Instagram Worthy Spots in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Whenever I am in a new city, I always try to find Instagram worthy places. I make it fun for my kids by creating a scavenger hunt. I gave my oldest a phone open to maps and went on a walking tour in San Juan. I’ll give you a list of where to find the most Instagrammable spots in old San Juan, Puerto Rico, also where to stop for a delicious family meal.

First and most famous location is on Calle Fortaleza. On this street you’ll find lots of shops and restaurants and it’s one of the main streets in old San Juan. The most famous site is at the end of the street. Look up and you’ll see umbrellas or when we went, there were kites hanging in different shades of green. They change the theme a couple of times a year. You can get a beautiful shot of yourself or family with the colorful kites or umbrellas in the background.

While on Calle Fortaleza, to the right there is an entry way to Pigeon Park. At Pigeon Park, you’ll see hundreds of pigeons in one area. Tip- if you have an iPhone switch to portrait mode that way you get a better shot and everyone in the background will be faded out.

If you get hungry, on the same street you will find La Barrachina. This is the birthplace of the Piña Colada. Just a warning, they are good….and strong! My kids wanted to try it and I asked the waiter for a couple of non alcoholic piña coladas. Everyone was so happy with their fancy umbrella drinks, and they were very delicious. La Barrachina had a great selection of food. From seafood, chicken and even the biggest pork chops I’ve ever seen. The plates have large portions and very Instagram worthy.

There is a path along the coast called the Paseo de la a Princesa. This is a historic walking path from old San Juan to El Morro. The Paseo is an area that is not too touristy. At least not on the day that we went. The pathway starts in old San Juan and you follow the ocean-view path all the way up to the fortress. My Instagram stories are full of videos from here, because everywhere you look it’s beautiful. To the left you have the Caribbean ocean and to the right is the fortress walls, full of flowers, and natural island botanicals. The path was a little under a mile. It led us to the entrance of El Morro.

El Morro is the most iconic site of Puerto Rico. It is an old fortress that was built by Spanish troops in 1539. The entrance fee is $7 for anyone over 16 years old. Under 15 it is free. El Morro is open seven days a week from 9 AM to 6 PM. You can tour the site and don’t forget to take your Instagram pic at one of the sentry boxes. We also took great panoramic pictures of the beach and San Juan.

When we visit new cities, I try and make it fun for the kids. Making a list of Instagram worthy spots made the day fun for all of us. Plus, my teens didn’t realize they’re getting a history lesson too. We did this scavenger hunt/ walking tour in one day. Everywhere you look in San Juan there are picture perfect streets and sites. This is just a short list my family did in one day. If you’ve been to any of the sites I listed, or have more suggestions, leave a message in the comments.