By Public Transportation
From sunup to sundown, public buses serve Santo Domingo. The better-maintained and more orderly buses are those maintained by OMSA. They make stops only at clearly designated bus areas, they are air-conditioned and relatively comfortable, and they charge, for a ride between any two points within the city, RD$10 to RD$15 per person. There's also a network of guaguas, privately owned, loosely monitored vans and minibuses that charge only RD$5 per person for rides between loosely defined neighborhoods, almost always without the benefit of air-conditioning. To catch an OMSA bus, head for the nearest bus stop. To catch a guagua, you'll have to stand beside the road and hail one down (as opposed to going to a more orderly and signposted bus stop).
By Taxi
Taxis aren't metered, and determining the fare in advance (which you should do) may be difficult if you and your driver have a language problem. You can easily hail a taxi at the airport and at most major hotels. Warning: Don't get into an unmarked street taxi. Many visitors, particularly in Santo Domingo, have been assaulted and robbed by doing just that. The minimum fare within Santo Domingo is RD$150. In Santo Domingo, the most reliable taxi companies include Tecni-Taxi (tel. 809/567-2010) and Apollo Taxi (tel. 809/537-0000).
Walking
This is virtually the only way to get around such districts as Zona Colonial, site of the major attractions. Do so during the day and avoid night walks, where you may be the victim of a mugging. Even during the day, you can expect to be hassled by hustlers calling themselves "guides" and offering tours. Many of them are hard to get rid of and will continue to follow you even if you turn down their services.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
