San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan travel guide

Caribbean beaches, no passport required

Find flights to San Juan See fares from $101

Airports: SJU Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Region: Hawaii & Alaska
Best time to visit: December–April is dry and busy; late April–June and November offer good weather with lower fares.
Shortest flight: 2h 35m from Miami
Round trips from: $101 (live)
Time zone: America/Puerto Rico

About San Juan

Old San Juan is a 500-year-old walled city of pastel buildings, two Spanish forts (El Morro and San Cristóbal) and rooftop bars. Condado and Isla Verde are the beach-hotel strips; Santurce has the murals, food and nightlife; and the island beyond — El Yunque rainforest, the bioluminescent bays, Culebra and Vieques — is within a couple of hours.

Getting in: Luis Muñoz Marín International is in Carolina, 15 minutes from Condado and 25 from Old San Juan. Taxis use fixed zones ($12–$25 to the beach areas and Old San Juan); rideshares are also available. A rental car is worth it for El Yunque and the west coast; parking in Old San Juan is scarce, so pick it up when you leave the city.

Stay in Old San Juan for history and nightlife, Condado for walkable beaches and restaurants, or Isla Verde for the widest beach near the airport. Mofongo, tostones and a beachside piña colada (invented here) cost $12–$25; fine dining in Santurce and Condado runs $50–$80 per person. Tip 15–20%. Puerto Rico uses US dollars and US electrical outlets, and no passport is needed for US citizens.

Best time to visit

December–April is dry and busy; late April–June and November offer good weather with lower fares. August–October is hurricane season and the cheapest.

Where to stay

Neighborhoods our travelers like: Old San Juan, Condado, Isla Verde, Santurce, Ocean Park.

Flights to San Juan: typical round-trip fares

What economy round trips to SJU usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.

From	Flight time	Typical fare	Lowest live fare	Actions
New York (JFK)	3h 55m	$178	$135 · Wed, Oct 7	Search dates →
Miami (MIA)	2h 35m	$158	$101 · Tue, Oct 13	Search dates →
Chicago (ORD)	4h 50m	$228	$174 · Wed, Nov 18	Search dates →
Atlanta (ATL)	3h 35m	$198	$134 · Tue, Oct 6	Search dates →
Boston (BOS)	4h 10m	$198	$134 · Tue, Oct 6	Search dates →
Dallas (DFW)	4h 50m	$268	$190 · Wed, Oct 7	Search dates →

Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.

Airports in San Juan

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)San Juan · Large hubSJU

What to do in San Juan

The places our editors send first-time visitors.

1
Old San Juan
Walk the walls between El Morro and San Cristóbal (one $10 ticket covers both), then Calle Fortaleza and the Paseo de la Princesa at sunset.
2
El Yunque National Forest
The only tropical rainforest in the US forest system, 45 minutes east; waterfalls, the Yokahú tower and short hikes.
3
Bioluminescent bays
Kayak Laguna Grande in Fajardo or Mosquito Bay on Vieques (the brightest in the world) on a moonless night.
4
Culebra's Flamenco Beach
A ferry or 30-minute flight to one of the finest beaches in the Caribbean.
5
Santurce and La Placita
The city's creative district: murals, the museum of art, and Thursday–Saturday street parties around the market.

San Juan weather by season

Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.

Winter

83° / 72°

Dry, breezy — peak season.

Spring

86° / 74°

Warm and mostly dry; great value in May.

Summer

89° / 78°

Hot, humid, brief showers.

Fall

87° / 76°

Hurricane season peaks; lowest fares.

Travel tips for San Juan

No passport needed for US citizens — a REAL ID or driver's license and a boarding pass will do.
Taxis from the airport use fixed zone rates; confirm the price before you get in.
Book bioluminescent bay tours for nights with no moon; the difference is dramatic.
Old San Juan hotels are charming but parking is scarce and streets are steep; rent a car only for the days you leave town.
Hurricane season runs June–November; September is the riskiest month and the cheapest.

San Juan flights: frequently asked questions

Do I need a passport to fly to Puerto Rico?

No. Puerto Rico is a US territory, so US citizens travel with the same ID they'd use for a domestic flight — a REAL ID-compliant license or a passport.

How do I get from the San Juan airport to Old San Juan?

It's about 25 minutes by taxi (fixed zone rate around $25) or rideshare. Condado and Isla Verde are closer — 10–15 minutes and $12–$20.

Is Puerto Rico safe for tourists?

Tourist areas — Old San Juan, Condado, Isla Verde, Santurce's main strips — are busy and well-patrolled. Use standard precautions at night and keep valuables off the beach.