The most exciting things to do in Santo Domingo
Things to do in Santo Domingo
What to do in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo is the capital city of the Dominican Republic. So, if you are planning on visiting the Dominican Republic, you should not skip this beautiful city. Even though, most people choose this country for their amazing beaches and luxurious resorts, the Dominican Republic is more than this.
If you have the chance to book a one-day tour to Santo Domingo, or even better, to stay three or four nights in the capital, don’t miss it. Santo Domingo is beautiful, colorful and full of history. It is one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean and it was discovered by Christopher Columbus. This city is the perfect mixture of European, Caribbean and western culture.
Things to visit
Zona Colonial (Historical part of Santo Domingo)
The entire Zona Colonial represents the historical part of Santo Domingo. Here you will discover buildings as old as the Spanish colonization of the Dominican Republic. In 1498, Santo Domingo became the oldest European city in the Americas. In those times, the island was named “La Isla Española”. During those times, the Zona Colonial represented the entire city.
In the historical part of the city, you cannot miss some of the most important landmarks, mostly built in the 15th century. The entire area is part of Ciudad Colonial UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.
- Alcázar de Colón is the first fortified Spanish palace built in the Americas. In those times, this was the main residence of one of Columbus’s sons. Now, it is transformed in a beautiful museum. Alcázar de Colón is located in:
- Plaza de España, that is a beautiful square surrounded by the Ozama River, Alcázar de Colón and amazing restaurants and terraces. It is a great place to walk around or to relax and enjoy the view.
- Near Plaza de España, when you go to El Conde street, you will find Columbus Park. A great place to relax and enjoy the Caribbean vibes. There is music, people enjoying life and the majestic statue of Christopher Columbus, right in the middle. But this park, is surrounded by shops, restaurants, a famous cigar factory and
- Basilica Cathedral of Santa María la Menor that is the first and the oldest cathedral built in the Americas. Its construction began in 1504 and was finalized in 1550.
- Fortaleza Ozama is the one of the surviving “walls of Santo Domingo”. It was constructed between 1502-1508 and represented the tower of the entire wall. It was named after the river it is overlooking, Ozama.
Los Tres Ojos
Leaving the historical Zona Colonial, the most important thing that you should consider visiting is the Three Eyes National Park. The park is one of the most visited attractions in the entire country. It is a series of three lakes (ojos) that are formed in caves. The entire view is spectacular. To be able to access the last one, you will have to take a “ferry” that is inside a cave and will cross you over a big and dark lagoon. In here, many production companies have filmed footage for films like: Tarzan or Jurassic Park.
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Shopping and Eating in Santo Domingo
Another great way to spend some time in Santo Domingo is to go directly to Calle El Conde. It is a street in the Zona Colonial, filled with shops and restaurants on both sides. Calle El Conde is the perfect spot to shop for souvenirs and more. There are a lot of nice little boutiques where you can find amazing clothes, filled with that tropical vibe. I didn’t leave Santo Domingo without some purchases and one of my dearest acquisitions was a lovely summer hat, that I’ve bought from Calle El Conde.
It is also a great place to eat and to relax. The entire street is filled with little terraces where you can enjoy some coffee or a fresh fruit juice. Here you can find mostly street food, from burgers to empanadas.
The Vibe
The entire vibe of the city is one of a kind. Imagine walking through Calle El Conde and listening to music while shopping. That is because they have public speakers in the middle of the pedestrian street, to cheer up the people. Everything will lift up your mood and make you enjoy every second spent there. For us, Santo Domingo is extremely… Travelicious.