Puerto Rico

We put together a mini guide of things you might want to know before your trip to Puerto Rico! Nevertheless, don't forget to scroll down to the comments to see tips & tricks from travelers who've been there!

SAN JUAN

📍 Where to find activities

→ Old San Juan (Viejo San Juan) — A colonial walled city with colorful buildings, blue cobblestone streets, plazas, churches, and two Spanish forts (Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal). Walkable, compact, and the historic and cultural heart of Puerto Rico.

→ Condado — A beachfront neighborhood with hotels, restaurants, bars, and Ashford Avenue (the main commercial street). Condado Beach and Ocean Park Beach are here.

→ Santurce—A neighborhood between Old San Juan and Condado with street art, galleries, and La Placita de Santurce—a farmers market by day that transforms into an open-air street party at night with bars, music, and dancing.

→ Calle Loíza — A street in Santurce with restaurants, bars, and a growing food and nightlife scene.

→ El Yunque National Forest — A tropical rainforest east of San Juan. Hiking trails, waterfalls, and dense jungle vegetation.

→ Bioluminescent bays — Night kayaking tours to bioluminescent bays where the water glows when disturbed. Bays accessible from Fajardo (east coast), Vieques, and Lajas (southwest).

→ Condado Lagoon — A calm lagoon in the city for kayaking and paddleboarding.

📍 Where to eat

→ Old San Juan — Restaurants throughout the cobblestone streets. Traditional Puerto Rican food: mofongo (mashed plantains), arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), alcapurrias (fried fritters), and empanadillas.

→ Condado / Ashford Avenue — Restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining.

→ Santurce / La Placita — Restaurants and bars around the market square.

→ Calle Loíza — A growing restaurant scene.

📍 Where to go out

→ La Placita de Santurce — A street party atmosphere with bars, music, and dancing, especially on weekends.

→ Old San Juan — Bars, cocktail lounges, and live music in the colonial streets. Salsa, jazz, and Latin music spilling into the streets at night.

→ Condado — Beachfront bars, hotel clubs, and lounges along Ashford Avenue.

→ Calle Loíza — Bars and restaurants with a more local crowd.

📍 Where to find culture

→ Old San Juan — The colonial architecture, forts, plazas, and museums.

→ Castillo San Felipe del Morro — A Spanish fort at the entrance to San Juan Bay.

→ Castillo San Cristóbal — A fort on the eastern edge of Old San Juan.

→ Santurce street art — Murals throughout the Santurce neighborhood.

→ Salsa music and dance — Central to Puerto Rican culture and present throughout San Juan's nightlife.

→ Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory — no passport needed for U.S. citizens. The currency is the U.S. dollar.

📍 Nearby destinations

→ El Yunque, Fajardo (ferry to Vieques and Culebra), Bacardí distillery in Cataño

📍 Nearby destinations (secondary)

Vieques

→ A small island off the southeast coast of Puerto Rico, accessible by ferry from Fajardo or by small plane from San Juan. Quiet beaches, a bioluminescent bay, and a laid-back, rural atmosphere.

Culebra

→ A smaller island north of Vieques, also accessible by ferry from Fajardo. Playa Flamenco is the main beach. The island is very small and quiet with limited services.

Rincón

→ A town on the west coast of Puerto Rico. Known for surfing, sunset happy hours, and a relaxed surfer community. Small beach bars and a laid-back atmosphere.

📍 Climate by season

Puerto Rico has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round.

Dry season (December–April) — Highs 28–30°C (82–86°F). Lows 22–24°C (72–75°F). Lower humidity.

Rainy season (May–November) — Highs 30–32°C (86–90°F). Lows 24–26°C (75–79°F). Afternoon showers are common but usually brief. Hurricane season runs June through November.

📍 Areas that may not be safe

Based on news reports and online sources, these are the areas that may not be safe:

Some neighborhoods in the San Juan metro area outside the main tourist zones, particularly parts of Río Piedras and certain areas of Carolina.

(Picture credit: Chait Goli)