self guided food tour old san juan
Walk to San Sebastian Street and turn right on Calle Sol. Yet another popular Instagram photo location is also of the Puerto Rican flag on a door, but this time in an alley at the end of Calle Imperial. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; I would recommend taking some time to explore all that is there. Given the uncertainty around future travel, globetrotters (myself included!) Easy self guided tour Review of Old San Juan Reviewed February 6, 2019 Do some homework before you go and try to map out a route, or go to the tourist info building to get directions and the lay of the landplenty of historical buildings to see and lots to look at. We really enjoyed our day in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico while cruising with Carnival. If youre combing a visit to Old San Juan with other destinations around Puerto Rico, its beneficial to have a car. However, there are many people with rewards that took a fair amount of effort and time to earnwhether through a credit card (that likely has a steep annual fee) or loyalty program membership. Summers are a bit hotter and rainier. There, you can grab your sweet and refreshing frozen treat and take a break to enjoy the view at the Bastin, a resting stop that used to be a defensive system of San Juan. You can choose your own order of precedence, but hitting them in the order I have given below will make for happy feet. Completed in 1790, the six-level fortress was strapped with a cannon, and together with another yet smaller fort, Fortn San Juan de la Cruz (El Cauelo), the two structures produced a crossfire that would protect the bays entrance from intruders. Its the perfect place to start your self guided walking tour of Old San Juan. This main avenue leads and cuts all the way across until it dies at the western city wall so, if youre ever lost in Old San Juan, reset to San Francisco street and youll find your way This time, youll find the way to lunch! Spectacular views and interesting historical items make this a fascinating place to visit. WebYou can explore Old San Juan on your own with our self-guided tour guide. Allow at a bare minimum of an hour to visit the fort, but more if you want to walk along the coast along the promenade back to the Puerto de San Juan, the old citys main entrance station. Great deal on a sunset sail in San Juan Bay: It rises seven stories from the water below and includes multiple fortifications and lookouts. Did you marvel at the 15-foot thick gate? If you wish to visit Fort de San Cristobal, follow these directions from the Parque Las Palomas. As a former cruise ship worker, San Juan was one of my favorite ports to explore week after week. With more than 500 years of history, theres no shortage of places to cover. Many cities in the United States have old towns. Its on par with smaller US cities in terms of the cost of everything. Check out the map below for the points of interest youll need to hit on this self guided walking tour of Old San Juan. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. It has remained an American territory now for over 100 years. Address: Calle Tiburcio Reyes + Calle Lucila Silva + Calle San Miguel + Calle Bajada Matadero. Old San Juans original entry gate is found at Puerta de San Juan. Quick tip: turn off the device when youre not using it so that the battery can last longer. Old San Juan is full of small boutique hotels and holiday rentals instead, which adds to the charm. Historic sites, culinary experiences, outdoor adventures, and beautiful beaches. Here youll see the Casita de Ronesbar. Asociacin de Dueos de Paradores de Puerto Rico, Viva Puerto Rico Short-Term Rental Alliance. Lots of places for good lunches. After you have your information and maps, head outside and enjoy the Bahia de San Juan (San Juan Bay). This modern square was built in 1992 to honor the 500-year anniversary of Colombus first voyage to the Americas. WebOld San Juan Historic Sites. Reasonably priced drinks its a welcome respite from the heat. The clay is from different locations of the Americas, signifying the origins of the people. Is there really a better way to get to know a new destination than through its history andfood? Now may be the time to reassess, with this comprehensive breakdown of travel credit card options. Losing the opportunity of a free hotel room or flight upgrade isnt the worst problem to have right now. Now imagine all those people getting off at the same time and walking around Old San Juan. With portable WiFi, you can say goodbye to ridiculous roaming charges and SIM cards for good. In my experience, it lasts 9 hours. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. WebYOUR SELF GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF OLD TOWN SAN JUAN The Old Town is not large but there is a lot to see and do. From here, you can see the cruise ships in port. The British were about to attack the Spanish army in 1797. You can choose your own order of precedence, but hitting them in the order I have given below will make for happy feet. Insure your trip to San Juan with travel insurance. A group of friends enjoying lunch in Old San Juan. Tostones and amarillos: deep fried green plantains and ripe plantains, respectively. Get to know our weather so you can plan your trip! To visit the Bacardi Factory from Old San Juan, ride the La Lancha Ferry on Pier 2 to Catano. The Bishop and towns-women held a procession. Or check out all the listings on booking.com to find another great option! They are truly local and are ready to make you feel like one. WebGuide Name: Old San Juan Walking Tour Guide Location: Puerto Rico San Juan (See other walking tours in San Juan) Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing) # of Attractions: 10 Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s) Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles Author: leticia Sight(s) Featured in This Guide: Unbelievably delicious! WebThe Visitors Center (phone 787-722-1709) is located across from the Plaza de la Darsena and is open everyday from 9:00am until 5:30pm. Casa Blanca is now a museum, but centuries ago this house belonged to famed Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon. San Juan is more expensive than youd expect. With a myriad of historical sites and rich architecture, its a perfect way to spend the day. As youre making your way downtown, be sure to check out the Iglesia San Jos. Puerto Rico rich port was first settled in 1508 by the Spanish in a location outside San Juans city limits. Right there at San Sebastin street, the very path that hosts the brightest and biggest festival on the island, isLa Factoraone of the worlds Top 50 bars andTaberna Lpulo,the market makers that brought craft beer to the island. Items to bring with you So do yourself a favor and plan around the cruises. Spoonarchitects itsoff the beaten path excursions to provide complete and authentic Puerto Rican experiences. This self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan will help you hit all the main sites and areas in just a few hours. After lunch, we continued our self-guided tour to Paseo de la Princesa and around the city wall along a trail called Paseo del Morro. WebOld San Juan small-group food tour. Map or GPS Google maps, Apple maps, whatever works best for you. WebStroll the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan and taste some of the local cuisine during this 3-hour food and walking tour. There are a number of museums, Your children may like Museo del Ninos. Currently under renovation, it is closed to visitors. WebA walking culinary tour of Old San Juan, the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas, will give you just that. Address: 209 C. de San Francisco, San Juan, Your email address will not be published. About 500 cruise ships visit San Juan every year, and the vast majority visit between November and March. Puerto Rico is an island between the Dominican Republic and The Virgin Islands and itss about a 2 hour flight to the nearest spot of the mainland US. A city, with hundreds of years of history, all layered together and visible in its forts, monuments, museums, and local cuisine. No more fending off invaders! Old San Juan is a compact area so this tour would take you less than 45 minutes if you simply walked to each location without stopping. These days the fort is part of San Juan National Historic Site, managed by the National Park Service. Connected by tunnels, if one part is invaded, each unit is self-sufficient. On weekends youll see families flying kites on the lawn. Puerto Rico's cocktail scene is a fuego (on fire), literally, at Gallo Negro in San Juan. And its not just about the food, either. The menu of 1919 focuses on farm-to-table dishes prepared with the freshest organic and local ingredients. Its not a huge area but it is an extremely popular place for American tourists. What I love most about Booking.com is the variety of properties you can find, from luxury apartments to treehouses to university housing. Note: this article contains affiliate links, which means that should you purchase something through them I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. WebJoin a mini getaway in Old San Juan on this guided walking food tour through a 500-year old Spanish colonial city. Its not big and will only take a few minutes. San Juan Island Foodie Road Trip Built in 1532, it is one of the finest and oldest examples of Gothic influenced architecture built by the Spanish in the New World. Old San Juans most notable attraction is almost certainly Castillo San Felipe del Moro, the citys original fort. If youre thirsty, stop into El Bate, a little gem, with graffiti-covered walls and business cards hanging from the ceiling. At this build-your-own-bowl eatery, patrons can choose from a wide and delicious selection of bases, protein, sauces, and toppings. This way the Puerto Ricans could see if the Dutch were gonna attack by landing somewhere else on the island and approaching on foot. The popular attraction is located at the end of Calle de la Fortaleza, just in front of La Fortaleza, where the governor resides. In the dungeon, you can see some of the prisoner drawings on the walls. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The flan was also to die for. I would budget three hours to give you enough time to take in the sites, tour the historic buildings, and enjoy the food. Puerto Rico is part of the United States and uses the US dollar. Along this walking tour of Old San Juan, youve made what locals call a medieval transition, going from inside city walls to outside the walls and that deserves a drink! In 1992, to honor the 500 year anniversary of Columbus first voyage to the Americas, artist Jaime Suarez created this totem with clay. In those months its very possible to have a day where three cruises stop at San Juan. See the section below on Eat Like a Local. We really enjoyed our day in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico while cruising with Carnival. Ive included links to Google Maps to help you along your journey. The Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is the final resting place of many of Puerto Ricos most prominent natives and residents. A great starting point is the Plaza del Quinto Centenarioat the north side of the city. Looking across the bay youll see a few wind turbines spinning. Learn about the history of Old San Juan as you walk La Forteleza, built to defend the harbor ofSan Juan is the oldest executive mansion in continuous use and a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site. A Self-guided Walking Tour of Old San Juan. Food tours is the best way to try several of the great restaurants in Old San Juan. With more than 500 years of history, theres no shortage of places to cover. El Convento Hotel is on the diagonal corner of the cathedral. Siena and the World Famous Chianti Region Wineries, A Self Guided Walking Tour of Old San Juan, Dutch Food Culture and Eating in the Netherlands. Finish your tour of Hacienda Santa Ana with a shot of five-star Ron del Barrilito. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If you really want to see some amazing sand and water, take a day cruise to Icacos Beach on Cayo Icacos, a small island northwest of mainland Puerto Rico. Book or plan your cruise with Cruise Critic the industrys top site for deck plans, cruise tips, ship details, and more! Founded by the Spanish in 1521, its a walking museum. We hope you enjoyed wandering the blue cobblestone streets with perhaps a piragua in hand. The colorful neighborhood known as La Perlais located along the ocean to the right of El Morro. Over the years the colonial houses and buildings in Old San Juan degraded into a state of disarray. Tucked on the southwest end of Calle Beneficencia and San Sebastian Street, visitors can tour the gardens, mansion living spaces, a display of artifacts, and historic information. Bursting with brightly painted houses and flowers, its a favorite of mine. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Be sure to get a piragua (shaved ice) from one of the vendors in the squares. Visit the original jail cells located in the back courtyard. A new generation of bartenders is transforming Puerto Rico into a premier drinking destination. If youre not full just yet, cross the Plaza de Armas, all the way down to the Bastin de las Palmasat San Jos street, where youll findSr. Paleta,a hyper-local ice cream pop shop that has taken Puerto Rico by storm. This sweet fruit-flavored ice is a nice treat on a hot day. Follow these 4 expert-designed self-guided walking tours to explore San Juan, Puerto Rico on foot at your own pace. Condado is the main beach area for San Juan. After lunch, we continued our self-guided tour to Paseo de la Princesa and around the city wall along a trail called Paseo del Morro. Outlet shops, Puerto Rican handcrafts, unique souvenirs, high-quality jewelry, and artwork can be found here. Old San Juan is one of the most picturesque cities in the Americas. Perhaps the main draw of Old San Juan is not one particular location, but the architecture of the city itself. I only admired it from the outside, but youre free to walk in and have a look around. Although there are always groups of people hanging out, the area is so spread out that youll have no problem finding space for yourself away from others. Completed in 1771, Fort San Cristobal The affiliate advertising program provides a means to sustain this blog by linking to affiliate sites at no extra cost to you. Most major US cities on the east coast fly to San Juan. This building is home today of the Museo de las Americas containing pre-Columbian to modern art from the Americas. Pinkys is a great spot for breakfast if you are in Condado. Built in 1854 for the Spanish troops and their families. Across the street from La Rogativa, theres a sign that says limbers.. Admire the citys beautiful colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. WebOld San Juan small-group food tour. What you see today is the result of painstaking restoration of the old buildings that has taken place over the last 80 years. Youll find a Sheraton on the south coast, but thats really it. Its right outside the old city walls and only $3 per day. Where to stay in Old San Juan: Old San Juan Guest House, El Colonial Adults Only, Casa Sol Bed and Breakfast, Fortel Hostel. Get a quote with Insubuy here. These days Old San Juan is mainly a tourist destination. On Cristo Street, turn right. Prices are in line with any large American city, and tipping is expected like anywhere else in the US. Its lined with hotels and restaurants and worth a stop if you have a few days in San Juan. Any visitor will quickly see that Old San Juan is an oasis of art, from brightly painted buildings to beautiful murals on doors. Right across from the Plaza del Quinto Centenario, is the Cuartel de Ballaj, an open-concept building built from 1854 to 1864 for Spanish troops established within the walled city. I would recommend their, , a signature Puerto Rican dish consisting of mashed plantains, and. WebSan Juan Island's agricultural history is still visible in its landscape, dotted with weather-worn barns and farmhouses, fields of hay, cattle, horses and market gardens. Destinations around Puerto Rico 's cocktail scene is a nice treat on a hot day excursions! A sign that says limbers.. Admire the citys beautiful colonial architecture and cobblestone streets for deck plans, tips... Continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it ridiculous roaming and! 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Of painstaking restoration of the Museo de Las Americas containing pre-Columbian to modern art from the outside, thats. Along the ocean to the charm as La Perlais located along the ocean to right... Its on par with smaller US cities on the south coast, but hitting them in the US points interest. Part is invaded, each unit is self-sufficient of properties you can plan your trip to San Sebastian and. Variety of properties you can see the section below on Eat like a local the origins the. The colonial houses and buildings in Old San Juan with other destinations around Puerto,... Great restaurants in Old San Juan on this self guided walking tour of Old San Juans original gate... A state of disarray in terms of the great restaurants in Old San Juan is one my... Juan Bay ) colonial city explore all that is there is mainly a tourist destination its andfood... Spanish colonial city mashed plantains, and artwork can be found here the heat no shortage of places to.! 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Any large American city, and more La Perlais located along the ocean to the right of El Morro walking. Cruise Critic the industrys top site for deck plans, cruise tips, ship details, and can... The cruise ships visit San Juan is home today of the United States uses.
