Santo Domingo
Discover Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo de Guzmán — the full name of the capital — was founded in 1496 by Bartolomé Colón, the brother of Christopher Columbus. It was the first permanent European settlement in the New World, and here the superlatives of the Americas emerged: the first cathedral, the first university, the first hospital, the first street (Calle Las Damas), the first monastery.
Today, Santo Domingo is a city of contrasts: The Zona Colonial with its cobblestone streets and colonial palaces is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1990). Just a few blocks away, highways roar, reggaetón blares from colmados, and skyscrapers rise into the tropical sky. The Malecón, the 14 km long promenade along the Caribbean Sea, is the city's meeting point in the evenings.
Most Punta Cana tourists skip Santo Domingo — a mistake. Plan at least 1.5–2 days. The city has the best gastronomy in the country, a vibrant nightlife, and a history that defined the Americas.
Zona Colonial (UNESCO World Heritage)
The historical heart of Santo Domingo — and the most important place for the history of the New World. More "Firsts of the Americas" are concentrated in these few blocks than anywhere else on the continent.
Alcázar de Colón★★★
★★★ Alcázar de Colón (Columbus Palace)
The most impressive building in the Zona Colonial: The Palace of Diego Colón, the son of Christopher Columbus, built 1510–1514. Two floors in the style of the Spanish Renaissance, with 22 rooms full of furniture and artworks from the 15th–16th centuries. From the terrace, you have a splendid view over the Río Ozama and the harbor.
Diego Colón ruled from here as Viceroy over the entire New World. The building has been extensively restored and now houses the Museo Alcázar de Colón — one of the best museums in the Caribbean.
Entry: 100 DOP (approx. 1.50 USD). Tue–Sun 9–5 PM. Closed on Mon.
Catedral Primada de América★★★
★★★ First Cathedral of the Americas
The Catedral Santa María la Menor (1512–1540) is the oldest cathedral in the New World. A massive structure of coral limestone, combining elements of Gothic, Renaissance, and Plateresque styles. Inside: 14 chapels, a baroque high altar, and until 1992 the tomb of Christopher Columbus (the remains were then moved to the Faro a Colón — although Seville also claims to have the real remains).
The Parque Colón in front of the cathedral is the tourist center of the Zona Colonial: pigeons, shoeshiners, domino players, tourists, and a bronze statue of Columbus. In the evenings, the surrounding restaurants fill up.
Free entry. Mon–Sat 9–4:30 PM, Sun only for mass. Appropriate clothing!
Calle Las Damas & Fortaleza Ozama
★★ Calle Las Damas
The oldest paved street in the New World, named after the ladies-in-waiting who strolled here in the 16th century. Today lined with colonial palaces, museums, and hotels. Here also lies the Casa de Bastidas, the Casa de Ovando (now Hotel Sofitel), and the Panteón Nacional — a former Jesuit monastery converted into the national hall of fame (with eternal flame and honor guard).
★★ Fortaleza Ozama
The oldest fortress in the New World (1502), which guarded the entrance to the Río Ozama for centuries. The Torre del Homenaje (Tower of Homage) is the oldest military structure in the Americas. You can climb the walls and have a fantastic view over the river and the harbor entrance. Later, the fortress was used as a prison — also under dictator Trujillo.
Entry: 70 DOP. Mon–Sun 9–5 PM.
More Highlights
★★ Museo de las Casas Reales
In the former palace of the governors: The history of the colonization of Hispaniola, from the Taíno through the conquest to the colonial administration. Weapons, maps, ship models, and an impressive sundial from the 16th century.
100 DOP. Tue–Sun 9 am–5 pm.
★ Monasterio de San Francisco
The ruins of the first monastery in the Americas (1508). Destroyed multiple times by earthquakes and hurricanes, today only the atmospheric walls and arches remain. In the evenings, concerts and cultural events sometimes take place here — under the open sky between the ancient stones.
★ Museo del Ámbar
Dominican amber is world-famous — here you can learn all about its formation, extraction, and how to distinguish real amber from fake. The most famous piece: an amber with an insect inclusion, reminiscent of the "Jurassic Park" film (the amber in the movie was actually Dominican!).
200 DOP. Mon–Sat 9 am–6 pm. Calle Arzobispo Meriño 452.
★ Calle El Conde
The pedestrian zone of the Zona Colonial: souvenir shops, cafés, street musicians. It begins at Parque Colón and ends at Parque Independencia (with the mausoleum of the founding fathers Duarte, Sánchez, and Mella). Touristy during the day, lively in the evening.
Malecón & Modern Santo Domingo
★★ Malecón (Avenida George Washington)
The 14 km long promenade along the Caribbean Sea is Santo Domingo's living room. During the day, locals jog here, and in the evening, the Malecón becomes a party: rum sellers with music boxes, domino players, couples on the wall, street vendors with empanadas. At sunset, the atmosphere is magical.
On the west side lies the Obelisco Macho, painted with colorful murals. Hotels, casinos, and clubs line the Malecón.
Los Tres Ojos (Three-Eyed Cave)
One of the city's most fascinating places: three open limestone caves with crystal-clear underground lakes in various colors (turquoise, blue, green). You descend 15 meters into the earth via a staircase and can cross to the third lake by a small raft. The Taíno used the caves for religious ceremonies.
200 DOP. Daily 9–5 PM. 15 minutes east of Zona Colonial (Taxi 5–8 USD). The visit takes about 1 hour.
Faro a Colón (Columbus Lighthouse)
This controversial monument (inaugurated in 1992 for the 500th anniversary of the discovery) is a cross-shaped concrete building that projects a cross-shaped beam of light into the sky at night. Inside: a lavish marble mausoleum with the (alleged) remains of Christopher Columbus, guarded by uniformed soldiers. Surrounding it is a museum with exhibits from every country in the Americas.
The building is controversial: an entire slum was demolished for its construction, the spotlight's electricity consumption was provocative in a country with frequent power outages, and Seville disputes that the real Columbus remains lie here.
200 DOP. Tue–Sun 9–5:30 PM. 20 min. east of Zona Colonial.
Mercado Modelo
The largest market in Santo Domingo — a covered labyrinth of stalls with souvenirs, Larimar jewelry, amber, rum, Mamajuana bottles, handicrafts, and Dominican paintings in a naive style. Haggling is a must — start at 50% of the quoted price.
Mon–Sat 9–6 PM, Sun until 1 PM. Corner of Av. Mella / Calle del Monte. Watch out for pickpockets!
Nightlife & Gastronomy
Santo Domingo has the best nightlife and restaurant scene in the entire Caribbean — and that's no exaggeration.
Going Out in the Zona Colonial
- Calle Las Atarazanas — The party mile: dozens of bars and clubs in one alley. La Alpargatería for rooftop cocktails, Parada 77 for craft beer
- Pat'e Palo — European-Caribbean gastropub on Plaza de España with a view of the Alcázar. One of the best steaks in the city
- El Conde — In the evening, the pedestrian zone turns into an open-air bar with merengue bands
Modern Santo Domingo
- Zona Gastronómica (Piantini/Naco) — The district of upscale restaurants: Travesías (fusion cuisine), SBG (Santo Domingo Brewing Company for craft beer), Jalao (Dominican haute cuisine)
- Ágora Mall — Shopping center with good restaurants on the upper floor. For an A/C break from the tropical heat
Dancing
In the Dominican Republic, everyone dances — and in Santo Domingo, it's serious:
- Merengue: Casa de Teatro (Zona Colonial) for live merengue. Jam session every Thursday
- Bachata: Bachata Rosa and various clubs in the Malecón area. Beginner-friendly — Dominicans will show you the steps
- Reggaetón/Dembow: Jet Set Club and clubs on Av. Abraham Lincoln for the young, loud Santo Domingo
Eating in Santo Domingo
- Comedor (People's Kitchen): La Bandera (National Flag: rice + beans + meat) for 200–300 DOP. Authentic, affordable, everywhere
- Chimichurri Burger: Not to be confused with Argentine chimichurri — this is a Dominican burger with cabbage, tomatoes, and a special sauce. Best on Av. George Washington (Malecón)
- Adrian Tropical: Popular chain on the Malecón. Dominican cuisine at an upscale level with sea view. Perfect for La Bandera, Mofongo, or Tostones
Tipp
Thursday evening is the best night to go out in Santo Domingo — more than Friday or Saturday. The Zona Colonial fills up from 9 PM, and the crowd is a mix of locals, expats, and tourists.
Stadtrundgang
Zona Colonial zu Fuß
A walk through the history of the New World — from the first cathedral to the Columbus Palace and the oldest streets in the Americas.
Parque Colón & Cathedral
Start at the central square. Visit the first cathedral in the Americas (1512–1540). Admire the Columbus statue.
30 Min.Calle Las Damas
Stroll along the oldest paved street in the New World. Visit the Panteón Nacional (eternal flame, honor guard).
20 Min.Fortaleza Ozama
Oldest fortress in the Americas (1502). Climb the Torre del Homenaje for a view over the Río Ozama.
40 Min.Alcázar de Colón
The palace of Columbus' son Diego. Museum with furniture and art from the 15th–16th centuries. Terrace with river view.
45 Min.Plaza de España
Pause at the most beautiful square in the Zona Colonial. Coffee or Presidente beer in one of the terrace restaurants.
30 Min.Calle El Conde → Parque Independencia
Stroll along the pedestrian zone to Parque Independencia with the mausoleum of the founding fathers (Duarte, Sánchez, Mella).
30 Min.War dieses Kapitel hilfreich?
