San JuanCapital
Puerto Rico · Country profile
San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico, a city that blends the Spanish colonial old town, the beachfront resorts and the complex, proud identity of the island into one warm, musical, deeply Atlantic whole. The old town, the famous walled city of the Spanish empire with its forts, its cobbled lanes and its pastel houses, sits on the peninsula and remains the great historic treasure of the Caribbean, and the newer districts of the capital spread the hotels, the condominiums, the restaurants and the day-to-day life of the modern city. The beaches of the capital, the great art collections and the nightlife of the island give it the full range of the Caribbean experience. Colorful, festive and proudly Puerto Rican, San Juan is the cultural capital of the whole Spanish Caribbean.
About San Juan
San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico. The city's documented population is around 340,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the US Dollar (USD) and Spanish and English are spoken; the dialling code is +1787. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
The Walls, the Forts and the Colours of the Old Town
San Juan is a warm, colorful capital that mixes the colonial grandeur of the old town with the resort life of the beachfront and the everyday rhythm of a proud, lively modern city. The walls and the forts of the historic quarter, the museums and the galleries, and the beaches and the nightlife of the newer areas give the visitor the full range of the island experience. The city is the gateway of Puerto Rico, and the rainforest, the caves and the beaches of the island spread just beyond the metro area. The people are famously warm, the music is constant and the whole city carries a proud Latin and Caribbean identity all its own.
The Tropical Year, the Season and the Care of the Nights
The climate is tropical and warm all year, with the rainy season through the middle of the year and the hurricanes a real possibility from August to October, so the season matters. The old town and its forts are the essential walk, and the great museums and the beaches of the capital fill out the visit. The US dollar is the currency, the cards work everywhere and the English and the Spanish are both widely spoken. The city is safe in its tourist areas with the usual care at night. The rainforest of the island is the classic day trip, and the ferry and the flights to the neighboring islands of the region round out the picture.
The El Morro, the Beaches and the Rum of the Evenings
The old town of the city, the walled historic quarter with its colorful houses, its plazas and its two great forts of the Spanish era, is the essential circuit and one of the most beautiful colonial ensembles in the Americas. The fort of the San Felipe, the great citadel of the harbor, and the castle of the San Cristobal, the largest fortification of the Spanish empire, dominate the headlands. The museums of the city, from the collection of the maestro of the art to the museums of the history and the culture, hold the treasures of the island. The beaches of the capital and the nightlife of the newer districts run the rest of the visitor life, and the rum of the island, the piña colada and the salsa of the night complete the picture.
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- Country
- Puerto Rico
- Population
- 340,000
- Coordinates
- 18.4394, -66.0018
- Capital
- San Juan
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- Spanish, English
- Calling code
- +1787
- Country code
- PR
Getting to San Juan
Airports we list for San Juan:
Frequently asked questions
Is San Juan the capital of Puerto Rico?
Yes — San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico.
What currency do I need in San Juan?
The local currency is the US Dollar (USD). Languages spoken in Puerto Rico include Spanish and English.
What is the dialling code for Puerto Rico?
The international dialling code for Puerto Rico is +1787.
Which airport should I fly into for San Juan?
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) is the airport we list for San Juan.
Flying out of San Juan? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.