Is Santo Domingo Safe? 2025 Safe Travel Update For Dominican Republic’s Capital
International travel can be an adventure! But there’s no adventure without a bit of risk. In this guide, learn about the risks travelers can face when visiting Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Then, explore reasonable precautions you can take to make your trip a little safer.
Is Traveling To Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Safer Or Riskier In 2025?
For the last few years, travelers from the United States and Canada have been encouraged to visit Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, as long as they take increased precautions.
These recommendations are still in place in 2025. There hasn’t been a significant increase or decrease when it comes to risks faced while visiting the Dominican Republic.
How Safe Is Santo Domingo Since The Haitian Border Closure?
In September 2023, the government of the Dominican Republic closed down all borders with Haiti due to an ongoing water dispute. There are only four legal border crossing points.
As of 2025, the Dominican Republic-Haiti border remains closed.
The U.S. Department of State issued a Level 2 Travel Advisory when the border closed, which is still in place. The Level 2 advisory doesn’t prohibit travel to the Dominican Republic. Instead, it simply recommends increased caution to those traveling to Santo Domingo and other regions of the country.
Quick Safety Overview: Crime, Scams, and Areas to Avoid
Understand and mitigate the risk posed by crime in the Dominican Republic.
Violent Crime & Theft
Santo Domingo has the highest rate of violent crime in the Dominican Republic.
For comparison, the most recent data available indicates the rate of robberies in the Dominican Republic ranges from 66 to 144 robberies per 100,000 people. That same rate is 66.5 robberies per 100,000 people in the United States.
However, in contrast, the Dominican Republic is closer to the rate in the United States. The Dominican Republic experiences an average of 12 homicides per 100,000 people. In the United States, there are 8.2 homicides for every 100,000 people.
For the most part, visitors do not face a high risk of violent robbery or murder in Santo Domingo. That said, it’s important to take precautions and protective actions to mitigate your risk of petty theft, armed robbery, and sexual assault.
The U.S. Embassy has published a guide to crime-prevention precautions and resources for U.S. visitors to the Dominican Republic.
Scams
The most notorious scams targeting travelers in Santo Domingo are credit card fraud, dating app robberies, pickpockets, fraudulent police and lawyer impersonators, and fraudulent, unmarked taxis.
The Canadian Embassy in the Dominican Republic can provide visitors with a list of legitimate lawyers to avoid lawyer fraud.
Credit card and ATM fraud typically involve card skimmers and related digital theft technologies. Pay careful attention to card readers, and check your accounts for any unauthorized transactions.
Areas To Avoid
There are a few neighborhoods and regions of Santo Domingo with a higher rate of crime and violence. When visiting, it’s wise to avoid the following sectors and districts:
- Nuevo Arroyo Hondo
- Ensanche Naco
- Cristo Rey
- Villas Agricolas
- Gazcue
- Los Guandules
- Gualey
Tips for Staying Safe In Santo Domingo
There are several tips and tactics that can keep you safer while visiting Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. These include:
- Prepare a list of local / embassy resources and emergency service contact numbers,
- Keep it on your person at all times
- Stick to drinking distilled or purified water
- Wear insect-repellent clothing
- Vaccinate yourself against endemic viruses
- Abide by local safety ordinances
- Specifically, stay aware of dangerous wave warnings and sea safety alerts
- Travel with a group on well-lit roads, by day
- Only use reputable taxis and transport services
- Ideally, only ride in vehicles clearly marked as associated with or validated by your hotel or resort
- Keep valuables covered, close to your chest, secure, and generally non-visible
- Take appropriate precautions to protect yourself and others in your group from crime
Transportation Safety In Dominican Republic: FAQs
Are Public Buses and Guaguas (Shared Vans) Safe In Santo Domingo?
Public buses and vans are slightly risky.
In general, public transportation in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, poses some risk of theft. However, it is generally safer to use public transit during the day. Make sure to take appropriate precautions.
Is The Santo Domingo Metro System Safe For Tourists?
Yes. The Santo Domingo Metro System is highly rated for safety, well-maintained, modern, and typically a crime-free space. It’s also one of the swiftest modes of transportation within the city’s borders.
Is It Safe To Drive From Santo Domingo To Punta Cana?
Probably not. Traffic laws and norms in the Dominican Republic likely differ from those in your country. Moreover, inter-city highways are not always well-maintained.
It is generally wiser to hire a professional driver to travel by road between cities in the Dominican Republic than it is to rent a car and drive on your own.
Health and Hygiene Considerations
To stay healthy when visiting Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, abide by the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control. There are no active, urgent travel health notices limiting visits to the Dominican Republic due to disease risk.
However, there are both requirements and recommendations travelers should follow to be safe from water-borne illness, pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes, and vaccine-preventable diseases.
Visit Santo Domingo Safely With Caravan’s Expert Guides
Santo Domingo is a beautiful city with a lot to offer visitors. Fortunately, with Caravan, travelers can tour the Dominican Republic’s capital city with a little less stress. Our 7-Day Dominican Republic Tour is wholly curated, guided, and booked by our experts. We do the work to keep your trip safe and stress-free. All you need to do is enjoy!
If you’re interested in an all-inclusive, weeklong tour of the Dominican Republic, contact us today. Call 1-800-CARAVAN to book your spot, or 1-800-312-321-9800 for more information.
