San Juan Gate (Puerta de San Juan)

On the other side of the entrance, you'll find plenty of vendors selling snacks and see beautiful old colonial buildings. As with the rest of the Old City, San Juan Gate is a popular stop on walking and Segway tours of historic San Juan, as well as on photography tours. While you can visit the gate independently, going with a guide is a great idea if you want to deepen your understanding of local history.

• San Juan Gate is a must-see for architecture fans and photographers.

• Wear comfortable shoes that are good for cobblestones before heading out on a walking tour of Old San Juan.

• The old part of the city may prove challenging for some wheelchair users.

The gate is located right off Paseo del Morro, a boardwalk that flanks the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, on the western side of the Old City. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the cruise ship terminal and a 2-minute walk from the San Juan Cathedral. This area is best navigated on foot, so leave your car at La Puntilla Parking, a 15-minute walk away.

The San Juan Gate is accessible year-round, though if you're visiting during the summertime, expect hot temperatures and rainfall. Crowds tend to be at their highest when a cruise ship is in port, which is often, as well as on weekends. Come right at sunrise for the best conditions for photography with the fewest crowds.

Walk through the gate and you'll quickly find yourself at the 16th-century San Juan Cathedral, a local landmark. This whitewashed house of worship is the second-oldest cathedral in the Americas and is the site of the tomb of Ponce de León. The mummified remains of Saint Pius I are also housed here.