Santo DomingoCapital
Dominican Republic · Country profile
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic and the oldest continuously inhabited European city of the Americas, the place where the first cathedral, the first university and the first paved streets of the New World were laid. The colonial zone, the great historic district of the city with its forts, its palaces, its cobbled lanes and its amber and its museums, is a world heritage and the living heart of the story of the whole hemisphere. Beyond the old city, the modern capital spreads the enormous city of the Caribbean, with its malecón waterfront, its resorts, its malls and the vibrant, musical daily life of the Dominican people. Historic, warm and endlessly lively, Santo Domingo is the beginning of the American story and the great Caribbean capital of the region.
About Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo is the capital of Dominican Republic. The city's documented population is around 1,000,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Dominican Peso (DOP) and Spanish is spoken; the dialling code is +1809.
The Colonial Zone, the Cathedral and the Fort of the Ozama
Santo Domingo is a sprawling, energetic Caribbean capital whose great attraction is the colonial zone, the oldest European settlement of the Americas. The old city with its forts, its cobbled lanes and its palaces tells the whole story of the New World, while the modern city spreads a lively, noisy, musical everyday life of the Caribbean around it. The malecón, the long waterfront avenue, and the restaurants and the nightlife of the city give the visitor the full Dominican energy. It is a working capital, warm, friendly and culturally rich, and the natural gateway to the coasts and the mountains of the island.
The Tropical Dry Season, the Peso and the Morning of the Old City
The tropical climate runs the year round, warm and humid, with the dry season from November to April the pleasant window and the hurricanes possible in the autumn months. The colonial zone is the essential walk, best taken in the morning before the heat, and the museums of the old city tell the history of the hemisphere. The currency is the Dominican peso and the cards work widely, while the US dollar is commonly accepted. The Spanish is the language, English is limited outside the resorts and the malecón and the nightlife need the usual big-city care at night. The island’s coasts and its mountains are the natural extensions of the city.
The Malecon, the Merengue and the Amber of the Museums
The colonial zone of the city, with the first cathedral of the Americas, the fortress of the Ozama and the palace of the Columbus family, is the essential walk and the heart of the whole hemisphere’s history. The museums of the old city, from the amber to the history of the colonial world, hold the treasures of the region, and the plazas and the restaurants of the colonial lanes give the evening life. The malecón of the city is the great waterfront avenue, with its monuments, its bars and its views over the Caribbean sea. The nightlife of the capital, the merengue and the bachata of the island, runs long and loud. The city is warm, historic and the true beginning of the American story.
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- Country
- Dominican Republic
- Population
- 1,000,000
- Capital
- Santo Domingo
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- Dominican Peso (DOP)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +1809
- Country code
- DO
Entry requirements for Dominican Republic
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Dominican Republic for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Santo Domingo the capital of Dominican Republic?
Yes — Santo Domingo is the capital of Dominican Republic.
What currency do I need in Santo Domingo?
The local currency is the Dominican Peso (DOP). Languages spoken in Dominican Republic include Spanish.
What is the dialling code for Dominican Republic?
The international dialling code for Dominican Republic is +1809.
Do I need a visa to visit Dominican Republic?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Dominican Republic visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Santo Domingo? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.