Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo has many sights in the category "oldest in the new world". This is the place to look for the oldest street, the oldest cathedral and the oldest chapel in the new world. Add to that a large number of buildings that may not be the oldest in their kind but that still are pretty old and you can see that a visit to the capital of the Dominican Republic is a must for every traveler. So get your bum away from the beach and get ready for a history tour.

Santo Domingo was, until recently, a huge city (pop. nearly 4 million people) that was split into 5 independent municipalities: Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo Este, Santo Domingo Oeste, Santo Domingo Norte and Boca Chica. Fortunately, nearly all tourist attractions and shopping, dining and entertainment venues are located relatively close to each other in the Distrito Nacional, making it easy for you to get around and see the sights.

Santo Domingo is not entirely a tourist-friendly city. It`s often hard to move around if you don't know the city, as many streets lack proper signage and addresses are often reliant on the neighborhood's name more than an actual street address. However, don't be afraid of asking the locals for orientation, as Dominicans are well known for their helpful nature and usually helpful to tourists. It's a good idea to get a street map (there are many city maps online but it's also possible to buy one at any gift shop or book store for no more than US$5 dollars).