

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE The 3 Best Berlin Christmas Markets To Visit This Year (2019) I spent a lot of time here just taking in the scenery. Lastly, there’s the top level of the fortress, with breathtaking views overlooking the city. There are plaques explaining what the rooms were used for.

You arrive at the main firing battery with rooms on the periphery that overlook the city. Once you get past the tunnels, then everything brightens up – literally. Along the way, there are dimly-lit rooms, including a dungeon where prisoners were kept for execution. To get into the fortress, you have to go through some dingy tunnels at the lowest level. There are three levels to this fortress: the lowest level, the main firing battery, and the observation deck at the top. The ticket is $7 and is valid for two days to allow you to see other parts of the San Juan National Historic Site. You need a ticket to tour the inside of the fortress, but there’s an outside area with bastions overlooking the Carribean Sea that anyone can visit. Castillo San Cristobal was built in 1783 to protect the city from attacks when other European powers were trying to take over.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this fortress is part of the San Juan National Historic Site, an area that includes fortresses, bastions, and the old city wall. We’ll start at Castillo San Cristobal, the largest fortress that the Spanish built in the New World.

Map or GPS – Google maps, Apple maps, whatever works best for you.I wore sandals and was mostly fine, except when it came to climbing steep concrete. Comfortable shoes – some of the streets are hilly so it’s a great idea to wear running shoes or something that won’t kill your feet after three hours of walking and climbing fortresses.I would budget three hours to give you enough time to take in the sites, tour the historic buildings, and enjoy the food. Old San Juan is a compact area so this tour would take you less than 45 minutes if you simply walked to each location without stopping. It includes a map so that you can follow along on your phone.ĭisclaimer: this post contains affiliate links This post will show you how to put together your own walking tour of Old San Juan. With colorful, Spanish colonial architecture, picture-perfect corners, and mesmerizing views of the Carribean Sea, you’re bound to have at least a few awe-inspiring moments during your tour. The streets of Old San Juan were practically made to be strolled for hours. 7K Shares Old San Juan Walking Tour with Map for First-Time Visitors
