Santo Domingo is the oldest city in the New World, where the settlement of all the Americas began. See the first cathedral, the first hospital and wander down cobble stone streets among the Spanish colonial architecture and imagine how things were back in the 1600s. Santo Domingo is a growing metropolis with more than 3 million residents. Divided into four sections (Santo Domingo Este, Oeste, Norte and Distrito Nacional) it has a greatest variety of restaurants and nightlife in all the Dominican Republic. It is a great city for young people to meet and greet, as well as a bustling commercial center of the Caribbean. Santo Domingo has great shopping. Major chains from all around the world have opened branches here and more will be opening soon. Discount stores offer great prices on designer brands, the leading shops offer clearance sales several times a year and there are many designer shops for more exclusive wear.

Getting around in the city is easy with a variety of private and public transport options. As of 2008 the city inaugurated the Santo Domingo Metro line, which goes from North Santo Domingo (Villa Mella) to the Centro de los Heroes (La Feria).

The Colonial City is the perfect starting point for visitors to discover Santo Domingo. Here, between Independence Park and the Ozama River, you will find the first city built in the New World by European settlers.

The first street in the Americas is Calle de Las Damas, the site of numerous historic buildings including the Ozama Fortress, the oldest fortress in the Americas. There is also the house of Nicolas de Ovando, governor of Santo Domingo in the early 1500's and a ruthless warrior against the Taino Indians.

Of great historical interest is the Museo de las Casas Reales (Museum of the Royal Houses), the restored 16th century palace of the Spanish Court, which features a wonderful glimpse of the past. Nearby is the Alcazar de Colon (Castle of Columbus) built by Diego Columbus and his wife Maria de Toledo, niece of the Spanish King Ferdinand.

A few streets over in the center of the walled city, visitors will find the Cathedral Basilica Santa Maria la Menor, pronounced the first cathedral in the New World by Pope Paul III in 1542. While touring the colonial city, visitors can learn all about amber, the stone made even more famous by Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park film. The Amber Museum on Calle Arz. Merino features exceptional educational exhibits of this semi-precious jewel.

Plaza de la Cultura is a one stop cultural tour, housing four museums and theaters within walking distance, including The Museum of Dominican Man, the Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of History and Geography, and the National Museum of Natural History.

The Columbus Lighthouse, Chinatown, the Museo de Bellapart and the Botanical Gardens are also must see attractions in Santo Domingo.

Tourists in Santo Domingo in December and January are in for a treat as many Dominican Major League Baseball greats join their local teams in the closing of the regular season in December and the finals in January. Action in Santo Domingo is at the Quisqueya Ball Park. The regular season opens at the end of October and runs through the first week of February, when the winner of the Winter Professional Baseball Championship gets to represent the country in the Caribbean Series that is rotated in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico or Venezuela each year.