San Juan, Puerto Rico — Viejo San Juan truly vibrates with the pulse of the Caribbean. Pedestrians and traffic fill the streets and sidewalks at almost all hours. Music and the smells of food waft through the air. Spanish Colonial homes painted in vibrant colors, narrow cobblestone streets, shops, cafés, bars, restaurants, people, traffic — overwhelming and strikingly beautiful at the same time, a feast for all the senses.
The 7-square block Old City on the edge of San Juan Harbor was settled in 1521, the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas. Many of Old 
San Juan’s narrow streets are paved with adoquines, blue-glazed brick brought over on Spanish galleons as ballast. Walls and stone fortresses protected the city from invaders: San Felipe del Morro was completed in 1589, and Castillo de San Cristóbal was completed in 1771.
You’ll find an endless variety of food and drink in Old San Juan. A couple places I recommend: Café Puerto Rico has great Mojitos and food — I had chicken with rice (Arroz con Pollo) on one visit, and fried pork 
chunks with rice and onions on another. And at Restaurante Raíces, I had Mofongo (mashed green plantains) stuffed with Churrasco steak. To drink, a tamarind frappe (kind of like a Slurpee, but with tamarind fruit) with rum. Incredible!
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Was at the El Batey bar looking at the blue brick streets when I googled this site. Love old San Juan and recommend it to all. Thanks for the pictures and info on the bricks.
Thanks for your comment, Dave!
Was at the El Batey bar looking at the blue brick streets when I googled this site. Love old San Juan and recommend it to all. Thanks for the pictures and info on the bricks.
We we’re just there for my granddaughters all three graduation this we’re nice to take them since there never been there,and optimise the trip,well let me tell u they loved it.
Thanks for doing my hometown justice. Great pics! <3
Hey Ali, glad you liked the post. Just a question, where did you find the link? I had a lot of traffic to this post yesterday and I’m wondering why; or who posted the link on their FB page.
Thanks!
glen
Old San Juan reminds me a lot like Cartagena de Indias in Colombia. It doesn’t appear to be too crowded though , is this the case?
Actually, Federico, Old San Juan is VERY crowded. I took most of these pictures on a Sunday morning when it was fairly quiet. Normally, there is lots of traffic and lots of people in the streets!
Wow! Another scrumptious dessert for my eyes! My favorite picture is the paving brick you took. And I’m not telling why i love it the most. hehe
Well, you’ve got me curious why the paving brick is your favorite pic!?
I was extremely bummed when PR was taken off the itinerary for my upcoming cruise. I was really looking forward to checking out Old San Juan and the Bio Bay.
All pics are so grreat!
http://www.hellojersey.us
I was in Old San Juan a few years back and loved all the colors!
This looks so cool. Great photos! The rum drink with Tamarind sounds interesting!
Looks like an awesome way to spend your birthday!
I love the vibrant colors that the buildings are painted… and that food looks nomalicious! :P
Christy, the food was incredible!
AHHH, I can’t believe we were both in San Juan at the same time and had no idea each other were there. You got some incredible pictures here. Great job! This was my first trip to Puerto Rico, and I have to say that I was absolutely blown away. I was there on a press trip, and I’m seriously contemplating trying to get back this summer to bring my wife. Amazing place, and you did a great job capturing Old San Juan.
Hey Adam, it’s pretty amazing we were both there at the same time and didn’t know it. I love Old San Juan, this is the second time I’ve been there with my wife, and we’ll go again.
Wow, the picture that really caught my eye is the one with mofongo and steak stuffed into a cup, that looks scrumptious!
It was delicious!
Old San Juan looks like my kind of place to just spend a good week there. The blues in the sky look amazing while the food looks very interesting. Put on my bucket list now.
Yes, it’s a very cool place.
I was just there a couple weeks ago but your photos really make it come to life. Beautiful!
Thanks, Jan!