12 Best Places in San Juan to Amaze You Right Now

After the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017, Puerto Rico has recovered yet again, and it took no time to become one of the most fantastic tourist spots around the world. San Juan is one of the major cities in Puerto Rico. It has a strong tradition and culture that had stood for hundreds of years.

The old forts, ruins, colorful streets, beautiful beaches, and cobblestoned streets will give you a positive vibe throughout the city. If you think you want to plan a trip that is a bit “out of the box” for your next vacation, you can think of San Juan right now.

When you are traveling to a new place, you need to know the best time to visit it. Visiting San Juan is no exception to that. The best time to visit this place is from the middle of April to June.

The winter season is too busy and crowded. If you want to avoid that, this period is the best time to enjoy San Juan. Also, after June, there will be the monsoon, which is not appropriate for traveling.

Winter is, indeed, the best time to watch San Juan at its best, but the crowd is a problem for the solitude-seekers. Now, today, you will get to know about the best places in San Juan to visit and make your trip eventful. Read on to know more.

#1. Take a Walk at the Paseo Del Morro

If you want to enjoy a long walk while you are in San Juan, you can visit this historical site, which got the title of the National Historic Site in 2001. Walking along the way will give you a mesmerizing view of San Juan Bay.

Water will wash away your feet, and it is a fantastic experience. If you are fond of trekking, then visiting this place is worthwhile. Begin your trek from the Raices Fountain, and then proceed with your journey toward the San Juan Gate.

Address: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
Fee: Free of cost
The time required to visit the place: Depends on the tourists
Nearest transportation: San Cristobal (15-minute walk)

#2. Governor’s House

San Juan is a place of history, tradition, and culture. There are lots of historical buildings that will mesmerize you, and the Governor’s House is one of those. Though indeed, you can’t go inside as this building is the office and house of the governor, you can see the magnificent building from outside. Fortaleza Street is lit with colorful lights, and the building amid that light looks lovely.

Address: 63 C. Fortaleza, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Generally not open for crowds
Fee: No fee, not for public viewing inside
The time required to visit the place: You can visit the outside anytime
Nearest transportation: Terminal Covadonga San Juan (15-minute walk)

#3. Isla Verde Beach

San Juan is the paradise of exotic beaches. The coastline of Puerto Rico is around 300 miles, and Isla Verde beach is one of the best beaches in this place. The pinkish-white sand on the beach creates a fantastic backdrop to astound you.

Hurricane Maria has, indeed, ravaged the beach a lot. Still, the government has taken great initiative, and the beach is now one of the major tourist attractions of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Address: Carolina, 00979, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
Fee: Free of cost
The time required to visit the place: Depends on the tourists
Nearest transportation: Avenida Boca De Canjero (1-minute walk)

#4. El Yunque National Park

If you want to experience a tropical rain forest, then you have to plan a trip to El Yunque National Park in the El Yunque National Forest. It is the largest nature reserve in Puerto Rico, where you can visit a most diversified animal kingdom in the midst of a lush green forest.

The animal life you can see here are species of nonvenomous snakes, mongooses, the Puerto Rican parrot, and the famous coqui frogs whose croaking sound will play like the background music of your forest trip, among others. Besides the exotic animal life, you can also visit fantastic views of La Mina Falls, La Coca Falls, and the Yokahu Observation Tower.

Address: El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Every day (7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
Fee: Entrance fee is free
The time required to visit the place: 2–3 hours
Nearest transportation: Take a bus from Sagrado Corazon

#5. Castillo San Felipe Del Morro

If you are a history buff and prefer to visit old buildings and ruins in search of history, you should not miss visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site. The trail is fantastic for hiking to this site. You will be amazed by the beauty of the surroundings. You will also get to see the Gato Sanctuary there where the famous feral cats of San Juan are taken care of.

Address: 501 Calle Norzagaray, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Every day (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
Fee: $7 for adults
The time required to visit the place: 1 hour
Nearest transportation: Bus service

#6. Old San Juan

While you are traveling to a new place, you often want to walk through history. Experiencing culture and tradition can make your trip even more amazing. San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico, and it has a lower part that always attracts tourists.

This part of the city still holds the sign of Spanish colonization as you will find lots of castles that are based on the Spanish style of architecture. The largest Spanish fort in the world, Castillo de San Cristobal, is located here. Another castle, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, was used during the Spanish-American War.

Address: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
Fee: Entrance fee is free
The time required to visit the place: Depends on the tourists
Nearest transportation: Bus service is available

#7. San Juan Cathedral

Speaking of the best things to do in San Juan, you can’t miss visiting San Juan Cathedral. If you want to spend some time in serenity, visit the San Juan Cathedral. This church built in 1521 is the perfect epitome of the Old San Juan.

Once you visit here, you will find the historical and religious artifacts that will amaze you. This is the second-largest cathedral in America, which is still active. The vast stained–glass windows are fantastic. Once you are here, you can stay away from the business of San Juan and spend some time in solitude.

Address: 151 Calle del Cristo, San Juan, 00902, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.); Saturday (9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.); Sunday (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Fee: Entrance fee is free
The time required to visit the place: Depends on the tourists
Nearest transportation: Free trolley system from Old San Juan

#8. Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery

It may seem a bit weird for many tourists to visit a cemetery while you are on vacation, but if you ever visit this part of Old San Juan, you will find that you are doing the right thing. Named in honor of Catholic icon Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis, this cemetery was the burial ground of Puerto Rico during the colonial era.

This place is the resting place of lots of famous people in Puerto Rico. The location of the cemetery is just by the Atlantic Ocean, where the waves touch the graves, and the locals believe the ocean helps people to make the journey after life smoothly. Sitting here on a lazy afternoon and watching the colorful flowers, marble sculptures, and the vast Atlantic Ocean can give you the lesson of life.

Address: Calle Cementerio, San Juan, 00926, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Every day (7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
Fee: Free of cost
The time required to visit the place: Depends on the tourists
Nearest transportation: Castillo del Morro Fort (15-minute walk)

#9. Casa Bacardi

Are you fond of rum? Then you must visit this world-famous rum distillery where you can try on the shoes of a bartender. Don’t get it? It is one of those bars where you could have the opportunity to mix varieties of rum and create amazing cocktails of your own taste with a bottle to carry with you.

Isn’t that amazing? To have fun with your friends, you can visit Casa Bacardi now. You will get to learn how to mix drinks and to prepare beautiful beverages.

Address: PR-165, Cataño, 00949, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Every day (9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Fee: Entrance is free
The time required to visit the place: Depends on the visitors
Nearest station: Avenida Las Nereidas Lado Opuesto Bacardi (7-minute walk)

#10. Camuy Cave Park

If you are an adventurist by heart and want to enjoy your tour with a bit of thrill, then you have to visit Rio Camuy Cave Park. Once you are here, the natural sculptures of stalactite and stalagmite can leave you spellbound.

You can have a guided cave tour here, and there are also picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and walking trails where you can spend some time with your friends and family. Each cave tour is for 90 minutes, where you will get to know about the geographic features of it along with the ecosystem of the area. If you are visiting in summer, you can go camping too. As the cave is quite chilly, wear layered clothes.

Address: Carr. 129 K. 18.9 Quebrada, 00669, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (11:45 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.)
Fee: $18
The time required to visit the place: 90 minutes
Nearest transportation: Charter bus

#11. La Casita de Rones

A whole day of sightseeing is hectic, and you will get tired of visiting so many places. How about sitting in a beautiful area and enjoying an excellent drink? If this is what your heart wants now, then you can go directly to La Casita de Rones to grab a glass of chilled piña colada!

First of all, it is a catchy pink building that will grab your attention first. Besides that, this superb restaurant will serve you the best coastal foods, like fish tacos, as it is located beside the harbor. To enjoy the view outside, you can get a seat outside of the restaurant and enjoy your food and drink while taking in the great view around you.

Address: Calle Comercio, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Monday to Friday and Sunday (10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.)
Fee: Entrance is free
The time required to visit the place: Depends on the visitors
Nearest transportation: Bus service available

#12. Museo de las Americas

Finally, to end this list of the best things to do and places to visit in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the best is saved for last. Museums are always fabulous as they unfold the history and culture to the visiting people to educate them on their tour.

Once you visit this museum, you will get to know more about the history of this place through lots of exhibits. The historical artifacts, artworks, folk arts, and lots of other shows are there to surprise you.

Address: Calle Beneficencia, San Juan 00926, Puerto Rico
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.); Saturday and Sunday (12:00 noon–5:00 p.m.)
Fee: Entrance is free
The time required to visit the place: 12 hours
Nearest transportation: Take a taxi or bus from San Juan

Hopefully, this list is sufficient enough for you to know the best places to visit in San Juan. Enjoy a nice trip by booking flight tickets and hotels early to avoid the crowd. Have a great time with your friends and family in San Juan!