The Capitol of Puerto Rico
The Capitol of Puerto Rico
4.5
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Visitors to the Capitol can make a reservation for a guided tour.
The history of the Capitol building began on February 7, 1907, when Don Luis Munoz Rivera, an important figure of the political history of Puerto Rico and legislator at the time, introduced House Bill 84 to the House of Delegates. Although the bill was passed and a neoclassical design had been chosen, the construction of the Capitol encountered several fiscal, economic and political difficulties which resulted in the work being suspended twice. Despite all difficulties encountered throughout the years, the Capitol building was finally inaugurated on February 11, 1929.
On June 30, 1977, the Capitol of Puerto Rico was designated a Historic Landmark and on November 18, 1977, it was listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
285 reviews
Excellent
175
Very good
88
Average
20
Poor
1
Terrible
1
jehenson81
Washington DC, DC25,943 contributions
Nov 2021 • Solo
This building was actually quite surprising and very stunning. It reminds me of Capitol buildings in other places I have visited, though the dome was shorter (liked it on this building). I highly recommend swinging by to take a look.
Written November 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Smk824
Alvin, TX36 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
We were able to schedule in advance an English tour of the Capitol. Several times in the past we had tried but never able to get a date and time to work. Our tour guide was excellent gave us a great deal of information about the building as we toured but also how their government works. I highly recommend calling and making a reservation to see this marvelous building and learn history.
Written November 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia19,450 contributions
Dec 2022
This is where we started our whole day San Juan walking tour. The Capitol is situated some 5 min walk before the San Cristobal fort which marks the beginning of the old town.
Across the Capitol is the 'Walkway of the Presidents', a very interesting composition. Also, next door to it is a monument to native Indians from the island.
The Capitol itself, in its Neoclassic architecture reminds on many other US Capitols, though with a smaller dome. It's currently under renovations and we couldn't enter it, but anyway it was interesting to visit the only US Capitol in the Caribbean.
Across the Capitol is the 'Walkway of the Presidents', a very interesting composition. Also, next door to it is a monument to native Indians from the island.
The Capitol itself, in its Neoclassic architecture reminds on many other US Capitols, though with a smaller dome. It's currently under renovations and we couldn't enter it, but anyway it was interesting to visit the only US Capitol in the Caribbean.
Written February 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sylvia DrSoul Fernandez
San Juan, Puerto Rico12,331 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
My guest and I walked from my Airbnb in Santurce to Old San Juan and spent the day there! The Capitol of Puerto Rico was one of the first impressive buildings on the way. Nature was the protagonist of the Paseo Puerta de Tierra from Condado to Old San Juan by the ocean! Right next to it you can find San Cristobal Fort. We didn’t go in the Capitol but rather took a nice long look at the ocean in front! There is a beach one can go to across the street from the Capitol!!! How many places can say THAT! Of course I’m from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷🙏🏼😜
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kellen
1 contribution
Jun 2022 • Family
Pedro provided my family and I with an incredible tour of the Capitol. He was very knowledgeable and allowed us to view firsthand many aspects of the Puerto Rican legislative branch. The building is beautiful and full of history. Do not miss it if you're in San Juan!
Written June 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Opinion_of_EMS
Kingwood, Texas35 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
What a stunningly beautiful building! The charm of the Capital was only outdone by the friendliness of its people. Pedro did a fantastic job on our tour. He was easy to understand and had so many interesting facts about the Puerto Rican government and how is runs. We had a delightful morning learning so much about this wonderful island. Please commend Pedro on a job well done. He is an excellent representative for the Capital.
Written March 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gerardo D
North Lauderdale, FL66 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
Please note. If you call, they will tell you you have to book in advance. This is not true. You can just go. A guide will take you trough the capitol. You want to take zoomed pics of the ceiling on the main floor. paintings are quite well done. A lot of history here. After your visit, go to the front across the street is the statue of St. John the baptist and a plaza with the coat of arms of all the cities plus you can take some awesome pics. The trolley stops here as well. Behind this is the president's walk with a life size statue of all the presidents that visited the Island and a monument to fallen police officers. You will want to take pics here also. Be advised, the trolley runs quite late during the week. A little faster on the week end but, as a rule of thumbs, once an hour or so. You may want to consider an Uber to get to the rest of the attractions. They are cheap and always available. If traveling with handicapped or seniors, do yourself a favor and get the larger Ubers. Stay clear of Taxis. They are considerably more expensive and not always honest.
Written June 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Gerardo D,
thank you for sharing this information about the Capitol of Puerto Rico and surrounding areas! I would like to make a clarification about reserving a tour.
We always suggest that visitors make a reservation so that they can be guaranteed a full tour with a Capitol guide. We do our best to avoid situations where we cannot offer our services. There are times when a guide is available to give a tour to a group without a reservation, but this is not always the case. This could be because the day is fully booked or we have a smaller amount of guides working due to an illness.
Also, groups that come in without a reservation usually get a shorter version of the tour on the first floor, to ensure that the guide will be available for the next reserved tour. With a reservation, we will make sure that there is a guide available to take the group through all three floors of The Capitol and the Senate or House Chambers.
I hope this clears up why booking a tour with the Capitol Tourism Office is important!
Written September 12, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Suellen T
Perth, Australia783 contributions
Dec 2019 • Solo
This looks like a capitol building ... it is imposing and picturesque. I didn’t go in but enjoyed the pics of the outside and it’s imposing presence.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dana Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA1,198 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
Important to the local administration, but could easily be overlooked by most visitors to the capitol. Not worth the time if you have very limited time in San Juan.
Written July 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jerry Crawford
Los Angeles, CA272 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
If you have enough time while in San Juan before or after your cruise, check out the Capitol Stately building reminiscent of U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Only Havana's Capitol building is better in the Caribbean.
Written March 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Estarán ofreciendo tour en inglés el 24 de diciembre 2018. Me dejan saber.. por favor y el horario.
Written November 13, 2018
En años anteriores cierran el capitolio por receso navideño. Solo está disponibles el área de la rotunda.
Written November 14, 2018
WE are 8 people who wish to visit the capitol on 6 December in the morning because we must be in the ship at 1.30 pm. We have been there several times and never visited inside. I ask the staff to book this visit and anwer what time it is possible. Aida Mascarenhas from Portugal
Written November 26, 2017
Hello Aida!
Please use the information on the PR Capitol page here on Tripadvisor to call and book your tour or you can also email us if you prefer.
Written November 28, 2017
How do I get permission to take a group of 20 high school students from South Georgia on a tour of the government building in San Juan Puerto Rico? Thanks.
Written May 15, 2017
Hi hardenl2016! To gain access to the Capitol, you have to make a reservation for the date and time that you wish to visit. You can reserve a guided tour of the Capitol using the contact information on the page; I'll be more than happy to help you through the process.
Written May 15, 2017
We will be in San Juan on a Monday and Wednesday and would like to visit the Capitol Building and the nearby beach. Where is the best place to park? Also would appreciate lunch recommendations
Written February 22, 2017
The Capitol has its own multilevel parking across Fernandez Juncos Ave. the closest beach is El Escambron which has its adjacent parking for $3 at least. For a good meal go to Old San Juan and there you will find multiple choices. Our favorites are: pizza Pirilo's, local Puerto Rican, Cafe Puerto Rico. Check out the local guides and have fun.
Written February 23, 2017
jennieray
Piscataway, New Jersey
Hello -
Can we visit inside? Is there a fee? Thx.
Written January 7, 2017
Hi jennieray! There is no fee to enter the Capitol building of Puerto Rico nor to receive a guided tour. If you wish to receive a guided tour, please call our tourism office using the information provided on the Capitol building main page (on the right-hand sidebar) and make a reservation. I hope this thoroughly answers your question!
Written January 9, 2017
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