Santo Domingo is both a thriving capital city and an enthralling vacation destination. Its history is evident in all its neighborhoods. Colonial cathedrals stand next to shiny high-rises while the best museums sit alongside cutting-edge restaurants. The city's UNESCO-listed center is its biggest tourist draw, where many visitors spend most of their trip. Choose to stay in converted convents or 19th-century mansions turned into boutique hotels. Elsewhere in more local areas Santo Domingo is constantly being reinvented at rooftop bars and cool galleries. Day or night the city's nearby beaches are also must-visit destinations, whether to relax on the sand or spend an evening at a beachside terrace bar.
Where to stay
in Santo Domingo
Best Places to Stay for History
The Colonial Zone or Zona Colonial, where the city was founded, is by far the most historically interesting area, but it's not a preserved museum piece. This is still the bustling heart of Santo Domingo, as evidenced by its many cafés, bars, and businesses. Stay here to soak up the atmosphere and visit the Alcázar de Colón, dating back to the 1500s, and other sights including the Museo de las Casas Reales and Panteón Nacional. The adjoining, more residential district of Gascue to the east also has great accommodations, including plenty of independently run small hotels and guesthouses that offer excellent value.
Zona Colonial
Zona Colonial is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Calle El Conde and Santa Maria la Menor Cathedral while in the area.
Recommended hotels in Zona Colonial
Gascue
The abundant dining options and seaside views are just a few top-rate features of the neighborhood. Make a stop by Guibia Beach or Eduardo Brito National Theater while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Casandra Damiron Station to get around town.
Recommended hotels in Gascue
Great Neighborhoods for Culture
Book a room in Gascue to be close to some of the city's top museums. Among the best are the Museo del Hombre Dominicano, which traces Dominican culture, and MAM (the Museum of Modern Art), which celebrates Dominican art from the 20th century. Alternatively, reserve a room in one of the high-end hotels on or near the palm-lined Malecon to embrace Santo Domingo's contemporary culture. The city's seafront boulevard, officially called George Washington Boulevard, is the place to come for an evening bike ride, low-key dinner, or late night at the casino.
Gascue
The abundant dining options and seaside views are just a few top-rate features of the neighborhood. Make a stop by Guibia Beach or Eduardo Brito National Theater while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Casandra Damiron Station to get around town.
Recommended hotels in Gascue
Recommended hotels in Malecon
Where to Stay for Dining
Many of the city's most exciting restaurants are in Downtown Santo Domingo or on the edges of Santo Domingo Financial District. Far from the bulk of the tourist crowds, this is the place to stay to search for modern and creative cooking. Restaurants here serve everything from Japanese to French cuisine. Hotels in the Colonial Zone are a good choice for those with eating high on their agenda but who don't want to venture too far. The neighborhood has no shortage of great options, from traditional Dominican dishes to upscale Italian. Lastly, don't leave without at least one meal at a casual cafetería. Some of the best are near Gascue's guesthouses and inns.
Downtown Santo Domingo
You might take some time to check out the abundant dining options in Downtown Santo Domingo. Spend some time visiting top spots like Acropolis Center, and catch the metro at Freddy Beras Goico Station or Juan Ulises Garcia Station to see more of the area.
Recommended hotels in Downtown Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo Financial District
You might take some time to check out the abundant dining options in Santo Domingo Financial District. Spend some time visiting top spots like Blue Mall, and catch the metro at Freddy Beras Goico Station or Pedro Mir Station to see more of the area.
Recommended hotels in Santo Domingo Financial District
Zona Colonial
Zona Colonial is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Calle El Conde and Santa Maria la Menor Cathedral while in the area.
Recommended hotels in Zona Colonial
Gascue
The abundant dining options and seaside views are just a few top-rate features of the neighborhood. Make a stop by Guibia Beach or Eduardo Brito National Theater while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Casandra Damiron Station to get around town.
Recommended hotels in Gascue
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