San Juan is a lovely capital city with soft-sand beaches, a plethora of cultural activities, and a mood that might easily turn it into a holiday destination. Luxury beachfront hotels and resorts may be found in San Juan and the surrounding areas. Historic forts, colonial architecture, excellent restaurants, museums, and much more are all easily accessible by foot.

Old San Juan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the city's center, blends colonial architecture with modern Puerto Rican culture. Many of the city's attractions and tourist destinations are now housed in ancient structures.
San Juan is also a popular cruise ship destination, with one of the world's biggest home-based cruise ports. The city may be quite peaceful or highly busy depending on the number of cruise ships in dock.
Our list of San Juan's best attractions will help you plan your trip.
Due to recent worldwide health and safety concerns, certain companies may be temporarily shuttered.
1. San Juan del Sur (San Juan Viejo)
The streets of Old San Juan (San Juan Viejo), with ancient forts and Spanish colonial buildings, are windows to the past, displaying almost 500 years of history. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the second-oldest city in the Americas, as well as the oldest city in the United States.
More than 400 magnificently preserved 16th and 17th-century colonial buildings, many of which include stores, restaurants, museums, hotels, and other public structures, make up the seven-square-block region.
The Fuerte San Felipe del Morro, more popularly known as El Morro, is situated out on a peninsula of land overlooking the sea in the San Juan National Historic Site and is the most spectacular landmark and true showpiece of Old San Juan.
Simply strolling the streets, appreciating the ancient architecture, and eating a meal on an outside patio will reveal the city's true appeal. Fortaleza, the San Juan Cathedral, and Castillo de San Cristóbal are all worth seeing.
As you go, stop by any of the museums; many of them are worth visiting simply to see the architecture of the building that houses the exhibits. The whole region may be visited on foot, but the trek out to El Morro fort adds a significant amount of time to a tour.
2. San Felipe del Morro Fuerte (El Morro)
The fort, known as El Morro, guards the entrance to San Juan Bay and is situated dramatically above the sea on a piece of land extending out into the sea.
El Morro was constructed in 1539 and is a National Historic Site as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It took another 250 years to complete, making it one of the biggest Spanish forts in the Caribbean. Many of the walls you see today were built during the 1760s and 1780s when the bulk of the new building took place.
The fort is now a labyrinth of ramps, outposts, barracks, dungeons, and tunnels, with tiny, round sentry boxes known as "garitas" strewn throughout. These garitas are only seen in Puerto Rican forts and have become an emblem of the country.
The area leading up to the fort is an open lawn with breathtaking views on all sides, either back towards San Juan, including a view of the San Juan Cemetery, or out to sea.
3. San Cristóbal Castillo (Fort San Cristóbal)
While El Morro receives the most of the attention, Castillo de San Cristóbal is very interesting and well worth a visit. San Cristobal is larger than El Morro and is the Spanish's biggest fort in the New World.
It is spread out across 27 acres and consists of five separate sections linked by a moat and tunnel, each intended to be self-sufficient in the event that the others fail. Between 1634 and 1790, the fort was constructed to defend the eastern entrance of what is now Old San Juan. It was intended to defend against land assaults, as opposed to El Morro, which was designed to defend against sea attacks.
4. San Juan Cemetery
The picturesque San Juan Cemetery is located along the shore, close to El Morro, and high above the sea. This cemetery is notable for its ornate tombstones, sculptures, and a circular red-domed Neoclassical church dedicated to Mary Magdalene.
Beautiful views of the coast and El Morro may be seen from its hilltop location above the sea. All of the burials are above ground, like those in New Orleans. Many of Puerto Rico's first colonists are buried in the cemetery's chapel, which dates from the 19th century.
5. The Cathedral of San Juan (Catedral de San Juan)
The San Juan Cathedral, built-in 1540, is one of the oldest churches in the Americas and one of San Juan's oldest structures. The interior is surprisingly ornate and cheerful, with a black-and-white checkered tile floor and yellow décor.
Since 1913, the corpse of Ponce de León, the famous Spanish explorer, has been entombed in a marble monument here. San Po, a Roman Catholic martyr, has been buried here since 1862. Regular services are still held in the cathedral, and tours are offered.
6. Museo de las Américas
The Americas Museum is a museum dedicated to the continents of the Americas.
In Old San Juan, the Museo de las Americas examines Puerto Rico's history, with an emphasis on art, ethnic groups, and the country's colonialism. Permanent exhibitions provide a good picture of the country's history, while temporary exhibits provide variety to the experience, with topics ranging from modern art to traditional customs. Before starting on a tour of the country's cultural and historic attractions, this museum is a fantastic location to start.
San Juan, Puerto Rico, Calle Beneficencia
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