Santo Domingo - Post Report Question and Answers
What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Beach, cigar and rum tours, baseball games. - Sep 2023
Beaches, fishing, hiking, tasting local dishes etc. - Oct 2021
27 charcos, 3 ojos. - Feb 2021
Colonial Zone, but leave Santo Domingo as often as possible. Bahia de las Aguilas is worth visiting once... - Jan 2019
Steer clear of big resorts in Punta Cana. Hike in the high alpine forests of Armando Bermudez and visit the ingenios of Santo Domingo. - Nov 2016
Beach, beach and beach. (Did I mention the beach?) - Apr 2016
Getting out of the city is what most people would recommend. There is not much worth seeing in Santo Domingo. One visit to the Colonial Zone will pretty much do it. - Jan 2016
Get out of the city so you don't lose your mind. In the city there is eating, drinking, Colonial Zone, the Malecon boardwalk, movie theaters that play in English, bowling alley, roller rink, malls and indoor kids parks. Diving outside of the city is good and inexpensive although there is not much to see as far as wildlife and color. - Jan 2016
Get out of the city and head to the beach. There is great scuba diving here as well. - Aug 2015
There are great off the beaten path hiking, beaches, etc. - Aug 2015
The Colonial Zone has a rich tradition as it is the first city discovered in the Americas by Christopher Columbus and where the first Cathedral was implemented. Many ruins and architecture from 500 years ago can still be seen and touched. - Aug 2014
There is a lot to do! There are day trip beaches about 45 min away and resort areas about 2-3 hours away. The mountain towns have whitewater rafting, hiking, waterfalls, etc. A lot of people learn to scuba dive here. There are surfing and other watersports on the north coast. Dominicans spend a lot of time at rivers and there are a lot of "balnearios" or bathing places that are fun. You can jump down "27 waterfalls" on the north coast. Santo Domingo has malls, a beautiful Colonial Zone, restaurants, etc. You can travel all around the island safely. - Jul 2013
Go to the beach, go camping in the mountains, walk around the Colonial Zone, go kayaking, learn to surf. There are plenty of outdoor activities. - Apr 2013
There are some malls that are fun to walk around and some restaurants that offer decent food, although with a limited choice of cousines. The only thing we have enjoyed about our time in the DR has been getting out of the city and enjoying the beaches. We try to leave the city and head to the beaches at least 2-3 times a month. - Apr 2013
Plenty of beaches---cheap all-inclusives or 4WD only. Baseball. Rent a home in the mountains (Constanza) for the week. Waterfalls---do 27 Charcos. Learn to play dominoes and dance the Merengue and Bachata. Good local restaurants. - Jan 2013
The most affordable beaches in the Caribbean. The worst beach in the DR compares with the better beaches in Florida. The better beaches are spectacular. Every price range from US$40/night up. - Jun 2012
Beaches, cheap rum and beer, easy access to the US, lots of sunshine. - Jun 2012
Beaches, cigar factories, coffee and chocolate plantations, history, whale watching (Jan. to Apr.), fishing, sailing/boating, off-roading, horseback riding, hiking, trekking, rum, surfing, kiteboarding, windsurfing, eco-tourism, etc. There's a lot to do once you get out of the city. - Mar 2012
Lots of great excursions to beaches and mountains. Inside the city there is the zoo, aquarium, museums, small shopping malls, and the historic colonial zone. - Feb 2012
go to the zone colonial, jardin botanico, zoo and that's it. - Feb 2012
Resorts - Oct 2011
beaches, hiking, rafting, there are a lot of options! Las Terrenas is great, Pedernales has cacti on the beach! - Jun 2011
Open-air concerts and cultural performances in the Colonial Zone, visit beaches 45 minutes away, walk on the Malecon at night with the kids, visit the aquarium, Los Tres Ojos - May 2011
beaches, ecotourism.there are several small companies popping up that offer fun tours of the countryside - Nov 2010
The beaches are nice, but VERY expensive. - Aug 2010
The Colonial Zone is neat. - Jun 2010
Travel to beaches, hike in the mountains. Visit with Dominicans who are very friendly. - May 2009
There're malls with movie theaters, some theater, some art, places to dance, bars and "colmados" are fun places to meet Dominicans and practice your Spanish. - Nov 2008
Many things to do. All sorts of nature-related activities (of course the beach, ocean, etc., but also hiking, camping, birdwatching, etc.). Also, some shopping, eating out (though not cheaply), movies, bowling, concerts, parties, etc. - Oct 2008
Beach activities, tennis, golf, and baseball. Decent beach 1 hour away, excellent beach 2.5 hours away. Good weather 9 months of year (summer is very hot). - Aug 2008
Diving, tennis, golf, beach resorts. - Jun 2008
If you like gold and the beach - this is the place. Otherwise it's quite boring. - Feb 2008
