Places to See in the Dominican Republic

Being one of the largest counties in the Caribbean, there are a number of places to see in the Dominican Republic. The capital Santo Domingo is the largest city in the country and is home to a number of tourist attractions. Most of these structures are located in the Zona Colonial or Colonial District, an area which has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Inside the Zona Colonial you can find many museums to explore. An excellent museum to visit is the Museo Alcazar de Colon, which houses many artifacts belonging to the Columbus family. The Museo Mundo de Amber or Amber Museum is also worth a look at. There are around 12 churches in this zone as well, of which the most important is the Catedral Primada de America, the oldest functioning church in the Americas built in 1514. Of the many historical sites in the Zona Colonial, don’t forget to see the Monasterio de San Francisco, the first monastery in the Americas as well as the ruins of the first hospital, the Ruinas del Hospital San Nicolas de Bari. The Fortaleza Ozama here is the oldest fortress in the New World.

Outside the Zona Colonial, some must see places include the Faro o Colon or the Columbus Lighthouse and the Museo de Hombre Dominicano, which houses many ancient Taino artifacts.

In the southeast of the country, you will find some of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic. Dubbed as the Coconut Coast, the beaches at Bavaro and Punta Cana are truly stunning. Out here you will also find the Punta Cana Ecological Park, which is worth a visit if you are an avid naturalist.

The Samana Peninsula is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Dominican Republic as it offers some of the best diving in the country as well as some incredible whale watching opportunities. Here you can find one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean as ranked by the Conde Nast magazine, Playa Rincon. Also worth visiting in this area is the Cascada el Limon, an incredible 150 meter waterfall with a swimming hole.

Along the north coast of the country as well as inland, there are not many places to visit; however, these areas are major tourist draws for the wealth of activities they offer.