Experience the best of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital, has a UNESCO-listed colonial quarter of stone churches, forts and cobbled streets beside the Ozama River.
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The Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo is one of the oldest European towns in the Americas, a grid of stone streets laid out in the early sixteenth century. Calle Las Damas runs past the Fortaleza Ozama, a fortress above the river. The Catedral Primada de América, begun soon afterwards, is the oldest cathedral in the Americas, and the Alcázar de Colón, a palace built for Columbus's son Diego, overlooks Plaza de España.
Outside the old quarter, the Malecón follows the sea for kilometres with restaurants and a long breezy walk, the Columbus Lighthouse is a vast monument to the explorer, and Los Tres Ojos is a park of limestone caves with deep lakes in the east of the city. The National Botanical Garden is a quiet green space. Boca Chica, a calm, shallow beach, lies east of the city, and the Caribbean coast stretches on towards La Romana.
La bandera, a plate of rice, beans and stewed meat, is the everyday meal, with mangú, mashed plantain, at breakfast, crisp fried tostones and sancocho, a root vegetable stew. The city is warm all year and driest from December to April. Merengue and bachata pour from bars and colmados, the corner shops, late into the night.
- Free cancellation on 98% of experiences
- 4.8 across the top 17
Top 10 attractions in Santo Domingo
Number 1Columbus Lighthouse (Faro a Colón)
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Number 2Ciudad Colonial (Zona Colonial)
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Number 3Calle Las Damas
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Number 4Alcázar de Colón (Columbus Palace)
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Number 5National Palace
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Number 6Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor (Catedral Primada de América)
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Number 7Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales)
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Number 8Los Tres Ojos National Park
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Number 9Columbus Park (Parque Colón)
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Number 10Ozama Fort (Fortaleza Ozama)
Special offers in Santo Domingo
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
![Santo Domingo Adventure in buggy through Bayahibe Chavón River and Beach]()
5% offFree cancellation
Go beyond Santo Domingo
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La Romana · 103 kmSaona Island (Isla Saona)
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La Romana · 103 kmBayahibe
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Samaná · 105 kmCayo Levantado (Bacardi Island)
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Samaná · 105 kmSamaná Bay
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Puerto Plata · 165 kmFort San Felipe (Fortaleza San Felipe)
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Puerto Plata · 165 kmDamajagua Falls (27 Charcos)
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Punta Cana · 167 kmMacao Beach (Playa Macao)
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Punta Cana · 167 kmBavaro Beach (Playa Bavaro)
Questions about Santo Domingo
- What is there to do in Santo Domingo?
- We list 222 experiences in Santo Domingo. The largest groups are day trips (31), city tours (16).
- What are the top attractions in Santo Domingo?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Santo Domingo are Columbus Lighthouse (Faro a Colón), Ciudad Colonial (Zona Colonial), Calle Las Damas, Alcázar de Colón (Columbus Palace).
- What is the most popular experience in Santo Domingo?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Punta Cana Airport Private Transfers to Hotels", rated 4.9 out of 5 from 4,653 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Santo Domingo take?
- The typical experience in Santo Domingo lasts about 4 hours; the middle half run between 2 hours and 7.5 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Santo Domingo?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 98% of the 222 experiences we hold for Santo Domingo. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
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