Some of the best shopping in Puerto Plata can be found just by wandering around the city. The streets are teeming with activity and dotted with a variety of gift shops such as the Grand Factory, a large jewelry shop with original amber work made by the owners of the store. In the Central Park area there are bazaar-like shops such as Casa Nelson, where the locals get daily items for reasonable prices. Dominican sweets, marmalades, foods and quality rums can be found in Puerto Plata supermarkets. Further from the coast in the hills of the city there is a handicraft market with vendors of such crafts as amber and larimar jewelry, basketwork, pottery, ceramics, wood sculpture, and Haitian painting. Some of these vendors will visit the major hotels in the evenings, selling their wares. Be careful how you spend your money. The mall was sometimes way more money than the shops on the beach.

Shopping day tours of Puerto Plata city are available, as well. Some day trips include tours of the Brugal Rum Factory, where tourists can find excellent rum, and the Amber Museum, whose gift shop and gallery contain magnificently preserved pieces of amber, some with fossilized insects, leaves and other debris encased in the petrified resin.

Beach lovers and adventurers will find a large number of small shops selling a variety of beach and water sporting goods and crafts in any of Puerto Plata’s beach towns.

Wherever you shop. Remember to bargain. Sometimes if you don't get the price you want just say "no thanks,  I will just go somewhere else."  Then walk past the same shop a couple times and they will normally follow you and tell you to come back and they will agree to your price. Bring a calculator because sometimes they don't understand you. Punch in a number and show it to them. That's the easiest way to do it.

Also stop at a cigar place and roll your own cigars, which is great. You can buy rum in the factory and souvenirs in the market. Such as paintings, things made from cow horns, statues which were made in Haiti (yes from Haiti), cd's, amazing hand designed photo albums, t-shirts, Beach bags with shells etc... You will be pleased with everything but you must BARGAIN, chances are they will not let you walk out but be fair. Be prepared to be harassed, everyone wants you to buy theirs and it never ends.

Plaza: The complex is safe, beautiful and secure. At a 3-minute walk, you will find a plaza with several shops that mainly have all the same items no variety, arts and crafts and alcohol. They also have tours many available and exchange places with bank machines.