Best Travel Guide San Juan | ArrivalGuides.com

San JuanGuide was updated: 2024-09-16

San Juan is the vibrant, cosmopolitan capital of the island of Puerto Rico. Encompassing hundreds of years of history, the city blends Spanish-era historic sites, such as the San Felipe del Morro fortress, with modern entertainment and fashionable shopping districts. More than a million people call San Juan home, while hundreds of thousands of tourists call it their favorite place to vacation each year.

Do & See

San Juan’s perfect mix of old and new sets the stage for an unforgettable trip. The starting point should be Old San Juan, where walking is the norm, but free trolleys are available to take visitors from one site to the next. Nobody who visits the island should leave without seeing the forts, the churches and the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan.

Old San Juan

This charming old part of town is a great place to explore restored buildings from the 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial period. Walk through the narrow cobblestone streets and enjoy a lively and colorful area full of history, culture and personality.

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San Felipe del Morro Fortress

Known as El Morro, this fortress was designed to protect the city from attacks by sea. In 1983, the United Nations declared the imposing fort a World Heritage Site. Today, it is an interesting museum that offers great views, and it is open for visitors to enjoy and explore.

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La Fortaleza

This magnificent mansion is the home and office of the governor of Puerto Rico and the governor's family. It has been in continuous use since it was built in 1540. The structure is also known as the Palacio de Santa Catalina (Saint Catalina’s Palace) as it integrates a chapel in keeping with the highly Catholic culture.

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Capilla del Cristo

This small chapel is the embodiment of a centuries-old urban legend. It is said that the cliff-side abbey was built after an unknown horse rider galloped up the Old San Juan street and fell off the edge. It has been restored several times but still proudly shows signs of its age.

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San Juan Cathedral

This grand centuries-old Catholic church evolved from a wood structure into the medieval cathedral that is standing today. It is among the oldest churches in the Caribbean, at almost 500 years. The church also houses the marble tomb of the great explorer Ponce de León.

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Plaza de la Rogativa

This small square is home to one of the most emblematic sites in Old San Juan. It is a "must-see" landmark located just a couple blocks from the Cathedral, and the site of the famous bronze statue La Rogativa, made by Lindsay Daen. The statue represents a bishop and his companions who helped frighten away the British troops during the 1797 attack on the city by carrying torches and chanting.

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