The city of Ponce is second in size and number of people after San Juan. It is full of culture and history. Most people wouldn’t know where to start because there are so many amazing things to do here.

Check out our guide and the best free things to do in Ponce, Puerto Rico, which are listed below.

The Parque de Bombas is a historical site in Puerto Rico and one of the most popular places to visit in Ponce. This beautiful building was the first fire station on the island. It was built in 1883 and has become a symbol of the city of Ponce. It is on the National Register of Historic Places in Puerto Rico.

This old fire station is now a small museum about the firefighters who stopped a fire from destroying the city in 1899. You can go to the group of homes on Calle 25 de Enero from here. This part is the best part of this great piece of history.

After the brave firemen saved the city, one of the red houses in this area was given away to a good citizen every year for 45 years. This area is only five minutes from the city center and should be on your list of free things to do.

The Ponce Museum of Art should be one of your top choices if you like art. The Ponce Museum of Art, also called the Museu de Arte de Ponce, opened in 1959. It has a wide range of paintings, ceramics, and sculptures. Works come from both Africa and the Americas as well as Puerto Rico. If you love history, this stop can also be part of your Ponce, Puerto Rico Guide.

See the view from La Cruceta del Vigia if you like to see things from different points of view. This cross was built on a hill with a view of the Caribbean Sea. It was used to keep an eye on the boats coming into the bay. People can take the elevator or the stairs to get to the top bridge.

Do you like to learn as much as you can about the history of the places you visit? The History Museum of Ponce should be one of the first things you do in Ponce. It is in the beautiful Casa Salazar-Candal. The museum tells visitors everything they need to know about the city, from its history to how it is to live there now.

A Japanese Garden is one of the more unusual things to do in Ponce. The garden is part of Castillo Serrallés and is a great place to relax and unwind. There are pagodas, koi ponds, bonsai trees, and lotus flowers in this Japanese Garden.

If you can’t decide whether you love history or architecture more, Castillo Serralles is a great place to visit. This beautiful mansion was built for the Seralles family, a well-known rum family from Puerto Rico. It is now open to the public. Check out the original furniture and well-kept gardens, and be amazed by the view of the city from the top.

Castillo Serralles is the only one of its kind in the country. It used to be the home of the Serrallés family, who made the famous Don Q. Visitors can now take a tour of this beautiful Spanish Revival-style building from the 1930s to learn more about Juan Eugenio Serrallés, who started Serrallés Distillery, as well as Puerto Rico’s sugar cane and rum industries.

Not only should nature lovers visit the gardens at Castillo Serralles, but they can also enjoy a change of scenery by going to the water. The Paseo Tablado la Guancha is only 15 minutes from the city center. This boardwalk has shops and restaurants on it, and it’s a starting point for a lot of other things to do in Ponce. You can rent kayaks or look at the boats that can take you to smaller islands in Puerto Rico from the beach.

In addition to its historic sites, Ponce has a great collection of urban street art that you shouldn’t miss when you go there. The festival Ponce Es Ley started in 2017 and is based on the same idea as San Juan is Ley. This is why there are so many murals all over the city. During this festival, muralists from all over the world paint on the walls of buildings in the city center.

Isla Caja de Muertos is a great place for nature lovers to go. Check out the hiking trails and cave on the island, which are great for a day trip. There are beautiful beaches with turquoise water that are perfect for lying in the sun.

Few people know that Tainos were living in Puerto Rico before the Spaniards came. At the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center, you can learn about the Taino and see some of the things they left behind. You can also visit their burial sites and ruins. There is also a shop and a museum there.

Ponce is the place to go for good food that is on the rise. Even though the area is known for its seafood, more and more people are driving from San Juan to Ponce to eat fusion food.

But the tasty snacks from the area are what you should put on your list of things to do. Some of these delicious snacks are seafood and meat-filled empanadas, octopus salad, and Mallorca breakfast sandwiches.

Lola is a restaurant that has gotten good reviews and should be on your list if you want to try fine dining.

Like everywhere else in Puerto Rico, Ponce has great cocktails, especially Pina Coladas, for tourists to try. This drink was first made in Puerto Rico. It has rum in it. Every bar puts its own spin on a classic cocktail, and you can find some great bars along the boardwalk.

Rum fans will want to try some of the Don Q rum that is made in the area. Even though you can’t visit the distillery, it’s easy to find in stores.