Zona Colonial

Zona Colonial

Zona Colonial
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Zona Colonial
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
See what travellers are saying
  • Bob S.
    33 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Zona Colonial key to any trip to Santo Domingo
    If in the DR, the Zona is a must. We stayed in the Zone and toured the zone on foot which was easy to do. Some of the places to see are under renovation, but there is still plenty to see in a long weekend. While I am not normally a fan of tour guides, outside of the Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria la Menor, which can be done with headsets, I would recommend a guide as there is so much history to everything you will see from the last 500 years.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written February 29, 2024
  • Carmem Helena S
    Novo Hamburgo, RS88 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Two days in the Colonial City Santos Domingo
    Two days are enough to get to know and relax in the Colonial area of Santo Domingo. It's safe . There are comfortable and pleasant restaurants in the central region with good value for money. Just be careful if you can't eat pepper. I'ts very interesting. We paid a taxi to Três Ojos park, 20 dollars, round trip. We didn't go down into the caves, but you can see them and it's worth the trip. Wyndham Hotel where we stayed, very good, said that you could buy tickets at the entrance to the park, they were reluctant, but they sold them with a credit card. They must have "arrangements with the guides", as purchased and guided tours can cost up to 35 dollars per person with operators. We did it directly with a credit card and it cost about three dollars per person. Just to see the caves and walk around the park takes an hour or so and you don't need a guide.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written May 24, 2024
  • Diana M
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very old!
    Everything is very old which is what makes it special. I swear when I came here with my dad When we got ice cream there the ice cream there was amazing. I don’t think we went into Columbus‘s house but we’ve been inside there before on other vacations! it’s history is so interesting because Columbus’s brother discovered the city
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written June 22, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles3,197 reviews
Excellent
1,788
Very good
1,050
Average
291
Poor
48
Terrible
20

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Harley1Dave
Halifax, Canada258 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
Our last full day exploring the Zone Colonial in Santo Domingo included the Alcázar de Colón or called Columbus Alcazar, it is the first fortified European palace built in the Americas. It is part of the Ciudad Colonial UNESCO's World Heritage Site. It was built between 1510 and 1514 mostly in a Gothic and Renaissance style. It is the only known residence of a member of the Christopher Columbus family in the New World, his first-born son Diego Columbus whose children Juana, Isabel, Luis and Christopher were born in the palace. Diego Columbus died in Spain in 1526 but María Álvarez de Toledo, his widow, remained there until her death in 1549. Three generations of the Columbus family inhabited the residence, possibly until the late 16th century.
Written February 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ronstre
Willemstad, Curaçao103 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
Nice part of Santo Domingo city. Nice little streets to walk around. There is a two-hour walk that takes you past the highlights. Just search for "Caseta de Información Ministerio de Turismo" on maps. There you can get a free map in different languages that explains what you can see. For some attractions a small fee must be paid per person (think 100 pesos per person).
Google
Written August 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jenny H
11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021
We tripped across our guide Ramon by chance as we were parking our car downtown. We had planned a self-guided wander of the old city but instead Ramon recommended a guided 2-3 hour walking tour. He has been guiding for 30+ years and it was obvious he knew most people around town and was able to talk his way into areas that were off limits (like the embassy) or sights that had already closed for the day,. We really felt like we got the inside scoop on the city. Ramon gave us the facts on every sight fast and furious. However, we did manage to cram in all the major tourist sights, marvelled at the amazing architecture and even salsa'ed at an impromptu stop at the Merengue Club. This was not your usual tour. Ramon was entertaining, a skilled tour guide and in our opinion as much a hidden gem as the city itself. If you happen to find yourself in Santo Domingo with a few hours to spare be sure to look Ramon up. You won't regret it.
Written January 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Oliver Bothfeld
43 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021 • Family
Had a blast walking around the old buildings and the museum that tells you all about Colon. Grounds and street are clean and feels safe to be. Restaurants are very good and we had lunch at Nadan where all type of food is served.

Recommend renting a bike for an hour and cycle around freely; it only costs around RD$ 300 per hour per bike.
Written April 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janet M
Panama Province, Panama15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
Many places to see, foods to try, just people watching. Do not miss the Rum Museum and meet its owner and chemist, Altagracia Carrasco. The building, on Calle Isabel La Catolica, is interesting on it s own. Watch cigar rolling at La Layenda del Cigarro on El Conde.
On Sundays the central square, across the street from the Chu Chu, is a happening place. There were free music lessons or you could try out different instruments. Buy some corn to feed the pigeons.
Each restaurant has its specialty. I liked the Dominican breakfast and ate at many different restaurants. Try some of the French pastries at the Cafe de France.
Of course there are the well advertised museums like the Alcazar and the Museo De Las Casas Reales, each well worth a visit. A ride on the Chu Chu is a good way to get an overview of the area.
If you take the time to read the plaques, you can discover lesser known bits of history. One example is the Maria De Toledo Square. She fought against mistreatment of the Taino natives.
El Conde street, its restaurants and stores, is handicap accessible but not all the older attractions. Most have steps and staircases.
Written October 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrés Blanco
Carteret, NJ737 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
There's so much to see and learn around La Zona Colonial. There are many museums you can visit and lots of points of interest rich with history. You can definitely walk on your own since this part of the city is very safe but taking a tour also has its advantages because the tour guides will take you directly to the most important places around and also share their knowledge with you. There are also many wonderful hotels to stay and many more restaurants and bars to try. Highly recommend!
Written June 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

njcavalier
Chatham, NJ429 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
Rich in history and beautiful architecture, La Zona Colonial is an absolute must-see! Among the highlights of the Old Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is the Museo de las Casas Reales, housed in the palace that was the first seat of Spanish power in the New World. Another is the Alcazar de Colon, the palace where Christopher Columbus’s son Diego lived while he was Viceroy of the Indies. And of course the cathedral should not be missed. And there is so much more. We can’t wait to return!
Written August 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marco C.
Santa Maria, Portugal4,208 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
As a rule, old, medieval or colonial cities always attract attention and visiting the Dominican capital was on the plan. However, upon arrival I was struck by the poor state of maintenance of the main wall, which is still preserved. It's a shame that there hasn't been extensive restoration work yet.
Within the city, highlight the cathedral, pedestrian area, shops, bars and restaurants. And security is something that never fails thanks to POLITUR.

This trip to the capital was included in a tour that I purchased, however, overall, it didn't really catch my eye, perhaps due to the operator who had clearly organized a tour of certain stores (a waste of time).
Google
Written September 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RCDS_Family
South Frontenac, Canada396 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021
We had a walking tour of the Zona Colonial.

There was a lot to see.

The architecture was amazing. There were a lot of picture opportunities.
Keep an eye out for the little details. They are everywhere.

Often, there was shade on one side of the street.

There are a lot of street vendors walking around with Larimar, paintings, or other tourist souvenirs.
Written November 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ck_Nest
Kennesaw, GA741 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021 • Family
This was one of the nicest places to visit for a relaxing time with the family. Everyone had a little bit of something. There was some historical sites, parks, and restaurants. The people were nice and helpful throughout the zone. I’d recommend keeping some cash available in small denominations for smaller purchases.
Written April 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 1,130
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

ZONA COLONIAL - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2025)

All Santo Domingo HotelsSanto Domingo Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Santo DomingoHotels near Zona Colonial
All things to do in Santo Domingo
Casinos & Gambling in Santo DomingoDay Trips in Santo Domingo
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars