In this guide, we are sharing 19 fun things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico! From sailing around the bay, tasting the local flavors, and exploring the rainforest, there are so many hidden gems in San Juan.
There are so many fun things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is a city filled with history, amazing food, and tropical beaches. There truly is something for every type of traveler whether you want to hike the rain forest or stroll the romantic streets of Old San Juan or sip piña coladas beachside the whole time!
I visited San Juan for a girls weekend and we all agreed it was the perfect spot. We loved hiking to El Yunque, enjoying the beaches, trying the food, and strolling through old San Juan.
Here is my round up of all of my personal favorite things to do in San Juan. You likely won’t have time to do them all, but pick the ones that speak to you the most! There are great ideas whether it’s a solo trip, family reunion, honeymoon or even a bachelorette party!
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⭐️ Short on time? Here are my quick top 3 favorite things to do in Puerto Rico, if I had to choose:
- Hike in El Yunque Rainforest – the only rainforest in the US National Park system! This is the tour we did and it was great!
- Sail around the bay in Old San Juan – a gorgeous place for sunset and this is the exact tour we booked during our trip!
- Take a walking tour through historic San Juan – the most charming town in Puerto Rico and it’s a great place to explore on foot to admire the colors, architecture and cobblestone streets.
Fun Things to Do in San Juan Puerto Rico
Whether you’re wandering through the colorful streets of Old San Juan, soaking up the sun on pristine beaches, or indulging in mouthwatering local cuisine, there’s no shortage of fun activities in San Juan to explore.
From the historic forts that tell tales of the past to the rhythm of salsa music that fills the air, San Juan offers a delightful blend of adventure, relaxation, and excitement for every traveler.
These are all of my absolute favorite things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico!
1. Sunset Sail Around Old San Juan
First and foremost, I love to see a new destination from the water. It provides a more unique perspective to actually get to see the place you are visiting. I always recommend water activities so book a sailing trip with Sail Old San Juan! Sebastian is the owner and a great captain.
Unfortunately, It rained a little on our trip so he pulled us up to a locals only dockside bar for shelter. We went in to grab a drink and it was truly a rustic bar filled with only Puerto Ricans. Such a cool experience to see how the locals were spending their Saturday night.
Be sure to pack some champagne to toast the sunset! 🥂
Best Sailing Tours in San Juan:
2. Explore El Yunque Rainforest
Next, plan a visit to El Yunque, the only rainforest in the US National Parks System. It is 29,000 acres of diverse ecosystem filled with unique plants and animals like the coqui frog – famous in Puerto Rico. You can explore waterfalls and secret lagoons and maybe even try fresh passionfruit right from the forest.
My friends and I booked this tour and had the best time. Our guide Isaac was fun and knowledgable! It was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Puerto Rico and 10/10 recommend!
Read more about the tour we did here!
3. Visit Luquillo Beach
After the rainforest, head to Luquillo Beach. While not technically in San Juan, it’s in the area and makes for a great day trip in combo with the forest. We visited Playa Luquillo as part of our rainforest tour – we emailed the guide ahead of time and they were happy to include it for us!
It is a half hour drive from the airport and has some of the island’s best beaches. Interestingly, Luqillo is known as la capital del sol or the suns capital.
Be sure to grab lunch at the many food stalls along the beach. They have amazing food and fresh minty mojitos! Unquestionably, Kiosk #20 is my favorite!
4. Have Piña Coladas at Caribe Hilton Hotel
Did you know Puerto Rico invented the piña colada? It’s home is the Caribe Hilton hotel. Stop into their main lobby bar to enjoy drinks and overlook the ocean.
We had so much fun checking out this hotel and grabbing drinks before heading into Old San Juan one night.
5. Castillo San Cristobal
Castillo San Cristobal is a fortress built from 1634 to 1765 to protect old San Juan from enemies approaching by land. The whole citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it is easily one of the best things to do in Old San Juan!
6. Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Likewise, Castillo San Felipe del Morro is the counterpart to Castillo San Cristobal built first in 1539 to protect the island from attacks by sea. Both forts were actively used during the First and Second World Wars.
Here’s the best way to explore them:
Best Walking Tours in Old San Juan:
7. Calle Fortaleza – Umbrella Street
Within the walled city of Old San Juan you will find tons of charm with cobblestone streets and colorful architecture. One spot that you must see is Calle Fortaleza which is the famous umbrella street in Old San Juan. After you visit the fortress, stroll around this colorful area to shop and eat lunch.
8. San Sebastian Street Festival
The San Sebastian Street Festival is one of the biggest events in San Juan held annually in January. I was able to take part during my bachelorette trip to Puerto Rico.
Also referred to as the San Se Festival, it is the unofficial closing of their holiday season. Expect Old San Juan to be taken over by music, dancing, and street performances.
You will find local artisans selling their handmade goods throughout the day and parties by night time.
9. Bacardi Factory Tour
Bacardi is the largest rum distillery in the world and you can visit their factory in San Juan. You can enjoy a cocktail at their waterfront bar and then take a guided tour to learn how rum is produced. If you have a group, sign up for a mixology class or a tasting.
10. Dance the night away at La Placita
La Placita is a famous square in the Condado area. It is a market during the day, but at night it lights up as the bars open their doors and the locals show off their salsa dancing in the street.
It’s a fun open-air place where you can pop inside to grab a drink and then hang out in the square.
11. Have drinks at La Factoria – one of the best bars in the world
La Factoria is considered one of the World’s 50 Best Bars. It is really SIX bars weaved throughout one space via tunnels and secret rooms. Be sure to check it out on your trip.
12. Snorkeling
Coral reefs are the main part of Puerto Rico’s marine ecosystem. Some reefs can be reached by shore and others require a boat trip to go snorkeling.
Plan a morning to dive into the calm waters to see what lives below. A popular place in San Juan is Escambrón Beach right near the Caribe Hilton Hotel.
Best Snorkeling Tours in San Juan:
13. Try Mofongo & Take a Food Tour in San Juan
Mofonogo is a traditional Puerto Rican dish made of fried green plantains that are mashed with garlic and mixed with chicharrones. You have to try this classic dish when visiting the island.
Taking a food tour is a great way to explore San Juan and learn more about Puerto Rican cuisine.
🇵🇷 Get tickets for an authentic food and history tour! This tour has over 4,000 5 Star reviews!
14. Visit a Food Truck Park
Head to the Miramar neighborhood of San Juan to visit the food truck spot. You will love trying all the fresh Puerto Rican flavors that the locals enjoy.
15. Take a Salsa class
If you love to dance, you will find plenty of it in Puerto Rico. Take a salsa class from a local with your significant other or girls group and then hit the town to show off your moves at a salsa night!
16. Swim at El Escambrón Beach
El Escambrón is the most picturesque beach in San Juan. It’s located between Old and New San Juan so you will be able to see the difference between the modern and historic cities. This beach is a great place to snorkel or swim since it’s protected by the reef which makes it super calm.
17. Spa Treatment at Condado Vanderbilt Hotel
Obviously, you should treat yourself to a little luxury on your trip. The Spa at the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel offers a luxury spa experience and even a massage over the ocean so you can smell the salt air for the most relaxing time.
Recommend Things to do in San Juan
18. Play a Round of Golf
Lastly, perfect for a guys trip or bachelor party to San Juan, play a round of golf at one of Puerto Rico’s best courses. However, make sure to go for one with amazing views along the white sandy beaches and turquoise waters.
I suggest a trip over to the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort to play their course set in the foothills of El Yunque. Additionally, head to the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach and Golf Resort for your choice between their Ocean Course designed by award winning golf architects Tom & George Fazio or the River Course designed by Greg Norman.
19. Book a Beach Yoga Class
A beach yoga class is always a good idea when you are at a white, sandy coastline. This experience has tons of amazing reviews and would be perfect for a relaxing girls trip or to book individually.
🧘♀️I recommend this Yoga Class in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Those are all of my favorite fun things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Truly, tons of options that aren’t your typical tourist experiences so you can really see what makes Puerto Rico so special!
Top Tours in San Juan
These are the most highly rated tours in San Juan according to travelers!
✅ San Juan Guided Snorkel Tour with Videos
In this tour you will explore the underwater world and aquatic life of Puerto Rico. This group tour includes a lesson from a professional diver with all of the equipment that you will need.
My favorite part is that you receive GoPro footage of the experience so you can relive the memories!
It has almost 10,000 reviews rating it a 5/5 star experience – read the reviews here.
✅ Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour
This small group tour will allow you to dive into the flavors and culture of Puerto Rico. Learn about island staples like plantains, sofrito and even enjoy a cocktail!
As you wander the cobblestoned streets of San Juan, you’ll be able to try several different restaurants while learning about the history as well.
This food tour has over 4000 reviews rating it 5/5 stars – check out the reviews!
✅ El Yunque Rainforest, Waterslides, and Beach Tour with Transport
Combining El Yunque Rainforest with a stop at Luquillo beach is always my top recommendation for San Juan activities!
This tour takes you to the rainforest where you can swim in the natural rivers. Then, head over for an afternoon at Luquillo Beach where you can relax on the beach and grab a bite at the famous Kiosks.
This tour has 4.5/5 stars with thousands of great reviews!
If you go to San Juan
Finally, check out some of my other posts for all the best places to stay, my favorite restaurants, and what to pack!
Save these fun things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico!
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