With beautiful white sandy beaches and coral reefs, San Juan offers a wealth of opportunities to relax and enjoy the good life. This is one of the oldest settlements under US jurisdiction, and the city is teeming with historical gems dating from the 16th century onwards. Take a walk through the cobblestoned Old San Juan (or El Viejo San Juan) and see the pretty colonial buildings of days gone by. This area also boasts the UNESCO world heritage site El Castillo San Felipe del Morro, an old fortress with fantastic coastal views. As evening falls, take a stroll down the lovely tree-lined street Paseo de la Princesa, and watch the sun set by the water.
Without a doubt, the best area to stay in San Juan is the historic centre, known as Old San Juan. In this charming area you’ll see beautiful Spanish architecture and you’ll be within walking distance of the major historical sights such as Castillo de San Cristobal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro. You’ll be able to take relaxing walks along the waterfront too.
This area also offers some fun and unique shopping at Calle San Francisco and Calle Fortaleza, as well as a wide range of restaurants, cafes and bars. Getting around is easy, with a free trolley service for tourists and plenty of taxis available.
Old San Juan is the best place to stay in San Juan due to its 500 year old history. This enchanting piece of land in the Caribbean never fails to impress anyone that stays here. There are several historic fortresses in Old San Juan that are a must visit. These fortresses capture the essence of the past in a way that nothing else can.
Al Morro and La Fortaleza are one of the biggest fortresses in the entire island that have spectacular ramparts, cannons, and walls. These structures were used as defense in the earlier times to protect the Island from enemies. Old San Juan is also famous for its extra-ordinary art scene. There are several galleries throughout this part of the city that display unique art and creation of great artists of the Caribbean. The best galleries to visit in Old San Juan include Galeria Botello, Obra Galeria, Galeria Sanchez, and Siena Art Gallery.
The Fortaleza Street in Old San Juan is a great spot to enjoy tasty cuisine and food of the Caribbean. You can also enjoy the taste of local Rican cuisine at the restaurants in this area. Dragon Fly, Aguaviva, and The Parrot Club are one of the most famous restaurants on Fortaleza Street. This food street also holds food festivals for locals and tourists. Puerto Rico is famous for the Salsa dancing style. If you are staying in Old San Juan then it is a good idea to experience salsa dancing. Latin Roots is a salsa teaching school where you can learn this amazing form of dance.
Once you have mastered the skills, you can visit Nuyorican Café and dance on live salsa music with your group of friends. This part of San Juan doesn’t fall short on entertainment as it also has a lively night scene. You can visit local bars, lounges, cafes, and clubs at night where you can enjoy amazing drinks, live music, dance, and much more. Step out and walk through the streets of Old San Juan and you will find a variety of mesmerizing sites, restaurants, and shopping centers. Old San Juan is the best place to stay in San Juan where you can experience the Puerto Rican culture in its purest form.
If you want to experience a more developed and luxurious part of San Juan than Condado is the place to stay. This part of the city is more advanced and is home to the people belonging to the middle and upper class. The Condado Beach is a famous tourist spot that attracts hundreds of people in summer days. The beach is mostly rocky and is a perfect spot to relax and meditate.
This chic neighborhood in San Juan has an outstanding nightlife. There are several laidback bars, casinos, and clubs in Condado that stay packed with people that are out to have some fun. This part of San Juan is a fashionable place that is home to several famous designers including Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and much more. This high-end neighborhood is perfect for people that want to live a luxurious life.
Isla Verde Beach is a prime location for those looking to stay in San Juan. This picturesque area offers pristine white sandy beaches with clear turquoise waters, ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports. The area is also known for its world-class hotels and resorts, which provide luxurious accommodations, exquisite dining options, and a range of recreational activities.
Isla Verde Beach is conveniently located near San Juan's international airport and the cruise port, making it easily accessible for travelers. The area is also home to several shopping centers, casinos, and nightclubs, ensuring that visitors are never short of entertainment options. With its stunning beaches, excellent hotels, and vibrant nightlife, Isla Verde Beach is the perfect place to stay in San Juan for those seeking a memorable vacation experience.
Ocean Park is ranked amongst the top most liked attractions in San Juan. Ocean Park is a charming and natural neighborhood by the beach. The entire neighborhood is surrounded by tall palm trees that give it a beautiful look. You can take long walks on the beach and enjoy local food, wine, and ice-cream by the vendors on the beach. This neighborhood has several restaurants, shopping stores, and clubs.
You can enjoy your day on the beach either walking, relaxing or taking part in water sports and activities like surfing, boating, and much more. There are several high-class hotels near the beach that offer a variety of cuisines. The nightlife of Ocean Park is very exciting and the place has several top-class bars, casinos, clubs, etc.
Miramar is the historic neighborhood in Santurce and is the ideal for those wanting a much quieter place to stay. Miramar lies just across the water from Condedo and Isla Verde and you will need a cab to get to them to enjoy some nightlife. If you are planning to go sightseeing, Old San Juan lies four kilometers away from Miramar and again a cab ride is essential. Miramar is not touristy at all, but does have two lovely hotels, the Courtyard by Marriott which is the best and the Hotel Olimpo Court, which is great value for money and has one of the best restaurants in the area.
There are some attractive apartments to rent in this quieter district too. There are some fun things to do in Miramar if you have finished sightseeing in Old San Juan. These include relaxing in the Paeso de las Fuentes park with its pretty Bellagio style fountains. If you have always wanted to try your hand at sailing, Club Nautico offers lessons for adults and children.
For a great holiday in San Juan why not immerse yourself in the colorful and artistic district of Santurce? Situated just four kilometres from San Juan, Santurce is a great place to stay as you can reach San Juan easily by bus, taxi, Uber or on foot – the bus journey takes just 12 minutes. Santurce is a good place to stay as hotel prices are cheaper and there are beachfront studios, guest houses and apartments to choose from, Santurce has accommodation for all budgets.
Santurce is a really memorable place to stay because many of the buildings are covered in great street murals created by some of the greatest street artists in the world. If you want to soak up the atmosphere, take a stroll down the Barrio. If you are interested in art there is the Puerto Rica Museum of Arte to visit and the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A Ferré holds regular concerts and theater productions. There are restaurants serving Puerto Rican and International cuisine and some very trendy bars too. For delicious local street food and live music head for Lote 23. By day, La Placita de Santurce is the market square and at night it becomes a lively party scene. If you enjoy live music, La Respuerta or Esquina Watus will delight you.
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