Location: Santo Domingo
Top Things to do in Santo Domingo
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The 10 Best Nature & Parks in Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo Province
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic and a UNESCO world heritage site, is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas and one of the most populous cities in the Caribbean. The city is a mix of old world charm and modern Latin flair. Its medieval palaces and fortresses mix with nightlife and shopping to rival any modern city in the world. You'll find pristine beaches and hidden gems like a salsa/merengue club set inside a huge underground cave.
Restaurants in Santo Domingo
1. Parque Iberoamerica
2. Parque Mirador del Oeste
3. Plaza Simon Bolivar
4. The 3 Eyes National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,449 reviews
A group of interconnected caves near Santo Domingo.
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The "Monumento Natural Cueva Los Tres Ojos", also known as "Parque Nacional Los Tres Ojos", is probably the most visited attraction in Santo Domingo! The caves and lagoons were discovered about a hundred years ago and are really breathtaking! A winding staircase leads visitors to a series of limestone caves. An underground river - "La Brujuela - feeds freshwater to three interconnected lagoons, locally called "eyes" for their eye-oval-shapes. The first one, "Lago de Azufre", is famous for its blue waters (due to the presence of calcium minerals in its composition and not due to sulphurous waters, as initially believed), stalactites and stalagmites. Then comes "Lago La Nevera", named after its cold waters. The third "eye", "Lago Las Damas", the shallowest one, was mostly used by women and children. Years later, a fourth lake was discovered, but unlikely the other "eyes", this one is not underground, but open-air and surrounded by a rocky landscape and lush vegetation. It is called "Lago Los Zaramagullones" after some native ducks, and is the deepest one, with beautiful small fishes swimming on its crystal clear waters. Take your time and visit the park, its caves and lakes. You will never regret! Enjoy!
5. National Botanical Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 554 reviews
Full of flowers and plants native to the island, the gardens offer tram tours of the facilities.
Reviewed By pamgarner15 - Mesa, United States
The Botanical Gardens show off the natural beauty of the Dominican Republic. The architect did a masterful job of designing the grounds. I love the Japanese gardens I also enjoyed the walking tour. This is well worth the 200 pesos or 4 American dollars.
6. Parque Mirador Sur
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 84 reviews
Reviewed By luiscW2986OM - Puerto Rico, Caribbean
a very relaxing park is very safe to walk around or just lay around and just read a book. it has a lake with pedal boat
7. Parque Mirador del Norte
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By pedrovitalgarcia - Santo Domingo, Caribbean
This park is great, you pay 50 pesos to get in about a dollar, a great place to go work out or with the family, no delinquents around over all its a must go to place, plust it consists of 6 different parks that you are able to go to with just the wristband you buy for a dollar. The air is clean, the vegetation abundant over all recommended.
8. Parque Duarte
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Across the street from the Convento de los Dominicos, this small Colonial Zone park is a good choice for a relaxing break. Offering shady benches under trees, it is a popular meeting place for locals. The sculpture in the center of the park depicts Juan Pablo Duarte, one of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic.
Reviewed By HLuiz - Jersey City, United States
Parque Duarte, a small park in Santo Domingo, is host to many groups- modern bohemians, musicians, artists, LGBT groups, and other types hanging out in the Colonial Zone. It’s a beautiful plaza-style park named after Juan Pablo Duarte, a Founding Father of the Dominican Republic. He is most noted for supervising and financing the Dominican War of Independence, a war that gave the Dominican Republic autonomy from Haiti on February 27, 1844. A statue of Juan Pablo Duarte resides in this beautiful park as a symbol or as a reminder that they are free. In Santo Domingo today, Independence and “free” may mean many different things to many different people and this park was representative of that. Duarte Park is best-known as a meeting place before stepping out to the late-evening nightlife Santo Domingo has to offer. Tourists congregate and hang out there too as well as many locals. My new Dominican Friends took me there as part of a media group one Friday night and that’s when I realized that Duarte Park was much more than a meeting place. The first thing I noticed was that it appeared that LGBT groups made-up one of the smallest groups hanging out in the park. It was packed with people. I’m told Friday and Saturday night starting around 9p or so is when people start to arrive – it was 11p when we arrived and the Duarte Park was in full swing. There are a couple of spots to get a beer and even some cocktails and you can drink right there in the park. On second thought, I really don’t know if it’s legal or not, but almost everyone was drinking something or another. If you bought something, you were expected to share. If you didn’t, someone would share with you. It really was a public social gathering with a party-like atmosphere. I was asked where the media group and I were going to that night and was advised about the best clubs to go to the following night. I heard light hearted gossip about how this one got piss-drunk, what scandalous outfit that one wore, and who hooked up with who the prior night at the clubs. My new friends were so right- this was a place people gathered at before going out. Then I heard other conversations floating through the night… So, Parque Duarte was really more than just a meet-up place before hitting the hot club spots. It’s a network where lots of information is transferred. A hotwire, if you will, of people concerned for the safety, the well-being, and the whereabouts of family, friends, and otherwise strangers like me. I liked hearing that they were all looking out for one another through this grapevine. If someone was not seen, heard of, or just missed, questions were quickly asked. If there was a problem or crime committed, that news spread quickly too. If someone fell ill, the alarm was rung and others did what they could to comfort the sick. I sensed that they self-imposed a responsibility for one another. Like they say, there’s safety in numbers. That network was necessary and vital to all those in the community and I was so very proud of them. If you’re a tourist and need to know of safe places to venture to in Santo Domingo, be sure to hit Duarte Park to get in the know!
9. National Zoological Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 163 reviews
Visitors can view indigenous and exotic animals roaming freely in natural habitats.
Reviewed By dkmph
What a great adventure! I took a solo trip to the zoo via the L2 metro from Bosch to Máximo Gomez, then I jumped in a Gaugaug for an additional 10 pesos. The area is very grimy and in the middle of the Barrio, so if your not familiar with this type of neighborhood I would suggest driving there. I planned on taking an Uber back from the zoo but the driver canceled. I’m not sure of the reason but I can imagine that some people would be very intimidated even driving in this area. Overall my experience was wonderful! The people I encountered were kind to me even though it was obvious that I was a tourist and I didn't speak spanish. After spending about 5 hours at the zoo the security guard took me along with her on a ride via a Gauguin to the metro, because she said it was unsafe for me to walk. The zoo cost 150 pesos for adults, it is safe, fun and full of wildlife and even a white tiger! You can even picnic there with your family, and there are swings and a play area for young children. The zoo is scenic, with views of the mountain and you can take long walks admits the greenery, at times it felt like I was in the middle of the jungle. The Emus were interesting to watch, one in particular would follow you back and forth along its enclosure watching your every move. I would definitely revisit again with my family, friends or on another solo mission! #blackgurllost
