The first European-established settlement in the Americas, its a place filled with history. You can find museums, eateries, and a lot of colonial era architecture in this area. You can visit the first cathedral built in the new world (Catedral Primada de America).
If you are staying for longer than the weekend we definitely suggest visiting any of the beaches in the country. The Dominican Republic is world famous for its breathaking beaches of white sand and crystal clear waters. Some personal recommendations are Bahia de las Aguilas, Macao, Dominicus, Playa Rincon, Playa el Valle, Punta Bonita, Playa Alicia.
There are several excellent restaurant in Santo Domingo that we recommend. If you want to try some classic dominican food Adrian Tropical is the place to go. If you're looking for more refined international cuisine, we would urge you to try Central Gastronomica, Robata, Larimar, Lila, or Maraca.