By air
Las Américas International (SDQ), ~30 km by road
North America · Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
The oldest European city in the Americas
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to April — warm and drier
Don't miss
The Ciudad Colonial
The Catedral Primada de América
The Alcázar de Colón
Los Tres Ojos
Things to do
Walking the colonial zone
Museum visits
Evenings on the Malecón
Merengue and bachata clubs
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Desox7x · CC0
What to pack
Light clothes, comfortable shoes, sunscreen
A quieter corner
Calle Las Damas, said to be the first paved street in the Americas
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Santo Domingo?
December to April — warm and drier. What to pack: Light clothes, comfortable shoes, sunscreen.
How do I get to Santo Domingo?
Fly into Las Américas International (SDQ), ~30 km by road.
What is there to do in Santo Domingo?
Walking the colonial zone, museum visits, evenings on the Malecón, merengue and bachata clubs. A quieter find: Calle Las Damas, said to be the first paved street in the Americas.
What should I eat in Santo Domingo?
Sancocho stew, la bandera of rice, beans and meat, mangú with fried cheese, fresh tropical juices.
About Santo Domingo
- Coastal
- Riverside
Where it is
Santo Domingo is the capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic, on the south coast where the Ozama River meets the Caribbean Sea.
History
The city was founded in 1496 by Bartholomew Columbus, brother of Christopher Columbus, and is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas. Its colonial quarter holds the first cathedral, hospital and university founded by Europeans in the Americas, and was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1990.
People
Santo Domingo's people speak Spanish and fill the city with music, from merengue on street corners to bachata in the bars, and baseball is followed with great passion.
Known for
- The colonial zone
- The first cathedral in the Americas
- Merengue and bachata
- The seafront Malecón
Did you know?
The Catedral Primada de América, completed in the first half of the 16th century, is regarded as the oldest cathedral in the Americas.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.