San Juan is one of the most magical cities I’ve visited, and here’s the best way how to spent an amazing day in the capital of Puerto Rico.
We visited San Juan on a cruise trip, so we only had a couple of hours to explore one of the most colorful old towns in the world. If you’ve got more time there, lucky you, but this blog post is all about how to spend one perfect day in San Juan!
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WHERE IS SAN JUAN
We got lucky and had San Juan as our port of call on a recent cruise. San Juan is the capital and largest city of Puerto Rico. It is located on the northeastern coast of the island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea. As Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, you’ll need to use American dollars on the island.
Historic Old San Juan district is an incredibly unique old town absolutely worth of exploring. It’s characterized by colorful Spanish colonial buildings, cobblestone streets, and historic forts. The city features a mix of architectural styles, ranging from colonial Spanish to neoclassical and art deco. If you’re visiting for the first time, San Juan is going to be an exceptional location for you.


WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT
Puerto Rico has a tropical climate, so temperatures are generally warm throughout the year. Because of that, San Juan is a great destination all year round, but some times are definitely better than others. Here’s a short comparison of the seasons in San Juan, and what they’re like:
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December to April is dry season, and it’s considered the peak tourist season because of the pleasant weather. The temperatures are typically milder, and there is little to no rain. However, since this is the high season, you can expect higher prices for accommodations and more crowds.


May to June is shoulder season and it’s a good time to visit as the weather is still generally favorable. The prices may be somewhat lower than during the peak season, which is another plus. May marks the end of the dry season, so if the weather is extremely important to you, don’t go after May.
June to November is hurricane season, therefore the least preferable season to visit. The official hurricane season in the Atlantic runs from June 1 to November 30. The peak of the hurricane season is usually from August to October. While the risk of a hurricane directly impacting Puerto Rico is relatively low, there is still the possibility of heavy rainfall and storms, so keep that in mind. It’s worth monitoring weather forecasts if you plan to visit during these months.
Late November is the pre-Christmas season and can be a good time to visit. The weather is pleasant, and you may avoid the peak holiday crowds. This is exactly when we visited.
Our cruise had San Juan as its port of call somewhere after November 20th and the weather was great, even a bit too warm. It was around 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees F) and quite humid. There was no rain so we were delighted we got to explore San Juan freely.

HOW TO REACH SAN JUAN
San Juan is pretty easy to reach from the USA, but takes some planning if you want to come from other countries.
The easiest way to reach San Juan is by air. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is the main airport serving San Juan and the surrounding areas. It is one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean and offers numerous flights from various international and domestic destinations. For example, you can fly from Miami to San Juan for only 80 euros (around 90 dollars) or from New York for 180 euros (200 dollars).
Another excellent way to explore San Juan is by going on cruise ships. San Juan is a popular port of call for many Caribbean cruises. Cruise ships dock at the San Juan Cruise Port, which is located in Old San Juan, only a few minutes from the most popular attractions.

We visited San Juan on our MSC cruise and it was one of our favourite ports of call. The port is really close to the Old Town so we even went back to our ship for lunch and then returned to the town. The time you get with a cruise is enough to explore San Juan, since you get at least 9-10 hours in the Old Town.
If you are in Puerto Rico or nearby areas, you can reach San Juan by car. Puerto Rico has a network of roads, and San Juan is well-connected. If you are coming from the mainland United States you have to come by plane, but you can explore the island by renting a car once you arrive.
WHAT TO SEE IN SAN JUAN IN ONLY ONE DAY:
While 1 day is not a lot, if you plan it out, you can see a good chunk of San Juan without hurrying or running around. Here are the top attractions we managed to visit in only one day!

Paseo de la Princesa
Paseo de la Princesa is a picturesque promenade located in Old San Juan. It’s also the way into the Old Town from the cruise port, so this was the first location we explored. The promenade is situated along the historic city walls of Old San Juan, running parallel to the San Juan Bay. It is easily accessible and a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Don’t be surprised if you see lots of iguanas walking around, they’re everywhere!
One of the highlights of Paseo de la Princesa is its scenic views of San Juan Bay. You can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the water, taking in the sights of boats, cruise ships, and the iconic Paseo de la Princesa Fountain. This beautiful fountain features sculptures depicting Puerto Rico’s cultural heritage and it’s a sight to behold!


La Puerta de San Juan
La Puerta de San Juan, also known as the Gate of San Juan, is one of the historic entrances to the city of San Juan. This gate is part of the defensive walls surrounding Old San Juan and it is situated on the southern side of the walled city. You’ll easily reach the gate at the end of the Paseo de la Princesa promenade.
The San Juan walls were constructed in the 16th century to protect the city from pirate attacks and other threats. Today, together with the city walls, La Puerta de San Juan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a significant tourist attraction.
El Morro
El Morro is an incredible landmark which totally astounded us! Situated on the northwestern tip of Old San Juan, this 16th century fortress is overlooking the entrance to San Juan Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
The fortress has thick, sandstone walls and series of ramps and tunnels. The design reflects a mix of Spanish, Caribbean, and military architectural styles, and it’s a stunning piece of architecture which you don’t get to see every day!

Today, El Morro is a popular tourist destination and a public park managed by the National Park Service. The entrance ticket is 10 dollars per person, but it includes entrance to San Cristobal as well.
There’s an incredible field outside the fortress where you can lay down in the grass, relax, or have a picnic. It’s a perfect place to just enjoy the incredible views and relax from sightseeing. Near the fortress you can also see one of the most unique cemeteries, Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis.



San Cristobal
Castillo San Cristóbal is another historic fortification located in San Juan and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site along with El Morro and the city walls of Old San Juan.
Like El Morro, San Cristóbal is a remarkable example of military engineering with a complex system of designed to protect San Juan from land-based attacks.


Today, you can explore the extensive grounds of Castillo San Cristóbal. The fort offers panoramic views of the city, the coastline, and the surrounding landscape. I enjoyed El Morro a lot more, since it was more interesting, but if you buy a ticket to El Morro, the San Cristobal ticket is included, so go visit it anyway!
The San Juan Cathedral
The San Juan Cathedral is a historic cathedral located in Old San Juan. It is located near the Plaza de Armas, the central square of Old San Juan. They built the current structure of the Cathedral in 1540, making it one of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas.
The cathedral is surrounded by charming cobblestone streets and historic buildings, creating a picturesque atmosphere in Old San Juan. We did not enter the church, but it was really charming to see it in its colorful surroundings.

Calle del Cristo
Calle del Cristo runs through the heart of Old San Juan, connecting several key landmarks. Like many streets in Old San Juan, Calle del Cristo is paved with cobblestones, adding to the area’s charm.
The street is lined with colorful buildings and balconies adorned with vibrant flowers, wrought-iron railings, and architectural details that reflect the Spanish influence in the region.


Calle del Cristo is also a perfect place to do some shopping. This famous street has many art and souvenir shops, as well as some designer outlets with amazing discounts!
We really enjoyed strolling through this charming street and shopping along the way.
I hope this helped you plan out your perfect day in San Juan!
Thank you so much for this!
Hello Karla,
This is a helpful guide to going around old San Juan from the cruise port. We are about to embark on one and I’m going to use this as a guide. Can you tell me though if all of this was done walking or did you have to take a taxi or uber to mark off all of these places?
Thank you!
It was all walking, everything is really close!!
Thank you for this, i am going this weekend and have no idea on how we are going to enjoy our time.