San Juan | AllCheapFares
Puerto Rico’s capital city (pop. est. 500,000, 1.1 million in Metropolitan area) the Caribbean’s commercial hub is an intriguing mixture of old and new. Start your tour in charming Old San Juan which is perched atop a hill on a small island facing the Atlantic Ocean. (Parking is limited so it’s best to tour the area on foot.) This walled city—seven-square blocks of which are now a historic landmark—was founded in 1510. Today it is a showcase for four centuries of architectural treasures and the heart of the island’s unique cultural identity. Great efforts have gone into preserving this part of the city including millions of dollars that were spent prior to 1993 when the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage was celebrated.
Take time to stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets and investigate the pastel-colored buildings restaurants boutiques museums mansions and nightclubs. The Paseo de la Princesa a newly revamped promenade that follows the waterfront and the Paseo de la Muralla which winds along the city walls are particularly romantic. These two beautiful walks are even illuminated at night. Save some energy and time for the three trademark forts that have resisted attacks by foreign invaders as well as city developers: El Morro the largest which commands San Juan Bay with six levels of gun emplacements and walls that tower 140 ft/43 m above the Atlantic; San Cristobal which dates from the 18th century and has an intricate network of tunnels used for transportation and to ambush enemies; and San Jeronimo which is east of Old San Juan and has an interesting military museum. While sightseeing in Old San Juan requires a lot of walking several plazas invite rest stops. Allow a full day for the old city and prepare yourself for heavy traffic and crowded sidewalks which get worse as the day goes on.
In the San Juan suburb of Cataño visit the Bacardi rum factory. The Museum of Anthropology and the University of Puerto Rico Botanical Gardens in the San Juan district of Río Piedras is also worth a visit. Modern San Juan is spread out and you’ll want to hire taxis or use a rental car to get from place to place. There is also a bus system (though complicated and not always on time) as well as a newly functioning mass transit rail system that travels from the Sacred Heart University in the Southern section of the San Juan borough of Santurce to the western suburb of Bayamón. For an interesting view of the city and the harbor there are also bay cruises that last an hour and a half. There are also hosted half- and full-day tours of outlying areas that leave from San Juan When you are tired of sightseeing head for the beach. There are beaches right in San Juan and the best are in the district of Ocean Park and in the Isla Verde district of the suburb of Carolina where the LMM International airport is actually located. San Juan’s pace never flags; if anything it picks up after dark.
Most casinos in the larger hotels stay open until the wee hours (among them the hopping Marriott’s San Juan Resort Caribe Hilton Condado Plaza Ritz-Carlton Wyndham El San Juan and San Juan Grand). Many of San Juan’s best clubs and discos are also in the large hotels including the Babylon nightclub in the San Juan Grand and the dance floors at the Condado Plaza and Marriott. The Caribe Hilton’s orchestra is a local landmark and keeps the dance floor full. After hours in Old San Juan El Convento Hotel offers smooth jazz and piano music.