10 Best Hotels in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo Hotel Guide 2024
The vibrant capital city of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic is so much more than just a place to spend the night before or after an international flight. It offers a wealth of cultural and historic jewels that far too few visitors enjoy as they race to the white sand coastlines in Punta Cana and Samaná.
Looking to stay awhile in Santo Domingo? These are the ten best hotels in Santo Domingo to consider for your stay. Whether you’re looking for Santo Domingo hotels that feel like you’ve escaped to a beach resort or a boutique hotel that captures the allure of the city’s storied past, these are the places that will make your trip unforgettable.
This post contains affiliate links that may reward me monetarily or otherwise when you use them to make qualifying purchases – at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please read our disclosure policy.
Best Hotels in Santo Domingo
Travelers headed to Santo Domingo tend to fall into two categories. On one hand, you’ll find those simply looking for a modern, comfortable, and convenient place to stay on their way to the beaches of Puerto Plata or Punta Cana. On the other hand, you’ll find travelers looking to bask in the beauty of the historic side of the city.
These are our top recommendations for the best hotels in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with something for every kind of traveler:
- Best Historic Hotel in Santo Domingo: Hodelpa Nicolas de Ovando
- Best Modern Hotel in Santo Domingo: JW Marriott Santo Domingo
- Best Resort-Like Hotel in Santo Domingo: Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua Hotel & Casino
If you’re looking for lots of amenities and comfort, you can’t go wrong with either the Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua Hotel & Casino or the JW Marriott Santo Domingo, both Marriott-affiliated properties and ideal for the savvy travel hacker. However, if historic Santo Domingo is calling your name, the charm of Hodelpa Nicolas de Ovando in the Zona Colonial neighborhood can’t be beaten.
Read on for even more recommendations for the 10 best hotels in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Plan a Trip to the Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo Hotels
1. Hodelpa Nicolas de Ovando
Best Historic Hotel in Santo Domingo
For a beautiful historic yet luxurious stay in the heart of Santo Domingo’s Zona Colonial – or Colonial Zone – our top recommendation among Santo Domingo hotels is the incredible Hodelpa Nicolas de Ovando.
With its stunning historic details peaking through in design and architecture to its can’t-be-beat location in the city’s historic center, it’s a dream destination that easily earns its spot among the best hotels in Santo Domingo.
Hodelpa Nicolas de Ovando has 92 unique rooms and suites but absolutely embraces guests with a boutique hotel feeling with personalized service to match. Amenities like a gorgeous swimming pool, intimate spa, and well-appointed fitness center make it an easy fan-favorite.
Reviews and Bookings: Hodelpa Nicolas de Ovando
2. JW Marriott Santo Domingo
Best Modern Hotel in Santo Domingo
Looking for a taste of modern city luxury in the heart of Santo Domingo? JW Marriott Santo Domingo is our top recommendation among modern Santo Domingo hotels. Travelers love everything from the hotel’s infinity pool to its rooftop restaurant with breathtaking views, while enjoying comfortable, spacious rooms and suites with modern furnishings.
It’s a popular destination for both business travelers and leisure travelers alike. With plenty to see and do on-site, as well as easy access to the city’s historic sites, cultural venues, and all the best restaurants and shops in Santo Domingo, JW Marriott Santo Domingo tops the list of the best hotels in Santo Domingo.
Reviews and Bookings: JW Marriott Santo Domingo
3. Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua Hotel & Casino
Best Resort-Like Hotel in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo may not have the incredible beaches – and beach resorts! – of Punta Cana, but that doesn’t mean travelers can enjoy a luxury, amenity-rich experience in the heart of the city. Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua Hotel & Casino is the perfect place for it, with the amenities and service to match.
The property’s numerous restaurants offer a variety of different cuisines to choose from, while a tranquil spa, impressive fitness center, and expansive outdoor pool make this a place travelers won’t want to leave. Of course, Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua Hotel & Casino is also home to a fun casino.
Travelers will barely have to leave the grounds of the hotel with everything there is to enjoy, but this property is also located in a prime location for accessing the best of Santo Domingo.
Reviews and Bookings: Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua Hotel & Casino
4. Casas del XVI
One of the best Santo Domingo hotels in the Zona Colonial, Casas del XVI is among the most luxurious and celebrated destinations in the city. Seamlessly combining historic details with modern touches, plus the excellent service you’d expect at a luxury hotel, Casas del XVI is a magnet for discerning travelers looking to experience the best of the beautiful colonial city.
This boutique hotel’s expansive, shaded patio feels like a true retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. Take a dip in the pool to beat the heat, or enjoy a sunset cocktail with friends; it’s the heart of the historic hotel and a highlight of a stay.
Reviews and Bookings: Casas del XVI
5. InterContinental Real Santo Domingo
Among the largest modern Santo Domingo hotels is InterContinental Real Santo Domingo, a favorite among those looking to stay in the heart of one of the city’s more affluent and bustling areas. Business and leisure travelers alike can appreciate the proximity to upscale shopping centers and restaurants, as well as more laid-back, well-to-do residential areas of the city.
The views from the upper floors of the InterContinental Real Santo Domingo are spectacular. Head to one of the upper-level bars, even if not staying at the hotel, to enjoy a drink at sunset. The hotel also offers several options for dining, as well as a large gym and spa, plus a large pool deck and poolside bar.
Reviews and Bookings: InterContinental Real Santo Domingo
6. Billini Hotel
Built within a stunning 17th-century Spanish colonial building, Billini Hotel is one of the Santo Domingo hotels considered a true gem of the city’s historic center. Combining modern luxury and amenities with unique historic touches, it is one of our favorite hotels in Santo Domingo and a highlight for travelers craving a taste of the city’s past.
This exquisite property has just 24 suites, guaranteeing the personalized, friendly service you’d expect from a boutique hotel. Despite its small size, Billini Hotel also has an impressive rooftop pool deck. The neighboring colonial-era church, with its ornate dome adjacent to the pool, reminds guests that there is no better way to enjoy the most enigmatic part of the city.
Reviews and Bookings: Billini Hotel Historic Luxury
7. Sheraton Santo Domingo Hotel
Just steps away from the Caribbean Sea and Santo Domingo’s beloved malecón seawall walkway, Sheraton Santo Domingo Hotel offers a comfortable stay in the heart of the city. Stunning sea views and cozy furnishings make for well-appointed rooms and suites at this favorite among the modern hotels in Santo Domingo.
Relax by the pool, work up a sweat at the fitness center, or grab a bite and the hotel’s restaurant before setting out to stroll along the waterfront. Just minutes from the Zona Colonial and its charm and attractions, Sheraton Santo Domingo Hotel is an excellent base for enjoying Santo Domingo.
Reviews and Bookings: Sheraton Santo Domingo Hotel
Travel Essential
Don’t think about traveling without a good VPN (Virtual Private Network). Using a VPN while connecting to the internet is an easy way to keep your personal information safe from hackers and trackers. We’ve used NordVPN for years and couldn’t recommend it more – it’s a must for safety online, at home or abroad.
8. El Embajador, A Royal Hideaway Hotel
It’s all about the views at the El Embajador, A Royal Hideaway Hotel. This comfortable Barcelo-branded hotel in Santo Domingo has beautiful, modern furnishings, gorgeous lounges and common spaces throughout, and views of the city and sea to match.
El Embajador is located in a relatively quiet and tranquil area of the city, more residential than anything else. While it isn’t the typical tourist hotspot, it’s close to great shops and eateries and easily accessible to both the city’s historic zones and the ultra-upscale areas of the city. Plus, there is dining on-site as well as a large pool and casino.
Reviews and Bookings: El Embajador
9. Mosquito Boutique Hotel Zona Colonial
Three blocks from Santo Domingo’s oceanfront walkway, el malecón, Mosquito Boutique Hotel Zona Colonial is a beautifully redone colonial building turned boutique hotel in the city’s Zona Colonial. Mosquito Boutique Hotel doesn’t have the luxuries of some of the other boutique colonial properties in town; it’s much more affordable but doesn’t skimp on any of the style, service, or history.
The hotel’s bistro serves a delicious complimentary breakfast for guests before converting to a fun cocktail and dinner space later in the day. This can get a bit nosy, so make sure to book or request a courtyard-facing room rather than a street-facing room for noise concerns, and travel with a white noise machine or earplugs, though anyone other than very light sleepers shouldn’t mind.
Reviews and Bookings: Mosquito Boutique Hotel Zona Colonial
Travel Essential
Don’t head out on your adventure without comprehensive travel insurance! Good travel insurance may cover lost or stolen gear, medical emergencies, delayed or canceled flights, and more. Check out the policies available from SafetyWing or compare plans using Visitors Coverage.
10. El Beaterio
It may not look like much from the street, but El Beaterio is a 16th-century convent turned boutique hotel that is easily among the best hotels in Santo Domingo for those looking for a taste of history. Step through the threshold and into the grand courtyard and impressive arched walkways throughout the property – you’ll be instantly transported.
Despite its charm, El Beaterio is one of the very best value places to stay in the city. A hidden favorite that welcomes many repeat visitors, it strips back the over-the-top luxury of some of its neighboring boutique Santo Domingo hotels in exchange for an even deeper connection to history and some truly warm, friendly service.
Reviews and Bookings: El Beaterio
Carley Rojas Avila is a bilingual New York-based travel writer, editor, content marketer, and the founder of the digital travel publications Explorers Away and Home to Havana. Carley is an expert on all things Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba, having lived and worked in four different countries in the region. Her writing has appeared on the Associated Press wires and in Travel + Leisure, Yahoo, MSN, Euronews, The Weather Channel, and more. When she's not writing about her travels, find her front row at a Bad Bunny concert, befriending street cats, and taste-testing every pizza in Havana.