Surviving the San Sebastian Street Festival, Old San Juan

SanSe2024: January 18 – 21, 2024

The mayor of San Juan announced today that the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián will start on Thursday, 18 January and run until 21 January 2024

The 2024 San Sebastian Street Festival kicks off in Old San Juan on Thursday 18 until Sunday Jan 21, 2024.

The festival and will see thousands of locals and visitors descending on Old San Juan to PARTY by day and by night. Think Mardis Gras or Notting Hill Carnival to get an idea.

Saying that Old San Juan is going to be busy is an understatement. For those of you planning on attending the Festival or just staying in or visiting Old San Juan; here are my Survival Tips for the San Sebastian Street Festival

Getting There

If you are NOT staying in Old San Juan, plan to arrive there as early as possible. Traffic into Old San Juan is going to be extremely heavy and slow due to the influx of festival goers and road closures. On Thursday and Friday private cars will be stopped from entering at 6pm. On Saturday and Sunday car traffic will be stopped at 11am (these times may change depending on how quickly the Old San Juan Car Parks fill up. Not the La Puntilla (open Air_ Parking Lot is ONLY OPEN FOR RESIDENTS OF OLD SAN JUAN

Rather than drive into Old San Juan, consider taking the ferry from either Hato Rey or Catano – just make sure you know when the last ferry leaves Old San Juan

Paid parking will be available at Hiram Bithorn Stadium as well as Sagrado Corazon Station

AMA buses will run from AMA buses will run from Sagrado Corazon Station to Old San Juan station to Old San Juan

AMA buses will run from Old San Juan to Sagrado Corazon (until after midnight)

Entertainment

There will be live music at the main stages at Plaza del Quinto Centenario, Plaza Colon, Plaza de Armas and Plaza de La Barandilla. You can also expect impromptu entertainment throughout Old San Juan during the four day festival

If there are any musical groups you really want to see, make sure you get to music stage early toget a good position, especially if it is the main stage at Plaza Quinto Centenario.

The party continues until late, with huge crowds cramming the streets. If you are with a group decide on a place to meet (preferably away from San Sebastian Street), where you can meet up if you happen to become separated

Concerts will typically end at 11pm (earlier on Sunday)

Bars will typically close at midnight (may vary by year)

General Tips

Day time hours are usually less crowded than the evenings. Saturday & Sunday during the day are good times to go with families

It’s ALWAYS hot in Old San Juan, so make sure you drink lots of fluids and not just the alcoholic kind.

If it rains don’t worry, the party will continue and there is bound to be some entrepreneur selling plastic ponchos

If you need a breather from all the action of the festival, just head down hill through Old San Juan and check out Paseo de La Princesa; it should be a little less crowded there.

Finally if you have a fear of crowded places, then San Sebastian Street and Old San Juan might not be the best place for you this weekend. Consider heading out away from San Juan for a daytrip.

If you have any other survival tips for the San Sebastian Street Festival, please let us know in the comments below