San Juan Hotels

Sensational San Juan

San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico and as famous Caribbean port, enjoys a rich, bloody and salaciously exciting history. Originally the lair of Spanish colonists chasing princely spoils, it later became home to pirates seeking exactly the same.

But before you strap on your peg leg and inflatable parrot, you should know that you’re now more likely to find a cultural gold mine in San Juan than an actual one. Costa Rica’s Spanish heritage evident in the bluestone cobbled streets of Old San Juan and the bustling nightlife of Ocean Park and Isla Verde. Whether you’ve spend the day rolling the dice in El San Juancasino or hunting couture at Condado, finish it with a rum in the evocative Paseo de la Princesaand pay homage to San Juan’s pirate past. Aaargggh!

San Juan’s Top 10

San Juan History

• Old San Juan – The best way to explore the seven blocks of the old quarter is on foot.
• Casino of Puerto Rico – Twelve-foot chandeliers and ballroom built before WWI.
• Teatro Tapia – This is one of the oldest theatres in the Western Hemisphere, built in 1832. Still holds performances.
• Casa del Libro – A museum with 5,000 antique books and manuscripts. It also has the original document mandating Columbus’ ships by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.
• Iglesia de San Jose – The resting place of Ponce de Leon, dating back to 1523.

San Juan Art & Culture

• Cuartel de Balleja – This was built for military personnel in 1863 and is now a museum for Caribbean and European art.
• Felisa Rincón de Gautier Museum – This was dedicated to Felisa Rincon, mayor of San Juan from 1946 to 1968. It is a unique 300-year-old building.
• The Pablo Casals Museum – Pablo Casals directed the San Juan Symphony Orchestra in the 1950s. The museum has photographs and footage of his concerts.
• Museo de Arte – This is Puerto Rico’s most significant museum of art.
• Museo Nuestras Raíces Africanas – Museum dedicated to the African roots of San Juan.

San Juan Shopping

• Plaza Las Americas – Largest shopping mall in the Caribbean with more than 300 stores, including American fast food. All you could possible need is here.
• Old San Juan – The old quarter is packed with fine arts, handicrafts, silversmiths, jewellery shops, textile stalls along with restaurants and cafes.
• Calle San Francisco and Calle del Cristo – The most popular shopping streets in San Juan.
• Wyndham Dock – Tax-free shopping on American goods and Bacardi Rum.
• Plaza Arturo Somohono – For handmade crafts and designer silver jewellery.

Gay & Lesbian San Juan

• Condado Beach Area – The place to go for gay bars and hotels.
• Tapas in Old San Juan – For gay bars, clubs, cafes and night life.
• Calle Vendig – Great hangout for gays and lesbians looking for night life.
• Ocean Park – Best hangout for gays, along with hotels and restaurants catering to gay clientele.
• Santurce – Large concentration of gay bars and clubs.

San Juan Events

Bring out your inner child (or your actual one) and enjoy the live music, fairground rides and tasty fried delights at January’s Annual San Sebastian Street Festival.

The brainchild of Spanish cellist Pablo Casals, the Annual Casals Festival is a classical music carnival that runs from February to July.

Puerto Ricans are passionate about food. Taste the best at the Annual Sabdrea Puerto Rico in April.

Show off your moves (or just try to disguise your poor coordination) at June’s Annual Puerto Rico Heineken Jazzfest, which features jazz, salsa and merenge dancing.

Who said Sunday afternoons were meant to be lazy? It certainly wasn’t the organisers of La Tarde Romántica, a street fair held approximately 52 times a year.

When To Go

June to September is marked by scorching heat and dripping humidity.

If you want to avoid the rain, don’t travel from September and November.

December to May is peak tourist time, when temperatures are mild and the humidity drops.

Getting Around

The international airport is 13km (eight miles) east of the Old City centre.

There is a flat-rate system for most taxi journeys in San Juan, which is great in traffic.

On foot isn’t just the easiest way to explore the old town – it’s the only way.

HotelClub Blog

San Juan Official Guide

The Best Of Puerto Rico

The World’s 10 Best Food & Wine Festivals

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