Puerto Rico, United States
Old San Juan
Walled 16th-century city of forts and plazas; 3 nights for the forts and Christmas streets. Below: 4 sights, 1 activity and 1 place to eat, plus how Old San Juan fits into a longer trip.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Dec – mid-Jan
- Warmest month
- August
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- September
4 See · 1 Do · 1 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop · 1 Stay
Old San Juan & Ponce
from our route notes
30°C / 87°F avg high
28°C / 82°F avg high
about 162 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Old San Juan
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
4 sights worth building a day around. 2 of them are free.
Photo: Nils Huenerfuerst · CC BY 4.0SeeCastillo San Felipe del Morro
Six-level Spanish citadel begun in 1539 on the headland guarding San Juan Bay, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tip Go early before the heat; the lawn in front is where families fly kites in the late afternoon.
Photo: P. Hughes · CC BY 4.0SeeCastillo San Cristobal
The largest Spanish fort in the Americas, completed in 1783, guarding the land approach to the old city.
Tip Your El Morro ticket covers entry here too.
Photo: pasa47 · CC BY 2.0SeePlaza de Armas
Main square of the old city, in front of City Hall, with the island's Christmas tree and lit trees in December.
Photo: Daderot · Public domainSeeCatedral de San Juan Bautista
One of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas, rebuilt in the 1800s, holding the tomb of Juan Ponce de Leon.
Tip Midnight Mass (Misa de Gallo) on Christmas Eve is held here.
Do
1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look.
Photo: P. Hughes · CC BY-SA 4.0DoPaseo de la Princesa
Tree-lined 19th-century promenade along the bay under the city walls, ending at the Raices fountain.
Tip Walk it at sunset and continue through the San Juan Gate into the old city.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Old San Juan.
- Eat
Casa Cortes ChocoBar
Cafe run by the Cortes chocolate family, serving hot chocolate with cheese, chocolate dishes and breakfast.
Tip Order the hot chocolate with a slice of local white cheese to drop into the cup.
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Old San Juan.
Photo: Darth Stabro · CC BY-SA 4.0DrinkLa Factoria
Unsigned cocktail bar of linked rooms on Calle San Sebastian, with salsa dancing late into the night.
Tip The salsa room gets busy after 10 pm; come earlier for a seat at the bar.
Shop
Markets and shops worth the detour.
Photo: Jorge Rodriguez · CC BY 2.0ShopCalle de la Fortaleza
Shop-lined street ending at La Fortaleza, the governor's mansion since the 16th century, hung with wreaths at Christmas.
Tip The gates of La Fortaleza are decorated for the season; walk the street end to end in the evening.
Stay
1 place to stay we would book.
Photo: Prayitno · CC BY 2.0StayHotel El Convento
Hotel in a 1651 Carmelite convent facing the cathedral, with a courtyard restaurant and rooftop plunge pool.
How to fit Old San Juan into a trip
Old San Juan is stop 1 of 2 on our Old San Juan & Ponce route. Follow it as-is or lift Old San Juan into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 2
Old San Juan & Ponce
Sea forts, plazas and a Christmas into January
- Trip length
- 5 days
- Best season
- Dec – mid-Jan
- Pace
- easy
- Next: Ponce
Getting here and onward
- Old San Juan to PoncePonce is about 73 km / 46 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Old San Juan month by month
Average daily highs run from 28°C / 82°F in January to 30°C / 87°F in August. September is the wettest month, with about 162 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan28° / 82°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb28° / 82°F average high
- Mar28° / 83°F average high
- Apr29° / 84°F average high
- May29° / 85°F average high
- Jun30° / 86°F average high
- Jul30° / 86°F average high
- Aug30° / 87°F average high
- Sep30° / 86°F average high
- Oct30° / 85°F average high
- Nov29° / 83°F average high
- Dec28° / 82°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Old San Juan weather and the best time to visit →
Near Old San Juan
1 other destination from our guides within about 100 km (62 mi), measured in a straight line.
Old San Juan questions, answered
How many days do you need in Old San Juan?
Our route notes suggest 3 nights in Old San Juan. On our Old San Juan & Ponce route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 9 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Old San Juan best known for?
Walled 16th-century city of forts and plazas; 3 nights for the forts and Christmas streets. Standouts on our list: Castillo San Felipe del Morro (Six-level Spanish citadel begun in 1539 on the headland guarding San Juan Bay, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site); Castillo San Cristobal (The largest Spanish fort in the Americas, completed in 1783, guarding the land approach to the old city); Plaza de Armas (Main square of the old city, in front of City Hall, with the island's Christmas tree and lit trees in December).
When is the best time to visit Old San Juan?
Our Old San Juan & Ponce route is best Dec – mid-Jan. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (30°C / 87°F), the coolest in January (28°C / 82°F) and the most rain in September (about 162 mm).
What are the best things to do in Old San Juan?
Start with Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristobal, Plaza de Armas, Paseo de la Princesa and Catedral de San Juan Bautista. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 1 place to eat, 1 bar or café, 1 shop and 1 place to stay.
Plan Old San Juan with your crew
Open the Old San Juan & Ponce route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
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