My Travel Listicle Recommendations
Viejo San Juan (VSJ)
The oldest city in the U.S., dating back to 1521.
- El Morro National Monument – a national park, museum, and fortress. Also a great place to fly a kite!
- Castillo San Cristóbal – a smaller fortress and national park
- La Fortaleza – the Governor’s Mansion; guided tours are available.
- Paseo de la Princesa – a tree-lined promenade along the ocean, built in 1853. Great place to go for a run.
- Old San Juan Trolley – a free trolley that runs every day and makes 12 stops in different historical areas of VSJ. The schedule and stops can change, so check out the trolley schedule and map in the link above.
Greater San Juan
- Plaza las Américas – the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean.
- Casa BACARDÍ – Bacardi Rum Distillery with factory tours and mixology classes.
If You Rent a Car
- La Ruta Taína – a driving route that leads to various Taíno historical sites across the island. The Taínos are the indigenous people who occupied Puerto Rico before Columbus. Today, a lot of Puerto Rican culture, including the term “Boricua,” stems from this ancestry.
- Read more about the Taíno here.
Worked up an appetite touring the forts? See my Puerto Rico Restaurants & Bars guide for where to eat next, or check my Puerto Rico Travel Tips for getting around the island.
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