Santo Domingo: The Authentic Dominican Neighbourhood Tour

We had an amazing time. If you're looking to see the authentic culture of San Domingo, this is the tour you should go. Great guides, amazing food, and an overall beautiful experience.

I highly recommend Urbano tours and Juan for a memorable Santo Domingo tour. I would like to give a special shout out not only for the memories I made but also for their professionalism and their commitment in delivering a superb immersive tourist experience that bridges the local communities to the visitor and the wider world.

I contacted Urbano tours as I had a very short time in the capital and I arrived late afternoon. I enquired if they offer customised Colonial Zone tours and Juan responded promptly to me with an itinerary that suited my evening arrival. I managed to see the main historical sights with their associate and although the sights were closed, I loved having a quick overview/tour of the main historical points. One of the highlights was that Juan showed me the Malecon briefly as I would’t have time to see it the next day. Their associate Bob was very pleasant and on time and I am very grateful to Juan for providing a customised tour for me after the typical business hours - please reach out to them if you have specific requirements and Juan will try his best to accommodate for a fair price.

My second special shout out was for the Authentic Neighbourhood Tour. It was absolutely amazing and Juan and his colleague Mike went over and beyond to ensure I had a great experience seeing a different aspect of Santo Domingo. I opted for the earlier AM tour ( they offer two one AM and one PM) and since it was a Tuesday I ended up having a private tour which was a real treat! Mike and Juan talked to me about the city and the communities and the highlights were the cable cars but also walking in the market, trying authentic empanada, visiting a school and speaking to locals who were so welcoming! The tour was carefully organised and I felt safe at all times! I opted for private transfer as I had limited time and other activities booked. Speak to Juan if you require transport from your hotel. Top experience, great communication and value for money.

Lastly, I want to say once again thank you to Urbano Tours, they are professionals with passion for tourism, who know the area well and genuinely want to offer the best immersive tourist experience to visitors from around the world. Juan has carefully designed the tour in a sustainable way so visitors can experience a different side of Santo Domingo in a safe and welcoming environment. Urbano Tours are excellent Dominican hosts and organisers and I highly recommend them for your Santo Domingo visit.

I recently went on The Authentic Dominican Neighborhood Tour, and let me just say—it was AMAZING! As someone who loves authentic experiences when traveling, this tour exceeded all my expectations and then some. It was the perfect way to truly immerse myself in the local culture and connect with the heart of the Dominican Republic.

The food tastings were a highlight, offering a delicious variety of authentic Dominican flavors. From the creamy Dominican ice cream to the rich coffee, soothing ginger tea, and indulgent Dominican chocolate, every bite and sip was a treat. The street foods, market produce and colitas de yuca were perfect, adding to the culinary adventure.

What made this tour truly special, though, was the opportunity to experience everyday life in the community. Riding the streetcar and seeing the city from above was such a unique perspective. Playing basketball in the street with local kids, laughing on the playground, and even visiting primary school classes made me feel like I was part of the neighborhood, even if just for a day.

This tour gave me everything I was looking for—authenticity, culture, and meaningful interactions. If you want a real taste of Dominican life and an unforgettable experience, I can’t recommend this tour enough!

PLEASE COME TRY THIS TOUR, Juan(John) and staff are simply amazing. Very respectful, knowledgeable, and positive individuals who show you the heart of Santo Domingo and beyond. I’ve done this tour twice in 2 years and it’s just fulfilling. Groups, couples, solo… it doesn’t matter. He will take care of you all. I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in getting involved into the real life of the island. Tell him Dimi sent you!

Wonderful guide who was knowledgeable, attentive, and great to spend the afternoon with. The tour was great and took us outside of the typical tourist Zona Colonial to see much more of this huge and dynamic city. We got to see and experience a cross section of Dominican life cutting across class. We got to engage with average Dominican in their homes, learn how they live, and the creative business some folks run out of their homes (hair dresser, clothing store, and recording studio). We got to sample ginger tea, coffee, fruit ice cream, and empanadas. Vegetarian options were available. Opportunities to buy ripe delicious fruit. We rode on the very clean and efficient metro and cable car system where we could get a better view of the city. I worried a bit before booking the tour that is would be a kind of poverty tour. It was not. Well balances and we'll organized. Overall a top notch experience that I recommend. One of the better off the beaten path tours I've taken in any country.

I enjoyed this tour. The guides were amazing and spoke very good English. I felt safe the entire time. Being able to see the “real” Santo Domingo was very enjoyable.

If you're looking to truly understand the roots of the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴, this experience is a must! Explore the rich culture, history, and traditions that define this beautiful country.

Having traveled the world extensively, the DR neighborhood tour hosted by Urbano Tours was the most authentic tour I’ve ever experienced. Couldn’t have asked for more. Kudos to Juan and Joel.

We stumbled upon this tour at the last minute, but Juan and Joel were extremely responsive. They are a great tag team duo. Juan does communication, logistics and operations. Joel is a magnetic tour guide who is loved and respected by everyone we encountered. The experience was safe and authentic. Visiting an actual home, meeting the residents, taking several forms of transportation to see the city from all angles, walking through the market and eating some tasty and unique sweet potatoe ice cream was an unforgettable memory. We thank everyone for welcoming us into their community with open arms.

this is one the BEST tours I have ever been on. I felt like I was at home, super comfortable and welcoming. Mike & Juan are both amazing people. They gave me a thorough tour around their neighborhood, introduced me to so many amazing foods, shared the history of their neighborhood, lots of hole in the wall spots, families and even gave me extra experiences outside of the tour schedule. I got to try Dominican Empanadas which are some of the best I’ve ever tried. They gave me so many recommendations and made me feel safe the entire time. I learned so much about the DR and the tour also allowed me to make new friends.

We had a great experience! The guide was friendly, the communication was very clear and the people in the neighbourhood were also very friendly. This is definitely a must do.

This was an amazing experience to see and meet locals in the area. Joel is from the area and we interacted with locals some he knew and some he did not know.

Most amazing tour I've ever experienced. Juan was responsive and polite. Very welcoming. Joel was the other tour guide that took us through the neighborhood. He made us feel safe and at home. He was like our Dominican cousin we never knew we had. We walked a lot through the area and met some nice people. A lot of children that made my day. I cannot wait to bring my children to do this tour one day. This is definitely a must do.

This tour was AMAZING! I HIGHLY recommend Urbano Tours if you want to learn about the real history of Santo Domingo, see and experience other areas of city besides Colonial City and the normal tourist attractions. Juan and Mike are excellent tour guides. They are friendly and very knowledgeable about Santo Domingo (They are both Santo Domingo natives).

From the moment I contacted Urbano Tours, Juan responded in a timely manner, answered my questions and I booked my trip before I arrived to the DR. Juan picked me up from my Airbnb (at small additional charge) and took me to the starting point of the Tour where I met Mike (The Other Tour Guide).

Mike took us on the Cable Cars over the City and told the history of the rivers and neighborhoods of the city that the Cable Cars took us over. I have been coming to Santo Domingo for over 5 years and never knew they had Cable Cars and a Train (Rail) system. We also rode the rail system.

We walked through the neighborhood shopping districts and into various neighborhoods where people live. Mike took us into homes and business within those neighborhoods where actual native/everyday Dominicans live and work.

We experienced all kinds of foods, beverages and desserts.
(Try The Asoapo Stew - It is Excellent)

The day I took the tour it was my birthday. Mike and Juan made a stop on the Tour at a store and we toasted my birthday with a Presidente. That was Awesome!

There is sooo much more I could say.

You have to experience Urbano Tours For Yourself.

If you want to see "THE REAL" Santo Domingo - You MUST take one of their tours!

Juan's communication set this tour up, and follow-up was fantastic! Our guide, Mike, did an excellent job showing us and explaining all the areas of the tour. We learned such and had yummy treats. We highly recommend this tour if you are really interested in the true life of the people of the DR. So worth the cost! Thank you, Juan and Mike, for sharing the day with us.

Fantastic tour...genuine camaraderie with the Dominican people...we took subway skyway and train too. So exciting and yet calming at the same time
Don't miss it!!!

Had a great time on this authentic tour of Santo Domingo neighborhoods. Juan and Mike did an excellent job and I felt like a local blending in with everyday life. Trying the street fare was an awesome bonus. Highly recommend!