One of my absolute favorite parts of travel is a very simple thing.  Just wandering around a new city satisfies me almost as much as seeing famous sites, hiking amazing trails, and eating at delicious restaurants (all right, maybe not the last one).

When a place is as beautiful as Old San Juan is, I could wander forever.  Several forts, bright, vibrantly colored buildings, friendly people, bustling squares, beaches, shoreline, and the ocean all combine to create a gorgeous atmosphere.  I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it, yet, but the food here isn’t too shabby either.

Getting Around Old San Juan

San Cristobal Fort

If you’re not staying in Old San Juan itself, it’s very easy to find and get around.  Old San Juan is actually an island that is a short cab or bus ride away from any of the surrounding areas like El Condado and Isla Verde.  It’s quite small at 1 x 2 miles, with Plaza Colon serving as the de facto center of Old San Juan.

The best way to get around once there is with your own two feet.  The narrow, cobblestone streets are dotted with churches, plazas, historical sites, bars, restaurants, and a myriad of beautifully colored buildings.  Because of its small size and plethora of places to pop in and out of, it’s easy to make an entire day out of wandering around Old San Juan.

What to See

Over 500 years of history come together to make this area of San Juan unique and a must see when in Puerto Rico.

• El Morro Fort- This fort can be seen from many vantage points around the city as it juts out into the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Bay of San Juan on the other.
• San Cristobal Fort- a massive fort built in 1640 and over 27 acres big, is a fabulous place to explore.  It is made up of 6 fortresses and gives fabulous views of the entire city.
• Cathedral de San Juan- the final resting place of Ponce de Leon and is a great example of medieval architecture.  It is also located in a beautiful area of Old San Juan and is located near one of the more affluent streets in town, a picturesque avenue covered by a canopy of trees.
• Paseo La Princesa- A tree lined street that is a great place to wander.  It is usually filled with local artisans and musicians, with live music being played on Sunday and other nights throughout the week.
• Paseo del Morro- A continuation of paseo la princesa, this walkway goes along the Bay of San Juan with imposing fort walls on the other side.  It stretches from the San Juan Gate to the El Morro Fort