Old San Juan vacation rentals

Staying in Old San Juan

Staying in Old San Juan means sleeping inside the walled colonial city, on a small island joined to the rest of San Juan by bridges and a causeway, with the forts, plazas, cafés and bars all within walking distance. The streets are narrow, hilly and paved with blue cobblestones, so the old city suits people who like to walk far more than people who like to drive.

Distances are short. Plaza de Armas is the main square, where San Juan's historic City Hall stands. Every home on this page is within 7 minutes on foot of it. The National Park Service puts the walk between the two forts, San Cristóbal and El Morro, at about 15 minutes along Calle Norzagaray. Expect to climb, though: homes in historic buildings usually come with stairs rather than a lift.

Cars and parking

A car is more of a burden than a help inside the walls. Street spaces are scarce, most homes here have no parking of their own, and drivers use the public garages; one home's listing points guests to the Doña Fela and La Puntilla garages. Taxis and rideshare cars pick up at street level. The airport is about 18 minutes by car. If you want a car for El Yunque or the east coast, rent it for those days only.

Where to swim

For a beach day with lifeguards, take a short taxi ride east to Balneario El Escambrón in Puerta de Tierra. Discover Puerto Rico describes a calm, shallow swimming area formed by natural rock formations, coral reefs that suit snorkelling, restrooms and shaded picnic spots.

Noise and nights

Nightlife collects around Calle San Sebastián and Plaza de San José, and homes close to the bars there can hear music and voices until 2 or 3 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. Church bells and street sounds carry across the flat roofs as well. If you sleep lightly, read the noise note on each home's page and pick a street a few blocks from the bars.

On the third weekend of January, Thursday to Sunday, the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián turn the whole old city into a street party with concerts late into the night; Discover Puerto Rico advises leaving the car and using public transport. Cruise ships dock at piers a short walk from the forts, which makes a night here easy before or after a sailing.

Who it suits

Old San Juan suits a first trip to Puerto Rico, couples, and anyone who wants history, restaurants and nightlife within a short walk; the larger colonial houses also take families and groups. It is harder going for anyone with limited mobility, for light sleepers set on staying near the bars, and for travellers who want sand outside the door or parking included. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and brief power cuts can happen on the island; the historic buildings here do not list backup generators.