Culture
Puerto Rico is rich in festivals, traditions, art, and music — but it doesn’t end there. Come see how welcoming and enchanting the Island’s culture is.
Puerto Rico’s culture is a colorful tapestry of old and new, mixing indigenous, Spanish, and African traditions. You’ll find expressions of that culture all around the Island — from art museums to vibrant murals, from bomba dance lessons to lively festivals that fill the streets. Whether you want to look, listen, or join right in, immerse yourself in the unique and welcoming culture of Puerto Rico.
Free-spirited Santurce is home to art galleries, museums, restaurants, and an abundance of street art.
A local artisan displays figurines and traditional masks known as vejigantes.
San Juan’s famous Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian mark the official end to Puerto Rico’s holiday season.
Bomba dancing is one of Puerto Rico's deepest cultural traditions.
For a bounty of colorful murals, check out the Santurce area in San Juan.
Music, dancing, and good food are guaranteed at the Island’s many festivals.
"San Pedrito" by Ana Marietta, one of the many murals you can see at Distrito T-Mobile in San Juan.
The Ponce Museum of Art.
The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico displays works ranging from classical to contemporary.
Distrito T-Mobile is a place where you will find many vibrant murals by Puerto Rican artists.
Live Boricua!
In Puerto Rico, we call ourselves Boricua. It’s a unique name that honors our Island heritage, but it’s also a way of life, a state of mind, a rhythm and flavor that is distinctly Puerto Rico. Once you visit us, you’ll find that spirit in yourself, too. From our sparkling beaches to our rich and vibrant culture, we invite you to experience Puerto Rico the Boricua way.
Explore Culture
· Explore Culture · Explore Culture ·
Annual Festivals in Puerto Rico
Almost every weekend, there is a festival or a celebration around the Island. These are some of the biggest and most popular.
Art
Contemporary, classical, urban, or historic, Puerto Rico has art that will inspire you.
Music & Dance
Dance and music are essential when describing the energy and vibrancy of Puerto Rico. They are the epitome of traditional expressions of the Island’s culture and heritage.
Culinary & Cocktails
Puerto Rico has transformed into a foodie paradise over the years, incorporating different influences and traditions to create exciting dishes and cocktails.
The island of Culebra, off the coast of Puerto Rico.
The Island
The Island territory is only 100 miles long, but it packs an amazing diversity of sights, scenery, and culture.
The historic lighthouse ruins at Punta Borinquen.
History
Puerto Rico’s vibrancy derives from more than 500 years of rich history and the subsequent blending of different cultures — a fusion that extends to almost every aspect of the Island’s identity.
Festivals & Traditions
From Three Kings Day parades in January to clapping when a plane touches down on the Island, traditions are kept alive by Puerto Rico's locals year after year. It's easy to find a tradition that speaks to you with endless festivals, events, and holiday celebrations from east to west and north to south.
Join the "party in the street" vibe at Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián in the historic city of Old San Juan or experience traditions like drinking coquito — an eggnog-like cocktail made with rum and coconut — during the holiday season. No matter what time of year, culture is present in every corner of this Caribbean paradise.
Yaucromatic, a public art project in Yauco, is Puerto Rico's largest outdoor art gallery.
Art in Puerto Rico
With colorful street murals and contemporary art museums and galleries, Puerto Rico's art scene is unique and full of history. The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico (Museum of Art of Puerto Rico) in Santurce is packed with classic pieces that date back to the 17th century. Nearby, the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (Puerto Rico Contemporary Museum) is not to be missed if you want a taste of the Island's modern side. Distrito T-Mobile offers a less traditional art space, featuring an eclectic mix of mosaics, murals, sculptures, and installations by Puerto Rican artists. You'll find more art in places like Ponce and Bayamón as well. Local art, whether it's a painting or a hand-carved figurine, is the perfect souvenir to take back home with you!
Music & Dancing in Puerto Rico
All year-round, you can experience Puerto Rico's tropical flavor through the music that blankets the Island. Music in Puerto Rico ranges from traditional salsa to softer beats like the trova to bomba y plena, a contagious dance inspired by Puerto Rico's African roots. Bring your dancing shoes because the musical culture on the Island is alive, vibrant, and too good to miss!
Feel the rhythms of Puerto Rico
Teatro Yagüez is considered an architectural masterpiece.
Puerto Rico’s Most Important Theaters
Grab a ticket for an event at one of these top theaters, concerts halls, cinemas or performing arts venues.
View of a garita and the ocean from El Morro, in Old San Juan.
Memorable Historic Sites in Puerto Rico
The top places where you can experience the history of the Island.
Three Kings Day is considered one of the main celebrations during the holiday season in Puerto Rico.
The Timeless Puerto Rican Tradition of Three Kings Day
Christmas is not over until a visit from the Magi.
Fortín Conde Mirasol in Vieques was the last fortification built by the Spaniards in the Americas.
Five Small Museums around Puerto Rico
From lace-knitting to sports and maritime history, learn about Puerto Rico from a different perspective.
A Street Art Tour of Santurce
Discover the San Juan neighborhood that has emerged as the capital of art in the Caribbean.
Viewpoint of the Río Saliente at Piedra Escrita in Jayuya. In the summer visitors often enjoy a refreshing swim in the river.
The Taína Route and Indigenous Culture in Puerto Rico
Caves, trails, graves, and petroglyphs tell the story of the island’s cultural origins.
Inside view of the Ponce Museum of Art.
Explore Puerto Rico’s Top Museums from Home
Take a virtual tour and discover the island’s artistic scene.
Holiday Traditions in Puerto Rico
Visit Puerto Rico around Christmas-time and make Puerto Rico’s holiday traditions your own.
Santurce has become Puerto Rico’s version of Wynwood Arts district in Miami.
Exploring the Santurce Neighborhood
Journey through one of San Juan’s lively arts districts.