Must-see attractions in San Juan

  • Plaza de San José

    San Juan

    This small cobblestone plaza is dominated by a statue of Juan Ponce de León, cast from English cannons captured in the raid of 1797. It's a popular spot…

  • Plaza de Armas

    San Juan

    This is the city’s de-facto central square, laid out in the 16th century with the classic look of plazas from Madrid to Mexico. A highlight is the…

  • Isla de Cabras

    San Juan

    Isla de Cabras is a pleasant seaside park, popular with local families. It has grassy areas, lofty palm trees, picnic areas and a rocky shoreline. You can…

  • Plaza del Quinto Centenario

    San Juan

    This modern square is shoehorned in among several architectural landmarks and offers great views over El Morro and the ocean beyond. Built in 1992 to…

  • Fortín San Jerónimo

    San Juan

    At the eastern end of Puerta de Tierra, this fort was completed in 1788 to guard the entrance to Laguna del Condado. It was barely up and running when the…

  • Iglesia San Francisco de Asís

    San Juan

    Built in 1756 by Third Order Franciscans, this atmospheric old church is the perfect place to pause in a pew. Note the thickness of the original walls,…

  • Casa Museo Felisa Rincón de Gautier

    San Juan

    This museum, an attractive neoclassical townhouse, was the longtime home of San Juan’s beloved mayor, Doña Felisa. She presided over the growth of the…

  • El Arsenal

    San Juan

    On the point called La Puntilla, this low fortress is a former Spanish naval station, and the last place to house Spanish forces after the US victory in…

  • Museo del Niño de Carolina

    San Juan

    Kids love this sprawling hands-on museum in suburban San Juan. Interactive and fun displays focus on volcanoes, electricity and music, while dress-up…

  • Museo del Mar

    San Juan

    This small maritime museum is home to an impressive collection of model boats – from 15th-century galleons to modern-day cruise ships – as well as…

  • Centro Cultural Loíza

    San Juan

    Loíza's Cultural Center has several displays of masks and costumes worn during the town's popular Fiestas de Santiago Apostól. Glass cases also contain a…

  • La Ventana al Mar

    San Juan

    This small grassy park – the window to the sea – has contemporary sculptures, benches and shade trees. Best of all, it has great views of and easy access…

  • La Casa del Libro

    San Juan

    Bibliophiles will enjoy this tiny but worthwhile collection of more than 5000 manuscripts and texts that date back 2000 years. The collection includes one…

  • Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña

    San Juan

    Constructed in the mid-19th century as a shelter for the poor, this bright-yellow building houses the executive offices of this institute that organizes a…

  • Edifico de la Diputación Provincial

    San Juan

    Originally constructed as a marketplace in the mid-1800s, this neoclassical building now houses offices of the Department of State of Puerto Rico along…

  • Entrance to Parque de las Palomas.

    Parque de las Palomas

    San Juan

    On the southern end of Calle del Cristo, the pigeon-filled Parque de las Palomas is in a tree-shaded cobblestone courtyard on the top of the city wall,…

  • El Moro fort walls on Puerta de San Juan.

    Puerta de San Juan

    San Juan

    One of the three remaining gates into the old city, the lofty red portal known as the Puerta de San Juan is a popular photo stop. Spanish ships once…

  • Sideview of Escuela de Artes Plasticas.

    Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Diseño

    San Juan

    The grand edifice with a red-roofed dome, arches and porticos across from El Morro was an insane asylum during the 19th century; now it's a prestigious…

  • Front view of Casa Rosa.

    Casa Rosa

    San Juan

    Built in 1812, this tropical pink villa first served as barracks for Spanish troops. In 1881, it was converted into officers’ quarters. The building has…

  • Palacio Rojo on Fortaleza street.

    Palacio Rojo

    San Juan

    A two-story Baroque building dating from 1792, Palacio Rojo once served as the living quarters for Spanish commanding officers. Today it houses…

  • Parque Jaime Benítez

    San Juan

    Sitting alongside the calm waters of Laguna del Condado, this park is a popular launching spot for kayakers and paddleboarders. On the first Saturday of…

  • Caparra Archaeological Site

    San Juan

    Only the foundations of a small fortress remain at Caparra, the site of Juan Ponce de León’s first Puerto Rican settlement, established in 1508. Located…

  • Palacio de la Real Intendencia

    San Juan

    The imposing Palacio de la Real Intendencia sits on the western edge of the Plaza de Armas. Built in the 19th century, this neoclassical beauty houses the…

  • La Princesa

    San Juan

    Built against the outside wall of the city, this long, gray and white building, once a jail, now houses the headquarters of the Puerto Rico Tourism…

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