3 days in San Juan

Day by day

1. 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 and Castillo San Cristóbal, then La Placita de Santurce in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Castillo San Felipe del Morro

      Built by the Spanish from the 16th century to guard the entrance to San Juan Bay, El Morro rises six levels from sea to ramparts, with tunnels, barracks, cannon batteries and a lighthouse.

   2. Late morning

      Old San Juan streets and plazas

      Walk early in the morning or around sunset, when the light is softer and the streets cooler.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mofongo

      Criollo restaurants in Old San Juan, Santurce and roadside spots island-wide.

   4. Afternoon

      Castillo San Cristóbal

      Completed in the 18th century to protect the city from land attack, San Cristóbal is described by the National Park Service as the largest fortification Spain built in the Americas.

   5. Evening

      La Placita de Santurce

      Visit twice: by day for a fresh juice and lunch, then late in the evening for the street party.

2. Day 2: Paseo de la Princesa and Paseo del Morro and La Fortaleza

   Paseo de la Princesa and Paseo del Morro, La Fortaleza and Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, then La Placita de Santurce in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Paseo de la Princesa and Paseo del Morro

      Walk it in the late afternoon, then enter the city through the San Juan Gate and climb up to the cathedral.

   2. Late morning

      La Fortaleza

      Built in the 1530s as the city's first fortification, La Fortaleza is the governor's residence and is described as the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the Americas.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Lechón asado

      The lechoneras of Guavate in the mountains south of San Juan, and some restaurants in the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Cathedral of San Juan Bautista

      Dress modestly with covered shoulders, and visit outside Mass times.

   5. Evening

      La Placita de Santurce

      Outdoor party around the market square, with bars, salsa and reggaetón, busiest at weekends.

3. Day 3: Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery and Museo de las Américas

   Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, Museo de las Américas and Capitol of Puerto Rico, then Calle San Sebastián, Old San Juan in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery

      This 19th-century cemetery sits on the oceanfront below El Morro's walls, its white marble tombs, angels and a domed chapel set against the Atlantic.

   2. Late morning

      Museo de las Américas

      Combine it with El Morro; the barracks courtyard is a shaded break on a hot day.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Arroz con gandules

      Almost every criollo restaurant and lunch counter.

   4. Afternoon

      Capitol of Puerto Rico

      The white marble Capitolio, completed in 1929, houses Puerto Rico's legislature beneath a mosaic-lined dome.

   5. Evening

      Calle San Sebastián, Old San Juan

      Bars and live music along the old town's main nightlife street.

Before you go

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

With 3 nights, Old San Juan keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Ocean Park ($$$) suits couples, solo travellers, beach and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–15 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11 hours in December to 13.2 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in San Juan
• 2 days in San Juan
• 5 days in San Juan

Questions travellers ask