Guide to what to do in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

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Today we present the complete guide on what to know and do in the beautiful Santo Domingo, sol, playa, culture and history, the capital of Dominican Republic.

You always hear of people who are going to enjoy the beach of Punta Cana and Samana in Dominican Republic, but we had been curious to know the capital. On this occasion we went to the capital Santo Domingo with Arajet in a flight of almost 4 hours since Quito and the truth is that, the city had much more to offer.

in just 3 days we visited many iconic places of the history and culture of Santo Domingo and we enjoy its Caribbean climate where sunrises and sunsets are idyllic between sun and beach.

Post written by Sil – Instagram: @smc_sock
With photos by Sil and Nicolás

Santo Domingo a lot of history in one place

Really, step on for the first time Santo Domingo is to move to the arrival of the Spanish in 1492, there is history everywhere that also meets modernity and a wide gastronomy for all palates.

I'm sure there's much more to know, but for a plan 3 days, these are our recommendations, all to no more than 30 minutes from downtown Santo Domingo. We start with a video so that you have an idea of what Santo Domingo is.:

like we said, there is much to know, but it all depends on the tastes of each traveler, so for us walking and getting to know the historic center was the most important thing and what we enjoyed the most. we start.

The Malecon

The Malecón de Santo Domingo is located on George Washington Avenue and is one of the most relaxed walks, low budget and beautiful that can be done. The boardwalk covers a large part of the city giving opportunity for beautiful photos of the Caribbean Sea and landscapes of endless palm trees throughout the walk..

Another of the attractions of this walk is to see parts of the fortresses that were once built by Spanish settlements where one can also stop for a while and imagine what Santo Domingo was like in colonial times..

This area is also very touristy thanks to the fact that it is surrounded by luxury hotels., casinos, bars, restaurants and clubs that light up every weekend to create a traditional Caribbean party.

malecon santo domingo walk night day safety what to do — Even, at night the walk is very quiet on the Malecón, plus the benefit of significantly lowering the temperature.

Historic center or colonial city of Santo Domingo

This walk is an unmissable stop in the city. Santo Domingo has a large historic center, which can be used in a morning or in more time if you enter the buildings, cathedrals, museums or historical forts.

On the walk you can see the oldest cathedral in all of America, the Primate Cathedral of America, as well as the record of the last place where Christopher Columbus lived with his family. Equally, this area has several historical museums, outdoor restaurants, bares, shops and supermarkets for all tastes and budgets.

alcazar de colon palace santo domingo what to do — Governor's Palace, built by the son of Christopher Columbus. can enter.

Columbus Lighthouse

On one side of the capital is the famous Columbus lighthouse, which is a structure that can be seen from far to the east and is built in the shape of a cross about 60.95 meters long in honor of the discoveries of Christopher Columbus. On the premises is a museum displaying artifacts from the time of colonial exploration and the mausoleum is said to contain the remains of Christopher Columbus. (this is what many say, but others say no).

The visit in the morning was fun but very hot, and local people also recommend making this visit in the afternoon, where the photos with the lighthouse would come out much better with the colors and landscapes of the sunset.

The three eyes

This is a highly recommended tour since you can perfectly appreciate three underground lagoons with impressive crystal clear water. This view is something very unique that Santo Domingo offers, a natural space in the middle of the city. The Tour consists of walking along very green paths to see the three lakes or cenotes, until you reach the third lagoon, called The Blue Lagoon.

the tour is awesome, it gives you the feeling that you are getting closer to the center of the earth with the spectacle of crystal clear water surrounded by plants and sounds of nature.

Cost: 200 Dominicans per person.

recommendations

Without a doubt, this is a brief tour of this great city that also offers much more to discover if we go out for a few minutes to other areas that we will talk about later..

We want to close this issue with some additional recommendations that will help you make the most of your visit.:

Santo Domingo is a more expensive city than other capitals in Latin America, so plan your budget well.
Take Uber for your transfers around the city, you will save some money and time.
- There are public buses with many options, but it is very chaotic to use and takes longer.
- The traffic is quite complex, so it is better to plan the activities at times between 9 am y 16 hours.
It's a hot and sunny city, so the use of comfortable clothes, light and sunscreen is mandatory.
In tourist areas it is safe to walk, but make sure you don't get out of them, as it can be dangerous in certain areas.
Las Americas Airport is located 35 minutes from the colonial city and an Uber costs about $30 dollars or more.
Check before going to an attraction if it is open, there are days of closures for holidays or maintenance.
You must try the Dominican flag for food, very rich and strong.