Where to Stay in San Juan, By an Area Local (2024)

5 Best Neighborhoods and Areas to Stay in San Juan

The historic city of San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico. It has 18 different official neighborhoods, which you can see on this map.

But, as a Puerto Rican, I can say San Juan is basically divided into the oldest neighborhood, Old San Juan, and the rest (and mostly newer) neighborhoods. 

Whether you’re looking for a beachfront hotel with a wellness center or a boutique hotel with an outdoor pool, you’ll find it in one of these 5 neighborhoods in San Juan.

Old San Juan

👉 Best Area for Sightseeing or Solo Traveling | ✨ Best Old San Juan Hotels: El Convento • Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel •CasaBlanca Hotel

The historic district of Old San Juan is the prime location to stay in the capital city to have San Juan’s top attractions within walking distance, including La Fortaleza, Castillo de San Cristobal, Paseo de La Princesa, and El Morro.

You’ll find some of the top San Juan accommodations here, as well as luxury hotels like El Convento near beaches, fine dining restaurants, and bars.

Pros of Staying in Old San Juan:

• Home to many of the top attractions in San Juan
• Historical landmarks at walking distance
• Lots of restaurants, food kiosks, and bars
• Lots of museums
• Great nightlife
• Multiple transportation options
• Lots of Puerto Rico tour options

Con of Staying in Old San Juan:

• Things can be pricey
• It can be noisy at night
• Heavy traffic
• Limited beach offer

Condado

👉 Best Area For Families | ✨ Best Condado Hotels: Condado Vanderbilt • La Concha Renaissance Resort • Hilton Garden Inn

If you’re looking for a place to stay with your family in San Juan, then Condado is your go-to destination. Condado offers visitors accommodation options and it sports some of the best hotels in San Juan. 

Most hotels in this area offer an ocean view, swimming pool, spa, hot tub, and rooftop terrace. You can also find small luxury hotels like Condado Vanderbilt or the Olive Boutique Hotel.

You can easily walk to the beach or stroll through Ventana al Mar. The area offers fun watersports, cycling, and scooters perfect for a fun family vacation.

Pros of Staying in Condado:

• Walking distance to some of the top beaches in Puerto Rico
• Lots of restaurants and bars
• Fun activities like kayaking, paddle boarding, bicycle riding
• Lots of accommodation options, from budget to luxury

Con of Staying in Condado:

• Crowded on nights and weekends
• Need a ride to get to Old San Juan’s landmarks
• Heavy traffic
• Some hotels are adult-only
• Pricey restaurants

Miramar

👉 Best Area For Business Travelers | ✨ Best Miramar Hotels: Aloft San Juan • Hyatt Place San Juan • Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino

Miramar is a sub-barrio of the Santurce neighborhood in San Juan and it’s close to the city’s top attractions without the chaos of the tourist sites.

If you’re traveling for business purposes and are researching where to stay in San Juan, then Miramar has some of the best resorts for you in the city center. 

The hotels in the Miramar area have convention halls, meeting rooms, and facilities like desks, wifi, and audiovisual equipment that will make your business trip run smoothly.

In your free time, you can enjoy the hotel’s facilities such as a plunge pool or an infinity pool, or take a 5-minute ride to the Spanish forts in Old San Juan.

The area also has lots of restaurants and is near some of the best museums in San Juan.

Pros of Staying in Miramar:

• Avoid the crowd of San Juan’s main spots
• Close to the Convention Center of San Juan and the T-Mobile District
• Lots of restaurants and bars
• Cheaper hotels than in other San Juan areas

Con of Staying in Miramar:

• There aren’t many attractions within walking distance
• You need to ride a car to get to the San Juan beaches

Ocean Park

👉 Best Area For College Students and Young Professionals | ✨ Best Ocean Park Hotels: Trópica Beach Hotel • DoubleTree by Hilton • Numero Uno Beach House

Ocean Park is a great option for young people looking to enjoy both beachfront hotels and Puerto Rico’s nightlife.

Located within the Santurce neighborhood, Ocean Park has one of the most popular urban beaches in San Juan offering water sports like kitesurfing and beach volleyball. 

What really makes Ocean Park ideal for young people is the lively Calle Loíza, which offers visitors a variety of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

From this central location, you can easily reach Condado, Old San Juan, and Isla Verde.

Pros of Staying in Ocean Park:

• Beach within walking distance
• Close to Condado and Isla Verde’s main attractions
• Close to lots of restaurants and bars
• Cheaper hotels than in Condado
• Less crowded than other San Juan areas

Con of Staying in Ocean Park:

• Limited parking
• Need a ride to get to Old San Juan’s landmarks

Isla Verde

👉 Best Area For Honeymooners | ✨ Best Isla Verde Hotels: Fairmont El San Juan Hotel • Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort • TRYP by Windham

Although officially located in Carolina, Isla Verde is a great location if you’re looking for where to stay near San Juan, and they are a short ride from each other.

Isla Verde houses some of the best hotels to stay in front of beautiful beaches and enjoy the heat of a Caribbean island. 

Couples and honeymooners can enjoy their stay in a romantic hotel, stroll down Isla Verde Beach, eat in a fine-dining restaurant, or dance the night away in one of the neighborhood’s multiple nightclubs.

Pros of Staying in Isla Verde:

• Great for enjoying Puerto Rico’s nightlife
• Close to the San Juan airport
• Close to top Puerto Rico beaches
• Next to Piñones
• Lots of restaurants and attractions

Con of Staying in Isla Verde:

• Gets crowded
• Hotels can be pricey
• Heavy traffic
• Need a ride to San Juan attractions

Tips for Staying in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Travel Off-Season

A visit to San Juan can easily stretch a thin travel budget, especially when it comes to hotels and restaurants.

Many tourists tend to visit the island during winter or summer. Instead, if possible, you should try to travel between August and early November.

Although it’s the peak of the hurricane season in Puerto Rico, you’ll find cheaper hotel prices.

Eat at Chinchorros

It’s probably tempting to go to restaurants or chain restaurants you already know. But, as a Puerto Rican, I recommend eating at small food kiosks called chinchorros.

Even if they don’t always look like it, they actually offer the best local food in San Juan. Piñones right next to Isla Verde beach has a lot of them.

Don’t Go Mindlessly into La Perla

After the music video Despacito, the community La Perla became famous and a lot of tourists visit it out of curiosity without knowing about the area.

Although San Juan is safe, if you choose to visit, I would recommend visting only during the day and if possible, be accompanied by a local.

Be respectful of locals and don’t go around recording people please!

Rent a Car

Public transportation isn’t practical in Puerto Rico and taking taxis can quickly consume your budget.

That’s why travelers should consider renting a car to move comfortably within San Juan’s neigborhoods, Carolina, and to visit other cities of Puerto Rico.

You can use Discover Cars to rent a car for the best price.  

FAQs About Where to Stay in San Juan

What is the best area to stay in San Juan?

The best areas to stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico include Old San Juan for sightseeing; Condado,Ocean Park, and Isla Verde are the best areas to stay for beach bumming and familiar fun while Miramar sports the best hotels for business travelers.

Where should you not stay in Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico visitors should avoid staying at any caserio, which is free public housing for locals in Puerto Rico. These are NOT tourist-friendly areas even if you find them listed on a vacation rental site. Beach lovers should also avoid the central area of Puerto Rico as it’s far from the beaches.

What area should I stay in Puerto Rico?

Good areas to stay in Puerto Rico include Old San Juan,Condado,Miramar, and Ponce for sightseeing. Travelers looking for the best beaches and outdoor activities can stay in Río Grande, Luquillo, Fajardo, Humacao, Cabo Rojo, Rincón and Aguadilla.

👉 Read More Guides:

• Where to Stay in Vieques
• Where to Stay in Rincon
• Where to Stay in Las Vegas

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That’s it for the complete guide on where to stay in San Juan. Make sure to check out my guide on the 15 Best Day Trips from San Juan, so you don’t miss a single experience in Puerto Rico!

Have fun choosing where to stay in San Juan!