San Juan

San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico, and at about 395,000 its largest city. It has one of the best harbors in the Caribbean. The city celebrated its 5th century in 2008 from the founding of Caparra. (In 2021, it will be 500 years since the Caparra settlement was moved to Puerto Rico isle (Old San Juan)

• Old San Juan - The historic part of the city, home to most historic attractions, galleries and museums. Although this eight by ten block district is part of San Juan, it is quite geographically and culturally distinct from the rest of the city. It occupies the western half of the islet of San Juan, which it shares with Puerta de Tierra. As this is a tourist destination, English is relatively common, but not universally spoken.
• Puerta de Tierra - situated in the middle of Old San Juan and Condado, this largely residential area is home to a few hotels and attractions. Puerta de Tierra itself is a middle-class to lower-class residential neighborhood, dotted with some businesses, municipal buildings, and empty museums. However, the Puerta de Tierra beachfront has two hotels, a nice beach, and a decent park that provides a welcome urban respite for both locals and hotel tourists.

While Puerta de Tierra is not a slum nor a generally rough neighborhood, it is not a tourist destination, and you should exercise some common sense and awareness when traveling through the area. If you can do this, then you should have no problems and will have a much better look at life as lived by San Juan locals, and may see many things most tourists never see while visiting the city.

• El Condado - this upscale residential neighborhood is also the beach resort part of the city and has many hotels and restaurants along its main drag, Ashford Ave. Most people come for the beach and the nightlife.
• Isla Verde - this area of San Juan, more in the city of Carolina than of San Juan itself, is closest to the international airport and has nice beaches and parks.
• International Convention Center District - now has the new Convention Center which includes a fountain that plays traditional Puerto Rican music and Occidental classical music and in the near-future will also include a hotel, restaurants and shopping centers.
• Hato Rey - the business center, hosting the main banks, Hiram Bithorn Stadium, Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot and Plaza las Americas the largest shopping center in the Caribbean featuring many American chains including the world's largest Sears and JC Penny's department stores.
• Rio Piedras - home of the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico. It is a former municipality and is now part of the city of San Juan. It is a ways off of the beaten path, but features a large shopping district used by many locals.
• Santurce - a historical part of Puerto Rico and the cultural capital, having two art museums and a performing arts center
• Miramar - near El Condado, known for expensive and historical houses

Old San Juan - The historic part of the city, home to most historic attractions, galleries and museums. Although this eight by ten block district is part of San Juan, it is quite geographically and culturally distinct from the rest of the city. It occupies the western half of the islet of San Juan, which it shares with Puerta de Tierra. As this is a tourist destination, English is relatively common, but not universally spoken.

Puerta de Tierra - situated in the middle of Old San Juan and Condado, this largely residential area is home to a few hotels and attractions. Puerta de Tierra itself is a middle-class to lower-class residential neighborhood, dotted with some businesses, municipal buildings, and empty museums. However, the Puerta de Tierra beachfront has two hotels, a nice beach, and a decent park that provides a welcome urban respite for both locals and hotel tourists.

El Condado - this upscale residential neighborhood is also the beach resort part of the city and has many hotels and restaurants along its main drag, Ashford Ave. Most people come for the beach and the nightlife.

Isla Verde - this area of San Juan, more in the city of Carolina than of San Juan itself, is closest to the international airport and has nice beaches and parks.

International Convention Center District - now has the new Convention Center which includes a fountain that plays traditional Puerto Rican music and Occidental classical music and in the near-future will also include a hotel, restaurants and shopping centers.

Hato Rey - the business center, hosting the main banks, Hiram Bithorn Stadium, Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot and Plaza las Americas the largest shopping center in the Caribbean featuring many American chains including the world's largest Sears and JC Penny's department stores.

Rio Piedras - home of the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico. It is a former municipality and is now part of the city of San Juan. It is a ways off of the beaten path, but features a large shopping district used by many locals.

Santurce - a historical part of Puerto Rico and the cultural capital, having two art museums and a performing arts center

Miramar - near El Condado, known for expensive and historical houses

San Juan is the oldest city under the United States dominion. San Juan is in the north-east of Puerto Rico, and features distinctly century-old architecture, such as Spanish military forts built from the 1540s to 1800s, an active harbor, and a very active economic area in the Hato Rey district. San Juan has magnificent beaches, hotels, plazas, historic sites, museums, etc.

San Juan has a land area of about 76 square miles. The city's population is approximately 395,000.

San Juan is a tropical city with winter temperatures typically ranging in the low 80s°F (21-24°C) during the day, and low 70s°F at night. Summer temperatures are generally in the high 80s°F (29-32°C) during the day, and high 70s (25-28°C) at night. Summer does include high humidity. The city has a tendency to receive rain and thunderstorms from April to November in the afternoon. Be mindful that San Juan and the rest of Puerto Rico have the possibility of being hit by hurricanes or tropical storms from July to November.

San Juan is a Latin American city with Spanish-based culture, mixed with African traditions and Taíno culture. Museums of modern art exist abroad. The citizens of San Juan are very festive, as on the rest of the island. San Juan has bars and discotheques all-around the city, from Old San Juan to the southern part of the city that stay open until 3 or 4AM. San Juan has become very modernized as of late, with its first Metro line (called Tren Urbano) and buses. Like most large cities, however, there is a small population of vagrants and beggars lining the streets.

San Juan is the financial capital of Puerto Rico. There are facilities for petroleum and sugar refining, and pharmaceuticals.

Founded in 1509, San Juan became a walled city protected by multiple forts. It guarded an important entrance into the Spanish Main, and withstood multiple attacks by the British and Dutch (some partially successful). It was considered the Gibraltar of the West Indies. Due to its military significance, the government kept the growing population within the city walls until 1897, when a few bastions were demolished. The forts received some naval bombardment from US naval ships during the Spanish–American War (1898). Much of the district is intact architecturally, including the impressive fortifications.

Many tourists are caught unaware by the sun exposure received from simply walking around the sites of this tropical city. Sunblock is available at many stores in town. Wear good walking shoes to deal with the hills and cobblestone streets. Around the perimeter of the district the trade winds make it surprisingly comfortable, but along the interior streets it get much hotter, with closely spaced, multi-story buildings cutting off any breeze. Brief showers are quite common, so watch your step, the cobblestones can get quite slippery.

Old San Juan is a common stop for cruise ships, yet it is definitely not a beach resort. It is a real town within a city, where people work and live. Men typically wear collared shirts and long pants, and businessmen wear suits. Women tend to wear skirts or dresses and often high heeled shoes. Although visitors are expected to dress more casually; a collared shirt, shorts with pockets and belt, and shoes are minimally appropriate for adults at most attractions.

See also: Spanish phrasebook

Spanish is the dominant language in San Juan and throughout Puerto Rico. English is also very widely spoken and understood (approximately one-third of the population speaks English "very well" or better according to the 2000 U.S. Census). Most businesses within the tourist areas of the city are fully fluent in English and those businesses tend to hire employees who are bilingual, thus speaking English very well. In addition, English is widely taught in high schools, with most students understanding some basic English. As a visitor, be prepared to use some high school level Spanish to drivers to communicate about luggage, restaurants, or anything not a normal tourist spot.

• El Castillo San Felipe del Morro. 9AM-6PM. A sixteenth-century citadel that lies on the northwestern-most point of the islet of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is part of San Juan National Historic Site and was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1983. $5 incl entrance to San Cristóbal, America The Beautiful pass includes up to 3 visitors.
• El Castillo de San Cristóbal, +1 (787) 729-6960. 9AM-6PM. A fort built by the Spaniards to protect against land based attacks on the city of San Juan. It is part of San Juan National Historic Site. It covers 27 acres of land and is 150 ft tall. $5 incl entrance to El Morro, America The Beautiful pass includes up to 3 visitors.
• Palacio de Santa Catalina "La Fortaleza" (or The Fortress in English) is the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, who is Puerto Rico's head of Government. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as El Palacio de Santa Catalina (or Palace of Santa Catalina). It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World. La Fortaleza was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• La Catedral de San Juan Bautista: contains the tomb of the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. It was built in the 1520s, was soon wrecked by a hurricane, and then rebuilt in 1540. After being rebuilt, it was robbed in the late 1500s, and then, in 1615, it was damaged by a hurricane. In 1917, a lot of changes were made to restore the building. Tours are given daily from 8:30AM-4PM.
• Castillo de San Jerónimo is a small fort in the entrance to what is known today as Condado, Puerto Rico lagoon in San Juan. The fort defended San Juan from attacks by Sir Francis Drake in 1595, Sir George Clifford "Earl of Cumberland" in 1598 and Sir Ralph Abercromby.
• Iglesia de San Jose dates back to 1523 when it was called the Church and Monastery of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Before Ponce de Leon was moved to the San Juan Catedral, his body was buried here for 300 years.
• Ayuntamiento or Alcaldia or City Hall.
• The municipal cemetery of Santa María Madgalena de Pazzis, just outside the city walls.
• Fuerte San Geronimo is a fort that was built to tighten defense within the city. There is a small museum inside.
• Centro de Bellas Artes is the largest fine arts center in the Caribbean. Concerts, plays, and operas are hosted here.
• Bacardi Rum Factory, +1 787 788-8400. M-Sa 9AM-4:30PM, Sunday from 10AM-3:30PM. Also called the "Cathedral of Rum" and covers 127 acres. Free tour, including a trolley ride around the premises.
• Caparra Ruins and Museum. M-F 8AM-11:45AM, 12:30PM-3:45PM. Caparra was the first Spanish settlement in Puerto Rico. It was put several miles inland to keep it protected from pirates. The site itself is the ruins of the house/fort of Puerto Rico's first governor, Juan Ponce de Leon. A small museum displays some of the excavated artifacts. The displays are all in Spanish, though they do have a summary page in English upon request. Free.

There is not much to see in Puerta de Tierra, but there are a few things of interest for the traveler looking around this area. Old San Juan is a 25 minute beachfront walk away; walk along Avenida Munoz Rivera until you reach San Cristobal fort, then turn towards the waterfront on Calle de Norzagaray.

• Casa de Espana, Avenida Juan Ponce de León. Walking distance from Old San Juan, this house is literally something to see, as the average tourist cannot go in unless they are involved with one of the many events hosted there. Still, the building, which gets its name from its original purpose as a community center for local Spanish citizens, is worth a look for its architectural accents and 'old world' look. It is closer to Old San Juan than the hotels of Puerta de Tierra, but it is on the bus line. Coming into Covadonga bus station, look to your right when the bus is on Paseo de Covadonga. It will be on the next street over, but you can see it from the bus window. There is a sign out front that marks the building.

Casa de Espana, Avenida Juan Ponce de León. Walking distance from Old San Juan, this house is literally something to see, as the average tourist cannot go in unless they are involved with one of the many events hosted there. Still, the building, which gets its name from its original purpose as a community center for local Spanish citizens, is worth a look for its architectural accents and 'old world' look. It is closer to Old San Juan than the hotels of Puerta de Tierra, but it is on the bus line. Coming into Covadonga bus station, look to your right when the bus is on Paseo de Covadonga. It will be on the next street over, but you can see it from the bus window. There is a sign out front that marks the building.

• Alcadia. San Juan's City hall, built in 1602.
• The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.
• Casa Blanca, western end of Calle San Sebastián, +1 787 721-7000 ext 2358. Ancestral home of the Ponce de Leon family, now a museum.
• La Fortaleza, western end of Calle Fortaleza, +1 787 724-1454. Oldest governor's mansion in continuous use in the New World.
• San Jose Church. Built in 1532, it is the second oldest church in continuous use in the New World and the oldest in the United States.
• San Juan Cathedral, 153 Calle Cristo. Built in 1540, it is the burial site of Ponce de Leon.
• San Juan Gate. Traditional entrance to San Juan.
• Ballaja Barracks. Museum of Americas highlights colorful folk art.
• La Casa del Libro. Tu-Sa 11AM-4:30PM. Museum of the art and history books through five centuries. A museum holding nearly 5,000 early works of manuscripts and books, some as from as old as the 15th century. This museum is most known for having two royal mandates signed by Ferdinand and Isabella concerning arranging Columbus' fleet for his second voyage.
• San Juan National Historic Site, 501 Norzagaray St, +1 787 729-6960. 9AM-6PM. The park consists of multiple sites. Castillo San Cristóbal is one of the largest Spanish fortresses in the new world, and has a National Park Service visitor center off of Avenida Luis Muñoz Rivera. The center offers English and Spanish versions of an introductory film to the Historic Site, exhibits, and a bookshop. Castillo San Felipe del Morro (or el Morro) is a citadel with a commanding view of the entrance to San Juan Harbor, at the end of Calle Norzagaray. The extensive esplanade between the citadel and the town is popular for kite flying. A single entrance fee to both forts is $5/week. Allow at least an hour to explore each fort. The park also includes most of the historic city walls, and tiny Fortín San Juan de la Cruz (or el Cañuelo) across the harbor on Isla de Cabras. $5/adult, children under 15 free, national park passes includes up to 3 visitors.

Alcadia. San Juan's City hall, built in 1602.

The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.

Casa Blanca, western end of Calle San Sebastián, +1 787 721-7000 ext 2358. Ancestral home of the Ponce de Leon family, now a museum.

La Fortaleza, western end of Calle Fortaleza, +1 787 724-1454. Oldest governor's mansion in continuous use in the New World.

San Jose Church. Built in 1532, it is the second oldest church in continuous use in the New World and the oldest in the United States.

San Juan Cathedral, 153 Calle Cristo. Built in 1540, it is the burial site of Ponce de Leon.

San Juan Gate. Traditional entrance to San Juan.

Ballaja Barracks. Museum of Americas highlights colorful folk art.

La Casa del Libro. Tu-Sa 11AM-4:30PM. Museum of the art and history books through five centuries. A museum holding nearly 5,000 early works of manuscripts and books, some as from as old as the 15th century. This museum is most known for having two royal mandates signed by Ferdinand and Isabella concerning arranging Columbus' fleet for his second voyage.

San Juan National Historic Site, 501 Norzagaray St, +1 787 729-6960. 9AM-6PM. The park consists of multiple sites. Castillo San Cristóbal is one of the largest Spanish fortresses in the new world, and has a National Park Service visitor center off of Avenida Luis Muñoz Rivera. The center offers English and Spanish versions of an introductory film to the Historic Site, exhibits, and a bookshop. Castillo San Felipe del Morro (or el Morro) is a citadel with a commanding view of the entrance to San Juan Harbor, at the end of Calle Norzagaray. The extensive esplanade between the citadel and the town is popular for kite flying. A single entrance fee to both forts is $5/week. Allow at least an hour to explore each fort. The park also includes most of the historic city walls, and tiny Fortín San Juan de la Cruz (or el Cañuelo) across the harbor on [[Isla de Cabras]]. $5/adult, children under 15 free, national park passes includes up to 3 visitors.

El Castillo San Felipe del Morro. 9AM-6PM. A sixteenth-century citadel that lies on the northwestern-most point of the islet of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is part of San Juan National Historic Site and was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1983. $5 incl entrance to San Cristóbal, America The Beautiful pass includes up to 3 visitors.

El Castillo de San Cristóbal, +1 (787) 729-6960. 9AM-6PM. A fort built by the Spaniards to protect against land based attacks on the city of San Juan. It is part of San Juan National Historic Site. It covers 27 acres of land and is 150 ft tall. $5 incl entrance to El Morro, America The Beautiful pass includes up to 3 visitors.

Palacio de Santa Catalina "La Fortaleza" (or The Fortress in English) is the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, who is Puerto Rico's head of Government. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as El Palacio de Santa Catalina (or Palace of Santa Catalina). It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World. La Fortaleza was declared as a [[World Heritage Site]] by UNESCO.

La Catedral de San Juan Bautista: contains the tomb of the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. It was built in the 1520s, was soon wrecked by a hurricane, and then rebuilt in 1540. After being rebuilt, it was robbed in the late 1500s, and then, in 1615, it was damaged by a hurricane. In 1917, a lot of changes were made to restore the building. Tours are given daily from 8:30AM-4PM.

Castillo de San Jerónimo is a small fort in the entrance to what is known today as Condado, Puerto Rico lagoon in San Juan. The fort defended San Juan from attacks by Sir Francis Drake in 1595, Sir George Clifford "Earl of Cumberland" in 1598 and Sir Ralph Abercromby.

Iglesia de San Jose dates back to 1523 when it was called the Church and Monastery of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Before Ponce de Leon was moved to the San Juan Catedral, his body was buried here for 300 years.

Ayuntamiento or Alcaldia or City Hall.

The municipal cemetery of Santa María Madgalena de Pazzis, just outside the city walls.

Fuerte San Geronimo is a fort that was built to tighten defense within the city. There is a small museum inside.

Centro de Bellas Artes is the largest fine arts center in the Caribbean. Concerts, plays, and operas are hosted here.

Bacardi Rum Factory, +1 787 788-8400. M-Sa 9AM-4:30PM, Sunday from 10AM-3:30PM. Also called the "Cathedral of Rum" and covers 127 acres. Free tour, including a trolley ride around the premises.

Caparra Ruins and Museum. M-F 8AM-11:45AM, 12:30PM-3:45PM. Caparra was the first Spanish settlement in Puerto Rico. It was put several miles inland to keep it protected from pirates. The site itself is the ruins of the house/fort of Puerto Rico's first governor, Juan Ponce de Leon. A small museum displays some of the excavated artifacts. The displays are all in Spanish, though they do have a summary page in English upon request. Free.

Check out the beaches in Condado and Isla Verde.

A popular point of interest is Old San Juan, a 7-block area that has become popular for tourists and residents. The narrow streets of old San Juan are packed with people so it is recommended to experience Old San Juan by foot in order to avoid too much traffic. You can take a taxi for less than $20 from most hotels but for $0.75 you can also take the B21 bus which picks up from many locations near the hotels and is very easy to use.

Check out the parks in San Juan.

• Central Park is the park to visit if you're looking for traditional activities such as jogging, tennis, baseball, etc.
• La Marquesa Canopy Tour - About 30 minutes outside of San Juan in Guaynabo you can tour the La Marquesa Forest Reserve via zip line. It is a low impact experience suitable for people of all ages. Those who are up for extreme adventure travel may find this a little too easy.
• Garfield, 7558 calle del cristo (go far west, +1 787 721-2500.
• Munoz Rivera Park, Av. Ponce de León. Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. By the ocean, it has beautiful trees and landscaping. A great place to tour by foot.
• Parque de las Palomas overlooks La Princesa Jail. From this park you are able to see a great view of the mountains, harbor and the city.
• The Casino of Puerto Rico is a large building with a chandelier and an open ballroom, built before World War I.
• The Teatro Tapia, +1 787 721-0169 or +1 787 721-0180. Built in 1832, this is one of the oldest theaters in the Western Hemisphere. This building, which was named after Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, has been remodeled twice, once in 1949 and once in 1987. Plays, ballets, and other concerts and events are held here.

There are a few things to do in Puerta de Tierra that don't have anything to do with what is in your hotel. There is a large park, a nice beach, and several smaller walkways to take short walks on.

• Parque Luis Munoz Rivera
• Parque del Tercer Milenio. Encompassing most of the beach and park area of Puerta de Tierra, this park also holds an athletic club with a track and plenty of field area for outdoor napping or picnics on the beach. The Balneario el Escambrón is the most accessible area of the beach to hotel guests, being a 5 minute leisurely walk from the hotels themselves. Once on the beach, there are great distant views of not only the San Cristobal fort, but El Morro as well, if there is no fog. Closer in and right next to the Kiosko Escambrón, a snack bar often playing loud salsa and serving up drinks to locals, is a lookout point that faces the water, where romantic couples often go to privately make out and gaze off into the ocean.
• San Sebastian Festival, annually in January, the weekend before the Martin Luther King holiday, it is one of the most popular festivals in the Caribbean, full of activities, parades, food and live music. It began as a neighborhood event for Saint Sebastian; now it's the Festival de la Calle San Sebastian - celebrating the street, rather than the Saint. It is pleasant, if insanely crowded early in the afternoon, with artisans and families, but after dark the artisans flee and it's jam packed with drunken teenagers. Remarkably crime free, except for rocking cars, and the predictable outcome of 10,000 people drinking for 8 hours in a 6-block narrow street with no facilities.
• Segway Tours, +1 787-598-9455. Daily 9AM-5PM, according to demand. Explore Old San Juan on a segway. 45-minute and 2-hour tours include riding lesson, individual segway and audio guide. $35-70. Off season in September.

Central Park is the park to visit if you're looking for traditional activities such as jogging, tennis, baseball, etc.

La Marquesa Canopy Tour - About 30 minutes outside of San Juan in [[Guaynabo]] you can tour the La Marquesa Forest Reserve via zip line. It is a low impact experience suitable for people of all ages. Those who are up for extreme adventure travel may find this a little too easy.

Garfield, 7558 calle del cristo (go far west, +1 787 721-2500.

Munoz Rivera Park, Av. Ponce de León. Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. By the ocean, it has beautiful trees and landscaping. A great place to tour by foot.

Parque de las Palomas overlooks La Princesa Jail. From this park you are able to see a great view of the mountains, harbor and the city.

The Casino of Puerto Rico is a large building with a chandelier and an open ballroom, built before World War I.

The Teatro Tapia, +1 787 721-0169 or +1 787 721-0180. Built in 1832, this is one of the oldest theaters in the Western Hemisphere. This building, which was named after Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, has been remodeled twice, once in 1949 and once in 1987. Plays, ballets, and other concerts and events are held here.

Parque Luis Munoz Rivera

Parque del Tercer Milenio. Encompassing most of the beach and park area of Puerta de Tierra, this park also holds an athletic club with a track and plenty of field area for outdoor napping or picnics on the beach. The Balneario el Escambrón is the most accessible area of the beach to hotel guests, being a 5 minute leisurely walk from the hotels themselves. Once on the beach, there are great distant views of not only the San Cristobal fort, but El Morro as well, if there is no fog. Closer in and right next to the Kiosko Escambrón, a snack bar often playing loud salsa and serving up drinks to locals, is a lookout point that faces the water, where romantic couples often go to privately make out and gaze off into the ocean.

San Sebastian Festival, annually in January, the weekend before the Martin Luther King holiday, it is one of the most popular festivals in the Caribbean, full of activities, parades, food and live music. It began as a neighborhood event for Saint Sebastian; now it's the Festival de la Calle San Sebastian - celebrating the street, rather than the Saint. It is pleasant, if insanely crowded early in the afternoon, with artisans and families, but after dark the artisans flee and it's jam packed with drunken teenagers. Remarkably crime free, except for rocking cars, and the predictable outcome of 10,000 people drinking for 8 hours in a 6-block narrow street with no facilities.

Segway Tours, +1 787-598-9455. Daily 9AM-5PM, according to demand. Explore Old San Juan on a segway. 45-minute and 2-hour tours include riding lesson, individual segway and audio guide. $35-70. Off season in September.

• The Butterfly People, 257 Calle de la Cruz, Old San Juan, +1 787-723-2432. Real butterflies encased in acrylic. Stunning. Go to see it, even if you don't buy.
• Plaza las Américas, "The Center of it All", biggest mall in the Caribbean, containing more than 300 stores anchored by the world's largest JC Penney, plus Macy's, Lacoste, American Eagle, A|X and Sears. It has a movie theater and restaurants such as Chili's, Macaroni Grill, Margarita's and Tierra del Fuego. If you need or want to visit a good example of a modern, enclosed mall from the U.S. mainland, this won't disappoint.
• Old San Juan, Shopping in Old San Juan is diverse, with retailers scattered among many narrow streets. Stores include many fine jewelers, arts, crafts and mercantil shops, at least one drug store, and a few branded "outlets". You'll also find numerous cafes and a few fine restaurants. For walkers, the humidity and tropical sun may make the mid-late afternoon temperatures a bit oppressive. Alternatives include going early as stores open (typically 10AM on weekdays) or catching a free trolley winding throughout the area, with opportunities to get off at marked stops wherever desired. The trolley tends to stay very full on afternoons when cruise ships are in.

• There are several bookstores near the University of Puerto Rico along the Avenue Ponce de Lyon.
• There is a pedestrian-only shopping street near the Rio Piedras station of the Tren Urbano. Just get off, and you should see shopping that no tourist has ever seen before! (look on Google Maps for "Calle José de Diego, Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico").

Several tourist and fine stores line the main street of the area. Puebla is a block off of the main street and facing the airport. It offers everything you'd expect of a modern supermarket.

Make sure you do all of your souvenir and clothes shopping in other parts of town before coming to Puerta de Tierra. If you are buying groceries, your options are slim as well. Try to do grocery shopping in other parts of town if you want any food beyond snacks. There are two options near the hotel for snacks, toiletries, and practicalities. In the Hilton, there is Caribe Sundries, which by far has the best selection of toiletries and painkillers. There is also another convenience store called Mini Mercado, which is open 24 hours and has a decent selection of food and exactly one variety of shampoo and conditioner each, for those of you who can't make it to the Hilton. It is easy to find at night; the windows are lined with green neon lights. When buying in Puerta de Tierra, (or anywhere in San Juan), look for locally made snacks and products to save a little money.

If you are desperate to shop and have a little bit of extra money, there are stores in the Hilton, although they are expensive and mainly sell jewelry and designer clothes.

Shopping in Old San Juan is diverse, with retailers scattered among many narrow streets. Stores include many fine jewelers, arts, crafts and mercantile shops, two drug stores, and a few branded "outlets", e.g., Coach, genuine with good prices, but discontinued styles. You'll also find numerous cafes and a few fine restaurants. You'll find a well-stocked Walgreens (pharmacy services pending) at the corner of a large square in the central area, and a large CVS (with pharmacy services) opposite the cross-bay ferry terminal.

Puerto Rican rums, other hard liquor, beer and wine are sold at good prices at the grocery store just down the street from Walgreens.

The Butterfly People, 257 Calle de la Cruz, Old San Juan, +1 787-723-2432. Real butterflies encased in acrylic. Stunning. Go to see it, even if you don't buy.

Plaza las Américas, "The Center of it All", biggest mall in the Caribbean, containing more than 300 stores anchored by the world's largest JC Penney, plus Macy's, Lacoste, American Eagle, A|X and Sears. It has a movie theater and restaurants such as Chili's, Macaroni Grill, Margarita's and Tierra del Fuego. If you need or want to visit a good example of a modern, enclosed mall from the U.S. mainland, this won't disappoint.

Old San Juan, Shopping in Old San Juan is diverse, with retailers scattered among many narrow streets. Stores include many fine jewelers, arts, crafts and mercantil shops, at least one drug store, and a few branded "outlets". You'll also find numerous cafes and a few fine restaurants. For walkers, the humidity and tropical sun may make the mid-late afternoon temperatures a bit oppressive. Alternatives include going early as stores open (typically 10AM on weekdays) or catching a free trolley winding throughout the area, with opportunities to get off at marked stops wherever desired. The trolley tends to stay very full on afternoons when cruise ships are in.

• Al Dente, Calle Recinto Sur 309, Old San Juan, +1 787-723-7303. M-F 12PM-3PM; M-Sa 6PM-11PM; Sun 12:30PM-4PM and 6PM-10PM. The oldest continuously operated Italian restaurant in Puerto Rico.
• Café Puerto Rico, Calle O'Donnell 208, +1 787 724-2281. 11:30AM-11PM. Creole cuisine. On the Plaza de Colón, enjoy the view along with a great meal. Great spot to stop for a drink, snack & conversation too. Live music weekends & some weekdays. Best meal: stuffed snapper (fillet & lobster, crab, shellfish in a flavorful broth), rice & beans, and sweet plantains. $9-21 main course but order side dishes too.
• El Alcázar, 1013 Ave. Roosevelt. New Spanish restaurant which serves a variety of tapas, seafood and several meats. Also has a variety of Wines. The ambience is romantic and live music is offered several times a month.
• El Asador, The Grill Old San Juan, 350 San Francisco St (Old San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902, +1 787-289-9966. 10AM - 4AM 7 Days a Week. Puerto Rican cuisine at the entrance of Old San Juan, the heart of nightlife in the Old City. It is a two-level restaurant with an exterior patio.
• La Bombonera, +1 787-722-0658. Calle San Francisco, west of Tanca. 7:30AM-8PM. Authentic local cuisine in an unassuming landmark atmosphere unchanged for decades. Serves lunch and dinner. Fresh pastries. Superlative coffee. Inexpensive.
• Luigi's Restaurant, 104 Diez de Andino, Condado, +1 787-722-2672. M-Sa 11:30AM-3PM and 6PM-10PM; Su noon-5PM. Serves Italian and Genovese cuisine.
• Margarita's, Several locations including 3rd level at Plaza las Américas and 1013 Ave. Roosevelt, +1 787-792-0283. A traditional Mexican food restaurants.
• Milagros y Sean's, Isla Verde. Delicious traditional home cooked Spanish food and half-edible Irish cuisine if you're not in the mood for good tasting things. Bartender makes great cocktails and pours a terrible Guinness. Lounge area with 1990s hip-hop, R&B classics, and semi-tolerable fiddle.
• Ostra Cosa, Calle del Cristo 154, Old San Juan, +1 787-722-2672. Daily noon-10PM. Reservations recommended. The ambience here is one of the most sensual and romantic in Old San Juan.
• Pamela's restaurant, +1 787 726-5010, Calle Santa Ana 1. Traditional Caribbean and Puerto Rican dishes are prepared by a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. You have the choice of eating inside or outside on the beach. Lunch runs around $15 while dinner is a little more ($20-25).
• Parrot Club, Calle Fortaleza 363, Old San Juan, +1 787-725-7370. Daily noon-3PM; 6PM-11PM. Live music, either Brazilian, salsa, or Latino jazz, is offered nightly and during the popular Sunday brunches.
• Ramiro's, Av. Magdalena 1106, Condado, +1 787-721-9049. M-Sa noon-3PM & 6PM-11PM; Su noon-3PM & 6PM-10PM. Creole" style cooking pioneered by owner and chef Jesús Ramiro.
• San Juan Hard Rock Café, Old San Juan.
• Tantra, 356 Calle Fortaleza, serves international cuisine. Great creative and nightlife atmosphere. A warm, candlelit environment with great food and great martinis. Moderately priced, entrees run from around $13-17. +1 787 977-8141.
• Tierra del Fuego, 3rd Level at Plaza las Américas, +1 787-294-7019. One of the best Argentinean restaurants where you will be able to savor a tender, juicy cut of meat prepared by chefs and cooks who work together with a warm staff of waiters and hostesses.
• UVVA Restaurant, +1 787 727-3302, 1 Calle Tapia, Ocean Park. International creative cuisine by Chef Jose Vicente is served from 8AM-11PM. The ambiance is elegant and casual.
• BUNS Burger Shop, 1214 Ashford Ave. (In front of Marriott Hotel. 11:30AM-4AM. Great burgers with high quality beef. Over 40 beers, some on tap.

Several major hotels have their own restaurants serving most if not all meals; if breakfast is not included in the room rate, prices can be substantial.

On the south side of the "Avenida", small malls and parking areas variably hold small restaurants offering traditional Puerto Rican food, and several branded fast food outlets. This includes the Espana Bakery...on the south side of the highway (west end of Isla Verde). It has been in existence for over 30 years easily the best place to get "pastelitos" of many types, Spanish style soup (Fabada Austriana or Caldo Gallego - both versions of hearty bean and ham or sausage soups), sandwiches and "cafecito" the local coffee drink offered any time of the day or night.

Mi Casita is a similar family restaurant for Puerto Rican dining. At Plazoneta De Isla Verde (phone (787) 791-1777, toward the East end of the "Avenida"), it serves tasty breakfasts, lunches and dinners at attractive prices, with many items substituted across generous entrees. The plazonetta (strip mall) also offers Church's Fried Chicken, Burger King and other franchises for easy recognition from the "Avenida". If you are driving, charges for secure parking can be offset by receipts from businesses within.

Grocery stores

• Super Max, Calle Julian Blanco (near the Doubletree hotel. 24x7. A normal grocery store.
• Freshmart, 1310 Avenida Ashford (Near the Marriott. A natural foods-centric grocery store where, as you leave, you are wished to "have a healthy day!"

Super Max, Calle Julian Blanco (near the Doubletree hotel. 24x7. A normal grocery store.

Freshmart, 1310 Avenida Ashford (Near the Marriott. A natural foods-centric grocery store where, as you leave, you are wished to "have a healthy day!"

In Puerta de Tierra, there are little to no options for eating out. If you are visiting another part of San Juan, try to eat in that area before coming back to the hotel. If your room has a mini bar, try stocking it with some bottled drinks and snacks from a mini-mart, in case you get hungry while still in the area. For breakfast, your best bet is either to eat in your hotel or to eat at your destination for the day. Along the beach, there are kiosks in small, green buildings that sell a few bottled drinks and occasionally some food, but I wouldn't depend on it.

• El Hamburger, 402 Avenida Munoz Rivera. This loud burger pit is packed at dinnertime with local families and beach-goers sipping beers and munching on freshly grilled burgers. The hamburgers come with a slice of Swiss or American cheese and a separate plate of toppings so you can decorate your burger to your liking. There is counter service and table service, but little English is spoken so order at the counter where you can point to your choice if you would like to order something other than "el hamburger." $3-7 per person.
• Subway, Across the street from the Caribe Hilton sign, taxi parking, and Normandie Hotel. Sandwiches, wraps, salads, and cheap breakfasts with better coffee than the locations in the United States. $4-7 per person.
• R.E.D, inside the Normandie Hotel. This red-lit place bills itself as a tapas restaurant, but instead it is just a restaurant that encourages patrons to share the dishes among the table. The menu is a mix of Puerto Rican, Mediterranean, and other international fare. Dress is business casual. $15-25 per plate.
• Rotisserie II Giardino, in the Hilton Hotel. Italian food with a good wine selection.
• Madrid-San Juan, in the Hilton Hotel. Tapas.
• Lemongrass Pan Asian Latino, in the Hilton Hotel. An upscale restaurant that provides a good alternative to Morton's Steakhouse. Dress is not exactly formal, but leave your t-shirt and beach jeans at home.

El Hamburger, 402 Avenida Munoz Rivera. This loud burger pit is packed at dinnertime with local families and beach-goers sipping beers and munching on freshly grilled burgers. The hamburgers come with a slice of Swiss or American cheese and a separate plate of toppings so you can decorate your burger to your liking. There is counter service and table service, but little English is spoken so order at the counter where you can point to your choice if you would like to order something other than "el hamburger." $3-7 per person.

Subway, Across the street from the Caribe Hilton sign, taxi parking, and Normandie Hotel. Sandwiches, wraps, salads, and cheap breakfasts with better coffee than the locations in the United States. $4-7 per person.

R.E.D, inside the Normandie Hotel. This red-lit place bills itself as a tapas restaurant, but instead it is just a restaurant that encourages patrons to share the dishes among the table. The menu is a mix of Puerto Rican, Mediterranean, and other international fare. Dress is business casual. $15-25 per plate.

Rotisserie II Giardino, in the Hilton Hotel. Italian food with a good wine selection.

Madrid-San Juan, in the Hilton Hotel. Tapas.

Lemongrass Pan Asian Latino, in the Hilton Hotel. An upscale restaurant that provides a good alternative to Morton's Steakhouse. Dress is not exactly formal, but leave your t-shirt and beach jeans at home.

Unlike in most U.S. States, Puerto Rican laws make it easy for restaurants to sell alcohol. Even modest lunch counters will offer beer, wine, and some mixed drinks. Tipping is customary. There are restaurants which cater to tourists, particularly tapas bars and Latin "fusion" restaurants, but look at the menu before going in to make sure prices are in a comfortable range.

• Al Dente, Calle Recinto Sur 309, Old San Juan, +1 787-723-7303. M-F noon-3PM; M-Sa 6PM-11PM; Sun 12:30PM-4PM and 6PM-10PM. The oldest continuously operated Italian restaurant in Puerto Rico.
• La Bombonera, Calle San Francisco, west of Tanca, +1 787-722-0658. 7:30AM-8PM. Authentic local cuisine in an unassuming landmark atmosphere unchanged for decades. Serves lunch and dinner. Fresh pastries. Superlative coffee. Inexpensive.
• La Mallorca, Calle San Francisco 300 (east of Tanca). Called "the Platonic ideal of a diner" by the New York Times, this local cafe is operated by the owners of La Bombonera and has the same time-warp atmosphere. Serves breakfast and lunch. The Mallorca pastry and the sandwiches are recommended. Superlative coffee. Sandwiches around $5, mains under $10.
• Dragonfly, Calle Fortaleza. By far one of the best places to eat if you want a Cuban Asian Fusion. Great food right across from Aquaviva in Old San Juan. No shorts or sandals allowed.
• El Meson Sandwiches at the intersection of C. San Francisco and C. San Jose, has a large selection (including many vegetarian items) at very reasonable prices.
• Mojito's, Calle Recinto Sur 323. Despite the Cubanesque name and its location on the cruise ship trail, this restaurant serves up big portions of no-nonsense pork, rice and beans local fare at reasonable prices. Try the chuletas (pork chops). Mains from $10.
• Ostra Cosa, Calle del Cristo 154, +1 787-722-2672. Daily noon-10PM. Reservations recommended. The ambience here is one of the most sensual and romantic in Old San Juan.
• Parrot Club, Calle Fortaleza 363, +1 787-725-7370. Daily noon-3PM; 6PM-11PM. One of the better Latin fusion restaurants: it's expensive, but at least the food is good, the decor bright and the service friendly. Live music, either Brazilian, salsa, or Latino jazz, is offered nightly as well as during the popular Sunday brunches.
• Siglo XX, Calle O'Donell (just south of Plaza Colón). Local cuisine. Good Cuban sandwiches and beans and rice. Serves lunch and dinner. Inexpensive.
• Countryside Tours, Condo Bahia A Suite # 1101 (1048 Las Palams Ave San Juan, +1 787 593 9014. 9AM to 9PM. For all kinds of tours
• El Jibarito, 280 Sol Street, Old San Juan, +1 787-725-8375. This is a moderately-priced restaurant serving authentic criolla food. $10.
• Diana Font Artworks, 205 San Francisco & 204 Luna Streets (Ground floor Cochera Parking Building, +1 787-722-4181. Diana Font, a nominee to the National Design Awards sponsored by the Cooper- Hewitt National Design Museum. designs and manufactures unique world quality furniture. The ship around the world and the prices extremely attractive to theknowledgeable.
• Pieria Restaurant & Lounge, 310 Fortaleza St (SOFO Culinary District, +1 787-774-3742. Pieria offers a combination of local dishes like their Paella Artesanal and Stuffed Mofongo, as well as international tapas, such as Yakitori, Chorizos al Vino. Their sangria is excellent.

Al Dente, Calle Recinto Sur 309, Old San Juan, +1 787-723-7303. M-F noon-3PM; M-Sa 6PM-11PM; Sun 12:30PM-4PM and 6PM-10PM. The oldest continuously operated Italian restaurant in Puerto Rico.

La Bombonera, Calle San Francisco, west of Tanca, +1 787-722-0658. 7:30AM-8PM. Authentic local cuisine in an unassuming landmark atmosphere unchanged for decades. Serves lunch and dinner. Fresh pastries. Superlative coffee. Inexpensive.

La Mallorca, Calle San Francisco 300 (east of Tanca). Called "the Platonic ideal of a diner" by the New York Times, this local cafe is operated by the owners of La Bombonera and has the same time-warp atmosphere. Serves breakfast and lunch. The Mallorca pastry and the sandwiches are recommended. Superlative coffee. Sandwiches around $5, mains under $10.

Dragonfly, Calle Fortaleza. By far one of the best places to eat if you want a Cuban Asian Fusion. Great food right across from Aquaviva in Old San Juan. No shorts or sandals allowed.

El Meson Sandwiches at the intersection of C. San Francisco and C. San Jose, has a large selection (including many vegetarian items) at very reasonable prices.

Mojito's, Calle Recinto Sur 323. Despite the Cubanesque name and its location on the cruise ship trail, this restaurant serves up big portions of no-nonsense pork, rice and beans local fare at reasonable prices. Try the chuletas (pork chops). Mains from $10.

Ostra Cosa, Calle del Cristo 154, +1 787-722-2672. Daily noon-10PM. Reservations recommended. The ambience here is one of the most sensual and romantic in Old San Juan.

Parrot Club, Calle Fortaleza 363, +1 787-725-7370. Daily noon-3PM; 6PM-11PM. One of the better Latin fusion restaurants: it's expensive, but at least the food is good, the decor bright and the service friendly. Live music, either Brazilian, salsa, or Latino jazz, is offered nightly as well as during the popular Sunday brunches.

Siglo XX, Calle O'Donell (just south of Plaza Colón). Local cuisine. Good Cuban sandwiches and beans and rice. Serves lunch and dinner. Inexpensive.

Countryside Tours, Condo Bahia A Suite # 1101 (1048 Las Palams Ave San Juan, +1 787 593 9014. 9AM to 9PM. For all kinds of tours

El Jibarito, 280 Sol Street, Old San Juan, +1 787-725-8375. This is a moderately-priced restaurant serving authentic criolla food. $10.

Diana Font Artworks, 205 San Francisco & 204 Luna Streets (Ground floor Cochera Parking Building, +1 787-722-4181. Diana Font, a nominee to the National Design Awards sponsored by the Cooper- Hewitt National Design Museum. designs and manufactures unique world quality furniture. The ship around the world and the prices extremely attractive to theknowledgeable.

Pieria Restaurant & Lounge, 310 Fortaleza St (SOFO Culinary District, +1 787-774-3742. Pieria offers a combination of local dishes like their Paella Artesanal and Stuffed Mofongo, as well as international tapas, such as Yakitori, Chorizos al Vino. Their sangria is excellent.

Al Dente, Calle Recinto Sur 309, Old San Juan, +1 787-723-7303. M-F 12PM-3PM; M-Sa 6PM-11PM; Sun 12:30PM-4PM and 6PM-10PM. The oldest continuously operated Italian restaurant in Puerto Rico.

Café Puerto Rico, Calle O'Donnell 208, +1 787 724-2281. 11:30AM-11PM. Creole cuisine. On the Plaza de Colón, enjoy the view along with a great meal. Great spot to stop for a drink, snack & conversation too. Live music weekends & some weekdays. Best meal: stuffed snapper (fillet & lobster, crab, shellfish in a flavorful broth), rice & beans, and sweet plantains. $9-21 main course but order side dishes too.

El Alcázar, 1013 Ave. Roosevelt. New Spanish restaurant which serves a variety of tapas, seafood and several meats. Also has a variety of Wines. The ambience is romantic and live music is offered several times a month.

El Asador, The Grill Old San Juan, 350 San Francisco St (Old San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902, +1 787-289-9966. 10AM - 4AM 7 Days a Week. Puerto Rican cuisine at the entrance of Old San Juan, the heart of nightlife in the Old City. It is a two-level restaurant with an exterior patio.

La Bombonera, +1 787-722-0658. Calle San Francisco, west of Tanca. 7:30AM-8PM. Authentic local cuisine in an unassuming landmark atmosphere unchanged for decades. Serves lunch and dinner. Fresh pastries. Superlative coffee. Inexpensive.

Luigi's Restaurant, 104 Diez de Andino, Condado, +1 787-722-2672. M-Sa 11:30AM-3PM and 6PM-10PM; Su noon-5PM. Serves Italian and Genovese cuisine.

Margarita's, Several locations including 3rd level at Plaza las Américas and 1013 Ave. Roosevelt, +1 787-792-0283. A traditional Mexican food restaurants.

Milagros y Sean's, Isla Verde. Delicious traditional home cooked Spanish food and half-edible Irish cuisine if you're not in the mood for good tasting things. Bartender makes great cocktails and pours a terrible Guinness. Lounge area with 1990s hip-hop, R&B classics, and semi-tolerable fiddle.

Ostra Cosa, Calle del Cristo 154, Old San Juan, +1 787-722-2672. Daily noon-10PM. Reservations recommended. The ambience here is one of the most sensual and romantic in Old San Juan.

Pamela's restaurant, +1 787 726-5010, Calle Santa Ana 1. Traditional Caribbean and Puerto Rican dishes are prepared by a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. You have the choice of eating inside or outside on the beach. Lunch runs around $15 while dinner is a little more ($20-25).

Parrot Club, Calle Fortaleza 363, Old San Juan, +1 787-725-7370. Daily noon-3PM; 6PM-11PM. Live music, either Brazilian, salsa, or Latino jazz, is offered nightly and during the popular Sunday brunches.

Ramiro's, Av. Magdalena 1106, Condado, +1 787-721-9049. M-Sa noon-3PM & 6PM-11PM; Su noon-3PM & 6PM-10PM. Creole" style cooking pioneered by owner and chef Jesús Ramiro.

San Juan Hard Rock Café, Old San Juan.

Tantra, 356 Calle Fortaleza, serves international cuisine. Great creative and nightlife atmosphere. A warm, candlelit environment with great food and great martinis. Moderately priced, entrees run from around $13-17. +1 787 977-8141.

Tierra del Fuego, 3rd Level at Plaza las Américas, +1 787-294-7019. One of the best Argentinean restaurants where you will be able to savor a tender, juicy cut of meat prepared by chefs and cooks who work together with a warm staff of waiters and hostesses.

UVVA Restaurant, +1 787 727-3302, 1 Calle Tapia, Ocean Park. International creative cuisine by Chef Jose Vicente is served from 8AM-11PM. The ambiance is elegant and casual.

BUNS Burger Shop, 1214 Ashford Ave. (In front of Marriott Hotel. 11:30AM-4AM. Great burgers with high quality beef. Over 40 beers, some on tap.

There is a public ordinance which bans drinking alcoholic beverages on the street. Although this is rarely enforced, it is recommended to consume all alcoholic beverages inside the establishments. This local ordinance is relaxed during the San Sebastian Festival, when drinking in public areas is allowed within the cordoned area of the festival if using plastic containers: no cans or bottles.

• Brava, At Wyndham El San Juan Hotel & Casino, Isla Verde. Cover $15, free for residents of El San Juan Hotel. Open Th-Sa from 10PM-4AM.
• Club Brava, +1 787-791-2781. Large and popular nightclub.
• Cigar Bar, At Wyndham El San Juan Hotel & Casino, Isla Verde. Daily 6PM-3AM.
• Club Laser, Calle del Cruz 251, near the corner of Calle Fortaleza. Cover $8-12 (free cover for women before midnight on Sat) The club is usually open Th-Su from 10PM-4AM.
• Dákiti, Calle San Sebastián, Pub with two floors. Idilic for the San Sebastián Festivities.
• Dragonfly, Restaurant and bar on Forteleza Street in Old San Juan.
• El Patio de Sam, Calle San Sebastián, Old San Juan. One of the most popular late-night joints with a good selection of beers. Live entertainment is presented here M-Sa.nOpen daily noon to 1AM.
• Logan's Irish Pub, Calle Bori 496, Río Piedras. Daily 11:30AM-1AM (closes at 2:30AM F-Sa). A sports bar with TV monitors and high-energy rock 'n' roll.
• Rumba, Calle San Sebastián 152. The site for the filming of many of the crowd scenes within Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. Cover $15.
• Shannon's Irish Pub, Marginal Martínez Nadal, Guaynabo. Daily 11:30AM-1AM (closes at 2:30AM F-Sa). A sports bar with TV monitors and high-energy rock 'n' roll.
• Nuyorican Cafe, +1 787-977-1276. Calle San Francisco #312. Good live music venue in Old San Juan. Salsa, Latin jazz, folkloric music.
• Ristorante Pinoli, 404 De Diego Ave. Puerto Nuevo (Just off Roosevelt Ave. on the right, +1 787-273-1611. Daily noon-3PM, 6PM-10PM. This is one of the finest Italian restaurants in Puerto Rico. The menu is very creative with new dishes added based on the fresh ingredients available on any given day. This is a cloth napkin establishment. $30.
• BUNS Burger Shop, 1214 Ashford Ave. (In front of Marriott Hotel. 11:30AM-4AM. Great burger place with over 40 beers. High quality beef is their priority. $8-12.

In Puerta de Tierra, you are pretty much restricted to the lounges in your hotel for drinking options, as there are no other bars in this part of town, and even if there were, it is not safe to wander around the southern end at night.

• Barrachina, 104 Calle Fortaleza (on Calle Fortaleza between Calle del Cristo and Calle San José, +1 787 725-7912. Su-Tu Th 10AM-10PM; W 10AM-6PM; F Sa 10AM-11PM. Home of the original Piña Colada, a stone marker on the outside wall marks the location. Some bloggers report most "Coladas" have compromised flavor because they are held in and served from automatic machines. $$.
• Punto de Vista Restaurant, Plaza Covadonga (across from cruise pier 3/4, +1 787-729-7575. 11a to late. Excellent Puerto Rican Food. Traditional Mofongo, Arroz y Habichuela (Rice & Beans), Churrasquitos (steak tacos). The staff is bilingual & friendly. Mojitos are made by hand with fresh mint. Great prices on drinks & featuring Medalla the local beer fo $1.50 all day every day. The owner is originally from New Jersey. $.
• La Taberna Lúpulo, 151 Calle San Sebastian (just south of the Museo de Arte e Historia de San Juan in Old San Juan, +1 787-721-3772. M-F 6PM-2AM; Sa Su 1PM-2AM. Probably the best place in San Juan to grab a beer that's not Medalla or Coors Light. 50 taps and 150 bottles of the finest Belgian, English, German, and American Craft Beers and great pub food! On historic Calle San Sebastian in an open air colonial setting. $$.

Barrachina, 104 Calle Fortaleza (on Calle Fortaleza between Calle del Cristo and Calle San José, +1 787 725-7912. Su-Tu Th 10AM-10PM; W 10AM-6PM; F Sa 10AM-11PM. Home of the original Piña Colada, a stone marker on the outside wall marks the location. Some bloggers report most "Coladas" have compromised flavor because they are held in and served from automatic machines. $$.

Punto de Vista Restaurant, Plaza Covadonga (across from cruise pier 3/4, +1 787-729-7575. 11a to late. Excellent Puerto Rican Food. Traditional Mofongo, Arroz y Habichuela (Rice & Beans), Churrasquitos (steak tacos). The staff is bilingual & friendly. Mojitos are made by hand with fresh mint. Great prices on drinks & featuring Medalla the local beer fo $1.50 all day every day. The owner is originally from New Jersey. $.

La Taberna Lúpulo, 151 Calle San Sebastian (just south of the Museo de Arte e Historia de San Juan in Old San Juan, +1 787-721-3772. M-F 6PM-2AM; Sa Su 1PM-2AM. Probably the best place in San Juan to grab a beer that's not Medalla or Coors Light. 50 taps and 150 bottles of the finest Belgian, English, German, and American Craft Beers and great pub food! On historic Calle San Sebastian in an open air colonial setting. $$.

Brava, At Wyndham El San Juan Hotel & Casino, Isla Verde. Cover $15, free for residents of El San Juan Hotel. Open Th-Sa from 10PM-4AM.

Club Brava, +1 787-791-2781. Large and popular nightclub.

Cigar Bar, At Wyndham El San Juan Hotel & Casino, Isla Verde. Daily 6PM-3AM.

Club Laser, Calle del Cruz 251, near the corner of Calle Fortaleza. Cover $8-12 (free cover for women before midnight on Sat) The club is usually open Th-Su from 10PM-4AM.

Dákiti, Calle San Sebastián, Pub with two floors. Idilic for the San Sebastián Festivities.

Dragonfly, Restaurant and bar on Forteleza Street in Old San Juan.

El Patio de Sam, Calle San Sebastián, Old San Juan. One of the most popular late-night joints with a good selection of beers. Live entertainment is presented here M-Sa.nOpen daily noon to 1AM.

Logan's Irish Pub, Calle Bori 496, Río Piedras. Daily 11:30AM-1AM (closes at 2:30AM F-Sa). A sports bar with TV monitors and high-energy rock 'n' roll.

Rumba, Calle San Sebastián 152. The site for the filming of many of the crowd scenes within Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. Cover $15.

Shannon's Irish Pub, Marginal Martínez Nadal, Guaynabo. Daily 11:30AM-1AM (closes at 2:30AM F-Sa). A sports bar with TV monitors and high-energy rock 'n' roll.

Nuyorican Cafe, +1 787-977-1276. Calle San Francisco #312. Good live music venue in Old San Juan. Salsa, Latin jazz, folkloric music.

Ristorante Pinoli, 404 De Diego Ave. Puerto Nuevo (Just off Roosevelt Ave. on the right, +1 787-273-1611. Daily noon-3PM, 6PM-10PM. This is one of the finest Italian restaurants in Puerto Rico. The menu is very creative with new dishes added based on the fresh ingredients available on any given day. This is a cloth napkin establishment. $30.

BUNS Burger Shop, 1214 Ashford Ave. (In front of Marriott Hotel. 11:30AM-4AM. Great burger place with over 40 beers. High quality beef is their priority. $8-12.

• CyberNet Cafe, 1128 Ashford Avenue (Condado district, +1 787 724-4033. M-Sa 9AM-11PM; Su 10AM-11PM. $3 for 20 minutes, $5 for 35 minutes, $7 for 50 minutes, $9 for 65 minutes.

CyberNet Cafe, 1128 Ashford Avenue (Condado district, +1 787 724-4033. M-Sa 9AM-11PM; Su 10AM-11PM. $3 for 20 minutes, $5 for 35 minutes, $7 for 50 minutes, $9 for 65 minutes.

Use common sense when going around. The tourist areas, like the Old City, Condado, and Isla Verde tend to be very safe. There is a wonderfully visible, 24-hour police presence in the Old City.

Use caution when riding a bicycle around the city as roads are often crowded and some are unpaved. Be sure to pay attention to the roadway on which you are riding and the traffic.

Pedestrians need to use similar caution in Old San Juan. While traffic usually is slower, the streets are narrow, and sidewalks very narrow, sometimes crowded, with occasional trip hazards.

Ave. Fernandez Juncos is a major road running across the southern waterfront of Puerta de Tierra. Many buses, including a metrobus line, run through this part of the city before entering the bridge to Condado and beyond. While it is safe to ride through this part of town in the day time, it is not at any time of day safe to explore, as this is a run-down area where poverty and drug trafficking can be easily found. At night, it is probably best to take the B-21 bus back to the hotel from Old San Juan which does not go on this street.

Many of the roads that tourists use in Puerta de Tierra are high traffic roads, and the problems that pedestrians face during the daytime while sharing roads with vehicles are magnified at night. Use common sense, and if you feel like you may come to a place where you are not easily seen or there is no sidewalk, walk on lit paths that will show your presence to drivers.

Old San Juan is quite safe. However, it is not advisable to go out alone late at night, unless you have a friend or guide to escort you. If you are traveling by bus, understand that buses that service stations in many of the outlying hotel areas stop running at around 9 or 10PM, and the exact time of the last bus is never sure. If you plan on being out at night in Old San Juan and you are taking the bus in, bring enough money for a taxi in case you stay out too late. Make sure you confirm with your hotel the price you should pay to get back, as cab drivers in Old San Juan are probably the most likely to add a dollar or so to the set fare. Many of the major resort hotels in the area have casinos, lounges, and discos with live music and restaurants which are mostly open until 3-4AM, along with taxis lining the entrance to take people back to their rooms when you're done.

• Arecibo - You can go see the Arecibo observatory and Cavernas del Rio Camuy (Camuy River Caverns) in the same day. Arecibo is about one hour west of San Juan.
• Loiza - On the north coast of Loiza you will find Piñones, a great place to go to the beach and eat some of the best Puerto Rican fried food. Just minutes away from El Condado and Old San Juan.
• Fajardo - In eastern Puerto Rico a nice trip to make is Las Cabezas de San Juan, a natural reserve, you will have a tour around the place where they will show you the different types of plants in the reserve and then the lighthouse which now serves as a small museum, the place has a spectacular view. Reservation is required.
• Rio Grande - The Caribbean National Rain Forest or El Yunque is here, a great place to spend the day with nature, enjoying an awesome view and walking between trees and small rivers. There are many different trails, the La Mina trail affords hikers to swim in a waterfall towards the middle of the trail.