San Juan is a capital city with many distinct neighbourhoods nearby. Driving here allows you to experience everything from the 16th-century streets of Old San Juan to the modern beachfront avenues of Condado in one trip. One moment you’re cruising past colonial fortresses, the next you’re coasting along palm-lined beaches. For travellers, renting a car means you can plan your own route, linger where you like, and easily access the best places to visit in San Juan. Keep reading to plan your San Juan road trip.
Neighbourhoods in San Juan are linked by main roads and coastal avenues, making it convenient to drive between them. In just a few minutes, you can go from one barrio’s cobblestone lanes to another’s modern boulevards. Major thoroughfares, such as Avenida Juan Ponce de León and the Baldorioty de Castro Expressway, connect areas including Old San Juan, Santurce, Condado, Miramar, and Isla Verde.
Driving into Old San Juan feels like exploring a living museum of colonial history. This compact, walled district is famous for its cobblestone streets, pastel-coloured Spanish colonial buildings, and coastal fortifications. As you cross the short bridge onto the San Juan islet, the city’s 500-year-old heritage immediately comes into view. Driving here requires patience, as many streets are narrow, one-way, and slow-moving.
Parking is limited on the streets, especially later in the day, so consider using one of the public parking garages located around the edge of the old city. These garages are within a short walking distance of the main attractions. However, you can arrive early in the morning to find street parking.
Once parked, Old San Juan is best explored on foot. Highlights include the imposing fortresses of El Morro and San Cristóbal, both UNESCO-listed sites that once protected the city from sea and land attacks. Their massive walls and ramparts offer sweeping views over the Atlantic and San Juan Bay. From the forts, you can stroll along Norzagaray Street or continue to Paseo de la Princesa, a scenic waterfront promenade lined with lanterns, trees, and historic city gates.
Just east of Old San Juan lies Condado, an upscale beachfront district full of resorts. Driving through Condado takes you along Ashford Avenue, the neighbourhood’s main thoroughfare. Here, the Atlantic Ocean runs parallel to stylish high-rise hotels, boutiques, and restaurants.
The area is distinctly luxurious, with designer shops, trendy cafés, and casinos housed inside major resort hotels. Many side streets offer quick glimpses of turquoise water or views across the Condado Lagoon. Parking requires some planning, especially on weekends. Street parking is limited and time-restricted, so using one of the public parking garages attached to large hotels is the most convenient option.
Ashford Avenue is ideal for strolling, with shopping and beachfront cafés during the day and a lively nightlife scene after sunset. Cocktail lounges, music venues, and clubs attract both visitors and locals. For a calmer break from the bustle, drive to Ventana al Mar, a seaside park in the heart of Condado. From here, you can enjoy ocean views, shaded walkways, and a local atmosphere.
If you want to experience San Juan’s creative, urban side, Santurce is the place to go. Located just east of Condado, this large district is the city’s artistic and bohemian heart. Here, street art, music, food, and everyday local life come together. Driving through Santurce offers a glimpse of the “real” San Juan. The main roads, such as Avenida Ponce de León and Fernández Juncos, are wider and easier to navigate than the narrow streets of Old San Juan.
One of the biggest advantages of having a car here is you can explore Santurce’s distinct sub-neighbourhoods. Calle Cerra is famous for its vibrant murals. You can slowly drive by the murals and cruise along Cerra and nearby streets to admire large-scale artworks covering entire buildings.
Santurce is also a major food and nightlife hub. With a car, it’s easy to move between hotspots like La Placita de Santurce, which transforms from a daytime market into a lively nightlife scene after dark. Another highlight is Calle Loíza, a long avenue packed with independent restaurants, cafés, bakeries, and bars that reflect the neighbourhood’s creative spirit. Parking can be tight, but there are side streets and paid lots.
For a quieter cultural stop, drive to the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, which has convenient parking and offers an excellent overview of Puerto Rican art. Santurce rewards curiosity, and exploring it by car lets you experience more of its dynamic, evolving character at your own pace.
Miramar is a small neighbourhood tucked between Santurce and Old San Juan. Think of it as a bridge between the historic core and the modern Condado area. Exploring Miramar by car is easy, thanks to its relaxed residential feel and orderly street layout. The area is renowned for its early 20th-century Spanish Revival architecture, featuring elegant homes, leafy avenues, and restored buildings that immediately distinguish it from the nearby busier districts.
One of the main routes is Avenida Miramar, which cuts through the heart of the neighbourhood. Slowly drive along this road to admire well-preserved houses and boutique hotels housed in historic properties. While some streets are one-way, signage is clear. A short loop around the area reveals excellent restaurants, a gourmet supermarket, and an arthouse cinema, all hinting at Miramar’s cultured and creative side.
Within minutes, you can reach the Puerto Rico Convention Center or the entertainment complex on Miramar’s western edge. Within the neighbourhood, stop at the Museo de Arte y Diseño de Miramar, a small but engaging museum dedicated to local art and design. For a scenic pause, drive towards the Condado Lagoon side of Miramar, where calm waters, kayakers, and cooling breezes create a peaceful contrast to the city streets. Pull over near Jaime Benítez Park to enjoy lagoon views and photograph the skyline reflected on the water.
Driving in Miramar is stress-free. Traffic is lighter than in Condado or Old San Juan, and street parking is easier to find, especially outside peak commuting hours. Its central location also makes Miramar an ideal base. Old San Juan is only about a 5 to 10-minute drive, while Santurce and Condado are just as close.
Last but not least, your driving tour of San Juan should include Isla Verde, a resort-focused coastal area known for its beautiful beaches. It is only about a 10 to 15-minute drive east of Condado. If you are arriving or departing via Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, you will almost certainly pass through it.
Driving into Isla Verde is different from the historic or residential districts. You will notice rows of tall beachfront hotels and modern condominiums on one side, with wide, palm-lined beaches on the other. The road is broader and busier than inner-city streets, but it is well-maintained. As you cruise along, you can catch flashes of turquoise water between buildings, and with the windows down, the sea breeze makes it unmistakably tropical. Isla Verde Beach, often considered the best urban beach in Puerto Rico.
Many beachfront areas and resorts offer public or paid parking, including the Balneario de Carolina, where a large car park sits right next to the sand. Hotels along the strip typically have garages that non-guests can also use for a fee. Drive east along PR-187 into Piñones, where the polished resort strip gives way to a more rustic and local coastal landscape. This road hugs the shoreline, passing through mangroves, coconut palms, and quieter beaches. Piñones is famous for its roadside food kiosks, where you can sample traditional snacks like alcapurrias, bacalaítos, or pinchos in a casual, open-air setting.
Using a car to navigate San Juan’s neighbourhoods gives you flexibility, but be prepared for local driving conditions and customs. Here are some practical tips to ensure a smooth ride as you explore:
Exploring San Juan by car opens up a world of possibilities that you might miss by sticking to one spot. Each neighbourhood offers a unique slice of Puerto Rican culture and scenery. You can start your morning with a café con leche in a colonial plaza, spend your afternoon swimming at a city beach, and end your night dancing to salsa rhythms. Along the way, you’ll likely discover a viewpoint, a bakery, a piece of street art, or a friendly conversation with a local.
Rent a car in San Juan with Final Rentals to enjoy the flexibility, make spontaneous stops, and immerse yourself in the sights. With Final Rentals, booking a car online is fast and simple. Select Luis Munoz Marin International Airport as your pickup location, enter your travel dates, and choose a vehicle for your trip. Book and manage your car rental at any time. Download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
