The Dominican Republic is located in the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles region of the Caribbean.
The country sits to the east of Cuba and Jamaica and to the west of Puerto Rico. To the north and north-west lie The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
It is the second-largest Caribbean nation by area (after Cuba) at 48,671 sq km (18,792 sq mi) and occupies the eastern five-eighths of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti.
The Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean, and boasts eight international airports, receiving daily non-stop flights from major cities in North America and Europe, as well as neighbouring Caribbean countries.
Given the size of the island, choosing the appropriate arrival and departure gateway closest to your final destination makes good sense.
The most convenient route to the capital, Santo Domingo, is by air to Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), also known as José Francisco Peña Gómez International Airport, located 38km (23mi) from Santo Domingo, around 30 minutes by taxi.
The airport is the city’s main point of entry for international air arrivals, and the second-busiest airport in the country. The airport is convenient to the beach resorts of Boca Chica and Juan Dolio.
As well as Santo Domingo, the major resort regions of Puerto Planta, Punta Cana and La Romana each boast an international airport.
The following are the most convenient and quickest routes to Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), Santo Domingo.
From United States: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and JetBlue Airways offer the most convenient scheduled flights to Santo Domingo.
Atlanta to Santo Domingo is 3 hrs 26 min, direct flight
Boston to Santo Domingo is 4 hrs 35 min, direct flight
Charlotte to Santo Domingo is 3 hrs 24 min, direct flight
Dallas-Fort Worth to Santo Domingo is 4 hrs 10 min, direct flight
Fort Lauderdale to Santo Domingo is 2 hr 9 min, direct flight
New York to Santo Domingo is 3 hrs 44 min, direct flight
Miami to Santo Domingo is 2 hrs 11 min, direct flight
Chicago to Santo Domingo is 6 hrs 6 min, connecting flightˆ
Houston to Santo Domingo is 5 hrs 57 min, connecting flightˆ
Los Angeles to Santo Domingo is 8 hrs 30 min, connecting flightˆ
San Francisco to Santo Domingo is 9 hrs 19 min, connecting flightˆ
Seattle to Santo Domingo is 9 hrs 7 min, connecting flightˆ
From Canada: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and JetBlue Airways offer the most convenient scheduled flights to Santo Domingo.
Toronto to Santo Domingo is 6 hrs 15 min, connecting flightˆ
Montreal to Santo Domingo is 6 hrs 25 min, connecting flightˆ
Vancouver to Santo Domingo is 10 hrs 35 min, connecting flightˆ
From Spain: Air Europa and Iberia offer the most convenient daily flights to Santo Domingo.
Madrid to Santo Domingo is 8 hrs 33 min, direct flight
From Germany: Lufthansa, Eurowings, Condor Flugdienst, Iberia, Air France and KLM offer the most convenient flights to Santo Domingo.
Frankfurt to Santo Domingo is 10 hrs 5 min, direct flight
Berlin to Santo Domingo is 12 hrs 5 min, connecting flightˆ
Dusseldorf to Santo Domingo is 11 hrs 55 min, connecting flightˆ
Hamburg to Santo Domingo is 12 hrs 25 min, connecting flightˆ
Munich to Santo Domingo is 11 hrs 55 min, connecting flightˆ
From United Kingdom: British Airways, Iberia and Air Europa offer the most convenient daily scheduled flights to Santo Domingo.
London to Santo Domingo is 12 hrs 10 min, connecting flightˆ
From Ireland: Aer Lingus, Air Europa and Iberia offer the most convenient scheduled flights to Santo Domingo.
Dublin to Santo Domingo is 12 hrs 15 min, connecting flightˆ
From France: Air France and Iberia offer the most convenient scheduled flights to Santo Domingo.
Paris to Santo Domingo is 12 hrs 25 min, connecting flightˆ
From Australia: Qantas, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways offer the most convenient scheduled flights to Santo Domingo.
Adelaide to Santo Domingo is 26 hrs 14 min, connecting flightˆ
Brisbane to Santo Domingo is 22 hrs 27 min, connecting flightˆ
Sydney to Santo Domingo is 23 hrs 24 min, connecting flightˆ
Melbourne to Santo Domingo is 24 hrs 59 min, connecting flightˆ
Perth to Santo Domingo is 28 hrs 17 min, connecting flightˆ
From New Zealand: Air New Zealand, American Airlines and United Airlines offer the most convenient scheduled flights to Santo Domingo.
Auckland to Santo Domingo is 21 hrs 48 min, connecting flightˆ
From Singapore: Singapore Airlines and United Airlines offer the most convenient scheduled flights to Santo Domingo.
Singapore to Santo Domingo is 24 hrs, connecting flightˆ
(ˆincludes transfer time.)
Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), also known as José Francisco Peña Gómez International Airport, is located 38km (23mi) from the capital, Santo Domingo, around 30 minutes by taxi.
The airport is the city’s main point of entry for international air arrivals, and the second-busiest airport in the country. The airport is convenient to the tourist beach towns of Boca Chica and Juan Dolio.
Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) – the busiest airport in the Dominican Republic – is a 15-minute drive from the Punta Cana and Cap Cana resort areas, a 30-minute drive from Bávaro, El Cortecito and Arena Gorda, and a 45-minute drive from the Macao and Uvero Alto areas.
Find out how to get to Punta Cana…
Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP) is located 20 minutes from the north coast city of Puerto Plata, and near neighboring tourist destinations such as Cofresí, Playa Dorada, Sosúa and Cabarete. It is also convenient to Playa Grande and Río San Juan, just an hours-drive.
Find out how to get to Puerto Plata…
La Romana International Airport (LRM), also known as the Casa de Campo International Airport, is located on the southeastern coast, a 10-minute drive from Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, and a 20-minute drive from Bayahibe.
The airport is less than two hours’ drive from Santo Domingo, and less than an hour’s ride from Punta Cana.
Taxis meet all arriving flights and hotels can arrange transport by prior arrangement.
Visitors must have a passport valid for at least six months after entry. All visitors must hold return/onward tickets and proof of sufficient funds. In lieu of visas, a Tourist Card is issued on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days.
Hire car, buses and domestic shuttle flights offer the best ways of exploring the Dominican Republic (DR). Public transportation is good, and taxis are available in the cities and towns, but be wary of unmarked street cabs.
A good network of roads connects the major cities, towns, airports and beach resorts in the Dominican Republic.
More information about how to get around the Dominican Republic…
Latest update: How to get to Dominican Republic: 7 May, 2022
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