Santo Domingo is the city most Dominican Republic visitors skip for the beach. Three days is enough to find out what they missed.
Before you go#
Fill in the e-ticket. Bring some dollars to change and a card for the rest: money in the Dominican Republic. Book the baseball if your dates fall between October and January.
Day 1: the Zona Colonial#
Start at the Parque Colón and the cathedral, the oldest in the Americas. The Alcázar de Colón, Diego Columbus's palace, and the Museo de las Casas Reales for the whole colonial story in air conditioning. Lunch on a side street off Calle El Conde. Afternoon: the Fortaleza Ozama, the Calle de las Damas, the Convento de los Dominicos, the ruins of San Francisco. Evening on Plaza España with the Alcázar lit up, then a colmado with music. Zona Colonial guide has the detail.
Day 2: the modern city#
Morning on the Malecón, then east to the Faro a Colón and the Tres Ojos caves, two sights twenty minutes apart. Lunch in Gazcue. Afternoon at the Mercado Modelo for cigars, rum and Larimar, or the Jardín Botánico if you want green. Evening: a winter-league baseball game, the best night out in the country from October to January, how to go. Off-season, Santo Domingo nightlife in Gazcue and Piantini.
Day 3: out of the city#
Boca Chica: the capital's beach, thirty minutes, easy and lively on weekends. Bayahibe and Saona: two hours, the country's best beach day, booked ahead. Jarabacoa: two hours into the mountains, rivers and waterfalls and twenty degrees. Day trips from Santo Domingo compares them.
Eating#
Lunch is the main meal: la bandera, rice, beans and meat, at a comedor. Street food after dark: chimis, yaniqueques, empanadas. Dominican food and street food.
Where to stay#
The Zona Colonial or Gazcue. Where to stay in Santo Domingo. Safety specifics: is Santo Domingo safe?
Plan it with someone who lives here#
Santo Domingo has more Local Friends than any other city on Roavi. One of them can take Day 1's evening or Day 2's game and show you the city Dominicans live in. Post your dates on Roavi Community. How to meet locals in Santo Domingo.
3 days in Santo Domingo? Spend one with a Dominican.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Santo Domingo?
Yes. One day covers the Zona Colonial properly, a second the rest of the city, and a third a day trip. People with more time add a second beach day or a night in Samaná.Where should I stay in Santo Domingo?
The Zona Colonial for the history at your door and the best evenings; Gazcue for a quiet, leafy neighbourhood a short walk away; Piantini or Naco for modern hotels, malls and the business district. Avoid the Malecón's big hotels if you want to walk anywhere.How do I get around Santo Domingo?
Uber and the local apps are cheap and the normal way for visitors. The metro has two lines, is clean and safe, and reaches the Zona Colonial's edge. Walk inside the Zona Colonial. Avoid driving yourself in the city.Is Santo Domingo safe for tourists?
The Zona Colonial, Gazcue, Piantini and the Malecón are fine by day and evening with the usual care about phones and bags. Use Uber at night rather than walking between districts. Our safety guide has the details.
