Fortaleza Ozama image

Fortaleza Ozama

Tourist attraction Historical landmark Fortress

One of the Most Reviewed Historical landmarks in Santo Domingo


Address

C. Las Damas 1, Santo Domingo 10210, Dominican Republic

Website

visitdominicanrepublic.com

Contact

+1 809-688-1553

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (2.5K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 6 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: fort (11) history (11) great (8) time (8) visit (7) Ozama (6) Dominican (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Ashok K. 1 year ago on Google • 45 reviews
    Beautiful fort at the heart of the colonial area. The tickets were about DR 140 pesos per person. We did not take any guides but they were available for extra charges. You can spend about 30 minutes here and YES you can climb the fort. The fortress is pretty small and empty but you can see some great views of the Ozama river from the top. It was not crowded when we went there and you can get some beautiful pictures here. Definitely worth visiting!!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 BKEReyes 4 years ago on Google • 121 reviews
    Great place with good views, you can find some mangos to eat at the end of the row of cannons. Costs 70 pesos per person and you can have a tour guide show you around (I wouldn't recommend it since there isn't too much to see)
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Steve 2 years ago on Google • 450 reviews
    If you're a history buff you pretty much have to come visit here. It's a really good experience my son and I enjoyed our time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Oliver 1 year ago on Google • 39 reviews
    I had a great time here and is a highlight of my DR trip (but I like history). If you're not into history, you still get a great view over the estuary (particularly at sundown). If you are into history, there's some interesting placards to read around the site. Try to imagine yourself here 500 years ago in the centre of Spanish Carribbean, and Columbus imprisoned here! The site itself is fairly barren: two buildings with empty rooms to explore with a few information points; walls with presumably original canons; the roof of a tower with good views. About 70 peso ($1.20) pp entry.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Abigail E. 5 months ago on Google • 451 reviews
    Fortaleza Ozama is a 16th century Spanish fort located on Calle Las Damas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. While its open hours appear irregular, Fortaleza Ozama is worth the visit if you are already on Calle Las Damas. Guides at the entrance offer a complimentary introduction to the fort in English or Spanish. Ample signage around the courtyard and inside the fort is also in English and Spanish. The grounds are accessible for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility, but the steps of the tower are steep and crumbly in places. The bathrooms were out of order during my visit. The road was being reconstructed, so vehicles could not navigate the area, although pedestrians could still get through. Tickets were 70 pesos (US$1.40) for adults, a bargain for such an important piece of global history.

  • 5/5 Yafar 4 years ago on Google
    This is a centennial historical landmark (a sixteenth-century castle) which lies at the entrance to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - known as "La Zona Colonial".- Overlooking the Ozama River and next to Calle Las Damas. Named after this river, the castle, also referred to as "La Fortaleza", (built on 1502) is the oldest formal military construction still standing in America and it was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, together with the other historical monuments of the Ciudad Colonial.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 John 2 years ago on Google • 359 reviews
    This is a beautiful fort right in the heart of the colonial area. It costs about 100 Pesos to enter, and the price is worth it. There is always someone willing to tell you the whole history of the place for just a few Pesos. A must go.

  • 4/5 Björn S. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice to see but not much to see. Watch out for the ,,Tourguides" after the entrance. It seems that they are part of the visit but they will follow you afterwards and talk about different things about the the city and they want you to pay them 20 Dollars. Nothing against a good tourguide but they should tell you before that he costs extra.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Ronald 2 years ago on Google • 22 reviews
    Ein Platz um etwas Ruhe zu haben, schön ist die Aussicht vom Turm, leider sind wir nicht bis ganz oben gekommen, man zahlt etwas Eintritt, dafür ist es schön sauber ! Für Kinder wird es sicher schnell langweilig, aber natürlich kann man schon ein paar schöne Fotos machen!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 S. B. 11 months ago on Google • 182 reviews
    Tolle alte Festungsanlage. Sollte man gesehen haben wenn man vor Ort ist. Ältere Herren bieten gegen ein "Trinkgeld" Führungen an.

  • 5/5 Jaime P. 2 years ago on Google • 181 reviews
    A beautiful structure from colonial times, it is a great place to know and understand the history of the Dominican Republic. The views of the city are beautiful, and it's located just across many other iconic places. A must-visit. @Aventure.dos

  • 5/5 Roxana S O. 6 months ago on Google • 177 reviews
    You can go basically everywhere around the fort. When we visited it wasn't crowded. The entrance wasn't much, like about 120 pesos.

  • 3/5 Ciprian P. 2 years ago on Google • 152 reviews
    The interior court is big, but the forstress itself is quite small. Can't climb the highest turn because was closed for restauration. I expected a spectacular view from the top but it was not the case. Also the "gun powder building" is closed for visiting because there are still remains of powder and could be dangerous

  • 5/5 Dhiraj R. 5 years ago on Google • 23 reviews
    Beautiful historical place ! Luckily I had my boyfriend who visits a lot and knows about this place and what the history. No tour guides just random people over charging tourist for a simple tour. No maps at all due to their lovely government sending no money for funds.

  • 5/5 Edwin P. 1 year ago on Google
    Great part of the Dominican Republic history to visit. It's a good idea to pay a tours guide they know the history.

  • 4/5 Craig B. 5 years ago on Google
    I visited this fort in April 2017. It was cheap. They did have a guided tour available but we declined and they let us go right onto the grounds and in the fort and free roam it. It made for great pictures. The history of it is sort of cool where it's another Spanish colonial building and served as the fort and the opening of the Ozama river. We had fun exploring in and out of it. It's at the end of El Conde street so it's close to other landmarks and shops. It's definitely worth a visit. It's in really great shape considering it was built in the 1500's.

  • 3/5 Cleverson F. 1 year ago on Google
    Great place... But this last time was a little abandoned, too dark inside... I have been there before and was better than this time....

  • 5/5 Jordan M. 1 year ago on Google
    Wow !!! First time on Dominican Republic and I had a great time walking around the zona colonial and going to Fortaleza Ozama. There’s a fee to go in but hey it’s to keep it maintained so go and visit !!!

  • 4/5 Kevin F. 1 year ago on Google
    Affordable entry fee and a guide included. Some shadows would be appreciated. Also a picture or model of the fort while in use would be helpful.

  • 5/5 Brian D K. 2 years ago on Google
    Diego Columbus stole this residence from Diego Salcedo, then the warden of the fortress, was out of town. The king at the time had to intervene to kick Columbus out to remediate the residency of the warden. Beautiful view, interesting stories, overall great experience. There is a restroom by the gate for those walking around the zone and in need of responding to the nature’s call.

  • 5/5 Lautrf 1 year ago on Google
    Nice place which kinda feels like visiting a castle in europe

  • 5/5 Gamby I. 2 years ago on Google
    Great place for pictures. Super hot during summer time. Bring water and sunblock. Kids-friendly. Entrance is less than $10

  • 5/5 Rafael Jose R. 2 years ago on Google
    One of the most emblematic monuments of the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo. This coral stone building is the oldest military construction of European origin in the Americas. It is shaped like a medieval European castle and its main objective was to protect the city from attacks by English, French and Portuguese pirates and invaders. It also served as a prison compound.


Call +1 809-688-1553 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance

Trends



Last updated:

Similar Tourist attractions nearby

Last updated:
()