Top 10 fabulous things to do in San Juan

San Juan Top 10 Things To Do While Visiting

San Juan is a fabulous city, vibrant and full of history. There many things you can do in San Juan, here are the top attractions for your enjoyment.

Old San Juan

Old San Juan is on an island right at the entrance to the Bahía de San Juan, the “rich port” which gave Puerto Rico its name. Its strategic position was backed up by fortifications that include San Felipe del Morro Fort at the tip of the island, as well as San Cristóbal Fort and La Fortaleza, which is currently the island’s Governor’s residence.

Old San Juan is a grid of narrow streets with colorful houses and cobblestone streets. It represents one of the oldest and best-preserved town centers in the Western Hemisphere. Two historic houses of worship bookend the center Plaza de Armas square: in the north, the simple white exterior of the San José Church and the comparative grandeur of the older Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, built in 1521, in the south. The latter contains the tomb of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. The area is also home to Alcaldía (City Hall); El Arsenal, a former Spanish naval station; and La Rogativa, a bronze monument that tells the legendary story of the city’s governor and his “rogativa,” or plea to God, to save the city from British troops.

La Fortaleza (Palacio de Santa Catalina)

The Wedgwood blue and white Santa Catalina Palace was built in 1533 and makes an impressive sight as you approach through a narrow Old San Juan street. While the building exudes an air of calm authority, it occupies a site that was long one of the most contested strategic positions in the Caribbean: La Fortaleza. And you can still see stone fortifications built by the Spanish, brooding above the waves.

La Fortaleza is today the Governor of Puerto Rico’s residence, and the oldest functioning executive mansion in the Western Hemisphere. Consequently, you can’t roam the building at will, but a tour will take you through the palace’s dungeon and chapel, as well as the lush gardens.

Bacardi Rum Factory

San Juan is the home of world famous Bacardí rum. Even if you’ve never given much thought to how this Caribbean staple gets from the cane fields to your mojito, the Casa Bacardí Visitor Center offers a surprisingly interesting experience. See the distillery, bottling plant and a museum that traces the company’s origins in Cuba to its current global domination.

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Castillo de San Cristobal

Standing guard at Old San Juan’s Eastern Gate is the Castillo de San Cristobal. Built to protect San Juan against land attacks, the ancient Spanish fort is now part of the San Juan National Historic Site and a great opportunity to see the largest Spanish fortification built in the New World and see some spectacular views of the San Juan Bay and El Morro. The massive structure, which was built in the 18th century to compliment the El Morro  fortification which was designed to guard the bay, rises 150 feet above sea level and occupies most of the northeast edge of Old San Juan. Proven to be an effective fortification which helped repel a 1797 land invasion by Sir Ralph Abercrombie, the Castillo de San Cristobal is one of the premier attractions of Old San Juan.

 

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San Juan National Historic Site

Established in 1949, The San Juan National Historic Site is home to some of the city’s most famous attractions. Visitors can climb to Castillo San Felipe del Morro, overlooking the San Juan Bay, for an up close look at military efforts more than 250 years ago. Travelers can learn about historic battles that took place against the English and Dutch while visiting the restored lighthouse, chapel and vintage cannons.

History buffs will also love Castillo San Cristobal, near the gate of Old San Juan. While El Morro protected Puerto Rico from seaside attacks, Castillo San Cristobal was designed to stop intruders approaching by land. With grounds stretching some 27 acres, this is Puerto Rico’s largest fortification site, as well as the biggest built by the Spanish after discovering the New World.

Capilla del Cristo Chapel

The Capilla del Cristo Chapel is a small 18th-century sanctuary tucked away at the end of a pedestrian street in a corner of the old walled city of San Juan. It was built here to commemorate what believers say was a miracle of divine intervention.

The legend of the Capilla del Cristo Chapel is based on a story of a rider who lost control of his horse along Calle del Cristo during a fiesta. Plunging off the top of the stone wall and into the cliffs below, the rider was said to have miraculously survived. Over the years, faithful Puerto Ricans have flocked to the chapel to pray for miracle cures and leave tiny silver ornaments (representing parts of the miracle rider’s body) at its altar.

Today, the chapel is a well-known yet humble historical landmark. Its gold and silver altar can be seen through the glass doors of the old building, but most visitors have to settle for a view from outside, as the chapel is only open to the public once a week. As it is located within Old San Juan, the historic colonial section of the city, there are numerous ways to explore the area, including half-day sightseeing tours, walking tours, and even segway tours.

Insider’s Tip: You can visit the chapel at any time, but the iron fence across the front only opens on Tuesday afternoons and on religious holidays.

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Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico

San Juan’s most important cultural institution, the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico (Museum of Art of Puerto Rico) was established in 2000. The museum’s core is a neoclassical building dating to 1920 that once belonged to the city’s hospital, with a more recent addition housing a theater and space for temporary exhibitions.

The collection here stretches from religious art and portraiture of the 17th century to cutting edge contemporary pieces. Seeing how local artists have reacted to foreign influences to create something unique to the island makes for a fascinating journey.

There is also an excellent sculpture garden where you’ll find works from 15 different local artists in lovingly landscaped surrounds, featuring waterfalls, ponds and a huge range of plants.

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San Juan Cathedral

Built in 1521, The San Juan Cathedral (aka La Santa Catedral San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico) is one of the highlights of any trip into Old San Juan. The second oldest cathedral in the Americas, this historic landmark lies right in the heart of Old San Juan and boasts an impressive array of religious and historical artifacts including the tomb of notorious Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon and the mummy of St. Pio. An operational cathedral, you can attend mass here Saturdays at 7 pm, Sunday at 9 and 11 am, and weekdays 7:25 am and 12:15 pm. And experience a traditional catholic mass, or, when service isn’t being conducted, you can wander the nave free of charge, gaze at the huge stained glass windows, or marvel at the construction of the oldest church on U.S. soil.

Museo de las Américas

Preserving the identity of the indigenous cultures of the Americas and, in particular, those that populated the island of Puerto Rico before the Spanish invasion, the Museo de las Americas is a small but powerful museum that not only serves to enlighten, but also to entertain. While wandering the halls here, you’ll find that some exhibits tell the history of the Native Americans, while others display folk art from contemporary artists of the island. Most of these exhibits are available for sale, while other pieces of art serve only for appraisal and admiration. See what originally made Puerto Rico the desirable island it is today with a trip down history lane with the Museo de las Americas.