Dye-sensitized　solar　cells　(DSSCs)　provide　a　promising　alternative　solar　cell　technology　because　of　their　high　efficiency,　environmental　friendliness,　easy　fabrication,　and　low　cost.　Power　conversion　efficiency　is　an　important　parameter　to　measure　the　performance　of　DSSCs,　but　the　severe　charge　recombination　that　occurs　at　the　photoanode　hinders　the　future　improvement　of　power　conversion　efficiency.　Therefore,　one　of　the　key　goals　for　achieving　high　efficiency　is　to　reduce　the　energy　loss　caused　by　the　unwanted　charge　recombination　at　various　interfaces.　From　this　perspective,　surface　modification　of　the　photoanode　is　the　simplest　method　among　the　various　approaches　available　in　the　literature　for　enhancing　the　performance　of　DSSCs　by　inhibiting　the　interfacial　charge　recombination.　After　some　brief　notes　on　DSSCs,　in　this　review,　we　present　a　comprehensive　discussion　on　surface　modifications　of　different　photoanodes　that　have　been　adopted　in　the　literature　not　only　for　reducing　recombination　but　also　for　enhancing　light　harvesting.　Depending　on　the　electrode　materials,　we　discuss　surface　modifications　of　binary　oxides　such　as　TiO2　and　ZnO　and　ternary　oxides,　including　Zn2SnO4,　SrSnO3,　and　BaSnO3.　We　also　talk　about　methods　of　surface　modification　and　the　materials　suitable　for　surface　treatment.　Finally,　we　end　with　a　brief　future　outlook　of　DSSCs.