One day in Santo Domingo is one day in the Zona Colonial. Do that well and leave the rest for next time.
Getting there#
From Punta Cana: leave by 7. The Expreso Bávaro bus or a private driver, two to two and a half hours. Santo Domingo to Punta Cana covers both directions. Resort coach tours exist; they spend an hour at a cigar shop and an hour at a souvenir warehouse, and that is your Zona Colonial time gone.
From a cruise ship: Sans Souci and Don Diego are both minutes from the Zona Colonial. Walk or take a short taxi. Dominican cruise ports.
Hour by hour#
9:30 Parque Colón and the cathedral, the oldest in the Americas. 10:15 Calle de las Damas, the first paved street in the New World, to the Fortaleza Ozama for the view from the tower. 11:15 The Museo de las Casas Reales, the whole colonial story and air conditioning. 12:30 The Alcázar de Colón, Diego Columbus's palace, and Plaza España. 1:15 Lunch on a side street off Calle El Conde: la bandera at a comedor, or mofongo. 2:30 Calle El Conde itself, the Convento de los Dominicos, the ruins of San Francisco with the city behind them. 3:30 Coffee or a cold Presidente on Plaza España, the Mercado Modelo if you want rum and cigars. 4:30 Leave. If you drive, the Tres Ojos caves are on the way east and take forty minutes.
The Zona Colonial guide has the detail for each stop.
Eating#
One lunch, Dominican: what to eat. Street food on El Conde if you get hungry between stops: the guide.
If you can stay#
Two days gets you the Zona Colonial after dark, which is when it is best, and the modern city. Santo Domingo or Punta Cana if you are weighing where to base.
Do it with someone who lives here#
A Dominican who grew up here walks you through the Zona Colonial in four hours with the stories the plaques leave out and the comedor nobody on a tour bus sees. Santo Domingo has more Local Friends than any city on Roavi; post your date on Roavi Community.
One day in Santo Domingo? Make it a Dominican's day.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Is a day trip to Santo Domingo from Punta Cana worth it?
Yes, if you want to see the oldest city in the Americas and something of the real country. It is a long day, five hours on the road in total, so leave early. Two nights is better if you can.How do I get from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo for a day?
The Expreso Bávaro bus from Bávaro to the capital, around two and a half hours, or a private driver, which is more flexible for a day trip. Resort bus tours exist but spend much of the day in shops.What can I see in Santo Domingo on a cruise stop?
The Zona Colonial, which is close to both cruise terminals. Six hours covers it well on foot: the cathedral, the Alcázar, the Calle de las Damas, the fortress, lunch and the Plaza España. Skip anything that needs a long drive.What should I skip in Santo Domingo with one day?
The Faro a Colón, the Jardín Botánico, the Malecón hotels, and the shopping stops the bus tours build in. The Zona Colonial is the day.
