I am going to San Juan PR for 4 nights what should I make sure we do?

Question

It is going to be My Wife 15 year old son and I. We do like going out for drinks but no neccessarily going to clubs where about 30 yrs old and we also have to find something for the kid to do. any suggestions

Answer 1

Ok tourist atractions at Old San Juan are:

El Morro

El Fortin de San Cristobal

Casa de Dona Felisa Rincon

San Juan Bautista Cathedral

La Fortaleza or Governor mansion

Paseo de la princesa or Princess path

Instituto de Cultura Puertoriquena which is a Museum

Mueseo Las Americas or The Americas Museum by the Morro

Juan Ponce de Leon home now restored

Casa Alcaldia de San Juan or The City Hall of San Juan

Plaza San Jose, where the Oldest Cathedral of the Caribbean is and where the Pirate Cofresi was killed by a firing squad. This church is now under renovation and is still in process, but you can see through the doors  and next to is the plaza with the Totem made of real old Taino Indian artifacts.  

Biblioteca Carnagie or Carnagie Library a few steps from the Capitol Building is open Monday to Saturday. They have the childrens area, area for teens and up stairs second floor is the computer room. Free use of the computers is available, just go in upstairs sign the book and use the computer.

For places to eat and enjoy:

Barrachina a wonderful restaurant with eating in the open air patio or in the dinningroom. My husband and I go there sometimes and they cook good by Fortaleza.  Manolin is another great restaurant in Old San Juan.  Sharaton of Old San Juan has their Chicago Burger restaurant and they cook great.  Also at Old San Juan by the piers where the ferries are is Subway and at the Capitol Apartments just a (2 blocks away) from Sharaton is Quiznos.  In the center of old San Juan is McDonalds, Wendys, El Messon with home style sandwiches like Quiznos but puertorican style with home made fries.

There are trolleys that leave the Metropolitan Bus Authority terminal in Old San Juan that go up to the center of Old San Juan and to El Morro. There is a new double trolley that is open air that leaves the bus terminal then goes up the long way to the front main entrance of El Morro.  The trolleys are free and you do not have to tip the driver.  

  At the piers are the ferries that leave San Juan and go to Catano where the Bacardi is.  There are constant tours.  Also the hotels will offer tours for those who want to go to El Yunque Rain forest.  The forest is free to visit, but if you go inside to the tourist center then you will have to pay the entrance.  It is beautiful. You walk a wooden bridge to the center and there is restaurants, gift shop, information center with guides who speak English.

If you want, you can from San Juan take the Metro Express bus, or the B-21 from San Juan to Stop 26 and purchase a train ticket and take a nice train ride to Bayamon which is a beautiful town.  The train is $1.50 per person. You buy a ticket for the amount you want and you keep the ticket even if it is empty because it has an expiration date and you can reuse it.  I suggest if you take the train buy for each a $5 dollar ticket to go and come on and to use for the bus.

The train stops at 16 stops and the next to last stop is Santa Rosa Mall. A nice small shopping mall with restaurants on the second leve. In Bayamon when you arrive, you can walk to the center of the town and see the old church and the old plaza in the center. The train is constantly running from 5:30 am to 11 pm.  Buses to return to San Juan from Stop 26 such as Metro 1 runs up to 11pm, the rest such as A-9, Metro ll, and B-21 until 9pm. (they run until 10pm but best take it back early).  Bus fair is 75 cents one way no matter the distance.  The bus takes change only.  The train cards can be used on the bus but calculate your train fair and bus fair.

You may would like to rent a car and go to the Botanical Gardens of the Puerto Rico Univeristy in Rio Piedras or go further to the new Botanical Gardens in Caguas just off the highway by taking the exit Aguas Buenas and go left. Drive up about a mile to 2 miles it is on the left.

  Plaza Las Americas is open until 9pm and the B-21 goes there. It is the biggest shopping center in the Caribbean. Or go a bit further up to San Patricio Plaza taking from stop 26 the Metro ll bus which will leave you near by. It is a small shopping center but is nice. Their food court has fast foods also Chilis, Romanos, and also theatres.  

Well I hope you enjoy your stay.

Answer 2

Hi

must see's

Old San Juan - plenty here to keep you busy

2 forts

a cathedral

several small museums

several picturesque squares - nice for chilling

paseo la proncesa promendade - busy with local artisnas on a weekend

san juan gate - leads back into OSJ from the promenade

plenty of great restaurant

el yunque rainforest - get there early (avoid the crowds) hike one of the trails - swim at the waterfall - then spend the afternoon at Luquillo Beach (also try the food kiosks at the beach)

if you want to add on to this day - consider a trip to the bio bay in the evening (trips from Fajardo on the east coast

Isla Verde / Condado has some nice stretches of beach and even more restaurants

check out my blog for ideas http://www.visit-the-coqui.com