The 5 Best Tourist Areas to Visit in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is truly a paradise for your holidays. No matter which area you visit, there’s no question that you’ll get to enjoy a few incredible days in this magnificent place. 

Many times the question arises as to which area you should stay in. While it’s true that there are several touristy areas, traditionally some have been more popular than others. 

Punta Cana

With Playa Bávaro at the helm, Punta Cana is possibly the queen of the Dominican Republic’s touristy areas. It is one of the coastal areas in the country with the most beautiful beaches. All of them have white sand with turquoise water and lush coconut trees. This is where the most luxurious resorts are concentrated, guaranteeing you’ll have a restful stay during your most relaxing and enjoyable holiday ever. There are also shopping areas such as The Boulevard, where you’ll find a wide range of leisure and shopping spaces at your fingertips. Without a doubt, it’s one of the best areas to visit with children. 

Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata is a coastal province, whose capital is San Felipe de Puerto Plata. This city stands out for the characteristic Victorian style of its homes, which give the area its own charm. However, it’s not just the capital but the entire province that is focused on tourism thanks to the numerous attractions that are found here, along with its beaches and impressive golf courses. Did you know that the only cable car in the Caribbean is located here? In addition, Puerto Plata is one of the few places in the world that produces amber and one of the best destinations in the country for practising adventure tourism.

Santo Domingo and its Colonial City

The capital of the country is Santo Domingo, and the Colonial City is the name given to the heart of its historic centre, declared a World Heritage Site. All this gives it incredible cultural value, making it an important tourist area to take into account when visiting the Dominican Republic on your next holiday.

As one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean, it’s not surprising that it is home to such important monuments as the First Cathedral of America, the Colón Park, the Viceregal Palace or the National Pantheon, among other outstanding attractions. No matter how much time goes by, in the Colonial City you can live and breathe the charm of this past colonial era, especially as you walk down the famous Calle de Las Damas street.

But, in addition to culture, in Santo Domingo you can enjoy the wide variety of dishes that the Dominican cuisine has to offer, as well as leisure spaces for all tastes. Do you want to dance the bachata or the merengue? There are places where the music never stops playing all throughout the day and where you can enjoy the authentic Dominican flavour. Long live Santo Domingo!

La Romana

If you want to visit places that look like they’ve been taken out of a fairy tale, La Romana is the area you’re looking for. Towns like Bayahibe have such beauty that you’ll find it hard to believe that you’re in a real town and not on a movie set. But it’s not the only idyllic town that you can find here. Others, like Alto de Chavón, next to the Chavón River, are also well worth a visit.

Its spectacular coral formations and the Del Este National Park are also other attractions worth visiting in the La Romana area. There are also important cultural venues here, such as a 5,000-seat Roman-style amphitheatre in which important singers have put on performances over the years.

La Romana is such a charming town that many people have decided to buy a home here so that they enjoy everything it has to offer throughout the year. 

Samaná and Las Terrenas

The Samaná peninsula is located in the northeast of the island. One interesting fact is that it has the largest number of coconut trees per square metre in the world, which you will be able to notice as soon as you step foot in this area.

Its roads cross majestic landscapes with views of its incredible mountains and its beautiful white sandy beaches.

Do you know what makes Samaná Bay famous internationally? It turns out that it’s the place where 3,000 humpback whales perform their jaw dropping mating ritual every year, a spectacle that can be enjoyed and photographed up close, just a few metres away.

With its practically virgin beaches, you will be able to easily disconnect and feel even more connected with nature, one of the highlights of this area that you will be able to enjoy like never before.

The town of Las Terrenas has some of the most beautiful beaches on the island, which you should keep in mind when visiting the Dominican Republic on your next holiday.

So there you have it, the 5 most important tourist areas in the Dominican Republic, although we also encourage you to visit others such as Santiago de los Caballeros.