What is the best place to stay in San Juan?
By Carles Barcelo. Updated October 27, 2023
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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