{"id":98882999,"date":"2018-08-22T12:02:58","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T16:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/?p=98882999"},"modified":"2020-05-12T07:31:32","modified_gmt":"2020-05-12T11:31:32","slug":"exploring-old-san-juan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/exploring-old-san-juan\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic Puerto Rico: Exploring Old San Juan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bienvenido a Viejo San Juan — Welcome to Old San Juan!<\/em><\/p>\n

The second oldest Europe-established capital in the Americas,\u00a0this celebrated city is still very much a vibrant destination for whatever floats your vacation boat. For some of the Caribbean\u2019s best preserved historical sites, cool cocktails, hot dancing, and a variety of fun-in-the-sun activities, Old San Juan is a sensational place to be.<\/p>\n

Have a look at our guide to the best of Old San Juan, and start planning your getaway to the Puerto Rican capital\u2019s most historic quarter pronto!<\/p>\n

Sip the Original Pi\u00f1a Colada at Barrachina<\/h3>\n

\"Chiyacat<\/p>\n

Do you like pi\u00f1a coladas? Then be sure to limber up your elbows and head over to the Barrachina restaurant– rumored to be the birthplace of Puerto Rico’s national drink.\u00a0While you’re here, we also suggest bringing a huge appetite; this spot is famous for its mouthwatering paella!<\/p>\n

Ready to take a bite out of this scintillating\u00a0city? Get going with cheap flights to San Juan<\/a> here<\/strong><\/em>!<\/p>\n

Stroll the Calle Fortaleza<\/h3>\n

\"Sorin<\/p>\n

Before, after, and in-between your pi\u00f1a coladas\u00a0at Barrachina, take a stroll along Calle Fortaleza, one of Puerto Rico\u2019s most celebrated streets for restaurants and nightlife. The best restaurants, drawing in locals and visitors alike, are mostly around SoFo (South Fortaleza). Here, seafood lovers will find the daily offerings too delicious to pass up! During the day, Fortaleza is a retail paradise with lots of boutique shops and opportunities to purchase authentic gifts and souvenirs.<\/p>\n

Stand Atop El Castillo de San Felipe del Morro<\/h3>\n

\"Maridav<\/p>\n

This\u00a016th<\/sup> century citadel guards San Juan Bay and provides visitors with commanding views and insight into Puerto Rico\u2019s unique past. It’s\u00a0a UNESCO World Heritage Site, (as are so many Old San Juan sites, and indeed the entire neighborhood itself) and a San Juan National Historic Site.<\/p>\n

Visit the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista<\/h3>\n

\"Sean<\/p>\n

One of Puerto Rico\u2019s oldest and most beautiful buildings, and the second oldest Roman Catholic cathedral in the Americas, the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist dates back to the 1500s. As glorious as it is to behold from the outside, be sure to go in to view its awe-inspiring stained glass windows, the tomb of Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon, and the mummified remains of San Pio. Entry is free but donations are appreciated.<\/p>\n

Relax in the Paseo de la Princesa<\/h3>\n

\"pyzata<\/p>\n

Lined with trees and antique lampposts, this picture perfect promenade exudes Old World charm and serves as an ideal setting for a relaxing and scenic walk. Enjoy the views of San Juan Bay, and admire the Paseo\u2019s centerpiece Ra\u00edces Fountain, with its sculptures depicting the island\u2019s Taino, African, and Spanish heritage, while taking it easy and sightseeing at a leisurely pace.<\/p>\n

Have you ever been enchanted by San Juan Viejo? Let us know your favorite hangouts in the Old City in the comments section below.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bienvenido a Viejo San Juan — Welcome to Old San Juan! The second oldest Europe-established capital in the Americas,\u00a0this celebrated city is still very much a vibrant destination for whatever floats your vacation boat. For some of the Caribbean\u2019s best preserved historical sites, cool cocktails, hot dancing, and a variety of fun-in-the-sun activities, Old San […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":98895403,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[141],"tags":[1177],"class_list":["post-98882999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-inspiration","tag-sju"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98882999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98882999"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98882999\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98905748,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98882999\/revisions\/98905748"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98895403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98882999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98882999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98882999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}