|
|
|
With over three million residents, the cosmopolitan city of Santo Domingo is possibly the most vibrant place in the entire Caribbean. Santo Domingo features a rich culture and history juxtaposed against modern developments. In the historic Colonial City, newer hotels are located on ancient cobble-stoned streets; luxury cars share the roads with horse-drawn carriages; an avant-garde international cuisine scene thrives amid classic Creole cuisine; and 21st century buildings rest beside 15th and 16th century traditional houses.
As the oldest city in the New World, Santo Domingo's Colonial City boasts the first street, cathedral, university and hospital in the Americas. In fact, visitors usually notice that the well-preserved ancient city, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990, makes them feel as if they had been transported back to another time.
Shopping You can find anything in Santo Domingo. The Dominican Republic has free trade agreements with the United States and Europe, evidenced by the wide range of international stores and brands. Among the most popular shopping malls in the capital city are the Plaza Central, Acrópolis, Blue Mall, Megacentro, Mercado Modelo, Calle El Conde, Bella Vista Mall, Avenida Duarte, Plaza Lama, Americana Departamentos, Centro Cuesta Nacional, Jumbo, Sema, Multicentro Churchill, IKEA, among others.
Cuisine With hundreds of restaurants, Santo Domingo boasts the greatest number of restaurants in the entire Caribbean and Central America. Names such as Mitre, Pat'e Palo, Vesuvio, Sofía, La Marrana, Don Pepe, David Crockett, Fellini, Seasons, Caffe Milano, Pepperoni, Scherezade, Saffron and Marocha are just some of the restaurants that you can select from; all of them are located within a small section of the city. Also, American Brands as McDonald, Burger King, Chef Pepper, KFC, Dominos Pizza, Pizza Hut, Krispy Cream, Sweet Frog, Taco Bell, etc.
Museums & culture An eminently cultural city, Santo Domingo has the greatest number of museum the Caribbean. Among them are: the Museum of Dominican Man, the Museum of Modern Art, the Columbus' Lighthouse, the Amber Museum, the Larimar Museum and the Rum Museum. It is also seemingly always filled with cultural events, including dance, theatre, opera, film and visual arts.
The Chu Chu Colonial train is a Cultural/educational tour of the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo. The 45 minute train trip takes you back 500 years in history. Starting at the corner of Isabel La Católica and El Conde streets with daily dapartures, every hour from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. During the tour you will listen to facts and stories about the various monuments, colonial houses, parks, museums and churches in the area, in 6 languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Russian. Tickets for sale at the departure site.
Parks Santo Domingo is filled with grand parks that will impress and amaze any visitor. Its beautiful National Botanical Gardens has a collection of native plant life and a Japanese garden that is as good as any in the land of the rising sun. The city's amazing Zoo features gives you an authentic atmosphere with wild animals moving freely along its trails and great savannah.Another park is the seaside promenade in Santo Domingo called the Malecon. The Malecon runs along the azure Caribbean Sea with upscale hotels and casinos facing the ocean from the opposite side.
A favorite for thousands of Dominicans is Mirador del Sur Park (South Lookout Park). This four miles of green space in the city is a great spot for friends to meet and go walking, running, bicycling and skating. The park is filled many species of trees and offer views of the Caribbean Sea that you can't find anywhere else.
In the eastern section of the city are two important parks: The National Aquarium and Los Tres Ojos (the three eyes) National Park. The latter features a set of three limestone caves, springs and many stalactites and stalagmites in its grottoes.
Nightlife With a large young adult population, Santo Domingo is an exciting and thriving city at night. Discos, bars, cafés and meeting points are found throughout the city.There is something for every musical taste in the Colonial City including the Spanish Square, Columbus Park and Gustavo Mejía Ricart (an area filled with bars). You will find even more music at the House of Theatre and Bohemian Nights and jazz at Jet Set, where bands play live music on Mondays.
Meanwhile, more traditional musical offerings can be found in the city's great concert halls, which have welcomed the most famous Latin American, European and North American stars.
Sports Baseball in the Dominican is not just a sport, but a national passion. Dominicans are passionate baseball fans and are very proud of the many Dominican-born players who participate in U.S. Major League Baseball. Well-known Dominican talents include Albert Pujols, Alex Rodríguez, David Ortiz, Manny Ramírez, Pedro Martínez, Hanley Ramírez, Robinson Canó and many more. In addition, golf, volleyball, boxing and basketball are other popular sports in the Dominican Republic.
As the oldest city in the New World, Santo Domingo's Colonial City boasts the first street, cathedral, university and hospital in the Americas. In fact, visitors usually notice that the well-preserved ancient city, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990, makes them feel as if they had been transported back to another time.
Shopping You can find anything in Santo Domingo. The Dominican Republic has free trade agreements with the United States and Europe, evidenced by the wide range of international stores and brands. Among the most popular shopping malls in the capital city are the Plaza Central, Acrópolis, Blue Mall, Megacentro, Mercado Modelo, Calle El Conde, Bella Vista Mall, Avenida Duarte, Plaza Lama, Americana Departamentos, Centro Cuesta Nacional, Jumbo, Sema, Multicentro Churchill, IKEA, among others.
Cuisine With hundreds of restaurants, Santo Domingo boasts the greatest number of restaurants in the entire Caribbean and Central America. Names such as Mitre, Pat'e Palo, Vesuvio, Sofía, La Marrana, Don Pepe, David Crockett, Fellini, Seasons, Caffe Milano, Pepperoni, Scherezade, Saffron and Marocha are just some of the restaurants that you can select from; all of them are located within a small section of the city. Also, American Brands as McDonald, Burger King, Chef Pepper, KFC, Dominos Pizza, Pizza Hut, Krispy Cream, Sweet Frog, Taco Bell, etc.
Museums & culture An eminently cultural city, Santo Domingo has the greatest number of museum the Caribbean. Among them are: the Museum of Dominican Man, the Museum of Modern Art, the Columbus' Lighthouse, the Amber Museum, the Larimar Museum and the Rum Museum. It is also seemingly always filled with cultural events, including dance, theatre, opera, film and visual arts.
The Chu Chu Colonial train is a Cultural/educational tour of the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo. The 45 minute train trip takes you back 500 years in history. Starting at the corner of Isabel La Católica and El Conde streets with daily dapartures, every hour from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. During the tour you will listen to facts and stories about the various monuments, colonial houses, parks, museums and churches in the area, in 6 languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Russian. Tickets for sale at the departure site.
Parks Santo Domingo is filled with grand parks that will impress and amaze any visitor. Its beautiful National Botanical Gardens has a collection of native plant life and a Japanese garden that is as good as any in the land of the rising sun. The city's amazing Zoo features gives you an authentic atmosphere with wild animals moving freely along its trails and great savannah.Another park is the seaside promenade in Santo Domingo called the Malecon. The Malecon runs along the azure Caribbean Sea with upscale hotels and casinos facing the ocean from the opposite side.
A favorite for thousands of Dominicans is Mirador del Sur Park (South Lookout Park). This four miles of green space in the city is a great spot for friends to meet and go walking, running, bicycling and skating. The park is filled many species of trees and offer views of the Caribbean Sea that you can't find anywhere else.
In the eastern section of the city are two important parks: The National Aquarium and Los Tres Ojos (the three eyes) National Park. The latter features a set of three limestone caves, springs and many stalactites and stalagmites in its grottoes.
Nightlife With a large young adult population, Santo Domingo is an exciting and thriving city at night. Discos, bars, cafés and meeting points are found throughout the city.There is something for every musical taste in the Colonial City including the Spanish Square, Columbus Park and Gustavo Mejía Ricart (an area filled with bars). You will find even more music at the House of Theatre and Bohemian Nights and jazz at Jet Set, where bands play live music on Mondays.
Meanwhile, more traditional musical offerings can be found in the city's great concert halls, which have welcomed the most famous Latin American, European and North American stars.
Sports Baseball in the Dominican is not just a sport, but a national passion. Dominicans are passionate baseball fans and are very proud of the many Dominican-born players who participate in U.S. Major League Baseball. Well-known Dominican talents include Albert Pujols, Alex Rodríguez, David Ortiz, Manny Ramírez, Pedro Martínez, Hanley Ramírez, Robinson Canó and many more. In addition, golf, volleyball, boxing and basketball are other popular sports in the Dominican Republic.