Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is best known for Punta Cana's all-inclusive beaches, but it has far more depth: Santo Domingo's Ciudad Colonial is the oldest continuously inhabited European city in the Americas, humpback whales gather in Samaná Bay each winter, and Pico Duarte rises above 3,000 metres. Towns like Las Terrenas and Jarabacoa reward independent travellers.
Overview
The Dominican Republic fills the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti, and it packs more variety than its resort image suggests: Caribbean and Atlantic coastlines, the highest mountains in the Caribbean, a salt lake below sea level and the oldest colonial city in the Americas. Most UK visitors fly straight into Punta Cana and stay there. A more rounded trip starts in Santo Domingo, heads north-east to the Samaná Peninsula for beaches and whales, follows the north coast to Cabarete and Puerto Plata, then climbs into the cool Cordillera Central around Jarabacoa before finishing in Santiago.
Prices vary hugely by style. All-inclusive packages can be good value, but independent travel is reasonably cheap once you use the long-distance buses, guaguas and local comedores serving plates of rice, beans and stewed meat. Resorts are busiest from Christmas to Easter, when the weather is driest; beaches outside the resort strips stay quiet year-round. The country suits beach-lovers, divers, hikers and anyone happy to dance — merengue and bachata pour out of every colmado, the corner shop that doubles as a bar. Visitors are often surprised by the noise, the friendliness and how good the coffee is.
Map of Dominican Republic
Top 5 highlights
- 1History
Ciudad Colonial, Santo Domingo
Founded in the 1490s, Santo Domingo's UNESCO-listed old town holds the oldest cathedral in the Americas, the Alcázar de Colón built for Columbus's son Diego, and Calle Las Damas, often called the oldest paved street in the New World.
- 2Wildlife
Samaná Bay whale watching
Between mid-January and March, thousands of North Atlantic humpback whales gather in Samaná Bay to mate and calve. Boat trips leave from Santa Bárbara de Samaná, and the displays of breaching and tail-slapping can be spectacular.
- 3Nature
Los Haitises National Park
Boats nose through mangrove channels and between forested limestone haystack hills to caves decorated with Taíno pictographs. Trips run from Samaná and Sabana de la Mar, with frigatebirds and pelicans overhead.
- 4Adventure
Pico Duarte
The Caribbean's highest peak, at just over 3,000 metres, is usually climbed over two or three days from La Ciénaga near Jarabacoa, with a guide and mules, through pine forest to a chilly summit dawn.
- 5Beach
Bávaro and Punta Cana beaches
The east coast's long run of powder-white sand and palms is the country's resort heartland. Beyond the all-inclusives, wilder Macao beach draws surfers, and catamaran trips head south to Isla Saona's shallow, starfish-dotted waters.
Biggest cities
Santo Domingo
The sprawling capital mixes the cobbled Ciudad Colonial, a seafront Malecón, baseball at the Estadio Quisqueya and a nightlife scene that runs on merengue, bachata and cold Presidente beer.
Santiago de los Caballeros
The Cibao valley's busy second city is the heart of the tobacco trade, with cigar factories, the hilltop Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration and a lively carnival.
La Romana
A sugar-mill town turned tourism hub, La Romana is the jumping-off point for Casa de Campo, the mock-Mediterranean village of Altos de Chavón, Bayahibe's dive sites and Isla Saona.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Dominican Republic
Best time: Dec–Apr.
Average climate in Santo Domingo
Festivals & events
- FebCarnaval
Every Sunday in February, towns stage parades of masked devils and costumed dancers; La Vega's diablos cojuelos are the most famous, with a national parade in Santo Domingo around Independence Day on 27 February.
- Mar–AprSemana Santa
Holy Week is the country's biggest holiday: Dominicans head en masse for beaches and rivers, buses and hotels fill up, and many businesses close over the long weekend.
How much does Dominican Republic cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
La bandera dominicana
The national lunch: white rice, stewed red beans and braised chicken or beef, usually with salad and fried plantain, named after the flag.
Mangú
Mashed green plantains topped with vinegary pickled red onions; served with fried salami, cheese and eggs it becomes 'los tres golpes', the classic breakfast.
Sancocho
A thick, slow-cooked stew of several meats with yam, plantain, yuca and corn, served with rice and avocado at celebrations and on Sundays.
Getting around
Caribe Tours and Metro run comfortable air-conditioned coaches from Santo Domingo to Santiago and Puerto Plata, Caribe Tours also serves Samaná, and Expreso Bávaro links the capital with Punta Cana. Guaguas (minibuses) fill the gaps and motoconchos (motorbike taxis) handle short hops. Santo Domingo has a metro, and Uber works in the main cities. Hiring a car opens up the south-west, but driving is fast and chaotic.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- AB120V — bring a UK-to-A/B adapter
- Emergency numbers
- Telephone: 911 (ambulance, fire, police)
- The 911 emergency number does not have full coverage across the country. If you’re outside Santo Domingo, you can telephone the tourist police in an emergency: +1 809 200 3500.
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +1-809
- Time zone
- UTC-4 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Restaurant bills add 18% tax and a 10% legal service charge; leave another 5–10% for good service, and tip guides, porters and drivers.
- Etiquette
- Dominicans dress smartly in town, so keep swimwear and bare chests for the beach. Say 'buenos días' when entering shops or guaguas, and expect a relaxed approach to time.
- Main airports
- Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), Punta Cana; Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), Santo Domingo; Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP), Puerto Plata
Visas & entry for Dominican Republic
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You can visit the Dominican Republic for tourism without a visa for 30 days.
To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must meet the Dominican Republic government’s entry requirements.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoid
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- DengueRabiesTuberculosis
- Yellow fever certificate
- A yellow fever certificate is only required if you arrive from (or transit through) a country with yellow fever risk — not if you fly direct from the UK.
- Malaria
- Low risk of malaria
- There is a low risk of malaria in the Dominican Republic: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended.
- There is no risk of malaria in the cities of Santiago and Santo Domingo: bite avoidance recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Dominican Republic
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Mon 9 Nov 2026 | Constitution Day |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Epiphany |
| Thu 21 Jan 2027 | Lady of Altagracia |
| Mon 25 Jan 2027 | Juan Pablo Duarte Day |
| Sat 27 Feb 2027 | National Independence Day |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Thu 27 May 2027 | Corpus Christi |
| Mon 16 Aug 2027 | Restoration Day |
| Fri 24 Sep 2027 | Our Lady of Mercedes Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Spanish
| English | Spanish | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hola | OH-lah |
| Thank you | Gracias | GRAH-see-ahs |
| Please | Por favor | por fah-VOR |
| Excuse me | Disculpe | dees-KOOL-peh |
| How much is this? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? | KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
Know before you go
- Long-distance coaches are cheap, punctual and heavily air-conditioned — bring a jumper. Buy tickets at the company's own terminal rather than from touts.
- Agree motoconcho and taxi fares before setting off, or use Uber in Santo Domingo and Santiago, where it is usually cheaper and avoids haggling.
- Pay in pesos outside the resorts: prices quoted in US dollars usually carry a poor exchange rate. Hurricane season runs June to November, peaking August to October.
Dominican Republic travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Dominican Republic?
The best time to visit Dominican Republic is generally Dec–Apr. Peak months are January, February, March, April and December. Average highs in Santo Domingo range from 29°C to 32°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Dominican Republic cost per day?
Roughly £45 a day on a tight budget, £100 mid-range and £220+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Dominican Republic?
Dominican peso (DOP).
What plug type does Dominican Republic use?
Type A and B sockets at 120V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Dominican Republic?
Traffic drives on the right in Dominican Republic, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Dominican Republic?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Dominican Republic?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can visit the Dominican Republic for tourism without a visa for 30 days. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Dominican Republic before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/dominican-republic/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Dominican Republic?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid for most travellers, with Dengue, Rabies and Tuberculosis sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
