Walking Around Old San Juan – A Self-Guided Tour
Walking Around Old San Juan - Why Visit Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Before I get into my experience walking around Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, I would like to provide a brief history of this popular tourist area.
Old San Juan is the historical portion of San Juan, which originates as early as 1508. The city was originally walled in, but in 1897 the wall was demolished. This demolition led to a huge expansion of Old San Juan.
By 1940, many of the buildings were in bad shape and in need of repair. Over the years, the Government of Puerto Rico and many local banks have assisted in remodeling most of the buildings. Today, Old San Juan features beautiful colorful buildings, blue cobblestone streets, and many sculptures and fountains.
Be sure to look at a map prior to your walking tour of Old San Juan. Since the city was originally walled in, most of the roads are too narrow for two cars to pass through. Because of this, most of the streets are one-way, with some being pedestrian-only.
Author’s Note – During my visit to Puerto Rico, I had not yet decided to create this website. My trip was geared towards relaxing more than researching and learning about the history, culture, and geography of Puerto Rico. I hope to return to Puerto Rico in the future and update this page.
Walking Around Old San Juan - Table of Contents
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My Experience Walking Around Old San Juan
I began my self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan at the El Morro Fort. After an early morning visit to El Morro, I decided to head over to the San Cristobal Fort. Since the route took me directly through the heart of Old San Juan, it was the perfect opportunity to spend a few hours walking around the colorful streets.
Before beginning my walk around Old San Juan, I did spend a few minutes looking at a map. I wanted to make sure that I would visit some of the key tourist sights of Old San Juan during my walk.
As I entered the narrow streets of Old San Juan, I quickly disregarded the route I had mapped out. Walking around Old San Juan, I quickly was able to immerse myself in the narrow streets, Puerto Rican culture, and colorful buildings. Old San Juan is a truly historic Old Town that feels like going back in time.
During my time walking around Old San Juan, I didn’t make any purchases. What I did do was zig-zag the streets and take in the colorful scenery. Every block, it seemed that there was a beautiful sculpture, fountain, or building.
Even the fast-food restaurants had a historic look to them. While photographing the Subway, I was approached by a group of school children who were walking home from school. One of them asked me why I was taking a picture of the Subway. I explained that in Minnesota, our subways were not located in colorful buildings. The student laughed and walked around.
I am sure that I stood out as a tourist as I was the only one photographing the Subway and Burger King.
As I continued walking around Old San Juan, I eventually made my way out of the narrow streets onto what seemed to be the main road. This road led me to the San Cristobal Fort, where I would spend part of the afternoon looking at the historic fort.
Old San Juan Tours and Packages
I enjoyed walking around Old San Juan, on my own, without taking a tour. I didn’t feel a guide was necessary, as I wanted to experience the culture and look at the beautiful architecture.
If you would like to take a tour, I have linked eight tours below. Please note that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you book using one of my links. This commission is at no additional cost to you.