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Print ISBN
9781786571427
San Juan
Sights
Beaches
Activities
Courses
Tours
Festivals & Events
Sleeping
Eating
Drinking & Nightlife
Entertainment
Shopping
Around San Juan
Catano & Bayamon
Pinones
Beaches
Loiza
San Juan
Pop 368,000
Why Go?
Established in 1521, San Juan is the second-oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas and the oldest under US jurisdiction. Shoehorned onto a tiny islet that guards the entrance to San Juan harbor, the old town was inaugurated almost a century before the Mayflower laid anchor in present-day Massachusetts, and it is now a historic wonderland that juxtaposes historical authenticity with pulsating modern energy.
Beyond its timeworn 15ft-thick walls, San Juan is far more than a collection of well-polished colonial-era artifacts – it’s also a mosaic of ever-evolving neighborhoods such as Santurce, which has a raw vitality fueled by street art, superb restaurants and a bar scene that takes over the streets at night.
And then there's the beaches. Silky ribbons of sand line San Juan's northern edge from swanky Condado to resort-filled Isla Verde. You can land at the airport and be splashing in the azure waters an hour later.
When to Go
Winter is the most popular time to visit San Juan as the frozen masses from colder climes come to thaw out. The weather also happens to be at its best – highs in the mid-80s, lows in the high 70s and little humidity.
During the high season (December to February), Old San Juan's streets fill with cruise-ship passengers and bookings are essential at the hottest hotels and restaurants. The boisterous street party of Festival de San Sebastián in mid-January is a high point, especially for locals.
At other times of the year, San Juan is much quieter, even though the beaches remain alluring year-round. From April to October you'll find fewer crowds and plenty of d...
Table of contents
- Table of Contents
- Welcome to Puerto Rico
- Hurricanes Irma and Maria
- Puerto Rico's Top 17
- Need to Know
- First Time Puerto Rico
- If You Like
- Month by Month
- Itineraries
- Eat & Drink Like a Local
- Puerto Rico Outdoors
- Travel with Children
- Regions at a Glance
- San Juan
- El Yunque & East Coast
- Culebra & Vieques
- Ponce & South Coast
- Rincon & West Coast
- North Coast
- Central Mountains
- Understand Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rico Today
- History
- Life in Puerto Rico
- Sounds of Puerto Rico
- Arts
- Puerto Rico Landscapes
- Wildlife of Puerto Rico
- Directory AZ
- Transportation
- Language
- Behind the Scenes
- Our Writers