December is when Santo Domingo's weather turns kind and the whole city turns into a party that lasts until Three Kings.
Weather#
| Typical | |
|---|---|
| Days | Around 29°C |
| Nights | Around 21°C, breezy |
| Rain | Short showers, fewer each week |
| Humidity | Dropping |
November is wetter and cheaper; January is the same weather with the holidays over. Best time to visit the Dominican Republic.
Dominican Christmas#
It starts in early December and ends on 6 January. Aguinaldos, groups going door to door singing at dawn. Charamicos, the painted twig trees sold on the roadsides. Nochebuena on the 24th: roast pork, pasteles en hoja, telera bread, moro de guandules, ponche. The 25th is for recovering. Christmas in the Dominican Republic has the food and the customs; Dominican food for the rest of the year.
New Year's Eve#
Dinner at home, then out. The Malecón fills, the Zona Colonial's plazas have music, fireworks at midnight, and the colmados do not close. Hotels and restaurants sell set menus weeks ahead.
What to do#
The Zona Colonial in the cool of the evening, lit for Christmas. The Malecón at sunset. A baseball game: the winter league is in full swing and it is the best night out in the country. Street food and nightlife. A day trip to Boca Chica or the caves.
Crowds and prices#
Good value until around the 20th. Then the diaspora arrives from New York, Madrid and Miami, flights spike, and the city is full and loud through the 1st. Where to stay in Santo Domingo.
What to pack#
Summer clothes, one light layer for the breeze, shoes for cobbles, something smart for the 31st. What to pack for the Dominican Republic.
Plan it#
Post your dates on Roavi Community. Santo Domingo has more Local Friends than any other city on Roavi, and December is the month to have one: somebody's Nochebuena table beats any restaurant.
Santo Domingo in December? Spend it with a Dominican.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Santo Domingo?
One of the best. The dry season starts, the evenings are breezy, and the city is at its most festive. Book flights early if you travel after the 20th, when Dominicans living abroad come home.What is the weather like in Santo Domingo in December?
Highs around 29°C, nights around 21°C, humidity falling through the month and rain limited to short showers. Hurricane season ended on 30 November.What is open in Santo Domingo on Christmas Day?
Very little. Christmas Eve, Nochebuena, is the big family dinner and shops close early; the 25th most restaurants and museums are shut. The Zona Colonial has a few tourist-area restaurants open. New Year's Day is similar. The 24th during the day and the 26th are normal.How is New Year's Eve in Santo Domingo?
Family dinner first, then the streets. The Malecón and the Zona Colonial's squares fill, there are fireworks at midnight and music until dawn. Hotels run parties; restaurants do set menus and sell out. Twelve grapes at midnight, as in Spain.
