Low fares and lots of fun in Santo Domingo
Aug 16, 2011
As it happens in Central American or Caribbean destinations that you can visit with cheap plane tickets, the capital of the Dominican Republic is often overlooked by travelers rushing to its beautiful, white sand beaches. Santo Domingo, however, is a popular tourist attraction and has plenty to see and do for visitors arriving with cheap tickets to Dominican Republic. When you find low fares for flights to the Dominican Republic, make sure to include Santo Domingo as a stop on your itinerary.
This vibrant capital city is known as the oldest European city in the New World. Much of Santo Domingo’s old town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Colonial Zone, or Zona Colonial, is full of monuments and lovely Victorian houses. You’ll enjoy strolling its cobblestone streets and squares after your cheap plane travels. There is also a lengthy waterfront avenue with upscale, open air dining, shopping and casinos. You’ll love this seaside promenade flanked by elegant palm trees. Both the Colonial Zone and the waterfront are quite walkable and make for a great morning or afternoon of sightseeing. Farther east in the city, see the lighthouse where Christopher Columbus is buried. Parque Colon, or Columbus Park, is the center for many of the capital’s famous buildings, like the impressive main cathedral, Santa Maria de la Encarnacion. The cathedral was the first basilica in the new world - construction started on it in 1514. The oldest fortress in the Americas, the Ozama, is also found here. Calle de las Damas also boasts an array of colonial architecture. There are some excellent colonial museums if you are interested in this period of history. The Museo de las Casas Reales, once a Spanish royal palace, has many colonial artifacts and pieces from the years around the discovery of the Dominican Republic.
In addition to its famous past, Santo Domingo has a strong and celebrated modern culture. In Plaza de la Cultura, or the plaza of culture, you’ll find some fascinating museums like the Museum of the Dominican Man and the Museum of Modern Art. For Shoppers, Calle El Conde, a pedestrian-only street, starts in Parque Colon and has a wide variety of shops and restaurants. You’ll be glad you saved on low fares and cheap tickets to the Dominican Republic once you see all the brand name and boutique shopping here. One souvenir you can purchase with your savings from cheap plane tickets is amber jewelry. Some of the world’s largest deposits of amber are found in the Dominican Republic.
You can buy cheap plane fares for flights to Dominican Republic and fly right into Santo Domingo. Make sure to spend some time in this worthwhile capital before heading on to other Dominican attractions.