San Juan is the beautiful and bustling capital city of Puerto Rico, and there’s plenty
to do and see for visiting tourists!
Some of the city’s most charming aspects include its beautiful beaches and unique cultures.
From gazing at the beautiful La Fortaleza to Having a Religious Experience at the Capilla
del Cristo, join ViewCation as we take a look at the best things to do in San Juan, Puerto
Rico.
Gaze at the Beautiful La Fortaleza La Fortaleza is the historical building that
houses the governor of San Juan.
As a result of the historical building’s function, tourists aren’t allowed to step
inside of it.
However, gazing at the beautiful building from afar is certainly something that tourists
will want to do while visiting the beautiful capital city of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The building features colonial architecture that truly stands out from the majority of
building in the area, and the area around the building also features plenty of stunning
decorations that will make taking a peak worthwhile.
Decorations around the area change depending on the season, meaning you’ll always get
a slightly different experience while visiting La Fortaleza.
If you’re looking to delve into San Juan’s culture, this is a great place to start!
Find Souvenirs at Plaza Las Americas Mall Plaza Las Americas Mall is considered to be
the largest shopping mall in the entirety of the Caribbean, as well as the second-largest
shopping mall in the entirety of Latin America.
If you’re looking to get some shopping done while visiting the capital city of San Juan,
then Plaza Las Americas Mall is certainly one of the best places to do it!
Of course, the gigantic, commercial nature of Plaza Las Americas Mall means that it’s
not all that unique of a Puerto Rican experience.
However, visiting Plaza Las Americas Mall can still be considered a great experience
unto itself.
Plaza Las Americas Mall features over 300 stores within it, as well as plenty of places
to grab a bite to eat.
While the majority of stores found within the mall are the same kind of stores you’d
find at any other high-profile shopping center around the world, there are a few shops offering
local trinkets and crafts that might make great souvenirs.
Spend the Day at La Placita de Santurce If you think that Plaza Las Americas Mall
sounds a little bit too commercial for your tastes, you may find a better shopping experience
at La Placita de Santurce.
During the day, La Placita de Santurce functions as a farmers’ market with plenty of fresh
food, as well as some arts and crafts.
However, La Placita de Santurce draws even more crowds in after hours, when its bars
and restaurants start coming to life.
La Placita de Santurce is even more bustling at night than it is during the day, though
visiting La Placita de Santurce during the nighttime is a much different experience.
Whether you’re looking to shop or party, La Placita de Santurce will give you the experience
that you’re looking for.
Friday night is the time when the nightlife at La Placita de Santurce is most bustling,
but it’s still the place to be at most other times of the week.
One of the most popular restaurants that can be found within La Placita de Santurce is
Santaella.
This restaurant can be crowded enough that you might not b able to get into it without
a reservation.
Other notable restaurants include Asere Cubano and Delavida.
Visit Some of San Juan’s Stunning Beaches As one might expect, the Puerto Rican capital
city of San Juan is brimming with beautiful beaches.
The amount of great beaches available to visitors within the city may be a bit intimidating.
Thankfully, we’ve handpicked a few beaches that are sure to give a great time to tourists.
Some of the best beaches that can be found within the confines of San Juan inarguably
include Ocean Park Beach, Condado Beach, Pine Grove Beach, and Hobbie Beach.
Pine Grove Beach is particularly popular with surfers thanks to its plethora of waves.
However, each of the beaches is worth a visit, and there are plenty of more once you’ve
seen them all!
Step Back in Time at the Castillo San Felipe del Morro
The Castillo San Felipe del Morro is a beautiful citadel that was first constructed all the
way back in the 1500s.
The building still stands today and has slowly but surely become one of the most sought-after
tourist destinations in the entire Puerto Rican capital city of San Juan.
One of the things that make the Castillo San Felipe del Morro such a fun place to visit
is the fact that it offers tourists a spectacular view of the nearby San Juan Bay.
The citadel was actually constructed in an effort to protect the city of San Juan from
invaders coming to the city by way of the sea.
During World War II, occupying American troops used the citadel to help defend both the area
and the world.
Today, the citadel stands as a tourist trap, with a modest entrance fee.
Beyond the incredible view of the San Juan Bay, the citadel itself is plenty stunning
and certainly worth a look.
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Visit Fort San Cristobal Historically, Fort San Cristobal as often
viewed as the younger sibling of the Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
While the Castillo San Felipe del Morro was constructed in an effort to protect the Puerto
Rican capital city of San Juan from invaders coming by way of the sea, Fort San Cristobal
was created in an effort to protect the beautiful location from invaders coming by way of the
land.
As with its older sibling, Fort San Cristobal can be visited today for a modest fee.
Check Out Puerto Rico’s Oldest Cathedral Compared to some of the other historical buildings
that can be found within the Puerto Rican capital city of San Juan, the San Juan Bautista
cathedral isn’t all that stunning from the outside.
However, visitors will come to have a different, and decidedly deeper, appreciation for the
historical building once they learn about the story behind it.
The San Juan Bautista cathedral is not only the oldest cathedral in the entirety of Puerto
Rico, but it’s also considered to be the oldest cathedral in the entirety of the Americas!
The historically significant cathedral also happens to be the location of the tomb of
the famous Spanish explorer by the name of Ponce de León.
Ponce de León is famous for his never-ending quest to find the alleged “fountain of youth”.
Besides featuring the tomb of legendary explorer Ponce de León, the San Juan Bautista cathedral
also features a shrine dedicated to many by the name of Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago.
While Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago may not be as immediately recognizable of a name
as Ponce de León, he’s still a historically significant figure.
Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago is historically noted as the first Puerto Rican citizen to
be “beatified”.
For those who are unaware of the Catholic process of “beautification”, it essentially
grants the person a religious status that puts them only one step below the saints.
Sail Aboard the Amazing Grace There are plenty of historical buildings that
can be found within the Puerto Rican capital city of San Juan, but there’s also an incredibly
interesting historical sea vessel!
That sea vessel goes by the name of the Amazing Grace, and being in its midst is an incredible
experience.
The vessel features seven sails and dates back to the 19th century.
The Amazing Grace is the same type of vessel as the kind that were used to fight British
sea troops during the War of Independence, which occurred during the early 1800s.
Those who have an interest in Puerto Rican’s history will certainly find plenty to enjoy
while sailing on the Amazing Grace.
However, the experience of sailing on the historical vessel has much more to offer tourists
than just a blast from the past.
Sailing around the waters of San Juan on the Amazing Grace will also grant tourists incredible
views of the city’s surrounding natural landscape.
Finally, a trip aboard the Amazing Grace will also grant tourists the opportunity to eat
a plethora of amazing food items.
The Amazing Grace is very popular, so be sure to make reservations in advance.
Experience the Entrance Doors of La Puerta de la Bandera
La Puerta de la Bandera is another notable historical building that can be found within
the Puerto Rican capital city of San Juan.
While the building itself is in dire straits, its entrance doors have been finely preserved
on account of the beautiful and historical artwork that’s featured upon them.
The doors were initially painted in the style of the Puerto Rican flag, but the artist decided
to change the colors around as a form of activism during one of the island’s historically
troubled times.
Go Bird-Feeding at Pigeon Park Parque de las Palomas, or Pigeon Park, is
another great place for tourists to visit while staying within San Juan.
True to its name, the park is most notable for the plethora of pigeons that can be found
within its boundaries.
These pigeons have become quite used to humans, and feeding them has become a popular pastime
with both tourists and locals alike!
Pigeon feed can be purchased at the park, so you don’t need to worry about bringing
your own.
Have a Religious Experience at the Capilla del Cristo
The Capilla del Cristo was constructed during the 18th century and has since become known
amongst residents of San Juan for its healing properties.
Locals will come to the cathedral weekly to pray, and the location has also understandably
become popular with tourists.
Sadly, entrance is only allowed during the weekend.
With all of these incredible things to do within the beautiful Puerto Rican capital
city of San Juan, it’s no wonder that the location has become so popular with tourists
around the world!
Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that Puerto Rico is home to some of the
oldest historical buildings in the Americas, and that the capital city also features a
market with a bustling nightlife?
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