Old San Juan

Old San Juan, the historic heart of Puerto Rico's capital, is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric colonial towns in the Americas, a compact grid of narrow streets famously paved with blue-tinted cobblestones and lined with brightly painted pastel houses, balconies and plazas. Perched on a headland above the Atlantic stand two mighty Spanish fortresses, the sprawling El Morro and San Cristobal, together a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built over centuries to guard the harbour. Lively with cafes, galleries and music, it blends history, colour and Caribbean spirit.

What you actually see

• Castillo San Felipe del Morro - the great clifftop fortress and views.
• Castillo San Cristobal - the vast second fortress guarding the city.
• The blue cobbled streets - the pastel houses and colonial plazas.
• The city gate and walls - the old defensive walls and Paseo.

When to go

December to April, the dry season, for the sunniest, most pleasant weather, though this is also the busy cruise season; the summer is hotter and wetter with a hurricane risk from June to November. Evenings, when the cobbled streets glow and music spills from bars, are especially lovely.

Honest expectations

When cruise ships are in port, the compact old town and its forts can get crowded, so early mornings or evenings are calmest and most atmospheric. It is a small district, easily seen in a day or two, and pricier than the wider island. As a gorgeous, walkable, historic and lively colonial gem, though, with its blue streets and mighty forts, Old San Juan is a genuine Caribbean highlight.

Nearby

The El Yunque rainforest and the beaches of the north coast are close by.