In the capital's UNESCO-listed Colonial Zone stand the Americas' oldest European-built cathedral and streets.
One of the oldest European-founded city centres in the Americas, laid out in the early 1500s, with cobbled streets, churches, forts and houses from Columbus's era. Calle Las Damas and the main plaza are good places to start.
The first cathedral built in the Americas, begun in the 1510s and standing on the square in the Colonial Zone. Its stone walls and chapels reflect Gothic and Renaissance styles.
Stone palace built for Diego Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus, in the early 1500s. Inside, rooms are furnished with period pieces that show how a colonial governor's household lived.
Spanish fortress on the Ozama River, one of the oldest military buildings in the Americas. Visitors can climb its tower and walk around the walls for views of the Colonial Zone.
Large monument and museum in the east of the city, built in the shape of a cross. It is said to hold the remains of Christopher Columbus, a claim also made by Seville.
Open-air limestone caves with several clear blue lakes at the bottom of deep sinkholes. Visitors walk down steps among stalactites and cross the water on a small raft.
Former Jesuit church in the colonial zone, now a national mausoleum for notable Dominicans. Its plain stone front leads to a lofty interior, and guards stand at the entrance.
It is about 28 km in a straight line from Santo Domingo.
It is about 13 km in a straight line from Santo Domingo.
It is about 108 km in a straight line from Santo Domingo.
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Dominican Republic page
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar. Wettest months: May, Aug, Nov.
Prices here are about 39% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
festival
In February, parades take place each Sunday.
festival
In February, parades take place each Sunday.
911 for all emergencies.
local government
Helps with: The central office of the Dominican tourist police, listed in the National Police directory. Its tourist assistance and protection work covers visitors in tourist areas.
Who qualifies: Tourists and other visitors in the Dominican Republic.
Phone: (809) 222-2123
Email: [email protected]
Address: Ave. Gustavo Mejía Ricart esq. Teodoro Chasseriau, Santo Domingo, D.N.
ngo
Helps with: The Dominican national Red Cross society, a non-profit. Its services include a blood bank, clinical laboratories, training, and ambulance transport. It also lists disaster response and pre-hospital care as areas of work.
Who qualifies: People in the Dominican Republic who need its health, ambulance or disaster services.
Phone: 809-334-4545
Address: C/ Juan E. Dunant No. 51, Ensanche Miraflores, Santo Domingo
un agency
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in the Dominican Republic since 1968. It responds to the humanitarian needs of migrants, displaced people and returnees, and supports migration management.
Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees in the Dominican Republic. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +1 809 688 81 74
Address: Av. César Nicolás Penson 102, Santo Domingo
local government
Helps with: Reaches the police, ambulance and fire services in the Dominican Republic. UK government travel advice says 911 does not have full coverage across the country.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 911
local government
Helps with: Tourist police line for emergencies outside Santo Domingo, as given by UK government travel advice. That advice says the 911 number does not cover the whole country.
Who qualifies: Visitors who are outside Santo Domingo and need the tourist police in an emergency.
Phone: +1 809 200 3500