Santo Domingo

Entry/Visa
Depending on which country you come from you might need a visa, however when coming from most European countries a visa is not required to enter Santo Domingo. One has to bring a valid passport and will need to obtain a Tourist Card upon arrival.

Vaccines
Other than the standard vaccinations, when travelling to Santo Domingo there are no special vaccinations needed.

Climate
Santo Domingo has a Tropical monsoon climate, therefore it gets very hot and humid with some tropical wind throughout the day. July and August are the warmest months with temperatures reaching up to 35°C, and December and January are the coolest months reaching around 30°C. Throughout the year it is constantly warm and sunny however due to its location just like other nations in the Caribbean Santo Domingo is prone to hurricanes.

Currency
The currency in Santo Domingo is the Dominican Republic Peso (DOP).

Language
The official language spoken in Santo Domingo is Spanish; English is widely spoken in the tourist centers.

Customs / Culture
Santo Domingo is the oldest European city in America and is the capital of the Dominican Republic. The city has very rich and fascinating history and cultural heritage which one can explore on the island. Santo Domingo was founded by “Bartolome Columbus” in 1946 and was the first location of the Spanish Colonial Empire within the New World. The River “Ozama” divides Santo Domingo into two parts, one is the western side which is developed economically, and the other side, the eastern side has maintained more of the historical scenery.

Traditions
One of the main traditions in Santo Domingo is the celebration of Christmas which starts in October and lasts until the end of January. During this time it is custom to have great parties, fireworks, local food and to enjoy yourself to the maximum.

Religion
In Santo Domingo there are many kinds of religion however Catholicism is the dominant religion amongst most inhabitants.

Airports / Car rental
Santo Domingo itself is served by two international airports “Las Américas International Airport” and “La Isabela International Airport”. Both receive international and domestic flights flying in and out on a daily basis. “Las Américas International Airport” is the newer main airport and is located about 15 minutes away from Santo Domingo city center. “La Isabela International Airport” is the secondary airport which is also newly constructed and located only a few km away for the city center. At both airports it is possible to rent a car which should be ordered in advance prior to your arrival.

Public transport
Santo Domingo has a variety of different transportation systems. There are different buses in Santo Domingo the ones called “guaguas / voladoras” have less good conditions therefore it would be recommended to travel with the OMSA operation which provides better conditions of buses, this operation also provides metro services. The Rail system is the “Santo Domingo Metro” which consists of six different lines.

Taxis / Infrastructure
Individual taxis can be found at the airport or can be ordered via the central taxi service or from the hotel one is staying at. “Montoconchos” are motorcycle taxis and “carros publicos / conchos” are shared taxis which are very local transportation services.

Events / Lifestyle
There are many festival and events which occur throughout the year in Santo Domingo, these all speak for the local’s lifestyle and their pride of the city. Two of the most known festivals are “The annual Merengue Festival” which occurs during summer and “the Carnival festival” which occurs during spring. Both these festivals are highly celebrated in the city with a lot of dancing, music, good food and fireworks.

Culinary Specialities
Santo Domingo has a high variety of different types of cuisine, which includes Chinese, Mediterranean, Brazilian and Italian dishes. Some of the typical local specialties coming from Santo Domingo itself include “La bandera” which consist of white rice, beans, meat, vegetables and fritos verdes and Dominican bananas.

Sights
Due to Santo Domingo’s rich culture and history there are many sights to see and explore. Amongst these some are:
- Museum of Alcázar
- Altar de la Patria
- Museum of the Casas Reales
- Museum of Natural History
- Museum of Modern Arts
- DR. Rafael Ma. Moscoso National Botnaical Garden
- Colón Park
- Dominican Republic National Zooo
- Catedral Santa María la Menor
- Puerto del Conde
- National Pantheon
- Alcázar de Colón
- The Malecón

- Fortaleza Ozama