Where to Stay in San Juan, By an Area Local

5 Best Neighborhoods and Areas to Stay in San Juan

San Juan is the capital city and the best place for first-timers to stay in Puerto Rico. It has 18 different official neighborhoods.

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

Whether you’re looking for a beachfront hotel or luxury resort, 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 • Caribe Hilton • CasaBlanca Hotel

The historic district of Old San Juan is the prime location to stay in the capital city to be a few steps from many popular attractions, including La Fortaleza, Castillo San Cristóbal, Paseo de La Princesa, and the infamous El Morro.

You’ll find some of the top San Juan accommodations here, including luxury hotels like El Convento, which, despite being one of the oldest members of Historic Hotels of America, offers modern amenities and top-notch service. 

The Caribe Hilton is considered one of the best hotels in the historical city for its beachfront location. In fact, it has the only real (and lawful!) private beach in Puerto Rico. While it’s a bit farther from the historical fortresses, you’ll enjoy the extra amenities like the tropical gardens, the nine restaurants, and the spa. And it’s right by Escambrón Beach!

For budget travelers, Old San Juan also has plenty of accommodations. Although small, CasaBlanca offers comfort and a central location for an affordable price. Hostels are also common in the area. The Juliette Hostel is a women-only hostel with amenities perfect for digital nomads.

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
• Lively nightlife
• Multiple transportation options
• Lots of Puerto Rico tour options

Con of Staying in Old San Juan:

• Pricey hotels and restaurants
• 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

For travelers taking a family vacation in Puerto Rico, I recommend staying in Condado, an oceanfront resort community part of the Santurce neighborhood.

Condado offers visitors accommodation options within all types of budgets, and it houses some of the best hotels in San Juan including luxury hotels like Condado Vanderbilt or the Olive Boutique Hotel.

Families will find familiar suites, pools, game rooms, and bike rentals in the hotels in this area, which means both kids and adults can enjoy their stay.

If you’re traveling with a family without kids, you’ll find plenty of adult-friendly hotels in Condado, among which I recommend  Condado Ocean Club, with bars, restaurants, and shops within the hotel.

La Concha Renaissance Resort has something fun for everyone. While kids love the pool, the adults rave about the casino. Add to all the numerous restaurants and food kiosks within the same hotel, and you have a great vacation without having to leave the hotel.

Hilton Garden Inn and O:LV Fifty Five Hotel are by the Condado Lagoon, where you can practice fun watersports like kayaking and paddleboarding. Plus, you can easily walk to the beach or stroll through Ventana al Mar.

Keep in mind, however, that Condado Beach isn’t considered a safe beach for swimming.

Pros of Staying in Condado:

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

Con of Staying in Condado:

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

Isla Grande and Miramar

👉 Best Area For Business Travelers | ✨ Best Isla Grande and Miramar Hotels: Aloft San Juan • Courtyard by Marriott San Juan Miramar • Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino

Miramar and Isla Grande are sub-barrios of Santurce in San Juan. Both are next to each other, and you’ll often move between them without realizing it.

These two neighborhoods are my top recommendations for staying in San Juan if you’re traveling for business purposes and want to avoid the most touristy parts of the city.

Miramar and Isla Grande have some of the best hotels in the capital city for business travelers like the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, prepared with meeting rooms, desks, wifi, and audiovisual gear that will make your business trip run smoothly.

Nearby, the Aloft San Juan is located within the T-Mobile District and has a perfect location to attend conventions in the Convention Center, while having access to numerous entertainment options.

Similarly, the Courtyard by Marriott San Juan Miramar caters to business travelers in the San Juan area with lots of restaurants, museums, and bars.

Isla Grande and Miramar are by Puerto Rico’s Convention Center and the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport, which receives regional and private flights.

Pros of Staying in Isla Grande and 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 Isla Grande and Miramar:

• You need to ride a car to get to the San Juan beaches
• Limited hotel offer

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. The Numero Uno Beach House is located right on the beach.

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

On and near this infamous nightlife spot you’ll find numerous hotels and apartment rentals including Dream Inn PR, Trópica Beach Hotel, or DUNA by DW. The DoubleTree by Hilton is a renowned hotel brand, also located at the beginning of Calle Loíza.

For adventurers on a budget, Nomada Urban Beach Hostel and Conturce Hostel are popular economic alternatives right in Calle Loiza. 

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
• Some areas can feel unsafe at night

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 your go-to location if you’re looking for where to stay near San Juan, but close to the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport. Plus, both cities are a short ride from each other.

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

I particularly recommend the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel for its multiple amenities including a gym, wellness center, multiple restaurants, and pools.

The TRYP by Windham and the Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort are more in the mid-range budget, but are also centrally located, and have all the amenities you’ll need for a comfortable stay. This last hotel is also near Carolina’s Public Beach and a short ride from Puerto Rico’s foodie’s paradise, Piñones.

In this area, couples and honeymooners particularly enjoy strolling down Isla Verde Beach, eating in fine-dining restaurants, or dancing the night away in 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

Cons 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.

See my guide to the best restaurants in San Juan for more advice on where you really need to eat.

Don’t Go Mindlessly into La Perla

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

Although San Juan is safe, if you choose to visit, I would recommend visiting 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 neighborhoods and Carolina and to visit other cities of Puerto Rico.

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

FAQs

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 mountainous range 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.

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That’s it for this guide! Make sure to check out my list of the best day trips from San Juan, so you don’t miss a single experience in Puerto Rico! If you’re planning to spend more time in the area, make sure to see my guide to where to stay in Puerto Rico, too!