Santo Domingo sits firmly in the tropical zone, delivering warm weather year-round with temperatures that rarely venture outside the 24-31°C range.

Rainfall divides the year into wetter and drier periods, though even the dry months can surprise you with sudden downpours that clear as quickly as they arrive.

Heat is constant but rarely extreme, with sea breezes offering some relief in coastal areas while inland neighborhoods can feel decidedly more stifling.

Humidity hovers persistently high throughout the year, meaning your clothing will work harder than you'd like and anything non-breathable becomes regrettable within minutes.

The city's Spanish colonial architecture provides shaded walkways and plazas that reward those wearing hats wide enough to matter.