Melo Villareal
San Juan tourist attractions and best things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan is a beautiful capital city with soft sand beaches, and it has all kinds of attractions to keep you busy. San Juan is not like many Caribbean cities, where visitors just fly in and then go and find smaller tourist areas to have fun. There are many things to do in San Juan, and the city’s main attractions are Fuerte San Felipe del Morro and Castillo de San Cristóbal.
Tourist Attractions and Best Things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Top 15 Things to Do in San Juan
Explore the Old San Juan
If you want to know more about the compelling history of San Juan, this is one of the first things you should do while in the city. The whole city is old, but much of it has been wonderfully restored and preserved, making tourists feel like they are traveling back in time. There are many fun ways to explore Old San Juan, as you can go on an organized tour, rent a bike, boat, or even a hydroplane.
Go sightseeing at Fuerte San Felipe del Morro
It is commonly called El Morro and protects the entrance to San Juan Bay. The fort is among the largest Spanish forts in the Caribbean, built in 1539 and with ongoing construction for 250 years. The fort is a designated National Historic Site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Today, the fort is a maze of ramps, barracks, tunnels, outposts, and dungeons dotted with small, circular sentry boxes. Those are known as “garitas.” You can have a mind-blowing view from every side of the open lawn, which is an area that approaches the fort.
Have fun at Ocean Park Beach
This is one of the top things to do in San Juan, as your trip won’t be complete without a visit to Ocean Park Beach. A one-mile stretch of sugar-fine sand is a favorite place among the locals for morning strolls, enjoying a refreshing swim, taking a nap under an umbrella, and making sandcastles with the kids. A beach is a perfect place for relaxing, and there are many hotels, condos, restaurants, and shops on one side of the beach.
Go sightseeing at Castillo de San Cristobal.
Fort San Cristobal is one of the places you must visit while in San Juan; it’s fascinating and well worth a visit, like El Morro. The fort is more extensive than El Morro and is also the largest fort the Spanish ever built in the New World.
The fort was built between 1634 and 1790 to guard the eastern gate and covers over 27 acres of land, and it features five independent units connected by moat and tunnel, and they are designed to be self-sufficient if others fall. The fort was designed to protect against a land attack.
Visit the University of Puerto Rico Botanical Garden
The garden is a live laboratory that features the country’s tropical plants and their ecosystems. The garden covers 289 acres of land, including magnificent lakes, sculptures, waterfalls, and it homes 30,000 plant species, and some of them are endemic while some are endangered.
This is one of the things to do in San Juan, and the garden is a hotspot for both locals and tourists; it is also kid-friendly, with a space where kids can do their schoolwork and enjoy other activities.
Explore San Juan Cemetery
This is set along the coast adjacent to El Morro, and the cemetery is known for its elaborate tombstones and statues. The highlight of the cemetery is the circular, red domed Neoclassical chapel dedicated to Mary Magdalene.
You will get a lovely view out to the ocean and towards El Morro, and the chapel in the cemetery dates to the 19th century, with many of Puerto Rico’s earliest colonists buried here. You will also get a scenic view of the cemetery in the distance from EL Morro.
Visit San Juan Cathedral
The cathedral began in 1540, and it is famous for being among the oldest cathedrals in the Americas and among the oldest buildings in San Juan. You will like the interior, with its black-and-white checkered tile floor and yellow décor.
You can also see the marble tomb where the body of the great Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon was laid to rest in 1913. You can go on a tour of the cathedral, and they still hold regular services.
Go on Spoon Food Tours
This is one of the best things to try in San Juan if you love food, as you can sample some of the best dishes. You will go on this journey with the help of knowledgeable insiders, making the experience more enjoyable.
The highlight of this tour is that you will get to visit places that tourists typically do not have the chance to see, and you will also get to try out authentic Puerto Rican dishes in restaurants and Cantinas, which are frequented by the locals.
Go sightseeing at Museo de las Americas.
This is located in Old San Juan and explores Puerto Rico’s history, with a focus on art, colonization, and ethnic groups. You will get a solid overview of the country’s history with the permanent exhibit.
In contrast, the temporary exhibitions around the experience will feature a wide range of exciting themes, from traditional practices to contemporary art.
Go diving at the Akuazone Dive Center.
After exploring San Juan on land, you can also try to explore the underwater world. Akuazone Dive Center is the oldest and most famous San Jose dive shop, and you can take one of their many courses.
They have numerous highly qualified and experienced instructors to teach you. If you are a certified diver, you can visit the stunning reefs around Puerto Rico with the use of high-tech dive equipment and in the company of one of their dive guides. You will be amazed by the diverse sea life in the warm tropical waters.
Go sightseeing at La Fortaleza.
This was completed in 1540 as a defense against the Carib Indians and other foreign invaders. After the Fortaleza lost its military value, it became the residence of Puerto Rican governors.
The Fortaleza is the oldest governor’s mansion and is still used as such in the Western Hemisphere; over 150 governors have lived here. You will learn about history more about history from your visit here.
Go to the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico
This is a prominent player in the Caribbean cultural scene and a highlight of San Juan. The museum was opened in 2000, and it was built around a 1920’s hospital building. As you enter, the older part of the building is the first thing you see, which displays the museum’s permanent collection.
The newer part is a five-story building that contains a multi-story atrium, a sculpture garden, a theater with seating for up to 400 people, and a popular restaurant. The museum has more than 130,000 square feet of space to display an excellent permanent collection and many temporary exhibitions.
Visit San Jose Church
This is one of the earliest examples of Spanish Gothic architecture in the Americas, built by the Dominican friars in 1532. The vaulted interior gives it an airy feel, and the church is smaller than San Juan Cathedral.
The body of the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon was buried here for 300 years before being moved to the San Juan Cathedral in 1913.
Explore Plaza las Americas
When you are tired of beaches, culture, and the heat of San Jose, you can try out the Plaza las Americas. This is a modern indoor shopping plaza where you can buy things you forgot at home.
This is a large mall with US chain stores, American restaurants, the latest fashions, and unique stores.
Go sightseeing at the Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art
The museum was founded in 1984 and is home to the work of Puerto Rico’s finest modern-day artists. This is located inside Sacred Heart University in the Barat building, and it may take you some time to get here.
The changing exhibits showcase the museum’s modern island-made prints, posters, paintings, and sculptures. You should try to contact the museum or visit their website to know more about the most current exhibits due to the changing of the exhibits.
San Juan is home to romantic hotels, beautiful beaches, gardens, unique museums, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; you will have many places to visit and explore in this city.
San Juan Puerto Rico Travel and Tour Packages
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