Curator’s statement
San Juan is full of life, from the hustle and bustle on the streets, to the wildlife in El Yunque Rainforest. This 500 year-old city has something for everyone.
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Things to do in San Juan
Try a Pina Colada at Barrachina (the birthplace of this cocktail).
Wander around Old San Juan and admire the colorful buildings.
Take a day trip to El Yunque Rainforest for an adventure.
Visit the San Cristobal Castle. You can wander through the remaining walls or pay $10 to go inside and look through the castle.
Go inside the 2nd oldest church in the U.S. by stopping by the Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista. Be sure to go all the way in to see the remains from the original church.
Admire the pigeons in Pigeon Park. If you are still enough, one might even land on you.
Places to eat & drink in San Juan
Barrachina Restaurant is the place for authentic Puerto Rican Pina Coladas, and you can’t visit without trying one. You can even get them to go if you want one while wandering around.
El Jibarito is a casual affair, but with delicious plates. Don’t miss out on the garlic steak with Mofongo.
You must try an empanada when in San Juan. Two of the best shops in Old San Juan are OraBori and Deshistoria: Birra & Empanadas.
A great spot to catch live music and relax is La Factoria.
Need to know
Everything in Old San Juan is very walkable—most within a 5–10 minute walk. If you need to venture out further, Ubers and Lyfts make it easy to get around. I would not recommend driving as many of the streets are narrow and drivers can be aggressive with one another.
During a visit in May 2026, there was a lot of police present on the streets. Mostly they were enforcing that pedestrians stay on the sidewalks and cross at crosswalks.
If you are planning on visiting, El Yunque is about a 50min drive outside of the city. You could go on your own as it’s open to anyone, but a guide will help you navigate the trails that aren’t always marked well.
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For more travel inspiration and insider recommendations, check out our San Juan page.