SanSe Festival in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

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The Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, or La SanSe, takes over Old San Juan every year on the third weekend of January. It’s a massive street-wide celebration honoring Saint Sebastian of the Catholic Church. And it keeps growing every year. In 2025, SanSe broke records, pulling in over one million people in just four days. That’s twice the population of Atlanta! 

This time of year, you will get warm mornings, and definitely hot afternoons. Sun protection and hydration are a must have if you want to make it through the day.

There are a few ways to get to the event, but first off, I highly recommend staying in Condado. You can walk straight from your hotel. Also, check out the Caribe Hilton, it’s about a 40-minute walk. I like this historic 1949 hotel, newly renovated, and a top choice in town. 

If you walk, you’ll also notice the fun, flashy, and extremely loud shuttle buses.

As annoying as they sound, they’re actually one of the best ways to get to SanSe. They drop you about ten minutes from the entrance and have priority over all cars.

During SanSe, all roads into Old San Juan are closed. Ubers and taxis technically exist, but trust me—it’s not worth it. There is a designated Uber drop-off, Here. But it still leaves you two miles away from the entrance. If hills or long walks aren’t your thing, definitely take the shuttle they run until 2am.

I personally love this walk. Locals use it as a daily workout. It’s about a five-mile loop round trip. Wear good walking shoes—Old San Juan is basically one giant hill. Along your walk the ocean views are just beautiful with the waves crashing the cliffs and palm trees swaying it makes your walk in just that more enjoyable.  The Capitol building built in 1929, is on your left and dressed in festival colors. I think this is one of the most stunning buildings in Puerto Rico, and it has undergone several restorations after recent hurricanes. This is also where the massive walls of Castillo San Cristóbal begin to appear. History is everywhere you look in Old San Juan.

SanSe is completely free to enter. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you spot the “I Love San Juan” statue and hear the music pouring through the streets.

Inside the festival, it’s like sensory overload. Music stages. Local art. Crafts. Food everywhere. You can walk in any direction and find something happening, every street is alive. You can truly feel the love for Boriqua culture anywhere you look. 

We arrived around 9 a.m., which is the perfect time to get settled before the parade.

This is one of my favorite parts of SanSe. The Comparsa de los Cabezudos parade. It runs every morning, usually between 9 and 11 a.m. We arrived at 9:30 and it was just in time. 

The parade lasts five to ten minutes. With the drums pounding. Music echoes off the buildings. Dancers, stilt walkers, and the costumes with oversized heads—called Cabezudos—date back centuries. The tradition was revived in the late 1970s for modern SanSe. 

My suggestion is to watch from the beginning of the route. It’s much easier to exit once it passes. We stood at San Sebastián and San Justo, and it was the perfect spot! 

Once it ends, explore freely—but fair warning, it can feel overwhelming during this event, if it’s your first time; so here’s a little history to get you started.

Old San Juan sits on a small, rocky island along Puerto Rico’s northern coast. The narrow land created tight streets and dense buildings dating back to the mid-1500s. Fortresses like Del Morro and San Cristóbal are among the oldest European defensive structures in the Americas, built on high ground to protect this important Caribbean port. Today, Viejo San Juan blends deep history with vibrant culture and tradition and is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean.

When navigating the city, Plaza Colón is your best entry point. On non-festival days, Ubers may drop off here, and one of the few parking garages is nearby, right here. For the event, arrive early so you can browse the artists, grab a drink, then walk straight up to Calle San Sebastián. 

Explore the upper streets between Calle de la Luna and San Sebastián. This is where the energy never stops. Bars, vendors, and pop-up musicians like this fill the streets day and night. Food and drink vendors are everywhere, and cash is king. But, if you’re vegetarian like us, food options can be limited, so restaurants may be your best bet—but expect long waits. Inner streets are the most crowded, highlighted in red. Yellow zones can give you room to breathe. Green areas are easiest to navigate and could offer some shade.

Next, make your way toward the main stage to the Museo de las Américas. The entrance is tight, so be patient. Inside, the courtyard opens up to a huge collection of local artists and craftsmen. Puerto Rican art is absolutely incredible—I couldn’t leave empty-handed. There’s even a stage inside with traditional music and dancers. Grab a beer, stick around or join in.

Nextdoor is the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, built in 1848. The upper level and terrace offer views toward Del Morro. If you have time, a guided tour of the fort is absolutely worth it. The central courtyard houses another stage with excellent local musicians.

The main attraction to SanSe is probably the central stage at Plaza del Quinto Centenario. Local and well-known artists perform all day and night. You’ll even see people in the crowd playing homemade güiros and drums. All you need to do is kick back and relax.

Need a break from the sun and crowds? Head to Casa Blanca, the former home of Ponce de León. Its 1500s garden feels like a hidden jungle oasis with beautiful water features. It’s breathtaking. Nearby is one of the best libre shops, which is just a one-minute walk from Puerta de San Juan, The gate to the city, standing 16 feet tall and 20 feet thick.

From there, you can walk up Caleta de San Juan to the Church of San Juan Bautista or take any street to Paseo de la Princesa, filled with food vendors and artists, ending at the beautiful Fuente Raíces. This is probably the best spot to sit and watch the sunset.

If you still have energy—or even come back another night—the nightlife transforms Old San Juan. The main stage and red zones come alive. Hundreds of thousands dance and drink in the streets until 2 a.m. It’s loud. It’s crowded. And It’s electric! Just have an exit plan. If a street feels too packed, take another route.

One last tip—don’t stay in Old San Juan during the festival. You’ll be locked in, and won’t get much sleep… SanSe is easily one of the greatest festivals we’ve ever experienced, this is a nonstop party you won’t want to miss.