Must-see attractions in 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…

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

This 19th-century cemetery sits just outside the old city's northern fortifications, backed by dazzlingly blue ocean. The colony’s earliest citizens are…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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

At the northern end of Plaza de Loíza, this neoclassic church stands proudly above the surrounding modest modern buildings. It dates from 1645 and takes…

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…

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…

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…

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

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…

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

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,…

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…

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…