cristo
Not into hiking or cliff jumping? Tone things down a bit with a visit to Capilla de Cristo, the Chapel of Christ.
This chapel was created in the 1700s and has beautiful architecture. The coolest thing is the miracle. Legend has it that a horse race ended with a rider and horse falling off the nearby cliff. The rider survived, and the chapel was made to commemorate the miracle.
If you’re into art, check out the famous painting by Jose Campeche, a famous Puerto Rican painter, inside the chapel.
Enjoy looking out at the bay from the Capillo del Cristo, then check out the Plaza de Armas next door. The Plaza de Armas was the main town square where soldiers gathered. Plaza de Armas is now known as the heart of Old San Juan and is often full of music and dancing.
10. Casa Blanca
The history behind Casa Blanca and the other monuments, buildings, and fortresses make Puerto Rico a World Heritage Site.
Close to the fortress El Morro, Casa Blanca was the first building in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The White House was built for the Governor, Juan Ponce de León, and his family.
Juan Ponce died before he could move in, but his family was able to live there. The Spanish Army and then the American Army occupied Casa Blanca.
Casa Blanca is now a museum with relics from the 16th and 17th centuries. You can still see what the rooms were like for those who lived there while enjoying a view of San Juan Bay.
11. Shopping in Old San Juan
You can’t enjoy a Puerto Rican vacation without buying a souvenir. There are shops everywhere so you can easily stop to shop while walking around to the tourist activities.
The shops and restaurants are all intermingled along the city streets. You’ll find a mix of name-brand companies and mom-and-pop storefronts. Browse for clothing, jewelry, perfume, art, and so much more.
One of the most unique (and delicious!) stores I like is Chocobar Cortes. They have a variety of chocolate products, including cacao wine. It’s perfect for finding a unique gift for a chocolate-loving friend back home.
The Poet’s Passage is another fun shop with original poetry and art made from those poems.
12. Catedral de San Juan Bautista
If religion or beautiful stained glass windows in a cathedral with beautiful architecture are more your speed, then check out the San Juan Cathedral on your visit to Puerto Rico.
Juan Ponce de León, the first Governor of San Juan, who didn’t get to live in his Casa Blanca mansion, was buried at the Catedral de San Juan.
The cathedral blends Gothic and neoclassical architecture and has been refurbished over the centuries.
Fun Fact: The San Juan Cathedral was built in the 16th century and is the first church built on U.S. soil.
13. Rogativa Plaza
The best 180-degree view overlooking San Juan Bay has to be from Rogativa Plaza.
It’s a beautiful, historic plaza where you can see the El Yunque forest, La Fortaleza, Isla de Cabras, and the San Juan Gate. Just walking along the path by the city wall gives you the full historical vibe of Viejo San Juan.
The famous statue, “La Rogativa” is a statue of a Bishop leading a procession. The statue is at the plaza’s center and represents the precession that scared off the British invaders.
I guess they took one look at the hundreds of torches and aborted their mission because they thought the torches were military reinforcements.
Summary of Best Things to Do in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
With so many things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico, I recommend walking around Castillo de San Felipe del Moro. In my opinion, it has better ocean views than its sister fortress, Castillo de San Cristobal.
Try the local cuisine during your visit. I would get “pernil” (pork) from Deaverdura and a Pina Colada from Barrachina.
If you have a full day to explore, take a fun waterfall adventure tour in the El Yunque rainforest followed by lunch at the famous Luquillo Kiosks on your way back to Old San Juan.
Whether you’re enjoying Puerto Rico travel as a family, finding yourself on a solo trip, or enjoying a vacation with friends, Old San Juan is a must for your itinerary.
What activity would you choose first?
