Best Areas to Stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Old San Juan is the best area to stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for being the heart of the city.

Old San Juan is located on an islet that connects to the main island of Puerto Rico by bridges.

It is a safe place and the epicenter of the cultural, historical and commercial activity of the city, making it a good area to stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for business travelers.

The main advantage of staying here is that it has attractions such as the Old San Juan Pier, surrounded by restaurants, cafes, small shops, and many souvenir stalls.

It is in this area that emblematic places such as El Morro are found, with secret passageways, canyons, green areas and panoramic views of the city.

Other attractions in the area that are worth a visit are Plaza de Armas and Plaza Dársenas, Galería Botello, Castillo de Santa Catalina and Paseo la Princesa.

This area connects with the rest of the city by bus, taxi, and the Cataño ferry.

Old San Juan is one of the best areas to stay in San Juan in Puerto Rico for its variety of hotels for all tastes and budgets.

It is also a very pedestrian-friendly area, with entertainment for all kinds of visitors, historical attractions and very photogenic corners.

Isla Verde (or “Green Island”) is located about 6,8 miles (11 kilometers) east of San Juan, in the municipality of Carolina, and stands out for its exclusive hotels, perfect beaches for surfing, nightlife and proximity to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

Staying here allows you to enjoy its popular beaches, including Isla Verde Beach, El Alambique Beach and Carolina Beach, all with free parking.

Furthermore, the end of Isla Verde that is closer to San Juan has many food stalls and souvenir sales of all kinds.

On Isla Verde, which is also very pedestrian-friendly, resort-type hotels, casinos, discos, and bars abound.

This is one of the best areas to stay in San Juan de Puerto Rico for a layover, as well as for business travelers.

In addition, Isla Verde connects with the rest of the city by bus, but it is more advisable to rent a car when staying in this district.

Palmas del Mar is one of the most exclusive areas to stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is located in the municipality of Humacao, on the southwestern corner of the island of Puerto Rico.

The Pterocarpus Forest and the Humacao Nature Reserve are attractions in this area that make it a good place to stay in San Juan de Puerto Rico for nature lovers and for those seeking tranquility during their stay.

Palmas del Mar offers travelers a variety of water activities: Deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, diving, chartering and surfing.

Here are also some of the best spas, restaurants, and shops in all of Puerto Rico, as well as luxury resort-type hotels for the most demanding travelers.

This area is one of the safest in San Juan, so it can be explored on foot easily. However, it does not have the best transport connections and it is necessary to use a taxi or car to move to the center of San Juan.

Ocean Park is one of the quietest areas of San Juan, ideal for those who visit the city with family and children.

Ocean Park is located on the coast of San Juan, between, Condado and Isla Verde, and has numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants, among which some dedicated to seafood stand out.

The wooded streets and beaches of Ocean Park give it an atmosphere of serenity that makes it one of the best areas to stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico, especially when compared to the hectic pace of the City Center.

The great attraction of Ocean Park is its huge beach, where sports lovers can practice surfing, kitesurfing or windsurfing since the conditions of the coast are excellent and the waves are perfect.

Ocean Park stands out for its hotels with sea views, adjustable to the budget of each traveler.

Condado is a residential area of the upper-middle class.

Condado stands out for its beautiful natural parks such as Antonio Quiñónez or Laguna del Condado, which allows you to practice some water sports.

Condado connects to Old San Juan through the Dos Hermanos Bridge, which can be crossed on foot or by bicycle.

Condado is a good option to stay in San Juan de Puerto Rico since it offers all kinds of hotels, from simple and cheap pensions to luxury hotels with sea views.

In addition to being a chic area with large luxury stores, it is an ideal setting to sample the island’s culinary creations, as it has numerous restaurants and fast food establishments to the delight of all travelers.

The best way to get around Condado is on foot, however, there are those who prefer to do it by private or rental car.

Buses connect Condado with the rest of San Juan, Puerto Rico.