Hostels in SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

San Juan – Puerto Rico’s Historical and Entertainment Centre

San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico, is one of Caribbean’s best harbour cities and is popular for its historical monuments and nightlife.

History
The city’s history goes back to 1508 when its first settlements were established. After a year, the settlements were moved to a new site which is now referred as Old San Juan. The city was officially christened in 1521. The city served as a departure point for Spanish expeditions during the 16th century. Till 1746, the entire island was called San Juan and the settlement as San Juan, exactly opposite to their references as of today. The city was bombed by U.S Navy ships in 1898 as part of the Spanish-American war. In July 1898, the island as well as the city became part of the United States.

Popular Places and Attractions
The plazas of San Juan are most popular amongst tourists. It has more than 400 Spanish colonial structures belonging to the 16th and 17th century. Ponce de Leon’s bronze statue at Plaza de San Jose, the Arms Square, Ceramic-Granite sculptures at Quincentennial Square, Columbus Square with its Columbus statue, Procession Plaza and the natural beauty at Central Park, Pigeon Park, Marti Coll Linera Park and Munoz Rivera Park are some of other popular attractions here.

The fortresses of Castillo San Cristobal (World Heritage Site), El Morro with its garitas, San Geronimo with its military museum and La Fortaleza display the city’s historical importance. Some other popular monuments in the city are Alcadia, El Capitolio, San Juan Cathedral, Cristo Chapel, San Jose Church, Puerto Rico Casino, Pablo Casals Museum, Museum of History and Art, Casa Blanca ethnographic Museum, Casa Rosada and Museo Del Indio showcase the cultural aspects of the city and its rich history. The list is endless. There are several other cultural and historical centres in the city responsible for it being a major commercial and tourist centre of the Caribbean as well as the Americas.

Getting Around
Rented cars, taxis, buses and urban trains are the various modes of transportation available for getting around San Juan, a good guide is to keep some small notes and change handy to pay for your travel.

Places for Entertainment
Nightlife in San Juan is full of Latin salsa, jazz and rum drinks. Local bands and party parades offer musical performances from one bar to another all through the night. Pubs and nightclubs along Calle Forteleza and San Sebastian are major party venues. Some live music shows and bars also arrange drink specials. The San Sebastian street festival of January is an ideal time to visit the city. Cafes, restaurants, lounges, sports bars and dance clubs are few other places for entertainment in the city. Beautiful women and lively dancing are the major attractions of San Juan’s nightlife.

Plays, concerts, operas, theatres, art centres, walking tours, rum tours, segway tours along with riding lessons as well as audio and segway guide and Pinones Reserve with its sub-tropical forests, beaches and nesting sites of sea turtles are also good entertainment avenues.

Accommodation
Budget hotels, beachfront resorts, youth hostels, guesthouse, apartments, inns, condos and rented houses are available in San Juan for fulfilling tourist accommodation requirements.

Currency
As Puerto Rico is a U.S territory, U.S Dollar is the official currency used in San Juan. Bureaux de change and banks offer currency exchange services. Traveller’s cheques, credit cards and debit cards are also widely accepted, for the latest exchange rates check the news and internet.

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