Sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, the Dominican Republic is quickly becoming a tourist hotspot in the Caribbean. With varying terrains throughout the country, you’ll feel like you’re traveling to different countries all in one trip.
Whether you prefer to spend your days soaking up the sun on the beaches, hiking through the mountains, seeing the rainforest, or in lesser-known towns, the Dominican Republic has something for everyone’s tastes.
Here are 18 of the best places to plan your dream trip to the Dominican Republic.
Punta Cana
Punta Cana is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the Dominican Republic. The resort town sits on the easternmost coast of Hispaniola and is famous for its almost 20 miles of white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.
This is the area of the Dominican Republic you should go to when you’re craving an all-inclusive resort experience or a standard resort experience. Excellent resorts line the beaches and are ready to cater to your every need.
Tourists love this area for several reasons. Beach and water activities are abundant, and there are plenty of companies ready to rent jet skis, banana boats, and more to you. Parasailing, kayaking, swimming with dolphins, and zip-lining are popular in Punta Cana.
San Felipe de Puerto Plata
You’ll find Puerto Plata on the country’s northern coast. Most people refer to the province as the birthplace of tourism in the Dominican Republic and is the province’s capital city. As the third-largest city in the country, there’s a lot to do here.
One of the main attractions in the city of San Felipe de Puerto Plata is to see the 16th-century fort that’s still standing. The Fortress of San Felipe was constructed and used in the 16th century to protect the province from pirates and other invaders.
Other popular things in San Felipe de Puerto Plata include touring the Macorix House of Rum, walking through Umbrella Street, and eating delicious local cuisine.
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo is a beautiful place to visit in the Dominican Republic as it’s the capital city of the entire country and one of the Caribbean’s oldest cities. You’ll find it on the country’s southern coast, where it’s the perfect blend of city and beach town.
You can’t miss walking through the walled, cobblestone area of the city, which has historical significance. Some of the buildings in the city date back to the 1500s, like their famous cathedral.
When you’re not wandering the city soaking up the history, you can lounge at one of the several beaches. Each one is beautiful, with plenty of water activities for you to choose from.
Playa Dorada
Playa Dorada is similar to Punta Cana as they are essentially beach resort towns. You’ll find this beach town in the province of Puerto Plata, just east of the central city.
It’s still a bustling tourist destination, but you may find there are fewer than in Punta Cana. It’s a great place to stay when you want to stay in a resort that’s close to all the activities you want to do.
You can have a relaxing beach day with a drink in your hand, go horseback riding on the beach at sunset, kite surfing, etc. You’ll love the small beach bars that serve tropical cocktails and local cuisine. For those who love golfing, there’s a tremendous 18-hole course nearby.
Las Terrenas
This town is on the Samana Peninsula, on the northeastern side. Las Terrenas is a great place to visit in the Dominican Republic when you want that resort town feeling while still embracing an authentic Dominican Republic city.
Las Terrenas features fewer resorts than Playa Dorado and Punta Cana, making it perfect for those who hate large crowds. You can choose one of those or a smaller vacation rental to stay at.
The beaches are stunning, with the two most popular being Playa Las Terrenas and Playa Bonita. When you need a break from the beautiful beaches, you can go hiking on the nearby trails, spend time at the beach bars, hit the casino, or tour their Haitian art museum.
Cabarete
Cabarete is another smaller resort town on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast. People flock to this peaceful resort town for the beaches and to go snorkeling in the bay, which contains a protected coral reef.
If you want to try your hand at surfing, then Encuentro Beach is the best option. They also have a surf school if you want lessons. Other famous beaches that have the calmest waters in the town are Kite Beach and Cabarete Beach.
With more tranquil waters, they’re famous for water sports besides surfing. People love the laid-back nature of Cabarete. You can take your time doing everything here. There are great parks outside the city limits if you need a break from the beaches.
Sosua
Sosua is in the Puerto Plata province and is perfect for people who want a beach getaway and feel like they’re still in a somewhat bigger city. While now all you’ll see are beautiful beaches, great shops, delicious restaurants, and activities to do, it wasn’t always this way.
Before becoming one of the Dominican Republic’s tourist destinations, Sosua was a haven for Jewish refugees in 1938. They were given land, dairy, and cheese factories, and to this day, you can still eat products from these factories.
Sosua is one of the best places to go snorkeling or scuba diving in the country because they have several reefs and various colorful fish to admire. If you enjoy the great nightlife while traveling, then you’ll love this town.
Samana
On the Northern side of Samana Bay sits the historic town of Samana. It’s also the capital city of the Samana province. What initially made Samana a famous destination was the last stop Christopher Columbus made in the New World, back in 1493.
Each city in the country has different months where tourism peaks, and for Samana, it’s between January and March. The weather is a little colder but still mild, and the main reason people come to Samana is to go whale-watching.
Whale-watching needs to be on your itinerary if you visit during the beginning of the year, but there are things to do here year-round. The beaches are fantastic, and there’s a water park and a casino.
Eastern National Park
For nature enthusiasts, Eastern National Park is a dream. Located a few hours east of Santo Domingo, this national park is an island and is one of the Caribbean’s largest marine parks.
A vast coral reef system off the park’s coast regularly brings snorkelers and scuba divers. You can take a tour here where you can rent all the gear you need. If you prefer to stay on land, there are great beaches and tropical forests for you to explore.
You can go bird watching, hiking, and lounge on remote beaches all day. If you go to the right spots, you can see early cave drawings indicating early indigenous life on the island.
La Romana
La Romana lies on the southwest side of the Dominican Republic. The city sits on the Caribbean Sea and overlooks the Chavon River. It’s a great town with the best of everything that the Dominican Republic can offer.
While there are golf courses throughout the country, the ones in La Romana are some of the best in the entire Caribbean. Even if you’re not a golfer, you can’t miss playing a round at one.
The resorts are fabulous and offer you discounted tickets to various tours and museums in the area. Another can’t-miss stop in La Romana is their massive cigar factory. Even if you don’t smoke them, learn how they make them and tour the facility.
Bayahibe
Before becoming a great tourist destination and resort town in the Dominican Republic, Bayahibe was a small fishing village. Nestled on the Caribbean coast of the country, you’ll have access to stunning beaches and a great town where you can feast on local cuisine.
Bayahibe Beach is less than a mile from the center of town and offers guests boat rides to some secluded beaches in the nearby national park.
With calm waters, snorkeling, scuba diving, and paddleboarding are popular. If you love scuba diving, you’ll love that you have over 20 diving sites to choose from during your trip here.
Jarabacoa
There are dozens of beach towns to visit in the Dominican Republic but traveling inland still provides you with some beautiful places. Jarabacoa is in the heart of the country and features a tropical climate, giving the town the nickname “the city of everlasting spring.”
Jarabacoa is a haven for those who love hiking and exploring waterfalls. There are several waterfalls nearby that are worth seeing.
The mountains are mesmerizing, and even if you don’t want to venture deep into the forests, there’s plenty to do here. You can go golfing, visit the Cistercian monastery, or, if you’re there in February, attend one of the country’s most famous Carnivals.
Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros is the capital of the Santiago province and the second-largest city in the country. There are several Santiagos throughout the Caribbean and South America, but this one is historically the first.
This city is in the heart of the Cibao Valley and is famous for agriculture and exportation. It’s a central financial, political, cultural, and industrial hub with a rich background you’ll love exploring.
They’re famous for exporting Dominican cigars, clothing, and rum. Finding all the street art, touring cigar factories, and seeing monuments are all great things to do in the city.
El Limon Waterfall
If you’re heading to the Dominican Republic to chase waterfalls, then El Limon Waterfall is one of the best. Situated near the Atlantic Coast of the country, the waterfall drops about 170 feet, and it is a spectacular sight to see.
Seeing the waterfall is only half the fun. First, you need to get there! The path to El Limon Waterfall will take some time, but it’s worth it.
Most people go on horseback riding tours to the waterfalls since the falls take about 40 minutes to get to by foot. You’ll have to pass several rivers to get to the falls, but you can cool off in the swimming hole at the bottom once you arrive.
Playa Rincon
Playa Rincon is on the tip of the Samana Peninsula and features some of the softest sand beaches in the country. This specific spot is where Christopher Columbus was rumored to land during his voyage.
It’s a quieter area of the country, so this is an excellent option if you prefer to have some quiet while lounging on the beach. You can stay here at one of the several hotels, but you can also reach the beach by boat from Las Galeras in 20 minutes.
The beach is the main attraction of the area, with two miles of coastline, and there’s enough room for everyone to lounge, read a book, enjoy a drink, or anything else.
The Salt Mines of Salinas
One of the most fascinating places in the Dominican Republic is the Salt Mines of Salinas. It’s a great day trip to incorporate into your itinerary. It almost looks like something out of a storybook with the pink water.
The salt mines are to blame or thank for the beautiful pink water of the lake.
There are also sections of the lake that are blue, yellow, and gray. Be sure to bring your phone or camera to this location because you’ll want to grab some fantastic photos to remember your trip.
El Pico Duarte
For adventurous travelers, seeing or even climbing El Pico Duarte is one of the best things to do while in the Dominican Republic. El Pico Duarte is the tallest mountain in all of the Caribbean! El Pico Duarte is over 10,000 feet high and offers unparalleled views of the country.
Despite the tropical climate, it’s tucked into two national parks in the Dominican Republic and can often get pretty chilly. If you plan on traveling to El Pico Duarte, you can climb the mountain via two or three-day excursions.
Conclusion
There are so many beautiful places to see in the Dominican Republic. There’s a place for everyone from spending your days lounging on the beaches, eating all the food at all-inclusive resorts, hiking, or climbing mountains. Now all you have to do is pick your favorite destination and plan!
