
Visiting San Juan for the First Time? Here's What to See and Do
From the food to the flora and fauna and everything in between, here's how to make the most of your first trip to San Juan.
Also known as the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center, the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré is San Juan’s premier performance center. The center, located in downtown San Juan, hosts some of the best concerts, operas, theater, and ballet performances on the island and contains works by Puerto Rican artists.
The Centro de Bellas Artes features four performance halls: the main Antonia Paoli Festival Hall, with seating for nearly 2,000; René Marqués Theater Hall, used for smaller events such as plays and musical performances; Pablo Casals Symphony Hall, known for its traditional “shoebox” design and great acoustics; and Carlos Marichal Performance Hall, an intimate arena-style theater. An outdoor plaza (Juan Morel Campos Plaza) and a theater café round out the performance space and can host hundreds of guests.
Centro de Bellas Artes guests must pass through security to enter the venue.
Large bags are not permitted inside the venue.
There is a dress code, and T-shirts and shorts are not permitted.
The Centro de Bellas Artes is wheelchair-accessible.
Free Wi-Fi is available in certain areas, including Antonia Paoli Festival Hall and René Marqués Theater Hall.
The Centro de Bellas Artes is located in the Santurce region of San Juan. Parking is available on-site or in nearby building complexes. It’s a short taxi ride from downtown San Juan, or take bus D53 to the center.
The Centro de Bellas Artes hosts a number of performances throughout the year. Check their schedule for the latest offerings and plan your visit accordingly. The annual Casals Festival, a celebration of classical music, is held here annually, in late February or early March.
The Centro de Bellas Artes is also home to a number of murals, paintings, and sculptures. Find the muralLa Plena, by Rafael Tufiño, in Antonia Paoli Festival Hall, and the stained glassForm and Tropical Crystals, by Luis Hernández Cruz, in René Marqués Hall. Juan Morel Campos Plaza houses the sculpturesMelodic Reflections, by Luis Torruella, andThe Muses, by Annex Burgos.