Canons guarding El Morro in San Juan
Puerto Rico Attractions
Puerto Rico Attractions should always begin with a walk or buggy ride through charming Old San Juan. Then take the walking tour of Viejo San Juan. Get acquainted with the Old City. Hop aboard the no-charge trolley cars at any one of the clearly marked stops. Narrow cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, fortresses overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, fascinating museums and art galleries, handcrafts on the corners, and everything bathed by a tropical breeze.
Bacardi Rum Factory
Take a taxi or ferry from the cruise port), the Bacardi Tour is one of the island’s favorites; The Mini-Tram provides a free fun ride across Bacardi’s Tropical Gardens as well as a tour with samples of the world-renown rum. The factory is located 15 minutes from Old San Juan in Cataño.
PHONE: 787-788-8400
WEBSITE: https://www.bacardi.com
Castillo San Cristóbal
San Cristóbal Fort stands guard at the entrance to what was once the eastern gate to the walled city of Old San Juan. It was begun in 1635 and was finished in 1678, although modifications were made well into the 18th Century.
ADDRESS: overlooking Plaza Colon, next to the city entrance
PHONE: 787-729-6777
WEBSITE: https://www.nps.gov
Fuerte San Felipe del Morro
El Morro, which means “promontory” in Spanish; is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and San Juan Bay on the northern tip of Old San Juan, and is one of the largest forts built by the Spaniards (between 1540 and 1783) in the Caribbean, to protect San Juan from attack by sea. U.S. government later added an annex of its own during World War II. Among many attractions is a maze of secret tunnels, dungeons, and a small museum with information on its history; a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Site.
PHONE: 787-729-6754
WEBSITE: https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/castillo-san-felipe-del-morro
Casa Blanca
The White House: for 250 years it was the residence of the descendants of Juan Ponce de León, the first governor of Puerto Rico. It is now a museum of 16th and 17th-century family life that houses a miniature replica of a Taíno village.
ADDRESS: 1 Calle San Sebastián
PHONENE: 787-977-2700 or 2701
Fort San Cristóbal
Overlooking the land entrance to Old San Juan, Fort San Cristóbal is connected to El Morro through tunnels beneath the ancient walls (the tunnels are not open to the public). Designated as a National Historic Site and part of a World Heritage Site, its jurisdiction falls under the National Park Service.
PHONE: 787-729-6960
WEBSITE: https://www.nps.gov
El Palacio Santa Catalina
Also known as La Fortaleza (The Fortress), this palatial structure was built in 1540. La Fortaleza is the oldest governor’s mansion in the Western Hemisphere still in use. Proper attire is required and guided tours are available in English every hour and in Spanish every half hour.
ADDRESS: Calle Recinto Oeste
PHONE: 787-721-7000
Raises Fountain
Situated where Paseo La Princesa meets San Juan Bay, Raices Fountain is a tribute to the three distinct peoples — the Taino Indians, Spanish, and Africans who comprise Puerto Rico today.
La Muralla
Built mostly between 1539 and 1641 using sandstone blocks up to 20 feet thick, the wall was completed in 1782. It protected the city against enemy attacks; at the western mouth of the bay and you will see Isla de Cabras (Goat Island), and a small Spanish fort built in 1610.
ADDRESS: City Wall at the end of the promenade parallel to San Juan Bay.
Puerta de San Juan
San Juan Gate: one of six original massive wooden doors that centuries ago were closed at sundown to protect the residents, Puerta de San Juan is the point of re-entry inside the walls of the city.
ADDRESS: West side of La Muralla at Calle Recinto Oeste
Luis A. Ferré Centro de Bellas Artes
Fine Arts Center: when anyone in Puerto Rico thinks of serious music, drama, or dance, they think of the Luis A Ferré Centro de Bellas Artes. The modern architectural masterpiece in Santurce houses four theaters, ranging from a few dozen to almost 2,000 seats.
Ponce de Leon Avenue, stop 22 in the center of the Santurce area of San Juan
PHONE: 787-620-4444
Teatro Tapia
Built in 1832, Teatro Tapia is one of the oldest theatres in the western hemisphere
ADDRESS: Calle O’Donnel and Calle Fortaleza
PHONE: 787-721-0180
