Castillo San Cristóbal

This is a phenomenal place to visit. It is especially great when you understand some of the history associated with it. We received a great amount of insight from the day 10AM Free Old San Juan Tour. (Highly recommended by the way. Book in advance at the day before ) This is a great place to visit and show honor and respect to Puerto Rico as a whole but also Old San Juan. There are some amazing photo and video opportunities for content Creators, as well as great history lessons for researchers & historians. PS: If you would like to save money (up to 70% off) EVERY TIME you travel, visit: http://bit.ly/smithtravelclub

We visited this castle while wandering through the streets of San Juan during our cruise on Carnival Magic. We paid $10 per adult and our kids were free, for a self guided tour. We spent about 2 hours inside, going into all the areas and reading about 75% of all the signs. Definitely recommend visiting as it's an important landmark in our history. It is part of the National Parks system as well.

Amazing place with BIG history, if you have kids this is a great place to visit so they can learn and enjoy walking the place. If you don't, you'll still enjoy it and enjoy the breathtaking views it has. There's a theater where you can watch it's history, it's amazing. Price for adults is 10.00$ and kids from 1 to 15 don't pay.

Amazing sights. When visiting there weren't too many people so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. It was wonderful to walk through the historic corridors and to see the surrounding neighborhoods from the fort. The views of the ocean are breathtaking.

The largest Spanish fort built by the Spain Crown back in 1620. If you want to spend decent time visiting, go there. Otherwise, you have plenty of nice views and get beautiful pictures, not necessarily getting inside there.

There was free admission for everyone this morning. To start, it’s a pretty big fort, so lots of walking around. I’m not sure about on weekends, but there was not a lot of people today, so we were able to get good photos without people in the background. Because there was a training session in the theatre, we were unable to watch the movie (hence the free admission). It’s a pretty cool place, bathrooms are pretty good. It got really hot though, (visited in February) so I didn’t like how humid and sweaty it got. Lots of information about history, if that’s your thing. Gift shop was pretty neat, got a magnet and a postcard. Super pretty views of the ocean. The two iguanas there were very chill and friendly.

A must do when visiting Old San Juan. Definitely recommend watching the video in the theater (it has air conditioning!). We used our National Park Pass which allowed the pass holder and 3 adults to enter for free.

Absolut must see for any visitor of Puerto Rico. Rich historical site, so much information, so much to see. We walked around for 3 hours and could have spent even more time. Starting at the opening hour at 9 is ideal. Very few people then. Later it got pretty crowded. Take your time to dive into the castle and the surrounding atmosphere, it’s well worth it.

Late 1700s fort that is in excellent shape and gives you a great historical perspective of the region during that timeframe and beyond. Touring the grounds, the various walls, turrents, tunnels and the embattlements left me amazed at what the people of that time accomplished as the sheer magnitude of the effort to build something so large is quite impressive especially considering the tools and the equipment available at that time. If you are a student of history as I am, It is well worth your time to walk these grounds and read the various placards, explaining the history behind the structure and grounds. The elevated views alone make this a must visit if you are in this area as they amazing.

We spent theday in Old San Juan as our cruise ship docked here. We knew we would come back to the fortress of the Castillo San Cristobal. Since it was Christmas day, the museum was closed but we spent time walking the area and hanging out in the grassy fields, the outer part of the fort. We've been here a few times and it never disappoints. Being a photographer, this offer a multitude of photographic opportunities. There are spots where you can see the city and the ocean. There is a lot of walking to be done here so make sure that you're wearing comfortable shoes and bring your suntan lotion. Each time I have been here I have had great opportunities for pictures. A beautiful day, an old fort, the blue ocean. What more can you hope for? KUDOs to the team here at Castillo San Cristóbal for their constant upkeep of this historic area.

Great national park site: history & stunning views of the sea & city. UNESCO World Heritage Site. A locus for a lot of the island's complicated history. Lots to think about...

We spent a day in Old San Juan and decided to start our day at the fortress of the Castillo San Cristobal. It was very interesting and beautiful to see this historic site in its natural state! So many of the original furnishings and equipment were still there. We went into the dungeon, up into the spires, and got to look out onto the ocean from the small "windows" of the fort. If you are a lover of history, architecture, or just plain old interesting sightseeing - this is a must do in San Juan!

Huge fort to explore and learn about the beginning of the island. I love to learn about history when I go somewhere new. This is a self guided tour so take your time and enjoy the view.

One of our first trips while staying in Old San Juan. Beautiful. A Birdseye view of the city and beautiful rocky coast. So much history throughout the museum to read and learn. Wear your comfortable shoes because the climb in parts of the fort are quite the workout. A cheap entrance fee, I remember $14 dollars each. I'm from Florida and St. Augustine's fort is dwarfed compared to this! A must see in P.R. if you are there? Don't miss it!

It was really hot when I visited here, so make sure to hydrate. There is Gatorade and water sold at decent prices at their souvenir shop. The workers were very friendly and welcoming. It was a nice place to see and was included with our El Morro tickets. We didn't stay here long because it looked similar to El Morro.

What a beautiful and wonderful place, full of history and great architecture. The place is amazingly big and easy to walk... the guide is full of knowledge and really transport us to the old times when this fort was active. We came in the Disney cruise Fantasy and the Castillo was a walking distance from the port. You can visit your self or take the tour bus. The views are fantastic and the two souvenir shops are decent and not too expensive. This fantastic monument is a must when you visit Puerto Rico

Super cool castle in San Juan Puerto Rico. Definitely a worthwhile tour attraction. Admission price is very inexpensive. This used to be an ancient historical for that was used by the Spaniards when they had occupied San Juan. And then it was passed on to the Dotch and then to the Americans. It is now a museum a ran by the national Park services. This place is huge, although not as big as the fortress next to the peninsula. There was definitely more details and more views in this fortress. Lots of different levels different rooms used for different purposes. We spent a couple of hours here walking through all the different areas and admired the views from the watch towers. A must see when you're in San Juan.

With the beautiful water views, all the history, & awesome photo opportunities, adding a visit to Castillo San Cristobal is a must for your PR itinerary! Since sharing is caring here are a few of my FYI(s): ~$10 is the cost to get into Castillo San Cristobal & into El Morro ~The "short walking distance" between Castillo San Cristobal & El Morro seemed not so "short" after a few hours spent in the super hot sun while exploring this location on Saturday 04/02/2022 so we decided to visit El Morro the next day, which you can do just keep your receipt to show. ~you could really feel the history while exploring..walking through the tunnel & getting to explore the underground cell that had the prisoners original drawings was so surreal. And the water views were so pretty!!! ~Make sure to stay hydrated & have sunscreen because you will be exposed to the sun while exploring & even if inside some of the areas were very hot w/ no air circulation. I also had a paper fan that was my life saver! ~There are clean restrooms onsite & a few benches in different areas for you to sit Hope this info helps! ~Rebecca out

Huge castle with amazing views. It sticks out of the city center in San Juan. Be careful of the local traffic while navigating through this area.

This was actually my 2nd time visiting this Castillo. Our group was able to enter for free with military ID. The views here are priceless and it's an instgram lovers dream. I like that you can meander the area at your own pace. The views of the coastline and waves hitting the walls of the fort are breathtaking

Built from 1634 until 1765, for centuries the Castillo San Cristóbal has been standing guard at the eastern gate of Old San Juan to protect it from land attacks. The imposing fortress was built to guard the city against enemies approaching by land, serving as a counterpart to Castillo San Felipe del Morro. what amazed me most is the Sentry box - Soldiers can guard the fort and they target enemies from these Sentry boxes. The textured walls, the tunnel with the old mural, and the sentry boxes with their outstanding views will all hold you spellbound. There are three levels at the fortress: Level 1: Main Plaza & The Lowest Level Level 2: Main Firing Battery Level 3: Observation Area & The Highest Level this fort also gives you a spectacular view of San Juan city, Capitol building, El Morro Fort, Caribbean sea, Cruise ships. One tunnel leads to a dungeon. I would recommend taking a guided tour to know more about it. Castillo San Cristobal is also a popular wedding venue, the elegant courtyard is a beautiful location for fairy tale weddings without having to travel to a faraway place. Ticket: Entry is only $10 which also includes El Morro fort, approximately 1.4 miles from here. ticket is valid for the Same and next day.

They've done a great job at preserving this site. There's surrounding areas right outside the fort that has some great views if you don't want to pay the entrance fee. My wife and I was $20. Our son whom is 6 had free admission and they even gave him a badge and a kid's booklet. We did a self guided tour and they have plenty of information to read all around. It was a cool and rainy day but very warm inside some of the rooms. Luckily the breeze was going so that felt nice near the windows. Be prepared to walk and climb stairs. Only water is allowed and card only as payment.

My wife, two teenage sons (14 yrs, 16 yrs), and I stopped by this fort in the morning as our first sight in Old San Juan. We did not know what to expect, but it's a superb introduction to the city. Beautiful and stunning views from Castillo San Cristobal alone make it worth a trip. From Plaza Colon, it's about a 5 minute walk uphill where you'll see a large ramp to the entrance. It's $10 per adult to enter the fort (kids are free). But if you have a National Park pass, it's accepted here. The interesting history of Castillo San Cristobal was really cool. It was designed to repel a land-based attack from the east, and remained in active use in the 1940s as Fort Brooke to protect shipping lanes from German U-Boats attacks. My teenage sons enjoyed walking into a dungeon "tunnel" that provided a secret passage to move Spanish troops within the fort (or trap an enemy). They also found a watch tower with lovely views of the Atlantic Ocean and the other fort (Morro) in the distance. Would definitely budget at least 1 hour for a visit here. The men's rest room is probably the nicest facility I have ever used in the National Park System!

Also in old San Juan. Castle in old San Juan. Took over almost an hour to go 7 miles in town. It's madness to get here. No parking around this castle or close by at all. We will need to grab any spot we find in the old San Juan area. It wasn't as busy or packed when we were here 3 years ago. Doesn't look like we will get to see the castle this visit. It's a good thing we already saw it 3 years ago then. Been in the car for 1.5 hours and no spot yet. We at least get to see much of old San Juan at least.

This place was so amazing!! The views are incredible. Be prepared to walk A LOT, wear sunscreen and hydrate!!! Tickets are cheap ($10 for adults) and they offer entry to both Castillos.

Part of the San Juan National Historic Site, Castillo San Cristóbal is an excellent historical site. The amount of history the building and grounds have seen is astounding. In order to fully experience the site, I'd recommend sturdy shoes due to climbing up and down steep ramps. There is an entry charge, but it is valid for both castles in a 24 period. They have bathrooms as well as a gift shop. You can purchase water at the gift shop. If you collect national park stamps, ask at the gift shop checkout counter.

There are 2 forts to visit in Old San Juan that explain the beginnings of this settlement 500 years ago and all of its rich history that the forts have played in San Juan's past. The other fort called Castile San Felipe del Morro (or del Morro for short) is about 1 mile west of here. You can see it from the upper elevations of this fort. Both forts are run by the National Park Service and are well maintained. Adult admission is $10 and is good for both forts. Good deal! Also if you buy the audio tour it's $6 for one fort but if you pay $2 more you get the audio of the other fort too. Good deal again! If there are two of you you can share one audio device and listen to it on its external speaker. Castillo San Cristobal is slightly smaller than the del Morro so budget about 1 hour to tour here and then finish with the gift shop. There are commanding views of San Juan and the Atlantic Ocean from all 3 of its levels. Obviously walking is required going up and down the ramps to the different levels as there were no elevators back then. Many exhibits are under roof providing shelter from the sun and rain however only the gift shop is air conditioned. When finished (and if this is the first of the two forts to visit), walk along the road from this fort to del Morro. It's an easy walk of about 1 mile that parallels the Atlantic on your right and Old San Juan on your left and has wide sidewalks the entire route. I do believe there is a White Trolley that shuttles between the two forts for free. If you can, walk it, as it is a pleasant journey if the weather cooperates. 1/2 the way there you can stop for lunch or a drink at La Verguenza restaurant and bar. You can't miss it as you will walk right by it and offers 3 outdoor levels of seating all facing the ocean. Good food, drink and view!! After La Verguenza continue the other 1/2 mile to del Morro and upon arrival show them your admission receipt and audio tour receipt (if purchased) so that you don't have to pay any more money. An ideal itinerary is to start with one fort and while walking to the other fort stop at La Verguenza for a drink or a meal or both and then continue on to the other fort.

After some time wondering in Old San Juan, we made our way to Castillo San Cristobal. There is a lot to learn about the history of the island, along with the 400-year fight Spain put up to keep control, while touring the old fort. The vantage point provides great views of the island as well as surrounding ocean. There was no entrance fee and we found the placards throughout to be very informative. We didn't have the opportunity to tour the entire fort, but its well worth a stop.

There are two Castillo's that you should visit in San Juan and San Cristobal is one of them. This provides you a great 360 view of San Juan with the sentry boxes for great photo ops. You can view the history of the place as you walk through the 400 year old fortress. This has been also used during world War II. It's a great gem for tourists to stroll around with easy accessibility for families with children. The level 3 deck may be difficult especially with the steep incline of the ramp. The restrooms are clean. Make sure to bring water, sunscreen, and camera on this trip. I would definitely recommend this place to people who are visiting.

This is one of the most picturesque sites for a military fort. It is part of the US Park systems. There are so many beautiful views from every position here. Today we even saw a double rainbow. This is one of the best preserved and extensive forts I have ever had the chance to visit. Many multiple levels and exhibits. They even have a gift shop/bookshop. Even the back of the shop had a break taking view. This is not the most walkable historical sites due to the multiple levels and stairs. The earliest section has a rail and sandy bottomed ramped that could be difficult for some people. I also taking a walk alongside the water but it brings you a mile or so beyond the Fort in old downtown. The walk will reward you with beautiful ocean sights and sounds, seeing many cats and many iguanas along the way. If you look you will even see iguanas scaling the walls.

There are two forts here one can visit for same price, I only had time for one and picked this one. There is a decent exhibit in the visitor's site, but the video playing has multiple movies in Spanish and English which is a little annoying. I walked in during part of one, then it cycled to a new thing, then cycled to a new thing in Spanish, and another thing in Spanish. I'm not sure how long the loop is, but at least having subtitles would be better. I'd rather read a Spanish clip with English subtitles than wait 10-15 for the Spanish video to be over until the English one plays again. The fort has some beautiful views of the ocean, and you can walk around outside and then take the long corridor though different rooms which have more exhibit information. It is pretty hot in these tiny rooms except for the occasional ocean breeze, but you can just imagine soldiers there. I think it's worth visiting for the history, but I would have liked to visit both forts if I had time. It's only $10 and an interesting place to visit.

Castillo San Cristóbal, is a fortress in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was built by the Spanish to protect against land based attacks on the city of San Juan. It is part of San Juan National Historic Site. Castillo San Cristóbal is the largest fortification built by the Spanish in the New World. Today, this impressive location is a National Park that you can explore and find out more about the history of the area, specifically San Juan. As you explore they have an area (near the gift shop) that has tons of info about the history of Castillo San Cristobal. Once you make your way through this area, and move on to the upper levels you are greeted with some of the best views of Old San Juan, The Caribbean, Beaches, Sunsets, etc. Gift shop is pretty good sized and has some unique souvenirs if you want to grab something for yourself or somebody that is into historical type things. Also, if you happen to have a National Park pass it is valid here and you'll save $10 per person that is with you (worked for two of us at least, free admission totaling $20).

Interesting history ! Great views of the Atlantic Ocean and the rest of Old San Juan!

Loved this fort in Puerto Rico. I was only in town for 8 hours or so due to being on a cruise ship, but I am so glad we ventured off the ship and checked out this fort! It was so beautiful to be up here and watch the sunset, explore and walk around. The $8 admission is 100% worth it. It's also walkable from Old San Juan. We got some great photos and saw some fantastic ocean bluffs from the higher vantage points. We also had fun exploring the "cave" systems of this fort. You can see it's in a very strategic location and there's lots of history here. Don't pass up your chance to explore it!

The historic citadel fort is mildly pathetic. Many of the displays appear to be under renovation. Some of the displays are very lame. For $10/person, the park is not well maintained. There are some nice views from the walls. Budget about 1 hour unless you're a history buff.

$10 admission, but shouldn't be over $5. Both forts are included for 24 hours of admission. Beautiful views of the ocean and parts of old San Juan. There are posters explaining the importance of the fort. Nice picture opportunity and very cool area because of sea breezes. Bathroom: extremely clean

I loved this fort! We purchased the audio tour for about $9 and it was good at both forts in Old San Juan. The views and architecture here are incredible, and I really enjoyed learning about some Puerto Rican history. However, make sure to wear your sunscreen and keep hydrated. The sun gets HOT. The audio tour told us multiple times that many soldiers here suffered from heat exhaustion and I could definitely see why.

Lovely fort in Old San Juan - rich in heritage. I highly recommend taking their audio tour if you really like history and want to know more. It is very informative and easy to navigate. Also the ticket purchased at this fort allows you to enter the other fort as well so thats good. The audio tour booked here can be used at the other fort as well (buy one get one types). Pretty scenic fort overlooking the carribean waters. Highly recommend!

We stopped at the Fort to learn some history about San Juan. There are exhibits about the Fort and its uses from the 1500s until present day. Not only can you learn some history, but you can purchase souvenirs from the 2 giftshops and get some great views of San Juan and the ocean. One admission price gives you entry to both forts for 2 days. This is well worth it.

Unless there is a massive storm going on, if you are in Puerto Rico you should be having great time and seeing lots of eye catching sights and spaces. Castillo San Cristobal is one of those to come see. Its a really cool testimony to times and events past. As you walk the walls and alleys and tunnels, you can imagine opposing ships out in the water, being fended off by the gun emplacements and troops. There's lots of historical descriptions of what is what and where it was used and why. You also can get totally lost in relaxing, watching the waves tumbling in along the shore below, if that suits you better. I would have added the 5th star if the sightseeing and touring included the massive underground water collection basin that apparently lots of tanks and drains fed/feed into. I was quite disappointed to read about something that we couldn't see, like we saw cannonballs and cannons and other relics that were off-limits for contact. Also, parking is anything but available or convenient unless you park minutes away and walk back. Anyhow this is a cool place to tour and see, and good eats are just a few minutes walk away also.

If you're a deep lover of historical places, you definitely have to stop here. You're able to use your pass the next day if you purchase close to closing time and want to explore more. There were3 levels we were allowed to access, and you can literally walk by the canons

Not as big as el morro, but equally beautiful! Short walk away from the other castillo, but a little bit smaller and more intimate to get to know the history of this castillo. Loved our time here, very easy to get to, and would definitely go in the morning when it's less crowded.

Castillo de San Cristóbal in San Juan is a cool fort that is beautiful and well preserved. I like being able to climb and explore everything here and read the displays about the history here. The views of the water and the city are fantastic from almost every point. Well worth a visit to check out.

I love history, beach,sun and ocean and this Fort. Beautiful and scenic and easily walkable though mobility impaired access is limited. Great sweeping views and an enjoyable step back in time. The downtown is a short walk with great shops and foods.

Located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Castillo San Cristóbal is definitely a landmark of Puerto Rico. Located only 0.7 miles away from Castillo San Felipe makes it so easy to explore both castle the same day. You can also use the same $7 tickets for both castles. While Fort San Filipe was built to protect the city from sea attacks, Fort San Cristobal was built to protect Old San Juan from land attacks. Both forts are full of history, culture and architecture. The views you can get are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! For some reason people don't visit this fort as much as San Felipe. I believe both are worth it and definitely a must when in Puerto Rico. ESPAÑOL Ubicado en el Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico, el Castillo San Cristóbal es definitivamente un punto de referencia de Puerto Rico. Ubicado a solo 0.7 millas de distancia del Castillo San Felipe, hace que sea tan fácil explorar ambos castillos el mismo día. También puedes usar los mismos boletos de $ 7 para los dos castillos. Mientras que el Fuerte San Filipe fue construido para proteger a la ciudad de los ataques marítimos, el Fuerte San Cristóbal fue construido para proteger al Viejo San Juan de los ataques terrestres. Ambos fuertes están llenos de historia, cultura y arquitectura. Las vistas que puedes obtener son absolutamente HERMOSAS! Por alguna razón, las personas no visitan este fuerte tanto como San Felipe. Creo que ambos valen la pena y definitivamente son una necesidad cuando están en Puerto Rico.

Castillo San Cristóbal is a wonderful experience for anyone who enjoys history and has a heart for adventure and exploration. Within the Castillo, you can explore the remnants of a key military base which defended San Juan and the entirety of Puerto Rico for centuries. Wander through the ruins, fields, dungeons, and plazas. Read about the history of the base and Puerto Rico since colonization. Enjoy beautiful views of the city, the beaches, and the sea. You can also watch a film and/or get a tour if you come at the right time, though I didn't do either of these. Admission cost is $10, which felt very fair. If you keep the receipt, this also gets you into El Morro, another fortress / military base to the west which was part of the same system which defended the isle of San Juan. I spent a few hours here, though you could see it in less, if you don't want to read or explore at much - but budget at least an hour, ideally. Overall a wonderful experience, great for visitors and locals alike who want to learn more about Puerto Rico and have a little adventure within the castle!

So I have to say that after years of frequently visiting PR, I never brought myself to Castillo San Cristobal. I always went straight to El Morro as it has always been near and dear to my heart for so many reasons. While on my honeymoon this past October, my husband and I visited the castle. And after visiting I asked myself why I waited so long to go. It is just as beautiful as El Morro and it was interesting to learn more about the fort that protected the city from land attacks. El Morro protected the city from the sea. The Park Rangers are super friendly and informative. Entrance fee covers entries to both forts for a week. Sweet deal! So much history here and you feel it. I highly recommend visiting if you ever find yourself in Viejo San Juan. See attached photos for your viewing pleasure. :)

Beautiful historic fort. For a $7 admission fee (kids are free), you can walk through the winding tunnels and walkways of this fort and El Morro. The whole city of Old San Juan is walled and the fort (along with El Morro) was the protection. There are a lot of beautiful areas to take pictures and even some old wall drawings inside a dungeon where a ship captain was held prisoner (mutiny situation). Well worth seeing if you are in San Juan.

This place has something for everyone. Love getting your picture taken? Great views for that Love history? Learn about Spanish colonization to the Spanish-American War to WWII Love the ocean? It's a pretty cool view there Have kids? They'll enjoy the greenways and the iguanas It's a must-see during your trip to San Juan!!

My first spot in Puerto Rico was San Cristóbal Castle it's located in the capital of San Juan and admission is $7.00 and is good for 24 hours, it also includes admission to El Morro which is another historical spot in San Juan. Once inside the castle you are on your own and have full access. They have no tour guide that walks you around they only have signs that describe each room you are visiting. Downstairs they have a gift shop with souvenirs and refreshments. I thought it was a cool spot and in awe on how they built this castle so many years ago. Going up and down this castle is tiring so bring comfortable attire and plenty of water it's HOT up in there Lol! Wasn't my favorite spot in Puerto Rico but if you love history like me you should come check it out. Plus they have a lot of cool restaurants all around walking distance.

Loved this place ... A really nice place to go walk thru and experience history ... 2 forts within walking distance .. admission for 1 covers both locations .. beautiful background scenes for photography and headphones to walk and listen to the stories from and about the past ..

This is a very impressive fort but it seems like the curators don't have much to display, neither do they have much historic information out for tourists who want to learn more. I came with a tour group so the admission fee was already included. We wandered around for 45mins and that was a decent visit. The views of the city was nice and if you climb up to the highest point you can see the waves crashing against the shore. Other than a scenic post, it's just serves as a souvenir shop where people overcharge you for things you don't need.

An amazing history, turquoise waters and salty sea air, epic views... what more is there to say? This was the most fun I've had exploring an old fort in a long time - more so than many chateaux in France. It's hard to imagine so much war and strife in this beautiful area, but Castillo San Cristobal has seen it all, including World War II. It looks like other reviews have many of the key things covered like the small $5 price tag that includes entry to El Morro down the road, etc. All I can add is make sure to explore every square foot. You'll find so many cool things like tunnels and dungeons where mutinous prisoners were held before execution, and a unique view of the city of sea at every turn.

I loved visiting Castillo San Cristobal and seeing its history nearly as much as I loved seeing the snide remarks throughout the guest book about the stupidity of the Interior Secretary and the joy numerous national park visitors appeared to have about his then-impending departure. I never thought of the fort's guest book as a way to express displeasure, but the comments were hysterical and the ratio of comments skewed heavily to the side of displeasure with current administration policies.* The fort itself sits a few miles east of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, covering a wide stretch of the northern coastline and particularly the best land routes to cover old San Juan. Visitors who wish to conquer old San Juan via land-based attack will be disappointed, as the fort makes it difficult.^ Views are as good or even better than at San Felipe if you're looking for panoramic views of the island, and I particularly enjoyed the US Army modifications made during World War II for German submarine monitoring ... you can often read about reuse of ancient fortifications for military conflicts in Europe from pre-history through the twentieth century, but it was interesting to see my own country taking military fortifications from the 1700s and adding things like pillboxes and a fallout shelter/decontamination area. Ultimately, while San Felipe del Morro will draw a far larger share of visitors, San Cristobal is also well worth a visit. We found it best to walk here first and then head west through old town to San Felipe to save energy. * I went down a small rabbit hole here to see if there were any other contenders, but I am reasonably confident this is the understatement of the millennium. ^ Though not impossible. I don't know why this thought popped into my head just now, but I realize that Spain invested quite heavily in a complex series of fortifications to surround and protect San Juan, and yet walls did not actually prove effective at helping Spain keep Puerto Rico because the primary issues undermining Spain's ability to achieve its goal were not relevant to wall construction. The historian in me thinks there might be a way to draw some parallels between this situation and our present day, but I'm racking my brain and I just can't think of any relevant comparisons.

If you come to San Juan, definitely stop by el Castillo San Cristobal! It's a great historical site, filled with history. It's located in Viejo San Juan and is within walking distance of the cruises, hotels, restraints and shops. It's only $7 to enter, and with the $7, you get free entrance to el Castillo de San Felipe as well. It was really cool learning about the history and how much Spain conquered the Caribbean over time and how they lost it and who they lost it too. You can choose from doing a self guided tour or have one of the guides give a tour as well.

Castillo San Cristóbal, is a fortress in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was built by Spain to protect against land based attacks on the city of San Juan. It is part of San Juan National Historic Site. Castillo San Cristóbal is the largest fortification built by the Spanish in the New World. When it was finished in 1783, it covered about 27 acres of land and basically wrapped around the city of San Juan. Entry to the city was sealed by San Cristóbal's double gates. After close to one hundred years of relative peace in the area, part of the fortification (about a third) was demolished in 1897 to help ease the flow of traffic in and out of the walled city. This fortress was built on a hill originally known as the Cerro de la Horca or the Cerro del Quemadero, which was changed to Cerro de San Cristóbal in celebration of the Spanish victories ejecting English and Dutch interlopers from the island of this name in the Lesser Antilles, then forming part of the insular territorial glacis of Puerto Rico. Castillo de San Cristóbal also contains five cisterns that were used for the storage of water during the ages of the Spanish Colony. They are extremely large (24 ft tall, 17 ft wide and 57 ft long) and were used as bomb shelters during World War II. They could be used for a future war again with some refurbishments. Entrance was $7. They do provide a map also keep this receipt as you can enter to the other one for free. Arrived at 9am was not busy and looked around pretty nice, well maintained and clean! What a view! Must see.

The best $5 I have ever spent was to enter Castillo San Cristóbal. This is the oldest Spanish Fort in the Western Hemisphere and it is full of history and breathtaking views. It takes a while to explore the entire fort. It is crazy to imagine all of the soldiers who resided here and protected San Juan. The pill boxes were added during WWII. I highly, highly recommend going inside because the view of the ocean and Old San Juan is absolutely incredible. The ocean breeze passes through the horizontal window and provides natural air conditioning, so it is also a nice spot to relax and cool off for a few moments. The entry fee also covers the cost of entrance to the Castillo San Felipe del Morro on the easter side of Old San Juan. Castillo San Cristóbal has also been featured in movies, such as the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. I think it is pretty cool to visit locations where movies I enjoy have been filmed ;) If you are visiting Old San Juan, this is an absolute must-see historic site.