Santo Domingo is accessible from all parts of the DR, and is located in the South of the country. Great bus services from the north and south of the island do run on an hourly basis whilst the international airport of Las Americas welcomes people from overseas. A sprawling metropolis of literally old and new, first impressions of the city can be a little jaded. Overflowing slum neighbourhoods surround the capital from every approach, poor shack shanty towns are all ones sees for the mile or so as you slowly crawl through bumper to bumper traffic waiting to reach the city. Children, old men and women selling lotto tickets, sugar cane, newspapers, and iced water dive in and out of the endless stream of traffic in a desperate bid to try and earn a few pesos per day, their worn torn clothes and often shoeless feet a sad fact of the great divide between rich and poor in this nations capital, as they reach to bang on the window of a brand new Mercedes or Hummer Jeep, the irony is blatantly reflected back in their faces from these brand new shiny window screens.......
Santo Domingo Map
Culturally though the city is an absolute winner and most people will head straight away to the Colonial Zone. This is where the European settlement of the New World commenced. Christopher Columbus, his brother Bartholomew, and his sons all ruled from here at various points and opened the gateway for the Spanish conquistadors to invade and conquer the rest of the Caribbean and Americas. (See our Dominican Republic history pages for an in depth view of the monumental historic coming and goings that took place over five centuries ago - better than any modern day soap opera!)
The Colonial Zone is incredible, and the buildings that remain today can only be marvelled at. Set on the banks of the Ozama river the heart of the Colonial zone is in Parque Colon where there is a huge statue of the man himself, Olde Christopher Columbus. The Cathedral Santa Maria la Menor is an absolute must to go and walk around (remember ladies to cover your arms and gentlemen must wear long pants), there is also an ambar and larimar musuem worth a look to. Once of the most famous streets in Santo Domingo is the Calle de las Damas (claimed to be the oldest street in the western hemisphere) and a lot of the remaining walls around the colonial zone are dated back to the 16th century. It is worth taking a specialised guided tour of the colonial city to really appreciate the magnitude and planning, building and aspirations that the Spanish people had here a long time ago.
There are many other attractions to be seen in Santo Domingo, huge shopping malls have now irrupted through out the city which are air conditioned and shops offer the latest in digital technology, many beautiful museums and art galleries displaying national and international artists work of art. Theatres, a lighthouse, casinos galore, national aquarium, botanical gardens, and the wonderful Malecon (or seafront promenade in English). As well as world class restaurants and luxury 5 star inner city hotels the city offers reasonable guest houses and hostels suiting a wide range of budgets. (Please visit our Santo Domingo Hotel Reviews section for more information and reviews).
Most tourists just spend a day or two visiting the highlights of the city and usually from which ever resort you are staying in be in the North or East coast organised tours can be arranged with guides speaking most languages.
If you are staying overnight then the night life is plentiful. From casinos to nightclubs, sushi to salsa, al fresco dining in the most sumptuous of restaurants to themed bars and world recognised franchised eateries like “TGI Fridays” and “Outback Steak Houses”. Ballet and Opera, Philharmonic Orchestras, to live dancing cheek to cheek to the pulsating rhythm of the magical merengue, there is something for everyone in this lively Caribbean Capital.
