As you wander the streets of Old San Juan, hundreds of years of history are apparent in the old walls, historic buildings, and large forts. Spanish settlers found the San Juan Bay in the early 1500’s and construction of fortifications began shortly after. Additions and repairs to standing forts and the building of new fortification structures occurred throughout time as the city grew and invasions threatened the settlement. When exploring the city, we definitely recommend taking the time to visit one or more of the San Juan Forts to learn more about key aspects of Puerto Rico‘s history.
We’ll give more visiting tips and details about the individual forts and other fortification structures below.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro
The construction of Castillo San Felipe del Morro began in 1539 by the Spanish. It was strategically placed at the mouth of the San Juan Bay, protecting the area from intruders approaching by sea. El Morro successfully guarded much of the area against English and Dutch attacks until the Americans breached the defenses during Spanish-American war in the 1890s. The Americans used El Morro as a military base during the two world wars. In 1983, it became a World Heritage Site.
Today, visitors can walk through the soldiers’ quarters, sentry posts, and other parts of the fort to learn more about its military history and construction and take in the great views over San Juan from atop the fort walls. We visited El Morro after Castillo San Cristóbal and really enjoyed the ocean and city views, exploring the various rooms of the fort, and taking in the informational displays here.
Fees:
Entrance costs $10 USD per adult payable at the entrance by card. This ticket is valid for 24 hours and covers access to both El Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal.
Alternatively, entrance is covered by the America the Beautiful annual parks pass. It costs $80 per year, but it may be worth it if you explore a lot of federal parks, monuments, and recreation sites in the U.S. and territories. Learn more about the pass and additional discounts or buy your pass online here. We brought our pass to Puerto Rico with us and it covered the fort entrance fee for four of us.
Hours:
Castillo San Felipe del Morro is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. For holiday hours and updates, check the park website.
Paseo del Morro, a path that winds below the fort walls along the coast, is free to walk and can be accessed 24/7.
Getting There:
El Morro sits on the far northern end of Old San Juan. It’s pretty easy to spot this huge structure sitting atop a hill overlooking the sea. As you walk through old town, you’ll come to a wide open stretch of grass just by the fort. If you take a taxi, this is where they’ll drop you off. Follow the long path up to the fort, which will lead to the entrance where you’ll buy your ticket.
For more info on parking in Old San Juan, see the notes section below.
Castillo San Cristóbal
After various attacks by the British and Dutch, the Spanish felt the need to build Castillo San Cristóbal. This fort was built along with other fortification system improvements around San Juan to protect the city from land intrusions in the east. Construction of Castillo San Cristóbal began in the 1630s, and by the 1650s, the entire city was surrounded by a wall. Castillo San Cristóbal was the largest fortress built in the Americas.
Today, this fort also contains interesting displays highlighting the history of the building and showcases some weaponry and a little insight to what life was like for soldiers back then. Castillo San Cristóbal also has dungeons where weaponry and supplies were stored and prisoners were kept. Sadly this feature was closed when we visited due to the pandemic and lack of ventilation down there. From the upper walls, the views over the coast and city are beautiful!
Fees:
Entrance costs $10 USD per adult payable at the entrance by card. This ticket is valid for 24 hours and covers access to both El Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal.
The entrance to Castillo San Cristóbal is also covered by the America the Beautiful Pass.
Hours:
Castillo San Cristóbal is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. For holiday hours and updates, check the park website.
Getting There:
Castillo San Cristóbal is located along the coast on the east end of Old San Juan. The entrance is just off Calle Norzagaray where there is a ramp leading up to the entry point. There, you can buy your tickets.
This was our first stop of the day as it was close to our parking spot and we wanted to beat the heat and crowds. For more information on parking in Old San Juan, see the notes section below.
Fortín San Juan de la Cruz
Across the bay from Castillo San Felipe del Morro is Fortín San Juan de la Cruz, or El Cañuelo. This small fort was first built with wood in 1608 and was designed to protect the mouth of Río Bayamón and provide supporting canon fire to El Morro when intruders approached the bay. After suffering damages, the Spanish rebuilt El Cañuelo of stone. In the 1800s, this small, isolated fort was supposedly used to quarantine those with infectious diseases, like cholera, that were quickly spreading though the city during the time.
When we were in San Juan, visitors could not enter Fortín San Juan de la Cruz. However, there has been some word about the city planning to clean up the area, implementing more repairs, and the NPS offering occasional tours of the fort. If you do choose to make your way out to this little fort before then, there are some informational signs and great views of El Morro across the bay.
Fees:
It costs $4 USD to park at and access Isla de Cabras where the fort is located.
If the National Park Service opens the fort for touring, there will likely be additional fees.
Hours:
Isla de Cabras park is open Wednesday through Sunday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. September through April and daily 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. May through August.
Getting There:
Fortín San Juan de la Cruz is not located in Old San Juan. So you’ll have to make your way around the San Juan Bay towards Casa Bacardí off PR-165/Avenida El Caño. If coming from Old San Juan, pass Casa Bacardí and exit onto road 870, or Calle Manuel Enrique, continuing until you reach the island.
Once you pass the entrance station on Isla de Cabras, there is a parking area near the fort.
The San Juan Gate
The San Juan Gate, or Puerta de San Juan, is one of the couple remaining gates in the old fort walls that once surrounded the city. This particular gate was once one of the main entrances to the city.
Upon walking through the gate, you’ll be greeted by beautiful views of the bay with the old walls lining it. Paseo del Morro, the path mentioned above, winds along the coast below these walls and leads to the base of Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
Fees:
There are no fees to see and walk through the San Juan Gate.
Hours:
The Puerta de San Juan is accessible 24 hours. If you want to walk the coastal path, note that there is a gate at the other end of Paseo del Morro where it begins at El Morro fort that is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Getting There:
The San Juan Gate is located on the west side of Old San Juan here. The area around the gate is quite nice for a stroll with the path leading along the coast and quaint cobblestone streets nearby.
La Fortaleza
La Fortaleza was actually the first fort built in San Juan in 1537. It was built in a poor location to provide much protection over the bay, so construction of Castillo San Felipe del Morro began shortly after. British and Dutch forces destroyed La Fortaleza, but in the 1840s, it was rebuilt to serve as the home of the governor. It still serves that purpose today.
Visitors can take a 30-minute guided walking tour of the mansion and gardens to learn more about its history and the history of San Juan. Inquire about available tours for your intended visiting date at tours@fortaleza.pr.gov. This was another attraction that was closed when we visited San Juan. There was a large police presence that didn’t allow us to even approach the the mansion.
Fees:
Tours are free, but must be reserved in advance.
Hours:
Guided tours are offered Monday through Friday between 8:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Because this is an official government building, holiday hours may be limited and the mansion can be closed for official operations.
Getting There:
La Fortaleza sits near the coast not far south of the San Juan Gate. It marks the west end of Calle de la Fortaleza, a famous San Juan street lined with colorful buildings, shops, cafes, and unique decorations sometimes hanging overhead.
For more information on parking in Old San Juan, see the notes section below.
What to Bring to Visit the San Juan Forts
Card or Parks Pass: Needed to buy tickets to enter the fort. The annual parks pass will cover entrance at El Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal. If you purchase a ticket at one fort and want to visit the other, make sure you hang on to it!
ID: You may be asked to present your ID with your parks pass. If you are over 21, you need to present an ID to visit La Fortaleza.
Cash: You may need some cash for parking in Old San Juan, tipping tour guides, etc.
Sun Protection: You may want sunscreen, a hat, and/or sunglasses when walking around San Juan and the outdoor areas of the forts.
Comfortable Walking Shoes: When exploring the forts, you’ll likely be walking many stairs, ramps, and cobblestone walkways, so wear comfortable shoes.
Camera: In case you want to snap some photos of these unique historical spots.
Water
Light Jacket: If visiting during cooler times of year, you may want a light jacket because it can get quite windy atop the forts.
Extra Notes on Visiting the San Juan Forts
Regulations
- Help preserve the forts – please do not climb on the walls and other parts of these historical structures.
- You may bring your pet to the grounds around the forts on a leash. Only service animals are allowed inside the forts.
- Food and drink (other than water) are not allowed in the forts.
- Drones are not permitted within park boundaries.
Parking in Old San Juan
It can be a bit difficult to find parking in Old San Juan. There are both free and metered street parking spots, but the free ones generally fill up early in the morning and are hard to come by. There are also several parking garages in the area. We parked at the Covadonga parking garage not far south of Castillo San Cristóbal. It was around $5 for the day.
We parked there for the full day and just walked around the old town area. With the exception of Fortín San Juan de la Cruz, you can visit and walk between all of the above attractions in a day with time to fit in other activities in Old San Juan. To visit Fortín San Juan de la Cruz, we’d recommend driving over there or taking an Uber or taxi.
If parking isn’t available in the old town vicinity, you may need to park a bit further and walk into the area or take a taxi or Uber in. This San Juan webpage has more details on various parking options in the Old San Juan area and beyond.
Which of the San Juan Forts Should You Visit if You Have to Pick One?
If you only have the time to visit one of the forts, we’d recommend Castillo San Felipe del Morro. This fort is close to other Old San Juan highlights, provides a great historical overview though the displays, and offers beautiful views over the city and coast. You can also get a good look at the fort from the path and grassy spaces outside the building if you aren’t planning on visiting the interior. For these reasons, it is also the most popular.
Honestly though, between El Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal, we think you can’t really go wrong in picking one or the other. But of course, if you have the time, we’d say explore both!
Tours
If you’d like a deeper dive into the history of the San Juan Forts, a tour is a great option. There are tours on sites, such as Viator and Get Your Guide, that include a visit to the forts in addition to other highlights. Or, you can attend a ranger-led tour offered directly at the forts. Reach out to the National Park Service for more information.
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