Is San Juan Walkable? – The Best Self Guided Walking Itinerary
The absolute best thing to do in San Juan is give yourself plenty of time to wander, meander and explore its old history-filled cobblestone streets. I am admittedly someone who loves to fill an entire day with a fully planned itinerary, but some cities lend themselves to this sort of strategy – a “whatever happens, happens” type of vibe. This makes San Juan walkable indeed, extremely so.
The map below will help give you an idea of where things are, but I highly recommend picking a few must-do’s and then filling in the gaps with what you find along the way.
Is San Juan Walkable? –
Historical Sights you can Walk to
Castillo San Felipe del Morro
If you fly in or approach San Juan via cruise ship chances are you’ll see El Morro, keeping watch over San Juan Bay. Although construction began in 1539, it wasn’t complete until 1787!
The combined protection of both forts has helped to keep San Juan safe from both land and sea attacks. It also costs $10 per adult. I found there’s a little less to explore compared to San Cristobal, but still very much worth a visit! Also the massive lawn in front is beautiful, it looks like a screensaver!
Plazuela La
Rogativa
I found this plaza by accident, lazily following side streets downhill from El Morro over toward La Fortaleza. This sort of proves my point when answering he question of whether San Juan is walkable.
The bronze statue is very beautiful, but also very important historically. In 1797, British troops were threatening to take control of the city via a naval blockade. The governor, desperate, called for a rogativa and a group of women and a bishop took to the streets, praying for help & carry torches. To the British, this looked like additional reinforcements and believing themselves to be outnumbered, they promptly retreated.
Castillo San Cristobal
Very fittingly, this impressive fort is named after Saint Christopher, the patron saint of land travelers. So as a land traveler yourself, you should 100% spend some time exploring the largest fortification built in the Americas. It’ll set you back $10 per adult but children 15 and younger are free. And if you have an America the Beautiful Interagency Passes / National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, you can get in for free! Take full advantage of all three levels of the fort, with various stunning viewpoints, and creepy (for me scary) tunnels and passages.
Is San Juan Walkable? –
Cultural Sights you can Walk to
Casa BACARDÍ
Call me a tourist, but I love visiting a local distillery, brewery, etc. and it just so happens that Puerto Rico is home to Bacardi.
Technically this one isn’t “walkable” entirely, because it’s across the water from Old San Juan. But it’s a short and easy ferry ride away!
There are multiple options for tours & tastings, and you can also hang outside at their bar and order a fresh pina colada or rum punch.
You can even book a tour that includes a cocktail-making class!
Calle de la Fortaleza
La Fortaleza is the official residence of the governor, and it’s as old as it gets, dating back to 1533. You can make a reservation for a guided tour (I personally can’t say I have) but to me, the real draw is this street outside of it.
In recent years, it’s been decorated with different colorful umbrellas. In the past, the street has been opened but as recently as April 2023, the street is blocked off to pedestrians, but you can still take photos! I recommend going early in the morning if you can, to avoid the crowds of tour groups and cruise guests.
Calle Imperial
If you’re looking for the best photo ops in San Juan, look no further. This iconic street will give you vibrant, colorful walls and a huge puerto rican flag. The nearby alleyways are also covered in murals and street art.
After visiting Castillo San Cristobal, walk west towards El Morro along Calle Norzagaray. You’ll pass the La Perla neighborhood on your right, and then you’ll find this street on your left.
In Summary…Is San Juan Walkable?
San Juan is colorful, walkable, welcoming and lively. It’s everything you’d want in a Caribbean port so whether you’re visiting via cruise for the day, or spending several days here, there’s no shortage of things to do since San Juan is so walkable. The only caveat here is if you have mobility issues, these old streets aren’t the easiest to navigate, but you can still get to most of these sights without too much of an issue.
Is San Juan Walkable From the Cruise Port?
If your ship is docking at the Old San Juan cruise piers, you’re in luck, you can walk from there! The Pan American terminal, however, is approximately a 10-minute drive (potentially longer during rush hour) from San Juan.
Is San Juan Walkable? – San Juan Map
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