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Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is one of the Caribbean's most geographically diverse countries, with stunning mountain scenery, desert scrublands, evocative architecture and beaches galore.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions for your itinerary

Montaña Redonda
Punta Cana & the Southeast
This dramatic mountaintop viewpoint has been discovered by the Instagram generation – Dominicanos flock here on weekends to take photos swinging in sky…
Playa Grande
North Coast
A long, broad, tawny beach with aquamarine water on one side and a thick fringe of palm trees on the other. Stark white cliffs jut out into the ocean in…
Catedral Primada de América
Santo Domingo
The first stone of this cathedral, the oldest standing in the Western hemisphere, was set in 1514 by Diego Columbus, son of the great explorer (the ashes…
Centro León
Santiago
This large, modern museum, built with the tobacco wealth of the León Jimenez family, is a world-class institution with an impressive collection of…
Museo Alcázar de Colón
Santo Domingo
Designed in the Gothic-Mudéjar transitional style, this was the early-16th-century residence of Columbus’ son, Diego, and his wife, Doña María de Toledo…
Salto de Jimenoa Uno
Central Highlands
So picturesque are these falls that an opening scene of the movie Jurassic Park was filmed here. Of the three waterfalls near Jarabacoa, it’s the…
Sendero del Cacao
Central Highlands
The second you step out of your vehicle into the aroma bubble of Sendero del Cacao you'll feel transported to a tropical, outdoor Willy Wonka's Chocolate…
Museo Memorial de la Resistencia Dominicana
Santo Domingo
For those interested in the details of one of the darkest periods of Dominican history, this austere memorial honors Dominicans who fought against the…

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Attractions

Top picks from our travel experts

Top things to do in the Dominican Republic from casinos to whale watching

Curated by Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

Catedral Primada de América
Santo Domingo
The first stone of this cathedral, the oldest standing in the Western hemisphere, was set in 1514 by Diego Columbus, son of the great explorer (the ashes…
Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana
Bávaro & Punta Cana
Imagine Las Vegas with a Caribbean sea. This den of decadence and cool sits atop Punta Cana’s list of bold and beautiful resorts. The lobby feels like a…
Isla Saona
Punta Cana & the Southeast
There’s a reason why boatloads of tourists descend upon this island every day. The powdery, white-sand beach doesn’t seem real from afar, and a dip in the…
Teleférico
Puerto Plata
A cable car takes visitors to the top of the enormous flat-topped Pico Isabel de Torres. On clear days there are spectacular views of the city and…
Gordito's Fresh Mex
Cabarete
A California transplant opened this immediately popular Dominican version of Chipotle, and they're now discussing plans to expand to new locations in the…
Altos de Chavón
Punta Cana & the Southeast
While a trip to a faux-16th-century Italian-Spanish village created by a Paramount movie-set designer won’t exactly give you a window into Dominican…
Bliss
Cabarete
It may not be on the beach, but sitting around the small, crystal-blue pool with a top-shelf glass of wine in your hand, you can be forgiven for not…
La Casita de Papi
Cabarete
An institution in Cabarete, this homey beachfront restaurant does a great garlic shrimp paella dish as well as lobster and grilled fish, under twinkling…
Fortaleza Ozama
Santo Domingo
This is the New World's oldest colonial military edifice. The site, at the meeting of the Río Ozama and Caribbean, was selected by Fray Nicolás de Ovando…
Montaña Redonda
Punta Cana & the Southeast
This dramatic mountaintop viewpoint has been discovered by the Instagram generation – Dominicanos flock here on weekends to take photos swinging in sky…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

There’s more to the Dominican Republic than fabulous beaches.

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Transportation

The people of the Dominican Republic love exploring their island and it's easy to join them by bus, car or motorcycle. Here are the best ways to get around.

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Visa Requirements

With its crystalline waters and sugary white sand, the Dominican Republic is the vision of the tropics. Here's everything you need to know about visas.

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Best Road Trips

From sandy shorelines dotted with palms to mountainous views, here are some of the best road trips in the Dominican Republic.

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