Dominican Republic : Safety by City
Dominican Republic - safety as a country
Santo Domingo is the capital city of the Dominican Republic, and it’s the oldest city that Europeans permanently established in North America, with a founding date of 1496.
It’s an amazing city to visit, but it has a crime problem that visitors have to take into account when planning a trip.
The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the country, which doesn’t sound that risky.
However, the amount of scams and other risks that tourists can encounter is more abundant than the travel advisory level would have you think.
As you plan your trip to the city, pay close attention to all warnings.
Many people say they’ve traveled there and not had a problem, which is a great sign.
But you still need to prepare so that you can reduce the risk of problems.
Warnings & Dangers in Santo Domingo
OVERALL RISK: HIGH
Despite having only a Level 2 travel advisory, Santo Domingo is a rather risky place. You'll need to be very careful traveling around and speak with your hotel's front desk staff or concierge about reputable places to eat and safer parts of town to visit. In general, areas can change rapidly, going from safe to not safe quickly. Tour books and travel websites can give you ideas of where to go, but double-check these to ensure they're still safe places to visit.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: HIGH
Fake taxis are common; if you want to take a taxi from the airport, use the airport's taxi reservation service. Speaking of the airport, the area where people leave the airport is reportedly a prime spot for robberies, so you'll need to be extremely careful. Don't leave baggage unattended, and don't place it by your side out of your view.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
Pickpocketing and petty theft, including people on motorcycles grabbing phones, jewelry, and anything else off you, are huge problems. Keep all belongings secure and don't show any valuables. Don't take your phone out, and don't flash cash or wear noticeable jewelry (you might not want to wear any jewelry if possible).
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH
The Dominican Republic is in the path of strong hurricanes, and the region is subject to very strong earthquakes. Along with quake risk comes a tsunami risk; they don't occur often, but they have appeared before and caused death and damage. Flooding and heatwaves are also risks in the region.
MUGGING RISK: HIGH
Be especially careful as you leave the airport, and when you're in a car at a light, keep the windows up. People have started reaching into cars to grab what they can. Armed robbery is common around the airport, and you need to make an effort to hide all valuables. Don't brandish your phone even in the airport because you don't know who's looking.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Terrorism isn't really a concern in the city. It's the violent crime that's more of a problem. You want to be aware of your surroundings and not wander away into isolated areas, and keep your wits about you even in tourist zones.
SCAMS RISK: HIGH
Fake taxis, snatch-and-grab theft, distraction scams, credit card skimming, police and lawyer impersonation, and even dating app scams are common. This is not the place to open up that app to try to meet a local for fun and romance. If you have to travel, talk to your hotel's staff first about safe methods (there's always Uber) and areas where there may be more scammers and thieves. One sneaky scam is when someone tries to give you a small bag of drugs by shaking your hand. Then a police officer, who just happens to be right there, tries to arrest you unless you pay a fine.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: HIGH
Sexual assault is a major risk, and catcalling/harassment are common. Even online harassment can be a problem. Women should go in groups if possible, instead of traveling solo. Dress modestly and try not to draw attention to yourself. Don't go out at night. Drinks and food can be spiked, so don't accept even small treats like gum from people you don't know. (And those nice acquaintances you've been talking to that you met on the island still count as people you don't know.) Lock doors and windows, and be aware of your surroundings. Don't wander around with earbuds in, and don't get lost in your phone's screen even if you're sitting at the hotel pool. Note that you may encounter flirtatious people because they hope to leave the country by becoming involved with a tourist, so don't fall for flattery.
TAP WATER RISK: HIGH
Don't drink the tap water at all, and don't even brush your teeth with it. Drink bottled water only and have ice only if it's made with bottled or purified water.
Safest Places to Visit in Santo Domingo
The Zona Colonial, or Colonial Zone, is considered the safest place to go in the city.
This is located on the coast and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Places to Avoid in Santo Domingo
Avoid non-tourist areas as the risk of crime is greater there than in the tourist zones.
Several neighborhoods, such as Cristo Rey and Villa Juana, have much higher crime rates.
Avoid La Duarte, which is a crowded street with a reportedly high mugging risk.
Be careful around government buildings as protests can spring up.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Santo Domingo
- Don’t drink the tap water. Bottled only, and be careful about not eating raw fruits and vegetables.
- Don’t travel at night, especially if you’re a solo traveler.
- Stick to tourist zones, but realize that even those areas can hold some dangers.
- Pay very close attention to weather reports, especially in summer and during hurricane season.
- Never accept food or other treats like gum from people you don’t know well. These can be laced with drugs.
- Have local currency in small denominations, and don’t flash wads of cash around. Use ATMs only in banks and only during the day. Be extremely careful when leaving those banks.
- Keep valuables hidden, including your phone. Snatch-and-grab robberies are common.
- Enroll in STEP, which is the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program from the U.S. Department of State.
- Arrange for transportation from the airport with either Uber or through the airport’s own transfer shuttle and taxi services.
- Be wary of strangers trying to shake your hand or touch you somehow, as this may be part of a drug-enforcement/fining scam.
So... How Safe Is Santo Domingo Really?
The Dominican Republic has one of the more interesting State Department travel advisory pages because the country has a Level 2 advisory, which means you should exercise more caution.
But what follows is a description of the country that makes you wonder why it isn’t at Level 4.
Robbery, murder, and assault are very real dangers for everyone in the country, and criminals reportedly get away with most crimes.
Even major tourist areas aren’t immune, and an increased police presence reportedly hasn’t helped that much.
That doesn’t sound so safe.
Yet stories online from people who say they’ve traveled there before are much calmer.
They do caution not to go into low-income neighborhoods and not to appear wealthy.
Don’t even use your phone on the street.
But a lot of them take a more measured approach overall, stating that if you use common sense and don’t give criminals any hint that you might have valuables, then it isn’t that bad.
You don’t know which of those stories are accurate and which are trolls trying to mislead people.
But the warnings about crime exist for a reason, even though the travel advisory for the country does remain at Level 2, despite all the warnings, and U.S. government employees have no listed restrictions regarding travel.
Your best bet is to treat planning for the trip as if you’re headed somewhere dangerous and then be pleasantly surprised if you have no problems.
Don’t go looking for trouble, and choose safety over the chance of adventure when you’re in the city.
Try not to travel solo, and be aware that being in a tourist area doesn’t eliminate all risk.
One issue that tourists need to be aware of is that law enforcement there stops people to check for illegal migrants from Haiti.
In the past, this has resulted in some U.S. citizens mistakenly being detained.
Always have your passport with you, and comply with authorities; the State Department says there have been some cases in which U.S. citizens were assaulted.
How Does Santo Domingo Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Santo Domingo |
50 |
| Bayahibe |
52 |
| Sosua |
65 |
| Playa Rincon |
64 |
| Punta Cana |
70 |
| Cabarete |
53 |
| Las Terrenas |
52 |
 Elizabeth | 47 |
| Frisco | 84 |
| Roswell | 73 |
| Dalton | 91 |
| Cedarburg | 79 |
| Leawood | 85 |
Useful Information
Visas
U.S. citizens can travel visa-free for up to 30 days. Overstays are fined, and you have to pay the fine before leaving the country. Visitors do need to get a tourist card, which is often included when you buy an airline ticket. If you're heading to Santo Domingo on a cruise, you'll need this card if you stay on land for any portion of the trip for more than 24 hours. Before you arrange your trip, even if you fly, you'll need to arrange for an e-ticket, which you can fill out online. You'll also need to arrange for one before you leave, too, so keep a checklist of all the forms and tickets you need for not only entry but also exit. You don't want to miss your plane home because you forgot to get an exit e-ticket. If, somehow, you're crossing over the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic to get to Santo Domingo, cross only at one of the four official border crossings. Show your passport, and if you get asked for a bribe, don't pay it. Ask to contact the U.S. embassy instead.
Currency
The Dominican Republic uses the Dominican peso, or RD$. The US dollar isn't really accepted, except possibly at some higher-end hotels. As of early February 2026, the exchange rate was US$1 = RD$62.75. You can exchange dollars for pesos at the airport at an exchange desk, but the rates won't be great. Other options include casas de cambio (exchange offices) in town, or going to an ATM at a bank and withdrawing pesos. Use ATMs only during the day, and get small bills. Don't flash large amounts of cash or anything like that, as much of the country is very poor, and salaries are low. Flashing large bills or a large amount of cash is not only a risk for theft but also in poor taste.
Weather
The climate in Santo Domingo is fairly stable temperature-wise. Highs (in Fahrenheit) range from the mid 80s in winter to the low-90s in summer; lows range from the low 70s in winter to the upper 70s in summer. Humidity is routinely high, often in the low 80s percent-wise. Dress for hot, humid weather; wear layers and bring hats. The rainy season is more toward the end of summer, although the city can get rain every month. Be aware that the island is in the path of a lot of tropical systems, including strong hurricanes.
Airports
Santo Domingo International Airport, or Las Amerícas International Airport, is on a peninsula east of the city. Car rental, airport transfer shuttles, and taxis are all available. If you decide to take a taxi, use the airport's own taxi service, which you can book online. Uber also operates in the city.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance isn't mandatory, but you really need to get it anyway. You'll want coverage that protects you from mundane travel cancellations to problems stemming from theft to medical bills. Hospitals often require that you pay up front, and none of them will take regular U.S. insurance, including Medicare. Given the risks of assault and other violence, don't take a chance. Get complete travel insurance for medical and financial coverage. This is really a time where it's better to have it and never use it than to not have it and really regret that choice because you need it.
Santo Domingo Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C |
28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 |
| Low °C |
20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 |
| High °F |
82 | 82 | 84 | 84 | 86 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 86 | 86 | 84 |
| Low °F |
68 | 66 | 68 | 70 | 72 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 70 | 68 |
Dominican Republic - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Bayahibe | 52 |
| Cabarete | 53 |
| Jarabacoa | 54 |
| Las Terrenas | 52 |
| Playa Rincon | 64 |
| Punta Cana | 70 |
| Samana | 78 |
| Santo Domingo | 50 |
| Sosua | 65 |
Not true
very safe went there for like 6 or 7 hours and I saw nothing happen we went trough the whole city and saw nothing happen
Wonderful Dominican Republic
Traveled to santo domingo four times. Stayed at lovely hotel boutique colonial zona. Walked the streets across the city alone during the day and never had a problem. The supermarkets, restaraunts etc are on a par with any world city. Been to punta cana too, it was wonderful. DR is a caribbean gem 😎
…Lamentable,antes Republica Dominicana, o Puerto Rico, o Haiti, hasta 1983,era ok.,hoy se pudrio. Linda
This article is exaggerating greatly
I have taken many trips to the Dominican Republic and alway make Santo Domingo my starting point. Sometimes, I may stay in the capital city my entire time in the country.
I have NEVER, EVER had any issues in terms of being a victim of crime or being scared to walk anywhere, EVEN AT NIGHT. I have stayed in Gascue, Zona Colonial, Zona UASD, Piantini, Naco, Evalisto Morales, Los Prados, Arroyo Hondo, Santo Domingo Este, Villa Mella and Villa Juana. I never had a problem. The Dominicans I have met have been cool and always invite me to chill, play dominoes and drink Presidente (the national beer).
Yes, Santo Domingo has crime like any other major city. But as a tourist who has walked many streets in the city, I never ever once been a victim of crime or even close to such.
To say that Santo Domingo is unsafe is totally a lie and unfair to masses there who will treat a tourist like a king/queen and be very hospitable in the process.
I’ve been to dangerous cities in the world and Santo Domingo does not even come close to being one.
Been in the Zona Colonial and robbed at gunpoint, been in Bellavista and after waking in the street decided to go back quickly to the apartment and from there took an Uber even to go to the supermarket.. years ago I felt safer than now.
It's a 5/10 for safety
This is not entirely accurate, sure, there is crime, but not as much as this page is trying to portray. I would say that do not stay out past 11PM unless you with a group, that’s all,
Very Safe
I am Dominican American, and I have been living in Santo Domingo since 2000. I am glad to say that what you wrote in your article is totally untrue. The city has it’s areas that would be considered dangerous as any other major cities in the world. However, all around it is quite safe. I was wondering has the person who wrote this piece ever been to Santo Domingo? This city is not a backwoods alley where people come with guns a blazing.
DO NOT TRAVEL
Walked 5 mins down the street (Washington ave) while staying at the Sheraton Santo Domingo. It’s a mess. Not at all safe…was bombarded by 4 men asking for money and following us. We had to cross the street and return right back to the hotel and haven’t left since.
It is torn down and a total shame. I would never recommend anyone traveling here. It’s not safe. I’ve travel to different country’s and this is awful.
This event can happen anywhere in the world, and yes all US big cities have this is
problem.
Point is – it would NOT happen anywhere in the world. If you compare this thing with big USA or South American cities – yes, but if you go to most of the EU cities, this would never happen. Also, if you go to east Asia, despite poverty, those things don’t happen. To justify this way will not make things better or places more attractive to other people that, in theory, would visit your country.
I feel safe there
Wow to this article. Please research properly because it sounds like you have never been there. For starters, the probabilities of getting picked pocketed are pretty much in line with so many other countries. I visited Paris and Barcelona 2 years ago and had to be extremely cautious of my surroundings and how I kept my purse aligned. Any country will be unsafe if you are walking in certain neighborhoods and exhibiting flashy belongings.
You cannot seriously put Los Prados in the same category as the others mentioned. I lived in SD many years ago and Los Prados is a middle-class neighborhood.
I just came back from spending 4 days in Punta Cana, 2 days in Cap Cana, and 4 in Santo Domingo. I visited La Zona Colonial and did lots of walking, my kids fed pigeons at the park, we went to a chocolate museum, etc, and we had a wonderful day. At no point did we feel unsafe.
By the way, SD is full of amazing culinary experiences. It is filled with great restaurants that I highly recommend. This visit I tried Maracas (wow!), Central Gastronomica, Nipau, and Sonoma Bistro. All excellent and safe :).
In conclusion, in any country you go to you must take precautions, but please don’t install this crazy fear of something that is not as high as you make it to be.
It’s not a safe city. Don’t believe anyone that says otherwise. Last time there I saw a man beating a woman in the street. Not slapping her around, but actually gut punching her like she was a man. And not a pretty city. I go there to visit family. Otherwise there’s no good reason to visit. The colonial zone is nice but very small. Overall an unattractive city.
I totally agree. I will never recomment anyone to come
As I’m sure everyone that has written a comment about their safe amazing experience is wonderful to hear but if it’s So safe why is it when I researched safe places in this country this city was one if the only red ones saying extremely dangerous? It could be a different experience for everyone
Pay attention, avoid bad areas and it's just like other big cities
Santo Domingo has its share of problems and some areas are quite dangerous, although not all. So it all depends on where you are. At night, don’t go alone and during the day avoid the more dangerous areas in the city and you will have a nice time. There are things to see and do here and it can be a pleasant experience.
Very safe
Well DR is very safe if we compare DR with Brazil, Venezuela, and some other countries around the world.
We always welcome foreign people and are always willing to help people no matter if do not speak English or not.
We are a Bighearted country and feel free to come.
My daughter and I started our trip 1/24/20022. We had a lovely, carefree time. Our Hotel Raizon was in a safe area and we walked to the colonial zone. We didn’t experience any problems. We had wonderful taxi drivers and found the people friendly wherever we went.
Stop thinking illogically reviewers
Everyone in all of these areas keep saying how inaccurate this article is. While it’s likely that there’s some truth to that, we need to understand that no matter where you go everyone will have different experiences. If you and I both go to Somalia, and you have an amazing time with no issues and I’m murdered, chances are you would be totally fine with going there again (if you didn’t know I’d been murdered obv). So while some of you are saying that whoever wrote this doesn’t know how amazing this area is, this person is taking the average crime rates, average terrorism rates, etc., and in your mind they might be wrong because your trip was amazing, but they’re trying hard to give you straight up facts. So stop giving this website such a hard rating.
Santo Domingo
First time in the Dominican Republic. I spent a month- 8 days in SD, then a few weeks up North on the coast and back to SD for the last few days.
I have travelled a fair bit, lived in various places. My first week in SD I stayed about a 14 minutes walk from the Colonial Zone off Calle Bolivar. Area was ok.
On my return I stayed (am staying right now) a about 25 minutes walk from the Colonial Zone on Calle Monte Christi. Seriously dodgy area! I walk everywhere. I’m not stupid, but walking around during the day a number of Dominicans old and young have specifically and pointedly told me ‘be careful’, ‘don’t walk here’. I could not walk around in the evening or early evening. You can feel the vibe as you meander up side streets- it’s like large carnivores watching prey (as a Croatian guy who’s married to a local and living in SD the last 10 years told me). I didn’t know when I booked it. Renter was clever ‘near Colonial Zone, blah, blah’. The place is like a war zone! Yes, if you stay within a few blocks of the Colonial Zone it’s fine, go beyond and now you see reality.
If I come again I will go straight to costal areas. I stayed too long in SD. You can see all there is: Colonial Zone, Metro, Teleférico, Faro de Colon, etc in 3 days.
It's not dangerous, be smart and enjoy this beautiful contry
Honestly, I don’t understand reviews that say that is dangerous to get drunk in public etc… I was in the dominican republic for 3 weeks and travelled along all the island and hardly felt in danger. Of couse it is not Europe but you just have to behave normally, not looking like a scared tourist. Do they overprice everything for tourists? yes, but it is still waay cheaper than Europe, I am sure you’re going to be able to afford everything. Is the police corrupted? of course, if you break the law the easiest way to get out of trouble is to bribe them, it is the way it works there, but if you respect the law I honestly doubt they will come bother you! Is there more criminality in general? Sure, just be smart, don’t go around at 2am walking aloe in a non-touristic area! Is it a dangerous place to visit? No! you just have to understand that you are in the real world, not a utopic place where everyone is happy and rich, people there struggles to make it to the end of the month! Resorts are even more safe than any european city but by staying in a resort you will not see the real country, you’ll not see anything at all! So please visit and enjoy this beautiful country but use you r common sense… people living there are just trying to live a decent life, most of them (like in most of the world) don’t have bad intentions!
not cheap as people say
I’ve just returned from 2 weeks in the DR and stayed at Sosua, Santo Domingo, Santiago. It is very expensive. Meals in restaurants work out more expensive than the UK where you can get a meal for £8. McDonalds, Burger King, KFC are all more expensive than the UK. Food in Supermarkets is more than in the UK, even when you convert to £. However it is safe. I walked every day even at night on quiet streets and it was safe in Sosua
You can be safe with reasonable care
You can be safe in Santo Domingo, if you are reasonably careful. Ask local people which areas are safe/dangerous, the vast majority of Dominicanos will help you stay safe. Be aware of your surroundings. If you are out at night (for example, dining at a restaurant away from your hotel) ask the restaurant to call a taxi for you to get back to the hotel (they will do this for you).
Hell on Earth
DO NOT COME HERE!
I am a European traveler and I have been to 98 countries before the Dominican Republic and Santo Domingo, this is my 99th. I have been to many Latin-American countries, including Cuba, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Perú, Ecuador, Colombia, Panamá, and even Venezuela.
None of them even comes close to this filthy hellhole. If you are white, people will immediately know that you are a tourist, and you will be a target. Even if you speak Spanish (like me) it doesn’t matter. I have never seen police during my one week here (which was originally planned to be 3) but I have seen fatal shootings in person, I have been stopped by robbers (I didn’t have anything on me), and EVERYBODY wanted to scam me. You can’t go out on the street.
DO NOT COME HERE, this is by far the most dangerous place I have ever been to.
It’s such a vibrant place with a ton of history, but keeping your wits about you really seems to be the key to enjoying all that Santo Domingo has to offer.
Level 2 advisory? Yeah right, I felt way more nervous wandering the streets at night than that makes it sound.
Around the old colonial zone the history really hits you, but I felt uneasy after hearing about the Level 2 travel advisory and the abundance of scams so I stuck to busy streets and double-checked fares.