Things to Do in Dominican Republic

From Punta Cana's white-sand beaches to Santo Domingo's colonial old town - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

The Dominican Republic is one of the Caribbean's most-visited countries, largely on the strength of Punta Cana's all-inclusive resort coast - but Santo Domingo holds the oldest continuously inhabited European city in the Americas, and Samaná's whale-watching season draws a genuinely different kind of traveler each winter. Here are 6 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

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Punta Cana

The Dominican Republic's main resort region, with roughly 30km of white-sand beach along the country's eastern tip, dominated by all-inclusive properties.

📍 Punta Cana

🚉 Punta Cana International is the arrival point for most visitors, with resort shuttles covering the last 20 to 40 minutes; Expreso Bavaro coaches run from Santo Domingo in about four hours.

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Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo

The oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, a UNESCO World Heritage site including the first cathedral, university and hospital built in the New World.

📍 Santo Domingo

🚉 Nearest station: Parque Independencia on the Santo Domingo Metro's line 1, a short walk from El Conde street, which runs through the colonial quarter to the cathedral.

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Samaná Bay Whale Watching

Thousands of humpback whales migrate to Samaná Bay each winter (roughly January-March) to breed, making it one of the best land-accessible whale watching spots in the world.

📍 Samaná Bay

🚉 Caribe Tours coaches reach Samana from Santo Domingo in two and a half hours on the toll highway; whale boats leave from Samana town's malecon between mid-January and mid-March.

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Damajagua Waterfalls (27 Charcos)

A series of 27 waterfalls near Puerto Plata that visitors climb, jump and slide down in sequence with a guide - a more active, adventure-oriented stop than most Caribbean waterfall visits.

📍 near Puerto Plata

🚉 The falls are 30 minutes from Puerto Plata on the Imbert road - guaguas running that route will drop you at the entrance, and guides and helmets are compulsory for the cascades.

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Isla Saona

A protected island off the southeastern coast, reached by boat or catamaran from Punta Cana or Bayahibe, with shallow turquoise sandbars as the main draw.

📍 Isla Saona

🚉 The island is inside Cotubanama National Park and reached only by catamaran or speedboat from Bayahibe, an hour from Punta Cana by road, on a day trip.

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Pico Duarte

The highest peak in the Caribbean, climbable over a multi-day guided trek through Armando Bermúdez National Park - a genuinely different Dominican Republic than the beach-resort image most visitors expect.

📍 Armando Bermúdez National Park

🚉 The Caribbean's highest peak is climbed from La Cienaga near Jarabacoa, four hours from Santo Domingo by bus and taxi, and the two-to-three-day climb requires a park guide.

Mark Dominican Republic, get the stamp

🇩🇴DOMINICAN REPUBLICVISITED

🇩🇴DOMINICAN REPUBLICLIVED

🇩🇴DOMINICAN REPUBLICWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

Open MyPassportStory

Planning questions

How many days do you need in the Dominican Republic?

4-5 days suits an all-inclusive Punta Cana stay well. A week lets you add Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone or a Samaná whale-watching trip in season.

What's the best time to visit the Dominican Republic?

December-April is the dry season and the most popular time to visit, coinciding with the best whale watching in Samaná. Hurricane season runs June-November, peaking August-October.

Is the Dominican Republic good for a first-time visit?

Yes, particularly through an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, which is how most first-time visitors experience the country - Santo Domingo and other regions reward a bit more independent planning.

Do I need a visa to visit the Dominican Republic?

Many nationalities, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU, can visit visa-free for short tourist stays; other nationalities need a visa arranged in advance. Check the official visa information for your nationality: mirex.gob.do.

What are some things to do in the Dominican Republic on a tight budget?

Walking Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone costs nothing, local comida criolla meals are cheap outside resort areas, and Samaná's whale-watching boats (via a shared tour rather than a private charter) are considerably more affordable in a group.

Can I rent a car in the Dominican Republic, and what licence do I need?

Yes, and the toll highways between Santo Domingo, Samana and Punta Cana are fast and modern. A foreign licence is valid for up to 90 days, and no International Driving Permit is required, though one is useful alongside a non-Spanish licence. Minimum age is usually 25 with a credit card. Local liability insurance is compulsory and added at the counter. Away from the toll roads, expect motorbikes travelling against the traffic and unlit obstacles after dark, which is why most visitors avoid driving at night. Official visitor information is published by the Ministry of Tourism at godominicanrepublic.com.