El Morro's levels
El Morro rises 140 feet above the shore, with its lighthouse 180 feet above the sea. You'll cross a dry moat to enter, with six levels inside the fort.
Things to do in Puerto Rico › Places › El Morro and San Cristóbal
El Morro and San Cristóbal
$10 per person · both fortsUpdated October 8, 2026 fees and hours from the National Park Service
Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal are the two Spanish forts of Old San Juan, one national historic site. El Morro guards the entrance to the bay. San Cristóbal faces the land side. One $10 pass covers both forts for 24 hours, and both open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gates take no cash, so bring a card.
Tickets
El Morro and San Cristóbal: tickets, hours and free days
| Entry | a $10 per person pass covers both forts for 24 hours; your receipt is the pass. Children 15 and younger enter free. |
| Hours | daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both forts close on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. They're also closed on New Year's Day. |
| Free days | the remaining fee-free dates are October 27 and November 11. Entry is free at both forts for U.S. citizens and residents only. |
| Payment | no cash at either fort. You need a major credit card or contactless payment for entry, so don't bring only bills. |
| Annual pass | the park's $35 annual pass covers entry for up to four adults. Your America the Beautiful pass also covers entrance here. |
Which fort first
- El Morro first El Morro's six levels face the bay. Pick it first for the sea defenses and the lighthouse above the walls.
- San Cristóbal first San Cristóbal is a 10 to 15 minute walk from most Old San Juan cruise piers. You get the tunnels and the fort built against attacks from the land.
- Both in one day Your pass covers both forts for 24 hours. The walk between them takes 15 to 20 minutes, so you can link them on foot.
Map
Where the forts are
El Morro: 18.4704° N, 66.1236° W Directions in Google Maps Apple Maps OpenStreetMap
How to get there
- On foot from the piers Most Old San Juan piers are a 10 to 15 minute walk from San Cristóbal. Your route climbs north past Plaza Colón to Calle Norzagaray. The Pan American pier is farther away; take a taxi.
- Between the forts The forts are 1.46 km, or 0.9 miles, apart by road. The walk along Calle Norzagaray takes 15 to 20 minutes. No tunnel joins them.
- By Uber or taxi Uber works in Puerto Rico; Lyft doesn't. Your El Morro drop-off is at the grounds entrance, with 5 minutes on foot across the lawn. For San Cristóbal you get out at Plaza Colón, then walk 4 to 5 minutes to the Calle Sol and Calle Norzagaray corner.
- By car El Morro has no parking, and you can't drive onto its grounds. The Doña Fela garage on Calle Comercio and the Covadonga garage by the bus terminal sit near the piers. From the underground garage on Norzagaray you walk 5 to 10 minutes to El Morro.
- From the airport San Cristóbal is 13 km from Luis Muñoz Marín Airport, or 8.07 miles. The drive takes 15 to 20 minutes, and El Morro takes 20 to 30 minutes. Traffic can stretch the ride.
Inside
What you find at El Morro and San Cristóbal
El Morro's levels
Ramparts and tunnels
San Cristóbal's ramparts defended the city against land attacks. Tunnels link its sections, so you can follow the defenses beyond the outer walls.
The garitas
Garitas are sentry boxes over the Atlantic, jutting out from El Morro's walls. Climbing onto those walls isn't allowed, even if you want a photo.
The walled streets
Old San Juan's streets sit inside the city walls. The Paseo del Morro runs below the western walls from the San Juan Gate. Parts of it close during the stabilization work, so a through walk is not a given.
With a guide
El Morro and San Cristóbal: guided tours or on your own
Six options cover Old San Juan and the forts, lowest price first. Each row gives a tour's starting price and what you get.
| Audio walk on your phone | $16.99 per person | San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour 61 reviews, 4.7 · No live guide or transport; fort entry is $10 per person extra. Download the audio before you start at Plaza Colón. · dates and prices ↗ |
| City walk with optional hotel pickup | $24.99 per adult | Old San Juan Historical Walk, Shopping, and Dining w/ Transport 512 reviews, 4.7 · You meet at Plaza Colón at 9 a.m.; there's no pickup at this price. The round-trip pickup option is from $49.99 per adult. Fort entry is $10 per person extra. · dates and prices ↗ |
| City walk with a guide | $39 per person | Old San Juan Walking Tour 2,514 reviews, 4.8 · Your 135-minute walk includes an exterior view of San Cristóbal. There's no hotel pickup; entering the forts separately costs $10 per person. · dates and prices ↗ |
| City walk with El Morro entry | $54 per adult | Old San Juan and El Morro Castle Walking Tour 736 reviews, 4.9 · El Morro entry is included in the 150-minute tour. You meet by the fountain beside La Casita de Rones at Plaza Dársenas; there's no hotel pickup. · dates and prices ↗ |
| Both forts with entry and guide | $59 per adult | Old San Juan 2 Castles Walking Tour: El Morro & San Cristobal 199 reviews, 4.8 · Fort entry is included in the 150-minute tour. You get yourself to Plaza Colón for 9 a.m. or 2 p.m. · dates and prices ↗ |
| Segway or e-bike with a guide | $108.98 per person | Old San Juan: Segway PT and Segway Xafari Ebike Tours 670 reviews, 4.7 · The 120-minute ride starts at Pier 2; El Morro is an exterior stop. Fort entry costs $10 per person separately. The Segway weight limit is 100 to 260 pounds. · dates and prices ↗ |
The catch: The two-fort tour runs rain or shine, and you must keep up with the group. A guide gives you the history. The park pass alone lets you walk both forts at your own pace.
Before you go
- One receipt covers both forts for 24 hours, and neither gate takes cash. Keep the receipt for the second gate and leave 15 to 20 minutes for the walk between them.
Tours
Tours around the forts and Old San Juan
Old San Juan, food and rum tours
49 tours · from $24
History walks cover the forts or the surrounding streets. Food and rum tours add another option to your time in Old San Juan.
Short tours from the San Juan piers
21 tours · from $17
Short tours help you plan around your ship's call. Allow for a taxi if your ship uses the Pan American pier.
El Yunque rainforest tours
70 tours · from $25
El Yunque rainforest tours are a separate outing from a fort visit. The list compares transport options, so you can see who handles the drive.
Know before you go
Know before you go
Your pass
Your $10 per person receipt covers both forts for 24 hours. The park's $35 annual pass covers up to four adults. America the Beautiful also covers entry, so bring that pass with valid photo ID.
Free entry days
October 27 and November 11 are fee-free for U.S. citizens and residents only. Your guided tour isn't included in the waiver.
Hours and holidays
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both forts close on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. They're also closed on New Year's Day.
Bathrooms and heat
Both forts have bathrooms on the entrance level. A hat and sunscreen help you in the heat and strong sun. Wear sturdy shoes for steep ramps and uneven steps.
Kites on the lawn
El Morro's lawn is free to enter, so you don't need a fort ticket to fly a kite. Take your used kite and string away when you leave.
Paseo del Morro
The Paseo del Morro runs along the bay below the western walls. Parts close during the cliff stabilization work at the San Fernando bastion. The closure runs from El Morro's dry moat to the Santa Elena bastion, so a full walk is not a given.
Good to know
People also ask
- How much does it cost to visit El Morro?
Entry costs $10 per person for both forts for 24 hours. Children 15 and younger enter free. You can pay by major credit card or contactless payment; cash isn't accepted.
- Does one ticket cover both forts in San Juan?
Yes, your $10 per person pass covers both forts for 24 hours. Keep the receipt for your second entrance. That visit must fit within the forts' opening hours.
- What are El Morro's opening hours?
El Morro opens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. It's also closed on New Year's Day.
- How far is El Morro from the cruise port?
El Morro is 1.7 km, or 1 mile, by road from Pier 1. From most Old San Juan piers you walk 10 to 15 minutes to San Cristóbal. El Morro is another 15 to 20 minutes on foot from there. Pan American arrivals need a taxi into Old San Juan.
- Is El Morro free?
The lawn is free, and children 15 and younger enter the forts free. Standard entry costs $10 per person. October 27 and November 11 are fee-free for U.S. citizens and residents only.
- Which is better, El Morro or San Cristóbal?
El Morro suits you for sea defenses and its six levels. San Cristóbal has tunnels and defenses against land attacks. It's also closer to the Old San Juan piers. Your pass covers both for 24 hours.