Old San Juan is a must visit. It doesn't matter how many times you've been here. There's always…read moresomething new to discover. You may even rediscover a part of your past... like I did. It's a timeless Spanish Colonial town filled with charming old-world atmosphere, tropical settings, and tasty treats. It's truly a very walkable city. You just need to know what you want to see and how to get there. Those with mobility issues may need to map out a route with less of an incline. There's a free trolley in the city that used to be very reliable. My mom was very happy to see it during her very last pre-pandemic trip back to the island. I didn't see any of them this time around. Although, that might have been because of the Ironman race. The traffic looping through this part of the city is already bad enough. The roads being blocked off for marathons & festivities make it more difficult to get around. I hope they can improve transportation services for both locals & tourists alike. This is why walking around town is highly recommended. We originally wanted an Uber drop off at Plaza del Quinto Centenario. The roads were blocked off so we ended up at Plaza Colon on the east side. It turned out to be a good starting point as we made our way to Paseo de la Princesa. On our way, we just happened to spot a café-lined public square with a statue of a famous Puerto Rican composer named Arturo Somohano. I would definitely stop here for coffee if ever on a short shore excursion. It's close to the port, yet it's hidden by the Hotel Rumbao. There's also a Starbucks in this square. But, I must tell you. The highlight of our most recent visit was walking along the Princess Promenade and the fortified walls of the city to the San Juan Gate. I know a lot of people go to the forts (El Morro & San Cristóbal), and you should if you've never seen them. It's just that this southwestern part of OSJ wins my heart every time. It's a beautiful nature walk with many landmarks such as La Fortaleza, La Casa Blanca, Pigeon Park, and Paseo del Morro. There's a cat park as well and many garita viewpoints along the wall on your way to El Morro. All with great coastal views. It was also great to visually trace our steps the following evening when leaving on our 7-Day cruise from the Pan American Pier. That whole area along the promenade leading to the San Juan Gate and El Morro is lit up at night. The entire town sparkles when viewing it from the mouth of the bay. It's a beautiful sight that will always be remembered. A great beginning & ending point to any cruise.

This was a cute little square that had many kiosk shops and some small sidewalk cafes. It had a…read morelarge fountain in the middle of the square. It was a bustling section of the town. Many many buses dropped off and picked up at this central square in Puerto Rico. It's also next to the National Park and fort.

Downloaded Yelp just to properly review this place; the ambiance was fantastic, the service was…read morebeyond incredible and the food absolutely phenomenal, I'm still dreaming of the Tiramisu and the Carbonara!! I'd rate this place 20 if I could!! It's a gem and I will definitely be returning soon

Awesome and cute little restaurant, would definitely recommend calling at least an hour or more in…read moreadvance to reserve a spot. The food was great; the portions were about medium sized, not too big or small. We didn't order appetizers, but it would probably be the perfect amount of food if we did. Our server was so nice and the environment was really peaceful for a full restaurant. They were playing calm indie music. If you're looking for Italian in Old San Juan, this is a great choice, even for picky eaters.

The street is lined with bold murals and public art that somehow feel both intentional and alive:…read morelayered, political, playful, and deeply local. You don't need a guide or a plan. Just walk, pause, look up, look closer. Every turn gives you something new. The art doesn't feel curated for tourists. Instead it feels lived in, expressive, and honest. A great place to wander, take photos, and get a sense of Santurce's creative pulse. One of those spots that reminds you how much a neighborhood can say without saying a word.

Calle Cerra is a fun place with plenty of bars and restaurants. Walk around and bar hop and people…read morewatch. The party gets better after 10pm.

Pulling into the Port of San Juan during our Eastern Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean was…read morehonestly one of the most memorable moments of the whole trip. Waking up and stepping out on the deck to see the colorful buildings of Old San Juan, the historic forts sitting on the cliffs, and the bright blue water surrounding the harbor was absolutely incredible. It felt like sailing straight into a postcard. The port itself was super easy to navigate once we got off the ship. Everything felt organized and welcoming, and there was a great energy with cruise passengers exploring, ships docked along the harbor, and the ocean breeze coming through. One of the best things about this port is the location. You literally step off the Royal Caribbean ship and within minutes you're walking through the historic streets of Old San Juan. The cobblestone roads, colorful colonial buildings, shops, and amazing restaurants are all right there. It's one of those rare cruise stops where you don't even need transportation because so much is within walking distance. The scenery around the harbor is also next level. Watching ships come into the bay with the massive stone forts guarding the entrance makes the whole arrival feel dramatic and historic. It really adds to the experience of visiting Puerto Rico. Out of all the stops on our Eastern Caribbean cruise, San Juan was definitely one of the highlights. Between the views, the history, and how easy it is to explore right from the port, it's an amazing place to visit. Pulling in on a Royal Caribbean ship made the whole experience feel even more epic.

I had a really good time on our cruise! The port itself…read morewasn't too far from the airport and was easy to get an uber around. Coming onto the port was quick and easy! Getting off the port was the challenge! Even waiting for an uber or shuttle would've taken at least an hour. We decided to walk off the port before calling a cab. The port exit was long and there wasn't much in the area. It was at least a mile or two walk from port exit to the main road. There wasn't much to see after exiting the port. Kinda sad it's not as built up as others we've been to.

This is a review of the food tour. The company offers other tours like rum tour and history tour…read more Our guide Pablo was super nice and knowledgeable. You'd get a text message reminder a day before the tour and they would ask if you have food restrictions or allergies. You'd also get a reminder where the meeting spot is. We met at Banco Popular, introduced ourselves and went our merry way to the 5 different food spots. Pablo ordered the food before hand so that when the group arrived at the different restaurants/places, the food was ready and we did not have to wait that long. Our first stop was Cafe Cuatro Sombras where we had coffee and croissant ham/provolone cheese/guava butter. I liked this croissant with a hint of tanginess/sweetness from the guava. Noncoffee drinkers had options of lemonade and tea. Second stop was Señor Paleta. There's no indoor seating here so we had the delicious parcha (passion fruit) popsicle. Yum! Very refreshing, great for this warm weather! Third stop was Cafe El Punto. This place has a lot of artwork by local artists. We had ceviche de pescado and alcapurrias de la casa which were nice. Fourth stop was El Patio de Sam where we "made" our own mofongo. We had fried plantains and garlic butter, mashed them in a mortar and pestle, and added the chicken before turning the mortar upside down to get the mofongo. This was flavorful and had more moisture compared to another mofongo we had. Last stop for dessert was Vaca Brava. We had flan which was nice. We enjoyed the food, the tour, and the conversations. Great experience here.

The tour guides were friendly amd knowledgable, the food was delicious. We have been on over ten…read morefood tours around the world and this was up there with the best.

Cucina di Ivo is one of those places that just feels like a hidden gem. The atmosphere is cozy and…read moreintimate, perfect for a nice dinner but still relaxed enough that it never feels too formal. The food is consistently really good. Everything tastes fresh and homemade, especially the pasta. You can tell they actually care about the quality and the flavors, not just throwing things together. The sauces are rich without being too heavy and everything is seasoned perfectly. The service has always been great when I've gone, super friendly and attentive without hovering. It's the kind of place you can go for a date night or just a good dinner and know it's going to be solid every time. Definitely one of those spots I keep coming back to when I want good Italian food.

A truly delightful Italian restaurant in the heart of Old San Juan. I visited La Cucina di Ivo…read moremultiple times during my vacation, and it quickly became a place I wanted to return to -- which says everything. The food is consistently delicious and thoughtfully prepared. You can feel the care in every dish, from the quality of the ingredients to the balance of flavors. Everything tasted fresh, comforting, and authentic without feeling heavy or overdone. What made the experience even more special was the service. The young lady who took care of us was absolutely charming -- warm, friendly, and efficient -- making us feel genuinely welcome every time we walked in. Family-owned, full of heart, and clearly run with pride, this is the kind of restaurant you remember long after your trip ends. If you're in Old San Juan and craving excellent Italian food, this place is a must.

The food was good, but extremely expensive. They did not provide a menu with pricing, so we went…read moreahead and ordered a typical Puerto Rican breakfast called Mangu, scrambled eggs, and longaniza with lemonade; an order of small empanadas; and one coffee, not international. We expected the price would have been comparable to that in New York City. The total cost was almost $80 USD.

The food and service were great, especially the chocolate pancakes. There was also a great…read morebreakfast wrap with fries on the side

Plaza del Quinto Centenario is a pretty plaza in a beautiful part of San Juan. When you are there,…read moreyou really feel the history of the city. You are surrounded by many restored buildings from the Spanish colonial period in the 16th/17th century. It looks very European. Plus, across you will see the sea and the Castillo San Felipe de Morro, this gangster citadel overlooking the water. So beautiful. The first thing you'll probably notice is this gigantic totem pole. I found out that it's called, El Totem Telurico, and was created by a Puerto Rican artist named Jaime Suarez. The brown totem pole is made of granite and clay, and is a tribute the various indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Plaza itself was built to honor the 500th year anniversary of Columbus's voyage to the Americas. There's a cool fountain area, where the water spurts from the granite flooring. When we walked by, we saw little kids playing in the fountain area. It was so hot that part of me wanted to go in there with them, but I digress. There are benches around and you can sit and rest. Also, you can pick up free Wi-Fi in this plaza. It is worth stopping by and checking it out if you are here to visit Castillo San Felipe de Morro.

It's the square that was built in 1992 to mark the 500th Anniversary (5 centuries) of the Spanish…read morediscovery of Puerto Rico. It's used today for gatherings, and as a place to chill & relax while transitioning from the castle to the rest of the city. At first glance, it looks similar to a miniature version of the Spanish Steps. The bronze sculptures on both sides of the steps represent the Lamb of God in Puerto Rico's Coat of Arms. But in actuality, it's the Telluric Totem sculpture by Jaime Suárez that is really the main focal point here. It's definitely hard to miss. It tells the story of the indigenous American people (Taino) who once lived here. The broken pieces of simulated ancient pottery sticking out from the concrete pole symbolizes the struggle between the Spanish settlers and the Taino people. It totally looks like it's made out of wood, but it's mostly made out of pottery and ceramic. You have to zoom up closely to see it. That's when you truly see its beauty. The plaza, as a whole, combines the Taino with the Spanish influence to make it a symbol of Puerto Rican heritage. Well, that's kind of how I saw it. Others may interpret it differently. I just wish that the plaza looked better than it did on the day we were there. It may look brighter on dry days. There was a little rain shower that may have affected the way it looks from the other side of the plaza with the steps. It was still a great area to stop for a breather before continuing on with sightseeing.

This is a small plaza that is located right across from the San Juan Cathedral. There is seating…read moreand shade. The park could be maintained a bit better and experiences more than average traffic. The landscaping was lacking and the walkways were very dirty. The park is named after Felisa Rincón De Gautier, San Juan's first woman mayor. the park has a couple of decent sculptures but just like the plaza, there best days are behind them. The sculptures are the work of Jorge Zeno. The three whimsical works are penguins in a boat, a cat/giraffe, and a rooster. This is a decent place to take a load of on your way to our from the Cathedral, but is definitely not a destination spot. I recommend making a stop here part of a larger itinerary. I just happend to stumble across it on my way to the cathedral.

On a self guided tour strolling around Old San Juan, I came across this small park. A lively place…read morewith folks singing and playing music, there were metal sculptures art on display and a couple of benches. Located across the street from the Cathedral of San Juan Puerto Rico, the plaza is dedicated to Felisa Rincon De Gautier, known also as Dona Fela. She served as Mayor of San Juan from 1947 to 1969, which makes her the 1st elected woman of a capital city in the Americas Territory.