3 Best Sights in San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan's city hall was built between 1602 and 1789. In 1841, extensive alterations made it resemble Madrid's city hall, with arcades, towers, balconies, and an inner courtyard. Renovations have refreshed the facade and some interior rooms, but the architecture remains true to its colonial style. Only the patios are open to public viewings. A municipal tourist information center and an art gallery with rotating exhibits are in the lobby. Call ahead to schedule a free tour.

Exiled from Cuba, the Bacardí family built a small rum distillery here in the 1950s. Today, it's the world's largest, able to produce 100,000 gallons of spirits a day and 21 million cases a year. Book a mixology class or rum tasting tour, both include a welcome cocktail at the pavilion and a trolley ride through the property. If you don't want to drive here, you can take a ferry from Pier 2 for $0.50 and then an Uber.

In 1508, Ponce de León established the island's first settlement here. The Caparra Ruins—just a few crumbling walls—are all that remain of an ancient fort. The small Museo de la Conquista y Colonización de Puerto Rico (Museum of the Conquest and Colonization of Puerto Rico) contains historical documents, exhibits, and excavated artifacts, although you can see the museum's contents in less time than it takes to say its name. Both the ruins and the museum are maintained by the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture.