What are the best places to stay in San Juan? It depends on your travel style. Here’s what Puerto Rican locals said about the pros and cons of each neighborhood, including budgeting, nightlife, and specific recs on things to do. 

Old San Juan

Locals tell us that Old San Juan is one place you have to visit in Puerto Rico. Beautiful and romantic, this area is packed with colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, Spanish forts, and legendary restaurants. Well-traveled by tourists, it's a place where some local insights can come in handy. Here's what our trip planners say are the advantages and disadvantages of staying in Old San Juan:

Advantages

• Proximity to some of Puerto Rico’s most popular attractions, like the del Morro and San Cristobal forts, La Fortaleza, and Paseo de la Princesa.
• The area is beautiful, charming, and safe.
• You'll find lots of incredible restaurants—locals tell us Cafe El Punto is great for traditional Puerto Rican food. 
• There are plenty of lodging options, for any kind of travel package.
• English is widely spoken.
• The area is walkable. 

Disadvantages

• Old San Juan is full of tourist attractions, which means it can be hard to discover the soul of the neighborhood. Don't get stuck in a tourist trap. Our trip planners can steer you towards locally beloved shops and restaurants.
• The hotels can be on the pricier side (average $175–$300 per night).
• The roads are narrow (they were made for horses!).

Condado

Locals tell us that Condado has a reputation as San Juan’s glitziest neighborhood (think Miami Beach). And since the whole neighborhood/beach stretch is one of Puerto Rico’s major attractions, you’ll be sure to find popping nightlife and daytime beach parties no matter what time of year you visit.

Advantages

• Centrally located. It's only a 15-minute walk to historic San Juan and a 10-minute walk to La Placita de Santurce (one of the city’s most popular places to visit).
• Condado is full of beachfront hotels and 4- and 5-star restaurants.
• There are countless boutiques and great luxury shopping on Avenida Ashford.
• The neighborhood is one of the safer neighborhoods in the city.

Disadvantages

• There’s less flexibility in meal and outing choices if you want to stay in the neighborhood.
• Condado accommodations can run $290–$500 a night for the high-end hotels.
• You'll probably end up taking a lot of Ubers to go elsewhere—unless you want to spend your whole vacation on the beach.
• Some of Condado's hotels were damaged in the hurricane, but almost everything is back to normal.

Santurce

Our trip planners tell us that Santruce is one of the best places to stay in Puerto Rico if you want to soak up the island’s hipster culture—here you'll find great nightlife, colorful street art, and plenty of hip restaurants. 

Advantages

• The hotels and Airbnbs (average $70–$90 a night) are considerably cheaper than in Old San Juan.
• The neighborhood is less touristy than Old San Juan
• You'll find tons of beautiful murals, galleries, shops, and super-trendy bars.
• La Placita de Santurce is an excellent nightlife hub.
• It’s a popular area for food trucks, street food, and cheap beer.

Disadvantages

• Santurce can get sketchy at night—you should use taxis or Uber to get around.
• Santurce's location can make it difficult to walk to other areas of the city—especially at night.
• You'll find fewer accommodation options.
• The neighborhood can get really loud on the weekends.

Hato Rey

A financial and urban hub, locals say that Hato Rey is known for its baseball games, concert scenes, and gorgeous parks. It’s an ideal place to visit in Puerto Rico if you're looking to enjoy the island like the locals do.

Advantages

• There are great spots for indoor, rainy-day activities like Plaza Las Americas and the Milla de Oro, the island’s largest shopping center.
• It’s home to the Hiram Bithorn Stadium (the place to catch a baseball game) and plenty of concerts at Coliseo de Puerto Rico.
• The neighborhood hosts the Heineken Beer Festival and similar events year-round.

Disadvantages

• It’s mainly a business district—there are plenty of skyscrapers, but few accommodations.
• The hotels are oriented to brief business travel, not week-long vacations.
• It’s located pretty far south, so you’ll have to Uber everywhere.
• While Hato Rey itself is safe, it’s easy to accidentally wander into areas that are a little more sketchy.

Ocean Park

Just as its name implies, Ocean Park has sublime views of the Caribbean, tropical breezes, and clean beaches. Since it’s mostly upscale housing, Ocean Park is one of the safest places to travel right now—perfect for mingling with locals worry-free. Here's what our local trip planners say are the advantages and disadvantages of staying in Ocean Park.

Advantages

• You can find Airbnbs at only $35 per night, and great hotels on the beach.
• The beaches are fantastic—big, clean, and beautiful.
• The beaches are less crowded than those in Condado.

Disadvantages

• Ocean Park is a more residential area, so there are fewer restaurants and nightlife options.
• Less entertainment-oriented than Condado or Old San Juan, the neighborhood is really centered around hotels.
• You need to take Uber to most other parts of the city.

Rio Piedras

Brimming with tropical gardens and coffee shops, Rio Piedras is home base for the University of San Juan. If you're looking to get off-the-beaten-path in Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a good choice, but it's definitely a place where you'll want to get some local recommendations. Our trip planners can give suggestions on how to explore this area. 

Advantages

• Low-key college town vibes.
• Safe and residential area.
• Rio Piedras is home to Jardin Botanico, some of Puerto Rico’s most extensive botanical gardens.
• You'll find some great farmers markets in this area.

Disadvantages

• It’s a 30-minute drive to Old San Juan.
• The restaurants are just ok—you'll find better options closer to the city center.
• Rio Piedras is located in the southern area of San Juan, so you aren’t going to want to walk far out of the neighborhood.

Miramar

Right on the sea, locals say that Miramar is a great place to visit for those looking for a little adventure. Miramar is one of San Juan’s smaller barrios, but with kayak tours, sailing, and deep-sea fishing, you could easily add a few days in Miramar to a Puerto Rico itinerary.

Advantages

• Location—it’s right on the sea, so it’s perfect for spending time on the waves.
• Locals say Miramar is full of hidden gems like the haunted Teatro Tapia and classy Casita Miramar.
• You can easily walk to Condado and Old San Juan if you know what routes to avoid.
• Aside from being kitty-corner to some of Puerto Rico’s best beaches, it’s also got great views of the Condado Lagoon and San Juan Bay.

Disadvantages

• It’s mostly residential—there are only a few restaurants and hotels to choose from.
• There’s not much to do in the neighborhood itself as far as nightlife goes.
• You might end up most of your time outside of the neighborhood.