Santo Domingo is the oldest European-founded city in the Americas, and it wears its history proudly. The Zona Colonial — the historic heart — is packed with firsts: the oldest street in the New World (Calle de las Damas), the oldest cathedral (Catedral Santa María la Menor), the first hospital in the Americas (the ruins of San Nicolás de Bari), and the oldest European fortress in the hemisphere (Fortaleza Ozama). The entire colonial district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Beyond the colonial core, the city has real substance: the Jardín Botánico Nacional is one of the finest botanical gardens in the Caribbean, Los Tres Ojos is a system of underground lakes that was sacred to the Taíno people, and the Plaza de la Cultura houses four museums including the excellent Museo del Hombre Dominicano. The Parque Mirador del Sur runs for 8 km along southern cliffs above the Caribbean.
The city's baseball culture is deep and genuine — catching a game at the Estadio Quisqueya during the winter season is one of the most authentic experiences Santo Domingo offers. The nightlife in the Zona Colonial and Piantini runs late. And La Caleta Underwater National Park is 30 minutes east — two shipwrecks, reef fish, and the clearest water within reach of the city.