Distrito Nacional spreads inland from the Caribbean Sea with a medley of enthralling attractions and neighborhoods. Walk the streets of the Caribbean’s first city and the America’s earliest European settlement. Visit Distrito Nacional to meander along a palm-fringed malecon, relax in parks and explore an upmarket nightlife scene.
Tourists flock to the UNESCO-listed Colonial Zone (Ciudad Colonial or Zona Colonial), an area that was once a fortified city established in the early 1500s. It boasts resplendent colonial buildings such as the Alcázar de Colón palace, Cathedral of Santo Domingo and Fortaleza Ozama. Discover regional history at the Museum of the Royal Houses and Memorial Museum of Dominican Resistance and child-friendly science exhibits at Trampoline Children’s Museum.
In neighboring Gazcue, Plaza de la Cultura is home to statues of national heroes and framed by excellent museums. Among them are the Museum of Modern Art, Museum of the Dominican Man and National Museum of Natural History. Catch ballet, orchestral and theatrical performances at the Palace of Fine Arts.
Join locals for a laid-back stroll on the Malecón. This esplanade features sections of the old city walls and monuments, including the Antonio de Montesinos Monument and El Obelisco. At night the cigar lounges, rum bars and swanky restaurants buzz with energy.
For a blend of delicious Caribbean cuisine, nightlife and people-watching, check out the bars and bistros on El Conde Street and Plaza España. Gustavo Mejica Ricart Avenue cuts through affluent Piantini and is notable for chic rooftop lounges.
Discover a quieter vibe at Parque Mirador del Sur, a sprawling urban park with bike paths, jogging trails and picnic sites. Enjoy the arboretum, herbarium, floral displays and Japanese-style gardens of National Botanical Garden. Big cats, exotic birds, monkeys and rhinos await at the National Zoo Park. Just outside Distrito Nacional, about 10 minutes’ drive east of central Santo Domingo, is the Los Tres Ojos National Park where you can see three stunning cave pools.
Travel around Distrito Nacional by using the nation’s first metro system and use the tourist train when in the Colonial Zone. The world-renowned beaches of the Dominican Republic are only half an hour away by car at Boca Chica.