Discover One of Puerto Rico's Most Vibrant Art Destinations: Santurce in San Juan
Be captivated in the epicenter of the San Juan art scene.
INFO
Once an affluent district in the mid-20th century, colorful Santurce experienced a decline in the 1970s only to emerge as the epicenter of the San Juan art scene. Art lovers and design enthusiasts will be captivated by world-class museums as well as a thriving street art scene that turns building facades, alleyways, and tunnels into open-air canvases—some as tall as 50 feet. Add in dynamic, design-forward places to stay, and Santurce tops the list of must-visit travel destinations for any art and design hound. Below, a guide to Santurce’s art scene, along with the best places to stay in San Juan’s cultural hotbed.
What to See in Santurce
Cultural Institutions
Puerto Rico Museum of Art At the top of any art guide to Puerto Rico is the Puerto Rico Museum of Art, boasting the most comprehensive collection of art in the Caribbean. This cultural cornerstone houses 24 exhibition halls showcasing paintings, drawings, sculptures, and more from both established Puerto Rican masters and emerging talents, making it a must-visit spot for anyone interested in the art scene in Puerto Rico.
Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico Pair your visit to the Puerto Rico Museum of Art with a trip to the nearby Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico for works from the mid-20th century onwards. The museum’s collection features art from Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Latin America, and their diasporas, providing insight into the region’s evolving artistic landscape.
Vibrant Street Art
These days, the art scene in Puerto Rico is dominated by the street art of Santurce, which has evolved over the years into a veritable open-air gallery, solidifying its status as one of the most exciting travel destinations for those interested in contemporary urban art. This transformation can largely be attributed to “Santurce Es Ley” (Santurce is Law), the annual street art festival held each May, and “Los Muros Hablan” (The Walls Speak), an urban art initiative that seeks to rescue abandoned spaces with bold pieces of art.
Start your walking tour at Calle Cerra, a once neglected street that is now home to the greatest concentration of graffiti art and murals in the area. Then make your way to adjacent side streets for surprising finds, including works-in-progress.
Notable Santurce street art pieces:
"Glass Half Full” This striking piece—which Fintan Magee aptly painted over a water tower—portrays a young boy carrying a melting glacier on his back, a striking visual metaphor designed to raise awareness about the urgent impacts of climate change and rising sea levels.
“Un viaje con más naufragos que navegantes (“A Journey with More Shipwrecked than Sailors”) This haunting mural by El Basta depicts the collateral damage of Christopher Columbus’s “discovery” of the New World, with the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria sailing through tumbling bodies and a sea of red.
“Despierta Boricua” (“Wake Up Puerto Rican”) Natalia Sanchez’s thought-provoking mural serves as a call for an agricultural reawakening, emphasizing that returning to work the island’s fertile land is, as she described it, “our only hope in creating a self-sustaining and sovereign country.”
Where to Stay in Santurce
Dreamers Welcome provides laid-back luxury stays throughout Puerto Rico, each with a strong focus on interior design, and filled with striking artwork, warm textures, and delicate detail. All DW guests can take advantage of the amenities and activities offered at the group’s award-winning full-service flagship hotel, Dreamcatcher by DW, including a three-bar tour of the Art District.
Situated just a block from Ocean Park Beach, Dreamcatcher by DW holds the honor of being San Juan’s only vegetarian hotel. In a nod to its prime Santurce location, artistic touches abound in each of its 19 bespoke rooms and suites, from the hand-painted murals in Tropicalia to the modern art lining Traveler’s deep blue walls. The aptly named Artist will satisfy any creative type with its luxurious soaking clawfoot tub, aged walls, and vintage art. An added bonus: All rooms and suites benefit from its own private tropical terrace.
This collection of eight two-bedroom apartment-plus accommodations is just three blocks from the beach in Santurce and features thoughtful design touches from botanical murals to pops of vermilion. Catch a morning kitesurf session, while away the afternoon in your lush private garden, and navigate the maze of street art as you make your way through Santurce’s vibrant nightlife scene.
Within walking distance to both Ocean Park Beach and the Puerto Rico Museum of Art and its serene sculpture garden, these minimalist-cool vacation rentals cater to travelers eager to take in both the San Juan art scene and the beach. Thoughtful design touches from tropical artwork to boho accents add to the appeal of these sun-drenched open spaces boasting full kitchens and private outdoor areas. The Adventurer features a mural painted by local artist, Angel Pagan.
Minimalism meets retro-chic charm in these spacious studio and one-bedroom apartments in Santurce. Pop Art fans, take note: Two of the four accommodations have access to a secret room inspired by the infamous Andy Warhol Factory.
Enter your very own modern-meets-retro funky town with one of these studio-to-two-bedroom vacation rentals in buzzy Santurce. Each vibrantly patterned, boldly colored apartment comes with a private outdoor terrace and a full kitchen, and is styled after a specific icon—Grace, Gloria, Donna, or Diana.