Travel to Santo Domingo

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Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

The capital of the Dominican Republic is bustling with life. It must be said that it has changed considerably since 4 August 1496, when Bartholomew Columbus, the brother of the famous navigator Christopher, founded the eastern bank of the Ozama River that would later become the oldest city in the New World, Nueva Isabela, named so in honour of Isabel the Catholic.
Annihilated by a hurricane six years later, it was rebuilt by Spanish settlers, this time on the western shores, and soon adopted the name of Santo Domingo. Today, traffic is dense and erratic, even on smaller roads. The ambient cacophony is as much due to the beeping of horns as the speakers in the shops that play thundering Merengue non-stop.
The Dominicans do not drive fast but the only law that prevails is the "every man for himself". Therefore, you need to gather some patience, whether it be on board a bus or in a taxi or a rental vehicle. The best solution remains to park near the colonial area and continue your visit by foot. There you will find real treasures, relics of a bygone era when Spain and France had control over the country. Take your time to visit the many monuments of the historical centre, then take a coffee in a small, shaded square.
Find your flights Santo Domingo at the best prices

A historical and cultural city
The night life

cons

Lack of beach despite the presence of the coastline
Heavy traffic

Weather Santo Domingo - choosing the best time to go

Dominican Republic - Santo Domingo

All overall indicators 61/100 Good
Temperature indicators 74/100 Good
Bad weather indicators 22/100 Bad
Sunbathing indicators 42/100 Average
Swimming indicators 94/100 Excellent
Wind indicators 86/100 Excellent
Temperature indicatorsVery hot :
The maximum temperature is <24°, temperature felt between 33°C and 36°C.
Bad weather indicatorsRainy :
Rainy - averaging between 3.5mm and 4.5mm per day.
Sunbathing indicatorsSunny intervals :
Cloudy with sunny intervals (40% to 60% cloud cover).
Swimming indicatorsVery pleasant / Optimal :
High air temperature (>24°C), high sea temperature (>24°C), light to moderate winds (between 7 mph and 12 mph).
Wind indicatorsLight breeze / Optimal :
Optimal comfort: optimal wind speed (between 7 mph and 12 mph) in a warm environment (>24°C).

Weather finder : Santo Domingo / May Annual weather finder : Santo Domingo

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Visit Santo Domingo

To see

The colonial zone gathers the oldest and most remarkable structures in the country, some as much as five centuries old and therefore the first of America. Three main roads gather the main attractions of this district, including the famous Calle de las Damas, the first street in the New World.

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To do

The hotels all offer high quality well-being services, with a wide range of spas in beautiful settings, as well as wide range of sports activities such as tennis, cycling and horse riding. The water sports (diving, water skiing, sailing, etc) are not to be missed! Fans of golf will also find beautiful golf courses.

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To think about

A suitcase for the summer: light clothing cotton, open shoes, shorts, shirts, T-shirts, without forgetting the bathing suit, as well as warm clothes and walking shoes for getaways in the mountains. A lightweight raincoat is useful during the rainy season (from May to July).

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To avoid

Definitely avoid travelling at night in Santo Domingo, travel during rush hours and in busy places. Likewise, avoid travelling alone, especially if you are a woman. The 'Mirador Sur' park in Santo Domingo is a popular place for sports but many delinquents hang around here. Attacks are unfortunately quite common and you should preferably go there in a group. Finally, it is strongly discouraged to use the 'car publico', several attacks on foreign nationals have been reported, go for major taxi companies, and book your taxi by phone.

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To try

Rich and spicy, Dominican cuisine is the result of Creole, European and African influences. Starch foods (rice, sweet potatoes and plantain), fish and shell fish as well as tropical fruits are the key foods. The stews (mondogo, sancocho) are common, with goat meat or fish cooked in coconut milk being prime examples.

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To bring back

Jewellery made from amber (brown solidified resin), larimar (blue stone), leather items, baskets, naive paintings, a legacy of Indian Taïnos, CDs of merengue and bachata, cigars, liquid vanilla, jam, rum and coffee are the main souvenirs that you can bring home. They can be found everywhere on beaches and especially in local markets.

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Country guide

Dominican Republic, All you need to know!

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