Old San Juan

Historic district with colonial architecture, restaurants, and nightlife. Safe and walkable with heavy police presence, but tourist prices and pickpockets in crowds.

Five hundred years of colonial architecture on blue cobblestone streets with fortresses overlooking the water. During the day it's packed with cruise ship passengers, street vendors, and families - lots of police and tourist patrols around. Things change at sunset when the cruise people leave and locals fill the bars and restaurants on Calle San Sebastián. La Factoria and other cocktail spots get crowded with a mix of tourists and San Juan residents. You'll see people dining alone regularly - reading at cafes or working on laptops between meals. The whole area is walkable and compact. Tourist Police are helpful and speak English. Main streets stay busy until midnight and feel safe, but don't wander down empty side streets late. It has actual history and character, though everything costs tourist prices.