Exercise caution — there are real risks that travellers should plan around. Political freedoms are limited and travellers should be mindful of local sensitivities.
Regional breakdown
Most trips focus on the resort belts of Punta Cana, Bayahibe and Puerto Plata on the north coast. These areas see heavy police patrols and rarely make headlines. The bulk of reported incidents against tourists happen in or just outside resort grounds, not on excursions into the countryside. Santo Domingo, the capital, is a different picture. The colonial zone draws day-trippers, but petty theft and street robbery are more common after dark. Travellers are warned to watch out for snatch thefts on the Malecón seafront and around bus stations. Santiago, the second city, sees similar patterns linked to opportunistic crime rather than organised threats. Rural roads through the Cordillera Central, the border zone with Haiti, and the southwest provinces of Pedernales and Barahona get fewer visitors. The land border with Haiti is sensitive. Tensions linked to the situation across the frontier have led to extra checks and occasional closures. The official advisory guidance points readers to its regional risks page for the latest on border crossings.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance keeps the Dominican Republic at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, in its advisory reissued on 12 June 2025. Crime is the headline reason. The notice highlights violent crime including robbery, homicide and sexual assault, and warns that police presence in tourist areas has not removed the risk. There is no ordered departure and no specific province singled out for a higher level. The official advisory guidance last refreshed its Dominican Republic guidance on 10 December 2025. The most recent change covered new information for dual nationals returning to the UK, rather than a shift in the overall risk picture. The official advisory guidance does not currently warn against travel to any part of the country.
What travellers should know
Crime is the practical concern for most visitors. Both governments flag robberies linked to dating apps and warn against meeting strangers in remote spots. There have been reports of sexual assault at resorts, including cases involving drink spiking. Travellers are urged to keep drinks in sight, stick to busy areas after dark and use hotel safes for passports and cash. Carrying a photocopy of the passport rather than the original is a common precaution. Road safety is the other big risk. The Dominican Republic has one of the highest road death rates in the world, around 65 per 100,000 people. Motorbike taxis, unlit rural roads and aggressive driving all contribute. Travellers are usually advised to use licensed taxis or hotel transfers rather than self-drive, especially at night. On the health side, mosquito-borne illness including dengue circulates year-round, and the US notes that medical tourism has led to serious complications after elective surgery. Comprehensive travel insurance covering medical evacuation is strongly recommended by both the official advisories.