Things to do in Dominican Republic
3 destinations in Dominican Republic, when to visit each, and what a trip actually costs.
Places to visit in Dominican Republic
- Things to do in Puerto Plata beach, relax, adventure
- Things to do in Punta Cana beach, relax, adventure
- Things to do in Santo Domingo city, culture, food
Best time to visit Dominican Republic
When flights to each destination are cheapest.
- Puerto Plata
- Fly in May, June, or early September for the lowest fares, typically 25-40% cheaper than the December-January peak or spring break (March) surge. Midweek departures (Tuesday/Wednesday) on JetBlue or Spirit from JFK can drop round trips to $180-250, versus $400+ in high season.
- Punta Cana
- May through early June and late August through October are the cheapest months to fly to Punta Cana, with round-trip fares from major US hubs running 30-45% lower than the December-March peak winter season. Flying midweek (Tuesday or Wednesday departures) saves an additional $40-80 compared to Friday or Sunday travel.
- Santo Domingo
- The cheapest months to fly to Santo Domingo are May, early June, and September through early November (shoulder and hurricane-adjacent season), when round-trip fares from major US hubs can run 30-45% less than the December-January peak or spring break periods. Flying midweek (Tuesday/Wednesday departures) shaves an additional 10-15% off typical fares.
Is Dominican Republic expensive?
It depends on the city and how you travel. Open any destination below and set your dates, budget and home airport to get an estimated total for flights, stays and day-to-day spending, rather than a generic average.
Free things to do in Dominican Republic
- Puerto Plata: Malecón Boardwalk Stroll Walk the breezy oceanfront promenade at sunset, watch locals play dominoes, and catch live music on weekends.
- Punta Cana: Walk Playa Bávaro Public beach access is free all along the coast; simply walk past resort entrances to reach open stretches.
- Santo Domingo: Parque Independencia & Altar de la Patria Monumental mausoleum of the founding fathers surrounded by a lively public park perfect for people-watching
More in Caribbean
Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos