Old San Juan makes you feel like you’re in another country. In just a four hour flight from Newark, you’ll be transported to a completely different world. Although Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, San Juan is not like any other U.S. city. Its colorful homes, cobblestone streets, centuries-old fortresses will make you believe you’re in a European town, rather than a Caribbean island.

The Castillo San Felipe del Morro is an excellent example of that. Construction began back in 1539 by the order of the Spanish King at the time. Its main goal was to control and protect San Juan Bay. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that people can visit for just $5. We happened to go on a National Park Day and entrance was free, so that was just an added bonus. It’s nice to walk around on the grounds, especially because it gives you such beautiful views of the ocean.

There are a few of these fortresses on the island but one tip from a cab driver was that if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.