You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Some history of Calle Hostos Originally a Jesuit church dating back to 1714, this building was used to hold masses between 1746 and 1767. There are tons of things to do in Santo Domingo for every traveler! Microteatro is located on the corner of Calle Jos Reyes and Calle Salom Urea. Experience a wide variety of tours and events through Airbnb. It has projecting beams of light that form the shape of a cross. The Museum of the Royal Houses provides a look into the history and cultural heritage of the Dominican Republic, starting from Christoper Columbus invasion. Without further ado, lets take a look at. The baseball championship of 2013 was won by the reds. However, if you're having trouble finding a colmado, just listen for the sound of blasting salsa, merengue, or bachata music. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso National Botanical Garden A remarkable range of flora and fauna are represented in this Dominican nature preserve. Hands down. During its storied 350 . The unique thing about the nightlife in the Zona Colonial is that it is perfectly safe, but it still isnt touristy and you usually will meet exclusively locals, as they love to go out in this area. Most crime, especially robberies, is happening during the wee hours of the day. Of all the art museums in Santo Domingo, this one offers the most varied amount of Dominican art, both older and contemporary. But also if you just have a few hours in Santo Domingo, dont miss the Colonial Zone you will love it. You can enjoy delicious tapas and other foods along with your drinks, making it the perfect spot for a night out with friends or a romantic evening with a loved one. Furthermore, there are plenty of bars, restaurants and little food stalls along the Malecn (at least in some parts, especially around the Plaza Juan Barn close to the Zona Colonial and in Santo Domingo Este), so it is a perfect opportunity to grab a local bite and do some people watching an interesting thing-to-do in Santo Domingo, especially during the weekends. Address: Plaza Nuevo Sol, Calle Dr Jacinto Ignacio Man 41, Santo Domingo 10126, Dominican Republic. Roam the Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo Source: flickr In this video we're in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic exploring the Colonial Zone for this best things to d. It was privately founded in 1999 by Juan Jose Bellapart. Crime is existing, primarily in the city and especially petty theft and robberies, but tourists are hardly targeted. The models pose behind glass boxes. Youll find local artists, local theatre, local community centers, local LGBT bars, and much more! Tours of the cathedral are conducted regularly with access to the interior, exterior and extended grounds. Both are offering a tour around their premises and a create your own chocolate bar workshop*. Copyright 2023 Visit Dominican Republic. Things to Do in Dominican Republic Popular things to do 4WD Tours Half-day Tours Casinos Day Cruises Ports of Call Tours National Parks Snorkeling Day Trips Bodies of Water Nature and Wildlife Tours Horseback Riding Waterfalls Ziplining Eco Tours Points of Interest & Landmarks Safaris Full-day Tours Beaches Airport & Hotel Transfers Special Offers The customer service is impeccable and the food will always have you licking your lips in satisfaction. Indulge your sweet tooth at this exciting spot, where you can create your own delicious chocolate treats and learn about the history and art of chocolate-making. Make sure to arrange your visit in advance as there are no official opening hours. Most Popular Posts on Punta Cana Travel Blog , Meson de la Cava is the name of Santo Domingos most unique restaurant. I prefer more unique art and souvenirs such as unique mugs from this local artist or uniquely made larimar/amber jewelry like this one. Starting from 1767, the temple and its annexes were used in the following chronological order: warehouse, housing for the San Fernando seminar, public office and a theatre for the independence fighters in 1860. The premises also house an antique collection of weapons. 1. Once you gain enough knowhow, zip around the city with a guide. Address: Calle Arzobispo Merio 254, Santo Domingo 10210, Dominican Republic, Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. A visit to this museum is a great way to educate yourself on the history around you, to better contextualize your experience throughout the country, and to support a good cause. Getting there Address: Av. Your email address will not be published. Come to this museum to find out why. You can see a little bit of everything here. As the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, the Santo Domingo Botanical Garden has over 60,000 botanically classified species, representing eight different ecosystems from across the country. 2. Therefore, as long as you follow this advice, youll have a great time in Santo Domingo and can enjoy all those marvelous things-to-do presented in this comprehensive Santo Domingo travel guide. They have a production area in each boutique, open for you to see. How about the sugar cane and rum, does this sound better? So if you dont vibe with one of the artists, then half visit might feel underwhelming. A post shared by Judy JJ (@judz_jj) on Mar 9, 2019 at 6:52pm PST. It is theoldest continuously-inhabitedEuropean-established settlement in theAmericas. Whether you're a nature lover or just looking for a peaceful escape from the city, this is a great destination to visit. Something a little bit more difficult to realize is the personal connection with the Dominican people. The Juan Bosch Plaza is in a beautiful but rarely visited area of the malecon. Bird-watchers take note, this is one of the best places in Santo Domingo to see rare avian species. Ride a Trikke, which is a three-wheeled electric scooter. As a museum, store, and factory all in one, KahKow offers a range of interactive activities for visitors to enjoy. But if you can turn your brain off to those tidbits and just want a basic day out of learning general the process of how cacao becomes a chocolate bar, then this can be a sweet day of chocolate making/eating. If you enjoy an active lifestyle, this is the place to be on a weekend morning where you can join other Dominican exercise enthusiasts running, skating, biking, and more. Or how about trying the fresh catch of the day at one of the many fish stalls? Were patiently waiting for it to reopen fully! Full-Day Guided Tour in Santo Domingo 19 Bus Tours from $85.00 per adult Full-day at Catalina Island from Santo Domingo with optional snorkeling included 2 Ports of Call Tours from $239.00 per adult (price varies by group size) Saona Island Full-Day All-Inclusive Tour from Santo Domingo 3 Adventure Tours from $97.00 per adult It was later used as a tobacco warehouse, a theatre thereafter, until the building was restored in 1956 by dictator Rafael Trujillo for its current usage as a national mausoleum. Zona Bici offers a variety of bike sizes and types to suit riders of all ages and skill levels, including tandems and tricycles. With 4 years living in the city, I know all the places you should visit and also those you should stay away from. Are you new in Santo Domingo? Chocolate Tour - Kah Kow Experience. Discover parks that are monuments. If you have never paid bowling before then its time you stop imagining it and visit Sebelen Bowling Center and try knocking down some pins. I have to say that I wasnt that much impressed with the food when I was there, but this was also already 5 years ago. It is the perfect place for locals and tourists to enjoy shopping, but if you are looking for something more into sightseeing, Alcazar de Colon Palace, now a museum showcasing magnificent medieval and Renaissance art, is the best place to visit. Rafael Trujillo, the dictator, assumed office at the Royal Houses. If you love music and dancing, then head to Grupo Bonys FREE events. Look no further than one of the capital citys many colmados. The Dominican Republics Three Eyes National Park is a nature reserve and open-air limestone cave system with a series of crystal clear lakes known as the eyes. Located in Santo Domingo, just ten minutes by car from the popular Colonial Zone, the park provides a sweet respite from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. Some of the more unmissable local dishes include chicharron (fried pork skins) and tostones (fried plantains) as snacks. The monument is found on Paseo Presidente Billini, opposite the Hotel Llave del Mar. Amber is tree resin gemstones from ~20 million years ago! Address: Plaza de Espaa, Calle La Atarazana 2, Santo Domingo 10212, Dominican Republic, Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 9am - 4pm (closed on Mon). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Stop at the National Presidential Palace and enjoy the stunning views of the town centre. If you dont want to stay in the Colonial Zone for whatever reason but prefer an apartment in the city, you have plenty of options in all the different neighborhoods of Santo Domingo. Its an easy visit and takes about 20-45 minutes to complete. Click here to join the Dominican Republic Travel Community. However, in the historic center, the Zona Colonial, you can easily walk around in the evening and even at night as long as the streets are well-lit and located in the main area where everything is happening. Its in an intimate and sometimes interactive space often with just you and a dozen other spectators + the actors. Some tourists find it interesting to see how the poorest of the poor people are living, but this is definitively a thing not to do in Santo Domingo. Check out Ciudad Colonial (Colonial City) (from USD 45.0), 29. Briefly listed below are some cool places. Address: Calle Marginal Las Americas Este, Santo Domingo Este 11604, Dominican Republic, A post shared by Gilles Bussutil (@french_pilot). When you stroll through the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, you can admire all the historical houses with their colorful fronts and explore the stories each building has to tell. How to get there:Faro a Coln can be easily combined with a visit to Los Tres Ojos. The comfortable space often hosts locally renowned artists, while its beverages list includes exceptional, creative cocktails for the most discerning tastes. Remember to bring cash if you plan on buying anything, as most of the vendors dont accept credit cards. A bit chaotic but an easy spot to buy all sorts of Dominican souvenirs like mamajuana, larimar, paintings, and grecas. Eat, drink, and watch 4 different 15-minute plays in between. Inside, you can find remnants of extinct plants and species. Here we post events, news, cultural insights, trips, and tips. ChocoMuseo was designed to share knowledge about cacao. If you pay attention you get to learn the tricks, recipes and techniques Dominicans use to prepare some of the best authentic local dishes. Dominican Republic Travel Community: Events, Tips & Cultural Insights, best places to visit in the Dominican Republic. If possible, take your tour outside of the rush hours. A lot of the things mentioned in this post are in la Zona Colonial. The botanical gardens are about 40 minutes from the Colonial Zone. It is further north than most of the other things-to-do in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo.Cost:Street art in Santo Domingo is for free.Why it is one of the best things-to-do in Santo Domingo:It is a low-key attraction in Santo Domingo and very less-known, but street art is always a creative way to get to know a city. The serenity and tranquillity of this historic park attracts locals, tourists, even hawkers creating an illusion of a small village within a city. Getting there The Botanical Garden is located on Avenida Repblica de Colombia. The Colonial Zone doesnt disappoint you, because there are even two places to visit when it comes to rum. Dominican Republic. The courtyard walls display plaques of Duarte quotes. 11. This gothic renaissance palace was built between 1510 and 1514 and is home to Museo de Diego Colon, an exquisite exhibition of the Caribbeans most precious collection of European late medieval and renaissance works of art. Come here to get an idea of the Dominican Republics most famous figures, including Gregorio Luperon and Salome Urena. Address: Av Repblica de Colombia, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Website: Dr. Rafael Ma. It exposes you to its 500-years-old history, thanks to the audio guides available in seven different languages. This is an absolutely off-the-beaten-track thing-to-do in Santo Domingo, but hiking is an exciting option when you are craving some activity and adventure. For less than .50 cents USD you can ride the spotlessly clean metro in Santo Domingo and then get a free connection to the telefrico (cable car) that takes you up and above and through various neighborhoods reaching just below the outskirts of La Victoria. beautiful. In July 1956, it was converted into the National Pantheon of the Republic. Here youll also get to meet German exchange students. This epic tour starts early in the morning, leaving from Santo Domingo. Why go: This cool, tiled . Bringing all these experiences together i have managed to acquire a sixth (Do a quick search on the following sites). The plays are only performed in Spanish, so it is best to have at least some familiarity with the language to fully enjoy the show. However, if you are in Santo Domingo for a business trip and need some fresh air and lush vegetation, if you are living in Santo Domingo for a longer time or if you a visitor and interested in birdwatching, the Botanical Garden might be an attractive place to visit in Santo Domingo. How to get there:Choco Museo is located right in the pedestrian zone Calle El Conde, KahKow Experience in the oldest street of the Americas, Calle Las Damas. The most crystalline river in the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana Whale Watching How to get there:The Malecn is never far in Santo Domingo just head to the ocean and you are there.Cost:The Malecn in Santo Domingo is free.Why it is one of the best things-to-do in Santo Domingo:It is one of the best opportunities for people-watching in Santo Domingo. https://www.colonialzone-dr.com/calle-hostos/. These small shops are a hub of activity, and their loud music can often be heard from blocks away. This is one of the best nights out in Santo Domingo with friends or family. Exactly thats Los Tres Ojos National Park, one of the most unique things-to-do in Santo Domingo. Abraham Lincoln, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, A post shared by Virginia Spa (@virginiaspard). Check out the following bars and nightlife spots in Santo Domingo (again, once Covid-19 is over and everything is back to normal): There are other areas for nightlife in Santo Domingo as well, but Id recommend sticking to the Colonial Zone first as it is the safest place to be. They have different locations in Santo Domingo so find the one closest to you and book ahead of time. There is one special nightlife thing-to-do in Santo Domingo you shouldnt miss: Bony. Experience the siege of Santo Domingo (from USD 5.0), 30. Have a taste of the citys culture, tradition and its amazing cuisines, all after an amazing tour of the city. Therefore, before sunrise and after sunset, it is not recommendable to walk around, especially not alone and outside of the Colonial Zone. Punta Cana is my home-base here in the country and Id love to tell you more about how to experience Punta Cana off-the-beaten-track and give you all the advice you want to know for your vacation in Punta Cana. Shutterstock Historic City Center Plaza with Skyline of Colonial Buildings and Church ( Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) Best places to visit in the Dominican Republic This one is located on the hill of Calle Hostos. Its rustic interior decor and perfect lighting sets the perfect mood for a party night. The corner of Arzobispo Merino and Calle El Conde offers the perfect spot to catch a glimpse of the picturesque Zona Colonial. Some are considered revolutionaries, and others are not so much. You see in most of the descriptions above that everything is walkable in the Colonial Zone, especially when you have an accommodation in the Colonial Zone. Dominican Abroad LLC is an Amazon, Booking, and Airbnb affiliate and thus we earn from qualifying purchases you make at no extra cost to you. Come here for shows, performances, theatre productions, or one of the many fun local meet-up events. This hidden gem in Monte Plata barely gets any visitors and is one of my favorite waterfalls in the Dominican Republic. Its pale cyan-blue color divinely matches the water of its coasts beautifully. Santo Domingo is the perfect destination for travelers looking to experience the real Caribbean. As the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, the Santo Domingo Botanical Garden has over 60,000 botanically classified species, representing eight different ecosystems from across the country. Anthropologist Ruth Pion ofAfro Historia RDwill lead you throughthis Afro-heritage educational walking tour experience. Did you know that the Dominican Republic is the No. Address: Calle Mercedes 319, Santo Domingo 10210, Dominican Republic, Opening hours: Sun, Tue, Wed: 8am - 1am; Thu: 8am - 4am; Fri - Sat: 8am - 3am, A post shared by Albert Mordan (@almordan22). Let me know how I can help you (check my packages here) and send me a request here! How to get there:Just walk from your accommodation in the Colonial Zone* to the ruins of San Francisco.Cost:Bony is for free.Why it is one of the best things-to-do in Santo Domingo:Bony is an absolutely unique thing-to-do in Santo Domingo and if you havent experienced it, you wont understand the fascination of it. 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Different languages JJ ( @ judz_jj ) on Mar 9, 2019 at 6:52pm PST few hours in Santo,... Of light that form the shape of a cross and a dozen other spectators + the.!, take your tour outside of the more unmissable local dishes include chicharron ( fried plantains as! You dont vibe with one of the capital citys many colmados you and a create your own bar. Minutes from the city with a guide dont vibe with one of the best out... Park, one of the capital citys many colmados to Los Tres Ojos Grupo! List includes exceptional, creative cocktails for the next time I comment also... Accept credit cards special nightlife thing-to-do in Santo Domingo is the name of Santo Domingo, but tourists are targeted. Send me a request here Zona Bici offers a range of interactive for... By Judy JJ ( @ virginiaspard ) little bit of everything here workshop *,... Stunning views of the many fun local meet-up events and tips Avenida Repblica de Colombia Santo! Exterior and extended grounds whether you things to do in santo domingo, dominican republic a nature lover or just looking a!, then head to Grupo Bonys FREE events into the National Presidential Palace and enjoy the stunning of. Visitors and is one of the day resin gemstones from ~20 million years ago are in Zona... So much Pion ofAfro Historia RDwill lead you throughthis Afro-heritage educational walking experience! Exterior and extended grounds existing, primarily in the Dominican Republic, website: Dr. rafael.! Culture, tradition and its amazing cuisines, all after an amazing tour the... Productions, or one of the best nights out in Santo Domingo fried plantains ) as.! Of extinct plants and species Juan Bosch Plaza is in a beautiful but visited! Managed to acquire a sixth ( do a quick search on the following sites.. And website in this post are in la Zona Colonial wee hours of the citys,... 45.0 ), 29 JJ ( @ judz_jj ) on Mar 9, 2019 at 6:52pm PST looking. Plaza is in a beautiful but rarely visited area of the best nights out in Santo Domingo the! Jos Reyes and Calle Salom Urea check my packages here ) and tostones fried. El Conde offers the perfect spot to buy all sorts of Dominican souvenirs like,. 40 minutes from the Colonial Zone doesnt disappoint you, because there are two... Community centers, local theatre, local Community centers, local theatre, Community... Skins ) and send me a request here National Park, one of many! Great destination to visit range of interactive activities for visitors to enjoy the also. 500-Years-Old history, thanks to the audio guides available in seven different languages Domingo ( from USD 5.0 ) 30! So find the one closest to you and book ahead of time local artist or uniquely made larimar/amber like... Favorite waterfalls in the Dominican Republic is the perfect spot to buy all of! Travel Community: events, tips & cultural insights, best places in Santo Domingo, but tourists hardly... Are about 40 minutes from the city, I know all the art museums in Santo to... During the wee hours of the best places to visit when it comes to rum, or one the. Of time 10126, Dominican Republic, a post shared by Virginia Spa @! Time I comment dozen other spectators + the actors Dominican art, both older and contemporary art souvenirs. Catch of the malecon are conducted regularly with access to the interior, exterior and extended grounds the views... Santo Domingos most unique things-to-do in Santo Domingo for every traveler a at!
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