Old San Juan
HistoryThe walled old town and the forts.
City guide
Things to do in San Juan
Puerto Rico's capital: the blue cobblestones and pastel houses of Old San Juan, two huge Spanish forts on the sea, city beaches in Condado and Ocean Park, street art in Santurce, and the Friday-night street party at La Placita.
9
Hostels in the city
7.4
Average, from 7,404 reviews
1521
Founded
3
Days
Five centuries on the cobbles
San Juan was founded by the Spanish in 1521 and is one of the oldest European-founded cities in the Americas. Old San Juan, on a small island at the mouth of the bay, is its historic heart: narrow streets paved with blue-grey cobblestones, brightly painted colonial houses, and the forts of El Morro and San Cristóbal, which together with La Fortaleza form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The modern city stretches east along the Atlantic. Condado and Ocean Park have the beaches and hotels, Santurce has the murals, food and nightlife, and La Placita market turns into a street party at weekends.
The airport is 15 to 20 minutes from the centre, which makes San Juan an easy start to any trip. Give it three days.
Where to base yourself
Old San Juan for history and walking; Condado and Ocean Park for beaches; Santurce for food, street art and nightlife.
Condado
Beach, hotelsThe hotel strip on the Atlantic.
Ocean Park
Beach, quietA residential beach area east of Condado.
Santurce
Food, nightlifeMurals, La Placita and the art scene.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in San Juan
Walk the walls and tunnels of El Morro and San Cristóbal, the two Spanish forts run by the US National Park Service; one ticket covers both. Stroll the Paseo de la Princesa and the Paseo del Morro along the old walls, and wander Calle Fortaleza and Calle San Sebastián.
Spend an afternoon at the beaches of Condado, Ocean Park or El Escambrón, and explore the murals around Calle Cerra in Santurce. Take the cheap ferry across the bay to Cataño and tour the Bacardí distillery.
On Friday or Saturday night, go to La Placita de Santurce, and on a weekend, drive east to the food kiosks of Piñones.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Walking Old San Juan, the Paseo de la Princesa and the Paseo del Morro is free, and so are all the beaches. The murals in Santurce cost nothing.
The lawn in front of El Morro is free and popular for kite flying.
The forts, museums and the distillery charge.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Try mofongo, mashed plantain with garlic and pork crackling, often filled with seafood or meat, and alcapurrias and bacalaítos (fritters) from the Piñones kiosks for €2 to €5.
Restaurant mains cost €15 to €30. Cafeterías and food trucks are cheaper, at €8 to €14.
The piña colada is said to have been invented in San Juan. Tipping works as in the US: 15 to 20 per cent in restaurants and bars.
Nightlife
Going out
La Placita de Santurce fills with bars, salsa and reggaeton from Thursday to Saturday nights. Calle San Sebastián in Old San Juan has bars and live music, and Condado has hotel bars and clubs.
Prices are US-level: a beer costs €4 to €7 and a cocktail €8 to €14.
The Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián in January are the biggest party of the year.
Getting around
Getting around
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is about 15 to 20 minutes from Condado and Old San Juan by Uber or taxi. Old San Juan is walkable but hilly.
Uber works across the metro area. Buses are cheap but slow, and the Tren Urbano rail line serves the inland districts.
Rent a car to explore the island.
Costs
What San Juan costs
Hostel beds start at around €22 to €40 a night. Kiosk food costs €2 to €5 an item, and restaurant mains €15 to €30.
The forts cost about €9 for both, and the Bacardí tour about €25 to €50.
Puerto Rico uses the US dollar. Cards work almost everywhere.
Safety
Safety and scams
Old San Juan, Condado, Ocean Park and Santurce are fine with ordinary care, but some neighbourhoods have high crime and no reason to visit. Use Uber late at night and do not leave valuables in a parked car.
Some city beaches have strong currents; swim where others are swimming or where there are lifeguards.
Tap water is generally safe to drink, but buy bottled water after storms or outages. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Rainforest, beaches and caves.
El Yunque
Rainforest and waterfalls.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Street festivals and holidays.
January
Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián
Old San Juan
Four days of music and parades.
23 June
Noche de San Juan
San Juan beaches
Walking backwards into the sea at midnight for luck.
December to early January
Holidays
San Juan
Parrandas and long celebrations.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in San Juan, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Sustainable
Mango Mansion
Dorms from €44 a night
See dates and book
Fortaleza Guest House
Dorms from €23 a night
See dates and book
Conturce Hostel
Dorms from €26 a night
See dates and book
Fortel Hostel
Dorms from €27 a night
See dates and book
Juliette Hostel Women Only
Dorms from €32 a night
See dates and book
Nomada Urban Beach Hostel
Dorms from €48 a night
See dates and book
Casa Santurce
Dorms from €20 a night
See dates and book
When to go
December to April is the dry, busy season. May to November is hotter and wetter, and hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking from August to October.
Jan
Dry, San Sebastián
Feb
Dry
Mar
Spring break
Apr
Easter
May
Rain
Jun
Hurricane season opens
Jul
Summer holidays
Aug
Peak risk
Sep
Highest risk
Oct
Hurricane season
Nov
Season ending
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Warm all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on San Juan prices.
Treat these as a guide. Prices are US-level.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
San Juan questions
The ones we get asked most.
Do I need a car in San Juan?
No; walk and use Uber. Hire one to explore the island.
Can I visit both forts?
Yes, one ticket covers El Morro and San Cristóbal.
Where should I stay?
Old San Juan for history; Condado or Ocean Park for beaches; Santurce for nightlife.
Is San Juan safe?
The visitor areas are fine with ordinary care.
What is La Placita?
A market in Santurce that becomes a street party at weekends.
How many days do I need?
Three.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April.
Also trending this week
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare hostels across Puerto Rico: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.