Visiting Old San Juan with Kids is a Must-Do in Puerto Rico. If you are wondering what is there to do in Old San Juan then this is for you. In this blog post you will learn how to see the best of Old San Juan with kids in one day.
Best of Old San Juan With Kids
About Old San Juan
The city of Old San Juan is the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere. In addition, it is the oldest city in the United States and its territories. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Old San Juan Historic District, it is also a National Historic Landmark District. UNESCO has inscribed many historic buildings and structures in the city on its World Heritage List since 1983
One thing to note is Old San Juan is better seen if you walk around. If you get there in your own vehicle then park at La Puntilla and start walking through the Paseo La Princesa.
Paseo de la Princesa
What is the Best Way to Enjoy Paseo la Princesa?
I intentionally decided to go to Old San Juan on Sunday to be able to enjoy the music, the artisan markets, and the treats such as piraguas (shaved ice) while walking through the Paseo de la Princesa. Old San Juan is one of my favorite places to take pictures, with spectacular spots like the Fuente Raíces.
Raíces is Spanish for roots. The fountain was built in 1992. The bronze statue was designed by architect Miguel Carlo honoring Puerto Ricans heritage which is a mix of African, Spanish and Taínos.
Past the fountain there is a lookout where you can see the breathtaking view of the San Juan bay. Soak that in and continue walking towards Puerta de San Juan and from there you can follow the trail towards “El Morro”.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro
What is Special About Castillo San Felipe del Morro?
Castillo San Felipe del Morro is part of the National Park Service. The fortification is one of the most iconic structures built by the Spaniards in the Americas. Both Spain and the United States used it as an important military outpost. In 1983, it was designated a World Heritage Site.
There’s tours available to see the fort but since we are locals we went by ourselves. It’s always fun to see the “garitas” and the views of La Perla.
After exploring the fortress we decided to enjoy the weather and spend some time remembering our childhood. Every single Puerto Rican child who grew up in the island has memories of flying kites at El Morro. I was excited for my girls to have that same experience. They loved it. If you want to do the same with your kids just look around and find one of multiple vendors who sell the kites in the area.
Where to Find Authentic Puerto Rican Food in Old San Juan?
El Jibarito Restaurant
El Jibarito Restaurant is a great option for dinning at Old San Juan, especially if you are looking for authentic Puerto Rican dishes. We didn’t have to wait long to be seated, the service was great and the food was just delicious. I highly recommend the “bistec encebollado” (Puerto Rican steak & onions). They also have other kid-friendly options like chicken fingers and fries. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on the frozen drinks! One more thing to note is the ambiance and decoration reminiscent of the city which I thought it’s super cute. This is a locally owned restaurant, go support them!
Other good options of restaurants for authentic Puerto Rican food are: Barrachina -where Piña coladas were invented- and Raíces.
After a delicious meal we decided to continue walking towards la Fortaleza.
La Fortaleza
What is la Fortaleza in Puerto Rico?
La Fortaleza is the governor’s official residence. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina. It is the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the New World.
At Calle Fortaleza -a trendy street with stores, bars and restaurants where the structure is located- you will find seasonal decorations that make excellent photo oops. The street has seen umbrellas, a huge Puerto Rico flag and nowadays it has pink butterflies in support of Susan G Komen’s campaign called “Juntos por la Rosa” in aims to create awareness about the first cause of death for women in Puerto Rico, breast cancer.
After taking some pictures there we headed to the Capilla del Cristo (Chapel of Christ the Savior).
Capilla del Cristo
What is Capilla del Cristo?
Capilla del Cristo Salvador is Spanish for Chapel of Christ the Savior. This is one of those unique things you will only see at Old San Juan. The legend says that back in the 1750’s there was a horse race and one of the riders couldn’t hold his horse and fell down the cliff. One person invoked the Holy Christ asking to save the man and when the man survived the chapel was built to honor such a miracle. Another version of the legend says that the man died and the Chapel was built to avoid future tragedies.
Regardless of the reasons to build the chapel, the truth is it’s beautiful and worth visiting. If you have the chance, get to the Parque de las Palomas (Pigeons Park) right by the chapel. Kids will love feeding the pigeons! I have fond memories doing so as a child.
Before going back to La Puntilla after a really fun day we made a final stop for dessert.
Where to Get the Best Dessert in Old San Juan?
Señor Paleta
Señor Paleta in calle Tetuán is a very popular place among locals. They sell delicious popsicles with unique combinations of flavors. The flavors we chose are coconut, strawberry, strawberry-watermelon and passion fruit. They were all yummy and refreshing. Highly recommended.
Just like that, we spent a day at the Old San Juan, helping our kids build childhood memories similar to those we had as kids. The Old San Juan is beautiful, fun, and absolutely worth seeing.
We hope you have found this post useful. Please remember to pin it for future reference, and of course drop a comment and let me know which of all this places you would like to visit the most.
Thanks for stopping by and make sure to check out our guide on how to spend One Week In Puerto Rico With Kids, as well as our full review of the Best Hotel For Families in Puerto Rico.
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