San Juan, the rainbow-hued capital of Puerto Rico, is a vibrant hub for music, food and culture, and the best way to explore is to roam its fascinating, fun-filled neighborhoods.

In Old San Juan, the sounds of salsa and 谤别驳驳补别迟贸苍 fill historic squares lined with Spanish townhomes. In arty Santurce, a passion for all things local brings a slew of concept boutiques, locavore restaurants and cool coffee shops. In chic Condado and Isla Verde, luxe resorts tower over golden sands, where families throw themselves into myriad water sports and stroll along tree-lined boulevards dotted with chain stores and designer boutiques.

The upscale residential districts of Miramar, Isla Grande and Ocean Park offer more pockets of interest for visitors 鈥� celebrity-helmed restaurants, art galleries and live music venues. Despite rapid gentrification, San Juan remains true to itself, and it's a safe, welcoming and accessible city for spontaneous wandering.

Here鈥檚 our selection of the best neighborhoods in San Juan.

Old San Juan

Best for a stroll through history

Occupying a narrow headland jutting out into the bay, is the historic heart of the city. You鈥檒l need at least a day to fully explore the neighborhood鈥檚 historic showpieces, which stand testament to San Juan鈥檚 proud status as the second-oldest city in the Americas.

On 500-year-old cobblestone streets, chic and contemporary art galleries nudge up against trend-driven restaurants and sleek cocktail bars. Start your stroll on Calle San Sebasti谩n, a picture-perfect introduction to Old San Juan, with pastel-painted buildings wrapped with wrought-iron balconies. In January, this busy thoroughfare is the stage for the annual Fiestas de San Sebasti谩n, a dazzling celebration of Puerto Rican culture.

Allow a couple of hours to tour San Juan鈥檚 crown jewels 鈥� the beautiful citadels of El Morro and San Crist贸bal 鈥� and gain a deeper understanding at the Museo de las Am茅ricas, which highlights San Juan鈥檚 rich cultural influences.

For dinner, take your pick of Old San Juan鈥檚 hot new restaurants or go for an old favorite, such as the Italian bistro , just a short walk from Plaza de Armas. Cap off the evening with a signature cocktail at .

Calle Lo铆za

Best for shopping and partying

Running parallel to Condado and Ocean Park, Calle Lo铆za is San Juan鈥檚 best-loved art and nightlife strip. Known as the 鈥淎venue of the Arts,鈥� Calle Lo铆za has become emblematic of San Juan鈥檚 passion for restoration.

While it鈥檚 not a neighborhood in the classic sense, Calle Lo铆za has its own unique creative stamp 鈥� revamped buildings emblazoned with street art house dozens of caf茅s, restaurants and artisan stores that channel Puerto Rico鈥檚 apoyololocal (shop local) movement.

Walkable and buzzing day or night, Calle Lo铆za offers endless diversions for foodies and night owls. A classic night out in Lo铆za might begin with a craft rum cocktail at El Bar Bero 鈥� barbershop by day, cocktail bar by night 鈥� followed by live salsa music and dancing at (if you're in town on Thursdays, don鈥檛 miss the free salsa classes).

Santurce

Best for art and music

Set back from the water, the revitalized Santurce district bursts with color and creativity. Bold street art, fashionable cocktail bars and gastronomic temples orbit La Placita de Santurce, a historic farmers market that transforms after dark into one of the city鈥檚 top nightlife districts.

This is where you'll find some of the city's top restaurants, including Chef Jos茅 Santaella鈥檚 namesake, showcasing the island鈥檚 rich cultural influences through dishes such as pasteles (pork wrapped in plantain-flour dough and cooked in banana leaves).

On weekends, dozens of live-music venues provide a stirring introduction to local , such as bomba and plena, while bars shake with the booming bass of 谤别驳驳补别迟贸苍, the island soundtrack made internationally famous by Daddy Yankee.

Santurce is also home to one of the Caribbean鈥檚 most vibrant artistic communities. Stroll along Calle Cerra to see the district's iconic street art, which has its origins in the Santurce es Ley street art festival. Housed in a beautiful neoclassical building, Puerto Rico鈥檚 Museum of Art (MAP) assembles a fascinating timeline of Caribbean art. The world-class collection comprises more than 4000 artworks spanning the 14th to 19th centuries, including a superb collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings.

Condado

Best for cool days by the water

Polished Condado draws and water sports enthusiasts with its upbeat tropical vibe and abundant beach amenities. Posh resorts and casino hotels rise above a swath of palm-fringed beaches that shelve gently into clear, azure waters.

The neighborhood鈥檚 main drag, glitzy Avenida Ashford, has a smattering of interesting art deco architecture and an abundance of rooftop bars, gourmet restaurants, fashionable nightclubs and designer boutiques.

Locals and visitors flock to the warm, calm waters of Condado鈥檚 centerpiece lagoon 鈥� a protected nature reserve 鈥� to kayak and paddleboard. Surrounded by mangroves, the lagoon is part of the San Juan Estuary and it's not unusual to spot manatees, dolphins, stingrays and turtles.

Note that currents can be strong at Condado's main beach; for families with young children, the sheltered cove at Playita de Condado is ideal for swimming and snorkeling. After a day of basking on the sand, skip the chain restaurants and dine at celebrity chef for dinner.

Ocean Park

Best for an energetic, inclusive experience

East of Condado, Ocean Park is a gated residential community of tree-lined streets lined with attractive homes. Its impressive collection of quality restaurants and nightlife hotspots draws a cosmopolitan mix of students and young professionals, with lots of LGBTIQ+ choices. Low-rise hotels overlook a pristine white-sand beach, which offers a more relaxed and inclusive vibe than neighboring Condado or Isla Verde.

Pedestrian-friendly Avenida McLeary forms the area鈥檚 buzzing food and nightlife nexus. For locals, Ocean Park's long and lovely beach is a place to get active; early morning brings sunrise yogis, paddleboarders, surfers and fans of the beach-tennis craze that has exploded in San Juan.

Miramar

Best for well-heeled foodies

Across the lagoon from Condado, upscale Miramar is a quiet suburban neighborhood centered on two marinas and a gentrified harbor district. The main appeal for travelers is the fine-dining scene and the exclusive lounge bars, which draw a mixed crowd of local and expat professionals.

One of the hottest tickets in town is (formerly Augusto鈥檚), an old-school European-inspired restaurant from acclaimed chef Ariel Rodr铆guez. Trademark dishes, such as Ossetra caviar with seared tuna and venison carpaccio, are accompanied by an exceptional wine list.

There's culture here too. One of Miramar鈥檚 most striking architectural landmarks, the state-of-the-art , is housed in a grand 19th-century building with an eco-conscious green roof.

Isla Grande

Best for travelers with teens

Just west of Miramar, flanked by Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport, Isla Grande is the convention district. The main hook for visitors is , a flashy entertainment complex that was more than a decade in the making.

With live-music venues, movie theaters, restaurants, bars and even a zip line at , Distrito T-Mobile draws a busy crowd of locals and visiting families with teens.

While it鈥檚 unashamedly brash and commercial, there was a clear attempt to integrate Puerto Rican culture into the design. Public spaces are decorated with artworks and murals by local artists, and the restaurants surrounding the central 鈥減laza鈥� channel the locavore movement. Our top pick is by Mario Pag谩n, a homage to Puerto Rico鈥檚 sugarcane and rum heritage.

Isla Verde

Best for beachfront amenities

Just a 10-minute drive from the airport, Isla Verde is perfect for travelers who like to have everything right on their doorstep. High-rise condos, luxurious hotels and international restaurants line an oceanfront boulevard 鈥� Avenida Isla Verde 鈥� flanking a long beach. Don't forget to sip an artisanal Maya West beer at the buzzing , an award-winning microbrewery on the beachfront.

What it lacks in historic character, Isla Verde more than makes up for with its broad crescent of gleaming white sand and clear waters. Local outfitters can organize everything from parasailing and windsurfing to sailing and scuba diving, and resorts offer wave runners, Hobie cats and surfboards for rent. Take a surf class with 鈥� one of Puerto Rico鈥檚 top pro-surfers 鈥� at Pine Grove Beach, just east of Isla Verde鈥檚 main beach.

Carolina and Pi帽ones

Best for a relaxing local hangout

East of Isla Verde, the balneario (public beach) at Playa Carolina draws locals with a lively beach volleyball scene and low-key vibe. Continue further east and you鈥檒l reach Pi帽ones, a mangrove-fringed beach famous for its kiosks serving . Be sure to sample the local 产补肠补濒补铆迟辞蝉 (codfish fritters) or alcapurrias (fried plantains stuffed with beef or crab).

A partly paved boardwalk skirts the oceanfront for four miles from Isla Verde to Pi帽ones, and it's a good route for a morning or afternoon run, with great views, light traffic and a tasty lunch at the finish line.

Another good way to get to know the area is to rent a bike and cycle along the boardwalk and adjacent streets; will deliver a well-maintained set of wheels to your hotel.