Itinerary · San Juan · Puerto Rico
2 days in San Juan
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing San Juan, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Javier Rodriguez Galarza (original Author: Javier Rodriguez Galarza, from San Juan, PR.), CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
2 days is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 5. Day 1: Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Old San Juan streets and plazas. Day 2: La Fortaleza and Cathedral of San Juan Bautista. Base yourself in Old San Juan.
Key facts
- Days
- 2
- Sights covered
- 9
- Day trips
- None
- Best base
- Old San Juan
- Book ahead
- Nothing essential
Day by day
Day 1: Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Old San Juan streets and plazas
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Old San Juan streets and plazas, Castillo San Cristóbal and Paseo de la Princesa and Paseo del Morro, then La Placita de Santurce in the evening.
Morning
Castillo San Felipe del Morro
It is part of the San Juan National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its huge green lawn is where families fly kites.
Late morning
Old San Juan streets and plazas
Plaza de Armas, Plaza de Colón and the shaded Capilla del Cristo at the end of Calle del Cristo are good stops on a walk.
Lunch
Lunch: Mofongo
Criollo restaurants in Old San Juan, Santurce and roadside spots island-wide.
Afternoon
Castillo San Cristóbal
Explore its tunnels, dungeon, sentry boxes (garitas) and ramparts, with views east over Condado.
Late afternoon
Paseo de la Princesa and Paseo del Morro
It passes the San Juan Gate, the old ceremonial entrance to the walled city.
Evening
La Placita de Santurce
Visit twice: by day for a fresh juice and lunch, then late in the evening for the street party.
Day 2: La Fortaleza and Cathedral of San Juan Bautista
La Fortaleza, Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery and Museo de las Américas, then La Placita de Santurce in the evening.
Morning
La Fortaleza
It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site; its blue façade at the end of Calle Fortaleza is a classic view.
Late morning
Cathedral of San Juan Bautista
It holds the marble tomb of Juan Ponce de León, the island's first governor, and has a cool, whitewashed interior on Calle del Cristo.
Lunch
Lunch: Lechón asado
The lechoneras of Guavate in the mountains south of San Juan, and some restaurants in the city.
Afternoon
Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
It holds the graves of many prominent Puerto Ricans and is best seen from the fort's ramparts.
Late afternoon
Museo de las Américas
Housed in the Cuartel de Ballajá, a large 19th-century Spanish military barracks around a courtyard near El Morro, the museum covers folk art, the African heritage of the Americas and the Taíno and Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean.
Evening
La Placita de Santurce
Outdoor party around the market square, with bars, salsa and reggaetón, busiest at weekends.
Before you go
San Juan National Historic Site entry
One fee covers both El Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal; US national park annual passes are accepted.
If it rains
- Swap in Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico (Santurce): Follow it with lunch around La Placita de Santurce, a short ride away.
- Swap in Casa Bacardí (Cataño): Combine the ferry crossing with the visit for views of Old San Juan from the water.
Where to stay for this itinerary
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and nightlife
Old San Juan
Walled colonial quarter of pastel houses, plazas and Spanish forts
Pace and daylight
The sights in this plan add up to roughly 12–15 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11 hours in December to 13.2 hours in June.
Getting between stops: Walking. The old town is about 1 km across; walking between the two forts takes 15–20 minutes, mostly along the walls or through the streets.
More or fewer days
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in San Juan?
2 days is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 5. How many days San Juan needs.