16 Best Things to Do in Santo Domingo

Columbus Park (Parque Colón) is the main square of the Ciudad Colonial historic district (Zona Colonial) in Santo Domingo. The central square is notable for its historic monuments and buildings, particularly the statue of Christopher Columbus at its heart and a bust of Bartholomew, Columbus’ brother and a founding figure of Santo Domingo, not far away.

The square is at the start of Calle del Conde, the city’s most notable street, and is a great starting point for exploring Zona Colonial and its historic buildings. An imposing sight on the park’s southern end is the Cathedral of the Americas – the oldest in the Americas. To its west, you can visit Santo Domingo's Municipal Palace (Palacio Consistorial de Santo Domingo). The 16th-century Palacio Borgella, known for its beautiful colonial architecture, overlooks Parque Colón from the east.

Plaza España (Plaza de España o de la Hispanidad) is one of the most popular squares in Santo Domingo. One of the plaza’s main draws is its wide-open view, with the Alcázar de Colón palace as a backdrop. All around are cafés and bistros with outdoor seating offering an uninterrupted view of the square. The square lies at the end of Calle Las Damas, the New World's oldest paved street.

Dine alfresco for great views of major concerts, festivals, and cultural shows that regularly takes place in the plaza. Pat'e Palo is a great choice for romantic dinners in Santo Domingo as it offers European fare with one of the best viewing angles of the square.

National Zoological Park (Parque Zoológico Nacional) is a great spot to take the kids to in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo. The zoo is just a short drive north of the city centre. You’ll have plenty of colourful birds and exotic animals to snap for Instagram, with everything from flocks of pink flamingos in lush lagoons to African lions and Bengal tigers. Also in the zoo’s collection are ultra-rare species like the endemic Hispaniolan solenodon.

The Zoological Park is rather compact compared to full-fledged zoos, but it has dedicated play areas and a cafeteria. The little ones can get up close to some animals and even ride ponies. Most will find it hard to resist hopping on the zoo train for a ride to see the animals (note that the conductor/guide speaks in Spanish).

The Three Eyes National Park (Parque Nacional Los Tres Ojos) is a tranquil nature park that features a unique series of limestone caverns and subterranean lagoons. Just a 10-minute drive across the Ozama River from the Dominican capital, it’s a refreshing break for when you’ve had enough of the landmarks and sightseeing in the historic centre of Zona Colonial.

The crystal-clear and somewhat turquoise lagoons of this open-air, otherworldy limestone cave system do resemble bright “eyes”. The 3 eyes are named Aguas Azufradas, La Nevera, and Las Damas. You can spare time to see the 4^th eye, Los Zaramagullones, reachable by boat.

Guibia Public Beach (Playa de Güibia) is the main stretch of sand on Santo Domingo’s southern shore. It may be outshined by the wonderful beaches the Dominican Republic is best known for – Playa Boca Chica, in particular, just a 40-minute drive east of town – but Guibia provides all that a beachgoer could ask for near the capital.

Guibia Public Beach has a small promenade and gazebo-like platform by the water, offering nice Caribbean Sea views. The water isn’t particularly great for swimming, but you’ll find beach loungers, a public gym, and a volleyball court on the beach.

Malecón de Santo Domingo is a popular seaside boulevard that runs along George Washington Avenue on the city’s south coast. The strip is home to several historic landmarks, luxurious hotels and casinos. It has bike and jogging lanes, as well as esplanades with plenty of grassy spaces with kids’ swings and seats to relax with sea views.

The Malecón is a top go-to for dining and partying in Santo Domingo, thanks to its collection of high-end restaurants and event venues. One of the annual revelries to look forward to in July is the Merengue Festival – it’s dedicated to a form of Dominican music and dance that heavily features accordions, saxophones, and drums.

Mercado Modelo is the largest market in Santo Domingo. The name itself means “model market” and it truly is the model for Caribbean craft markets. It hosts countless vendors that sell everything from Cuban cigars and spiced liquors to jewellery, colourful carnival masks, and unique items like amber necklaces.

Special handmade treasures include both Haitian and Dominican finds. Mercado Modelo also is surrounded by food stalls that offer not only fresh produce but also prepared dishes. This is a place to haggle, so be prepared to do some bargaining rather than simply paying the stated price.

The Colon Lighthouse and Museum (Faro a Colon) is one of the larger tributes to Christopher Columbus you can find in Santo Domingo. The giant monument dates back to 1986 but was inaugurated in 1992 to coincide with the 500^th anniversary of Columbus's voyage to the Americas.

Faro a Colon was meant as a mausoleum for Columbus. Even so, the authenticity of the remains sheltered in the memorial has been much disputed. On any given day, you can see a wide range of indigenous cultural artefacts from around the Americas exhibited in the various chambers of the museum. The ‘lighthouse’ is perhaps best known for its powerful light display projecting into the night sky.

Fort Ozama (Fortaleza Ozama) is one of the imposing landmarks by the Rio Ozama. Separating the east and west portions of Santo Domingo, it’s one of the major landmarks in the Ciudad Colonial historic district. The 16^th-century fortress was recognised by UNESCO as one of the oldest European military constructions in the Americas.

Fort Ozama offers scenic views of the river from atop its stone tower. You can also join guided tours of the fort to learn more about its history and architectural features. Must-sees include the Tower of Homage in its centre grounds as well as the quaint interior gardens.

Parque Mirador del Sur is a 6.4-km-long green corridor on a lush ridge in Santo Domingo. It's home to a series of caves, some of which have a significant past, having been settled by the island’s indigenous people long before the arrival of Columbus.

The park is a prime destination for leisure and recreation. Go for a stroll or jog among nature throughout the corridor. There are skating and biking lanes as well as a skateboard park. You can stop by some of the interesting murals or the park’s gorgeous fountain for a breather. Parque Mirador del Sur even has an artificial lake where you can rent a rowboat and paddle out.

The Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales) is one of the major landmarks and most visited sites in the Ciudad Colonial district of Santo Domingo. This important cultural monument used to serve as the residence for the viceroys of the city. Today, you can go on a self-guided tour of the imposing building to learn about its past.

Inside, check out the regal rooms and halls, which have fully furnished interiors and compelling old military exhibits like shiny armour and weapons. On the roof, old cannons with solid iron casings that stood the test of time still stand at the ready, aiming out from their bastions.

The Kahkow Experience offers a nice alternative to the historical sightseeing in Santo Domingo through its fun introductory to the world of chocolate. You and your family can join various small tours to learn about cocoa farming, harvesting, and chocolate making at a holographic theatre.

The Kahkow Experience has a special sensory room where you can further appreciate chocolate with all of your 5 senses. And if you want to deepen your knowledge around creating various chocolate products, sign up for a workshop in the chocolate factory or put on a labcoat and learn how to make soap using cacao butter in the soap laboratory.

The Cathedral of the Americas (Catedral Primada de America) is an imposing landmark overlooking Columbus Park in Santo Domingo’s historic district. Known as the oldest cathedral in the Americas and among the finest examples of Gothic architecture outside Europe, it’s referred to by locals as Catedral Santa María La Menor for its dedication to St. Mary of the Incarnation.

The majestic building is unmissable thanks to its golden-tinted facade that’s even more impressive at sunrise and sunset. Behind its solid limestone walls are aisles under ornate vaulted ceilings, a great collection of early 16^th-century paintings and colonial-era artefacts. As the Cathedral of the Americas is a religious site, we highly recommend wearing appropriate attire out of respect for the local parishioners.

The Dominican Republic National Aquarium is where you can take the kids for an outing to see and learn about local marine life in Santo Domingo. Although fairly small compared to other major city aquariums, it provides a good insight into the Caribbean aquatic life through both freshwater and saltwater exhibits.

At the heart of the facility is a long plexiglass shark tunnel where you can admire majestic sea creatures from up close. Turtle and lobster ponds, a whale skeleton display, and pens with pink flamingos are among the other highlights you can find throughout the facility. Its manicured gardens by the craggy shoreline of Santo Domingo Este offer soothing ocean views.

Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito is an underrated gem for history and culture in Santo Domingo. It hosts multiple floors, with 3 main spaces that put on a variety of performances, including theatre, live music, ballet, opera, and award shows.

Certain plays provide interesting information about the country and its most well-known figures like Ulises Heureaux, former president of the Dominican Republic in the late 1800s. It’s worth visiting Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito just to get a glimpse of its magnificent neoclassical architecture.