If Puerto Rico were a shopping mall, San Juan would be the department store – it has everything a shopper could possibly desire within a relatively small radius. Souvenir stands, which usually sell handmade pottery, hand-rolled cigars, and other local crafts, can be found all throughout the city’s tourist sectors.  Markets in San Juan sell delicious artisan cheese as well as Puerto Rican coffee and rum.

Seekers of jewelry and other luxury goods should look no further than San Juan’s Plaza Las Americas, the biggest shopping center in Puerto Rico. Home to modern stores as well as traditional craft booths, the Plaza is a lively place that can be enjoyable even if you are only window-shopping.

Travelers from Europe should be warned that there are restrictions on the amount of liquor, cigarettes and certain other goods that can be brought home from Puerto Rico. Even though some of these items, due to low import taxes, may be cheaper to buy in Puerto Rico than in your home country, don’t expect to be able to bring large quantities back with you.

The perfect souvenir of San Juan?  Probably a Guayabera , the local name for the type of dress shirt that many men in Puerto Rico wear to work. These fancy, popular shirts can be bought for a reasonable price on most San Juan street corners.