How To Spend 24 Hours In San Juan

Puerto Rico‘s capital San Juan is a city of many attractions – the more time spent here, the better. However, if you find yourself with only 24 hours to spare, there are certain unmissable things to check off on your list. Take a look at our guide to the best of San Juan – odds are, you’ll be glad you did.

Morning

Spend the morning enjoying Old San Juan, the historic district of the capital city. It’s a must-visit, walkable area that dates back centuries and features must-see attractions such as El Morro Castle, Fort San Cristobal, and the San Juan Cathedral. Take a walking tour of architectural treasures, stop by some of the best coffee shops and restaurants, or take a look at some of the beautiful doors in the area. If you want to shop for souvenirs, this neighborhood has some great spots to pick up gifts including artwork, decorative plates, and t-shirts.

Street view in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Afternoon

Evening

Have fun and dance the night away with a visit to a night club such as Latin Roots or Club Brava, or for something different, take a ride on La Rumba Party Boat. Visitors not interested in dancing may want to opt for one of the jazz clubs in San Juan instead. Whatever your night time entertainment of choice, be sure to refuel in one of the city’s many food venues, including its noteworthy vegetarian restaurants.

Night time near the San Juan Harbor in Old San Juan

Morning

The second and last morning of a 24-hour trip in San Juan is a good time to relax and reflect on the busy day before. If you’re watching the pennies after a spendthrift night out, try one of the many budget-friendly restaurants in San Juan. Further cheap eats with breakfast options include Pinky’s in Condado and Café Manolin in Old San Juan.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.