Differences Between San Juan's Diverse Areas | Get to know Santurce, Condado, Calle Loiza and MORE!

Sep 27

Written By Brik

If you are planning on visiting Puerto Rico, it is almost certain that your main destination is the capital city of San Juan. But, did you know that San Juan is divided into different areas, each with their own personality and traits? Well, in this travel guide I'm going to share with you what makes each of these areas unique so that whether you're looking to eat delicious food, discover the local art scene or have a night out dancing, you'll know exactly where to go. And make sure to stick around till the end of the travel guide because the final spots might just surprise you.

VIEJO SAN JUAN

First up is probably the most frequented area by tourists in all of this list, the colonial city of Old San Juan. Old San Juan is actually an island that is connected to the rest of San Juan by three bridges and it is best known for its rich history, colonial architecture, blue cobblestone streets and some of the most important monuments in all of Puerto Rico. Here you'll find El Morro, a Spanish fortification built in the 16th century that has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.

While walking around the streets of Old San Juan you'll also find other important monuments such as La Puerta de San Juan, which is the last remaining gate that protected the entrance to the colonial city. If you keep an eye out you'll also see many unique architectural details such as the beautiful courtyards that characterize Old San Juan residences. But, apart from history, Old San Juan has a rich nightlife. On the weekends at night you'll find tourists and locals alike having a drink and dancing at some of the best bars not only in Puerto Rico, but also around the world, such as the famous La Factoria.

SANTURCE

The second spot on this list is the up and coming area of Santurce. Between the 1930 and 1940, Santurce was known for having some of the most vibrant and busy commercial streets in all of San Juan. However, for many years its popularity diminished in favor of modern indoor malls, but recently Santurce has seen a resurgence of commercial and cultural activity. Nowadays, Santurce is characterized for being a cultural zone in which the local art scene thrives.

Here, you will find some of the most important museums of Puerto Rico, local art galleries that showcase up and coming artists, and also impressive murals painted seemingly everywhere on the sides of buildings. Santurce is also the home of La Placita de Santurce, one of the most popular hang out spots in all of San Juan which is full of bars, music, and restaurants. If you want to have a fun night out dancing to some salsa or reggaeton, this is definitely the place to go!

CALLE LOIZA

Santurce is a large barrio or borough of San Juan which can be subdivided into different sub-barrios and areas that also have their unique traits. One of these areas within Santurce that stands out from all the others for its diverse gastronomical offerings is Calle Loiza.

From traditional criollo food to delicious brunch options to asian fusion restaurants, traditional mexican food, italian cuisine, cafes, to artisan pizzas and even hand made ice cream, Calle Loiza truly has it all to satisfy any of your craving. Whether you're looking for a world class culinary experience or grab some delicious street food, you cannot miss Calle Loiza during your visit to Puerto Rico.

CONDADO

The third spot on this list is the oceanfront community of Condado. Condado is known for being a touristy area that is extremely walkable and full of restaurants, hotels, and gift shops catering to visitors of the island. Here you'll not only be able to paddle board or kayak in the beautiful Condado Lagoon, but you'll also have miles of sandy beach to dip into after your tan.

However, I do want to point out that the beaches in Condado can be dangerous due to their strong currents, so even if you're an experienced swimmer, try to stay near the shoreline while enjoying the beach. If you're looking for a calmer area to take a dip, try visiting the beach near the Condado Lagoon and the bridges that connect Condado to the rest of San Juan.

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OCEAN PARK

Right next to Condado and Calle Loiza you'll also find the oceanfront community of Ocean Park. This area is characterized for having one of the most frequented beaches in all of San Juan which carries the same name. On the weekends you'll find beachgoers lounging around, tanning, and doing beach sports like volleyball, beach paddle and kite surfing.

Ocean Park is also a great spot to find accommodations like Airbnbs and guest houses if you're looking for a walkable and centric area that also offers a little more peace and quiet than the fast-paced area of Condado. What's also great about Ocean Park is that you'll never be more than one or two blocks away from the incredible food options at Calle Loiza.

MIRAMAR

Next up on this list is the beautiful community of Miramar. Miramar is known as one of the more affluent areas of all Santurce and is characterized for its historic and architecturally unique houses and buildings. Here you will find many gastronomical offerings that range from food trucks to fine dining.

What's great about Miramar is that it's pleasantly walkable so you'll be able to go from grabbing a delicious latte at Gustos Coffee to walking all the way over to the other side of Miramar for a delicious dinner or even walk all the way down to the Condado lagoon to take a refreshing dip in the water. You'll also find that because Miramar is a sub-barrio of Santurce, it is also home to local art galleries and museums.

RIO PIEDRAS

As we get closer to the end of this video, we also get closer to the two most surprising spots on this list. If you're looking for a more authentic and culturally rich hangout spot, you might want to consider Rio Piedras, specifically the area located near the Universidad de Puerto Rico. On Wednesday or Thursdays you'll find university students casually hanging out near the Avenida Universidad at places like El Bori dancing the night away to salsa and merengue or even dancing and playing bomba, a traditional dance and music style that originated from our African ancestors' need for expression.

Although this area has the potential to offer you one of the most rewarding nights out, away from all the tourist traps you generally see in touristic areas, it is potentially more dangerous if you do not know exactly where to go. For this reason, I suggest that you first do your research and maybe bring a local friend or relative if you want to hang out in Rio Piedras.

ISLA VERDE

And last on this list, but not least is the beachfront community of Isla Verde. The reason that Isla Verde is the very last spot on this list is that it is not actually in the municipality of San Juan. Isla Verde, as well as Puerto Rico's SJU airport are actually located in the municipality of Carolina, which is right next to San Juan. However, because of its proximity to the airport, its saturation of hotels and its beautiful and calm beaches, Isla Verde is a great place for visitors to stay and start their adventure in Puerto Rico. Similar to Condado, Isla Verde is very walkable and is full of restaurants and bars that cater to the tourists that visit the island. However, these two spots differ in that Condado is much more pleasant for walking around than Isla Verde, but Isla Verde has calmer and overall better beaches than the ones you'll find in Condado and even Ocean Park, so you'll need to make some decisions if you're debating between these two places for accommodations.

And that’s it! But, before wrapping up I just wanted to remind everyone that, even though you can easily spend your whole trip to Puerto Rico just visiting all the amazing places in San Juan, you definitely NEED to get out of the San Juan area to visit even more breathtaking and unique places all around the island. If you want to explore the common and uncommon parts of Puerto Rico, consider watching the travel guides on my YouTube channel where I help you explore the natural, historic and cultural attractions all around the island.

I hope you found this travel guide helpful. Make sure to check out my YouTube channel, Brik’s Travel Guides, to see the full video of this and other Puerto Rico travel guides.

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