Santo Domingo, also known as “The Gateway to the Caribbean”, is the only capital of the Dominican Republic. This city is a merger of traditions & cultures of Taino, African & European ethnicities. By being the business & finance hub, this capital city makes its position highly lucrative in terms of trade at ports of Ozama river. The beautiful beaches, crystal blue the Caribbean Sea, restored architecture of Spaniards make this destination exotic for tourism. The Santo Domingo’s Zona Colonial is a UNESCO world heritage site. Zona colonial is surrounded by wealth of 16th century Spanish colonial settlements and exquisite residencies & churches like Alcázar de Colón and Catedral Primada de América. However, if you want to explore Santo Domingo at an economical fare then you can feasibly book cheap flight tickets to Santo Domingo. 

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Along with the Caribbean Sea, the combo of surprising weather & beaches of Santo Domingo makes it a prime tourist destination. Filled with immense touristy attractions, Zona Colonial also has a captivating Taino artifacts collection. The visitors should take advantage to explore the places like the Museum of the Dominican Man, cultural centers in Plaza de la Cultura, National Theater. Also, in the city, Santo Domingo Malecón is a place that can fill you with a curiosity about Carnival. Seamless options are offered by this city, whether it is for restaurants or nightlife & events.

 

With a vivid variety in culture, weather, tourist spots, or business trades, this old-gold city in New World is the experience that every person should try once in a lifetime.

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Things to Explore:-

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· Gardens & National Parks

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Jardín Botánico Nacional, a botanical garden with a wide range of 300 orchids, palms & exotic plants, this garden is a top attraction for tourists. It includes a perky tourist train to explore a pleasing flower clock, the Japanese garden, and an Ecology Museum builds within it. The entrance fees (INR) are:

 

Santo Domingo’s Three Eyes National Park has crystal clear lakes, referred to as ‘Eyes’, and its open-air cave system can fill you with sweet delight. If having a salty chit-chat with your boss, this place is the best to seek a peaceful disposition. With a distance of 10 mins from Zona colonial, you can reach there easily by car. I’d recommend you to take “Tres Ojos” tours @$50.

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· Zona Colonial

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If you are an explorer of history & culture then, consider this place as your home. Its reliving streets and best-preserved historic buildings can leave you nostalgic. Besides that, this friendly neighborhood has plenty of museums, art galleries, socio-cultural events, luxurious-affordable hotels, LGBT bars. A must-see and free event that has aced its space here, other than all the attractions, is BONYE. It is the Dominican band that performs every Sunday evening. Its unbeatable hype can make you dance to the typical Bachata and Salsa music.

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· Beaches

 

Boca Chica and Juan Dolio are the two main nearby beaches to Santo Domingo. There is not even a single day when you could find the Boca Chica unpacked, but its highly festive vibes can influence you. The calm blue water, fine white sand, and warm weather for beautiful tan are winning prizes of this beach. You can try its fried fish with tostones, readily available from numerous vendors at the beach. Boca Chica isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but all of the things mentioned add to its charm. It’s not a concrete spot for a vacation. As compared to Boca Chica, Juan Dolio is not so busy and has more beachfront.
 

· Market

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Santo Domingo is famous for its locally-made jewelry from two beautiful materials- amber and larimar. It has a rare blue amber which only turns light-blue in sunlight. A quick-tip for potential visitors to souvenir shops, DON’T EVER buy from local vendors. They sell fake amber-larimar jewelry. You can find most of the souvenir shops at Isabel la Católica and El Conde. The prices are debatable, so always be bargain-ready.

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Mercado Modelo & Columbus Plaza are the two largest souvenir collection markets.

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Chinatown Sunday Morning Market, this outdoor market offers unique fusion dishes of Chinese Dominican culture. Also, you can see many local vendors selling their fresh crops harvested locally.

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· Micro-theatres

 

You are familiar with EAT-SLEEP-REPEAT slang, but now let’s ‘Eat, drink & watch in between’. Here, in Santo Domingo, they have a distinctive concept of 15-minute plays about the culture, life, love of Dominicans. It is a beautiful intimate space in Zona Colonial with an open-air courtyard to EAT-DRINK-WATCH with your family & friends.

 

There are some essentials which you should know about Ciudad Colonial:

 

· The Caribbean Sun is very mighty. So, be sure to carry SPF-30 or higher.

· DON’T DRINK TAP WATER. Only go for bottled/purified water.

· Santo Domingo has a tropical Caribbean climate, better carry light and lengthy clothes like long linen skirts or pants.

· Be Safe and Beware of thieves. This city poses some crime & theft issues.