Here you can find General Tourism Information for Santo Domingo, as well as other areas of the Dominican Republic.

DO NOTE: Family & Friends traveling from the United States will need to file an E-Ticket Application prior to traveling to the Dominican Republic. You can find that application here.

________________________________________________

THINGS TO DO IN SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

COLONIAL CITY: The Colonial City was the first city established in the New World and was founded by Columbus’ brother Bartholomew. Thanks to its historical and cultural value, the Colonial City was recognized by UNESCO and declared a World Heritage Site in 1990. Visitors will find preserved buildings dating back to the early 1500s, many of which are now museums. Among them are the Alcázar de Colón (Columbus’ son, Diego’s home), Ozama Fortress and Museo de las Casas Reales (the palace of the Spanish court). A few streets over, in the center of the walled city, visitors will find the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, which was deemed the first cathedral in the New World by Pope Paul III in 1542. Visitors can get around The Colonial City walking, biking, trekking or by a tourist train ride.

CATEDRAL PRIMADA DE AMÉRICA: The Cathedral of Santo Domingo is the first cathedral of the New World. The Gothic-style building is highlighted with Renaissance details dating from 1514 to 1546. The architecture emphasizes its cultural and historical significance. Its physical interior has stunning artwork, paintings, antique furniture and gravestones with the remains of archbishops, among many other interesting items dating from the era of colonization. The Cathedral is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

LOS TRES OJOS: East of the city, limestone caves expose gorgeous pools of water at the “Cave of Three Eyes.” With pathways and staircases accessible to tourists, visitors are able to explore the cave, decorated with ancient drawings from indigenous Taino Indians and pieces of handmade pottery. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

SHOPPING: Santo Domingo will charm even the most discriminating shopper with a variety of shopping experiences. The Blue Mall offers upscale stores like Louis Vuitton, Carolina Herrera and Cartier. The Ágora Mall, with its many European stores and a variety of restaurants and children’s playground, is also a favorite. Novo-Centro features a sophisticated modern architecture with popular shops, bars, cafes and small movie theaters. Other shopping venues in Santo Domingo include the Downtown Center, Acrópolis, Bella Vista Mall, Sámbil, Galería 360, Ikea and many affordable department stores. In addition, there are many gift shops located in the Colonial City, including the famous pedestrian street El Conde and the Mercado Modelo. Boca Chica’s main shopping strip, one block up from the beach, includes Dominican essentials like rum, cigars, artwork, crafts and more.

BOCA MARINA: Restaurant & lounge, beautiful and original restaurant that is an important part of the gastronomic world of the Dominican Republic. It is located on the outskirts of the city of Santo Domingo, in Boca Chica, eastern part of the country on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.

Local Restaurants to Consider:

- Casa Luca

- La Cassina

- Mosquito Colonial

- Cueva siete

- Makotos

- Jalao

- Buche Perico

- Laurel

- Larimar

- O. Dette

- Lila

- Flor de cafe

- Maracas

- Casa Brava

- Peperonis

- Robata

- Giulia Cucina

Note: We recommend UBER or Lyft to get around the city on your own. We can help with transportation all week, just contact us with question.