What To Do In San Juan, Puerto Rico?

[ChicosWife]

One fort is maybe 3 blocks from port. (Uphill by my 5 year old did it easily.). The other fort is a good mile away. We enjoyed the walk through town to get there and took a taxi back.)

Any other things to see/do on the walk there?

 

[enzy65]

Easiest way to el morro, through town or along the sea wall??

 

[vakamalua]

-Someone mentioned the Umbrella Street; I believe the umbrellas are no longer there.
-if you want a taxi, there’s a queue right outside the cruise terminal. Depending on how many ships are in port, traffic can be heavy & the narrow streets very crowded.
-Our favorite place for lunch-for authentic Mofongo-is the restaurant in the historic boutique hotel El Convento. Lovely quiet covered al fresco courtyard. Directly across the street from the Basilica San Juan Bautista which is worth seeing; we caught noon Mass there last time.

 

[happycamper47]

Easiest way to el morro, through town or along the sea wall??

Are you only making a Port stop or does your cruise start and stop in San Juan. Because if you are starting and stopping you will not dock downtown, but at the Panamerican Pier and it's a 10 min cab ride to town.

 

[OKW Lover]

Easiest way to el morro, through town or along the sea wall??

Easiest? Depends a bit on your definition of easy. Through town isn't bad but remember that's it's uphill all the way. Allow the sea wall is a bit longer and more gradual. How about going up one way and down the other?

 

[DCL58]

I can help with what not to do in San Juan. We took the San Juan by land and sea tour in July. It was a waste of money and time. We were trapped in a small bus, and taken to see their new mall, where Bad Bunny performs, and other areas we had zero interest in. We were most interested in the sea tour, but we only saw their shipping/cargo area and the back side of the forts - that we could also see from the ship as we were leaving port.

 

[Girl of the South]

This is a very old post . . but since I read it I will throw out the Bacardi Rum Factory Tour! Not a rum drinker but I enjoyed the tour.

 

[enzy65]

Easiest? Depends a bit on your definition of easy. Through town isn't bad but remember that's it's uphill all the way. Allow the sea wall is a bit longer and more gradual. How about going up one way and down the other?

That’s what I was thinking so I could see different things to and from.
I’ve heard about the uphill climb, hopefully it’s not that bad.

 

[enzy65]

Are you only making a Port stop or does your cruise start and stop in San Juan. Because if you are starting and stopping you will not dock downtown, but at the Panamerican Pier and it's a 10 min cab ride to town.

It is a port stop, I’m a little confused on where DCL docks and if this is walkable or not.

 

[enzy65]

I can help with what not to do in San Juan. We took the San Juan by land and sea tour in July. It was a waste of money and time. We were trapped in a small bus, and taken to see their new mall, where Bad Bunny performs, and other areas we had zero interest in. We were most interested in the sea tour, but we only saw their shipping/cargo area and the back side of the forts - that we could also see from the ship as we were leaving port.

Good to know, we like to just get off at ports and do things that are within walking distance.

 

[Chemist]

Good to know, we like to just get off at ports and do things that are within walking distance.

One fort is so close to the port that there really isn't anything to see on the way there!
(You just kind of go and are there.)

The other fort is a good walk. We walked along the seawall most of the way and really enjoyed it.

 

[sjuncfan]

It is a port stop, I’m a little confused on where DCL docks and if this is walkable or not.

When we went in December of 2024, we docked in the port that is walkable to Old San Juan.

 

[happycamper47]

It is a port stop, I’m a little confused on where DCL docks and if this is walkable or not.

You will be using the San Juan Bay Terminal since it is just a Port stop.

The Old San Juan Cruise Port (also called the San Juan Bay terminal) is a port in the city center, allowing passengers to walk to Old San Juan attractions, whereas the Pan American Terminal is across the bay, closer to the airport, and requires a short taxi ride to reach Old San Juan. The choice of terminal depends on the cruise line and the ship's schedule, with homeport ships often using Pan American and transit ships typically docking at Old San Juan.

 

[enzy65]

You will be using the San Juan Bay Terminal since it is just a Port stop.

The Old San Juan Cruise Port (also called the San Juan Bay terminal) is a port in the city center, allowing passengers to walk to Old San Juan attractions, whereas the Pan American Terminal is across the bay, closer to the airport, and requires a short taxi ride to reach Old San Juan. The choice of terminal depends on the cruise line and the ship's schedule, with homeport ships often using Pan American and transit ships typically docking at Old San Juan.

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[DCL58]

If you zoom in on this pic, you can see the Magic and a Carnival ship docked right in Old San Juan. Easy walk to the forts.

 

[RedHead0186]

Old San Juan is really nice. It's pretty walkable, though there are some hills (which may be not fun for some, especially when you add in the heat. My parents weren't fans, lol).

 

[enzy65]

If you zoom in on this pic, you can see the Magic and a Carnival ship docked right in Old San Juan. Easy walk to the forts. View attachment 1001202

Thanks for the picture, it doesn’t look to far at all.

 

[enzy65]

Old San Juan is really nice. It's pretty walkable, though there are some hills (which may be not fun for some, especially when you add in the heat. My parents weren't fans, lol).

We are in our 60s and active so we should be ok. This will be November 2026 on the dream.