The original Caribbean resort island where Columbus first stepped ashore — Punta Cana's white beaches and all-inclusive resorts, the UNESCO Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, and whale watching in Samana Bay.
- Capital
- Santo Domingo
- Population
- 10,771,504
- Area
- 48,730 km²
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Dominican Republic Peso (DOP)
- GDP
- $127,828M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
National dish
rice, red beans, and meat
Annual visitors
2,748,000 (2020)
Safety
Elevated (10.92/100k)
Avg temp
24.6°C
Religion
Christianity
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911
Travel guide
The Dominican Republic (Spanish: República Dominicana) is a Caribbean country that occupies the eastern half of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. Besides white sand beaches and mountain landscapes, the country is home to the oldest European city in the Americas, now part of Santo Domingo. Due to its Hispanic heritage, the Dominican Republic is called the Cradle of the Americas.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Dominican Republic
Best time to visit
December–March is the best period with dry weather and carnival celebrations. April–August is warm and humid. Hurricane season June–November — Punta Cana generally escapes the worst. Whale watching in Samana: January–March.
Visa
Citizens of US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and most Western countries receive 30 days visa-free. A Tourist Card (USD 10) is issued on arrival or included in airline tickets.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2)
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Major cities
Santo Domingo
The oldest European city in the Americas, with a UNESCO Colonial Zone of 500-year-old cathedrals and fortresses.
Punta Cana
The Dominican Republic's resort coast — 50km of white beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and the best golf in the Caribbean.
Puerto Plata
The Atlantic coast's gateway, with the only aerial tramway in the Caribbean, Amber Museum, and kite surfing at Cabarete.
Samana
A scenic peninsula where humpback whales congregate January-March, with Los Haitises National Park and Las Galeras beach.