Save a Spot - Most Popular Walking Tour
Walk The Historic District of Old San Juan
+ Guide for Cruise Visitors
Should You Explore Old San Juan on Your Own or with a Tour Guide?
Our short answer is… a mix of both is just perfect. We’ll give you recommendations on how to explore on your own, with a tour guide, or a mix of both.
Exploring Old San Juan on Your Own
You can walk the streets of Old San Juan on your own, below we have listed recommendations of sights you may want to visit as you walk around the historic district. For the best experience without having to do much planning, consider booking a tour (see suggestions below), the stories and history bring the city to life with the addition of learning about the Puerto Rican culture.
Top Attractions & Places: Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristobal, Casa Blanca Museum, Museo de Las Americas, Iglesia San Jose, Cathedral San Juan Bautista, Paseo de La Princesa, Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, La Rogativa
We invite you to relax at a square, and simply walk down streets to admire the architecture and take vacation photos full of color. The most popular streets for shopping and dining are Calle Cristo and Fortaleza, but you’ll find more great shops and restaurants throughout other blocks. This list may seem short, but there’s truly a lot to see and do in Old San Juan. Keep reading this guide for ideas on things to do.
Cost: Free plus entry cost to chosen attractions. Fort visit cost: $10 per person for both fortifications
Explore Old San Juan with a Friendly Knowledgeable Tour Guide
Following are top-rated walking tours to suit cruisers, including driving tours to help those with mobility challenges and private tours for those that prefer a more personalized experience. Most tours last two hours, so you’ll have time left over to choose other activities at your leisure.
Close this tab, and see directly below for tour recommendations.
Top Rated Walking Tours in Old San Juan
Go to the Beach & Snorkel with Sea Turtles
Just a 10-minute taxi ride from the cruise piers in San Juan, in a small protected cove called Escambron, something magical happens underneath the surface… a natural aquarium with mesmerizing sea turtles and colorful tropical fish abound. The snorkeling experience is so good, rave reviews from people like you have placed snorkeling experiences at the top of the list on the coveted award list of Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice Award, Top Overall Experiences in the Caribbean.
The location is great for cruisers, you can explore Old San Juan and still have time to go snorkeling at Escambron Beach, just a 10-minute taxi ride from the Cruise ports in San Juan.
Although the best and most beautiful beaches of Puerto Rico are located in other regions, this city beach has much to brag about, offering great snorkeling, an awesome spot to learn how to scuba dive, natural tidal pools for safe swimming, crystal clear waters, public facilities and surprisingly rarely crowded since visitors are spread out exploring the city.
+ Guide for Cruise Visitors
Distance from Cruise Piers
- Old San Juan Piers: Walking: about 35 minutes; you can safely walk through Old San Juan, then walk through the scenic oceanside walkway of Paseo Puerta de Tierra. ⎮ Drive: 8 minutes.
- Pan American Pier: Walking: about 36 minutes; a taxi is recommended due to traffic. ⎮ Drive: 9 minutes.
Explore a Fort in Old San Juan
Can you explore the forts on your own or do you need to book a tour?
On your own: You may explore the forts on your own, there are interpretive signs with summaries of historic facts. There are ranger-guided tours, please inquire when you purchase a ticket, since schedules may change, we will not post that information here.
With a tour guide: If you prefer a tour guide, there are certainly advantages to doing so, you can get a tour of the fort combined with great stories and a history of highlights around Old San Juan in a few hours with time left to enjoy more of your day in San Juan at your leisure.
+ Guide for Cruise Visitors
Cost of Fortifications Visit: $10, valid for 24 hours with access to both forts. Ages 15 and younger enter free of charge. See fees, passes information, and discount entry information on the official website.
Castillo San Cristobal
San Cristobal is bigger and easier to navigate for visitors with mobility challenges, it is also closer to the piers. San Cristobal offers views of the ocean and sweeping views of the city.
Distance from Cruise Piers:
- Old San Juan Piers: Walking: 20 minutes ⎮ Drive: Approx.: 13 minutes
- Pan American Pier: Walking: Not recommended – 1.5 hours⎮ Drive: 15 minutes
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Castillo San Felipe del Morro
“El Morro” is the most popular fort in San Juan. There are six levels at the fort, however, the main parts of the fort are easily walkable. The grounds make it one of the most family-friendly attractions in San Juan, one of the traditions is to fly a kite after touring the fort, then simply relax to take in the views. El Morro has sweeping views of San Juan Bay and it is a wonderful place to watch the sunset.
Distance from Cruise Piers:
- Old San Juan Piers: Walking: 20 minutes ⎮ Drive: Approx.: 13 minutes
- Pan American Pier: Walking: Not recommended – 1.5 hours⎮ Drive: 15 minutes
Walking Tours in Old San Juan with Castillo San Felipe del Morro Fort
Let your Inner Child Free... Fly a Kite on the Grounds of El Morro
We invite you to enjoy this simple yet exciting activity with your loved ones and friends, we are confident it will be one of the most memorable activities of your cruise adventure, it costs very little, but the memories will be truly priceless. Flying a kite at El Morro is a must for every Puerto Rican and resident of the island, it is our hope you can come to San Juan, and even for just a few minutes, you let your inner child be free, let all your cares fly away, and dream again, like a child.
+ Guide for Cruise Visitors
You can find inexpensive kites sold near the fort of Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
Distance from Cruise Piers
- Old San Juan Piers: Walking: 20 minutes ⎮ Drive: Approx.: 13 minutes
- Pan American Pier: Walking: Not recommended – 1.5 hours⎮ Drive: 15 minutes
Crowds on the Grounds of El Morro – The time when you’ll see crowds is when school groups visit the forts. Surprisingly the grounds are typically relaxed since most visitors head inside the fort or wander the streets of Old San Juan. Romantics will always find a nice spot to sit down on the grass and simply take in the beauty around them together.
Visit Casa Bacardi - The Largest Rum Distillery in the World
Puerto Rico is known as the Rum Capital of the World and it certainly lives up to its reputation. Cocktails in San Juan are at another level… delicious concoctions made with Puerto Rican Rums. Walk around Old San Juan and enjoy cocktails at cool bars or take a taxi to elegant lounges in the district of Condado.
The most popular experience for rum connoisseurs is visiting Bacardi Distillery, the largest premium rum distillery in the world, yes, in the world… Casa Bacardi offers an interesting tour sure to keep you engaged covering the history and rum-making process, some tours offer the addition of rum tasting and even a mixology class so you can show off to friends when you get back home.
+ Guide for Cruisers
Cost of Casa Bacardi Tours: From $33 – $83 per person plus the cost of a taxi.
Distance from Cruise Piers: From Pier 1 in Old San Juan – a 25-minute drive ⎮ From Pan American Pier – a 20-minute drive. You may also take the Cataño Ferry from Old San Juan, a very inexpensive option.
Please Note: It is recommended that you arrive at Casa Bacardi 30 minutes before the starting time of the tour to register, enjoy your cocktail and take photos.
Visit The Enchanting El Yunque National Rainforest
+ Guide for Cruise Visitors
- Cost of El Yunque National Rainforest Tour: See tours below
- Distance from Cruise Piers: Old San Juan Pier – 1-hour drive ⎮ Pan American Pier – 50 minutes to Visitor Center
Get Away From the Crowds for a Romantic Experience
+ Fort & Romantic Beach Walk Itinerary
Cost: Free entrance to beaches, plus $10 cost of fort entrance.
Distance from the Cruise Piers
Old San Juan Pier – 10-minute walk ⎮ Pan American Pier: 12-minute taxi ride
Itinerary 2: Take a short taxi ride to Escambron Beach, where you can take a quiet walk on the scenic beach trail which leads to Bateria Escambron, a small fortification with sweeping views of the Condado shore. Be sure to read our guide for enjoying Escambron Beach. Wear a swimsuit under your clothes, bring your snorkel gear, and go snorkeling with sea turtles at the end of your walk. You may also book a guided snorkeling tour. If you don’t know how to snorkel, Escambron is the perfect place to learn.
Cost: Taxi Ride plus the cost of snorkeling tour if you wish to do the experience.
Distance from the Cruise Piers
Old San Juan Piers: Walking: about 35 minutes; you can safely walk from Old San Juan, then along the oceanside walkway of Paseo Puerta de Tierra. ⎮ Drive: 8 minutes
Pan American Pier: Walking: about 36 minutes; a taxi is recommended due to traffic. ⎮ Drive: 9 minutes
+ Romance at Sunset
Watch the Sunset on the grounds of Castillo del Morro – By sunset the fort has closed for interior tours; the grounds become relaxed and quiet as visitors head into town to get dinner, go shopping, or return to the ship. This is a wonderful time to sit down on the grounds and share a bottle of wine as you watch the sunset over San Juan Bay. You can purchase a bottle of wine at the CVS Pharmacy right across the street from the pier, located at the Sheraton Old San Juan. We invite you to stay until it gets dark to see the fortress shine to the golden glow of the night lights. As you walk back to the cruise port for dinner, you’ll be holding hands with a new appreciation for each other, only wishing for more experiences such as these.
- Cost: Free plus the cost of food/drinks to enjoy on the grounds of El Morro.
+ Romantic Floating Picnic
Times of Experience: Various from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm⎮ Cost: $290 for a couple ⎮ Tour Duration: 2 hours ⎮ Distance from Piers: Old San Juan – 10 minutes / Pan American – 8 minutes
Distance from Cruise Piers
Old San Juan Pier: 10-minute taxi ride ⎮ Pan American Pier: 7-minute taxi ride
Savor the Flavors of Three Cultures
Food Tours in Old San Juan: To make the most of your time in San Juan, you can book a walking tour that includes food tasting, a perfect way to enjoy the best sights and taste the flavors of Puerto Rico. See below for top-rated tours.
+ Flavors of Old San Juan Food Tour
- Name of Tour: Flavors of Old San Juan Food Tour
- Tour Time: Morning from 10 am and afternoon tours, the last one is at 3:30 pm
- Cost: $147.00 Reserve Now & Pay Later
- Tour Duration: 3 hours (approx.)
- Languages: English
- Meeting Point: Carli‘s Fine Bistro & Piano – 206 Calle de Tetuan – Corner Of Recinto Sur And San Justo Street. Please confirm the meeting location before your tour.
- Distance from. Cruise Piers: A 4-minute walk from Pier 1 in Old San Juan. From Pan American Pier you must take a taxi or Uber.
- Cancellation Policy: For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Please check the confirmation e-mail for information.
Shopping in Old San Juan
Visit a Museum in San Juan
+ Recommended museums to visit while in Old San Juan
Museo de Las Americas
Museo de Las Americas is located in the elegant Cuartel de Ballaja, is perfect to visit right after Castillo San Felipe del Morro, where you can learn about the history of the Americas and enjoy the art exhibits, a great museum for families with children.
Casa Blanca
Casa Blanca is located just a few minutes down from Museo de Las Americas, this mansion was the first fortification in San Juan, built as a home for Juan Ponce de Leon and his family. Tour the mansion, courtyard, and gardens.
Map - Best Places to Visit for Cruise Visitors
San Juan, Puerto RicoPhoto Gallery of Places Mentioned on this Cruise Excursions & Places to Visit Guide
San Juan, Puerto Rico
