- AirportPunta Cana (PUJ), Santo Domingo (SDQ), Puerto Plata (POP)
- CurrencyDominican peso (DOP)
- LanguageSpanish
- Best timeDecember to April
The Dominican Republic shares Hispaniola with Haiti and is the most visited country in the Caribbean. Most travellers head straight to the all-inclusive resorts of Punta Cana and Bávaro, but the country has much more: the colonial heart of Santo Domingo, whale-watching in Samaná and the mountains around Jarabacoa.
Santo Domingo's Ciudad Colonial is a UNESCO site and holds the first cathedral, hospital and university founded by Europeans in the Americas.
Top things to do
- Explore the Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo
- Take a catamaran to Saona Island
- Watch humpback whales in Samaná Bay (January–March)
- Swim in the cenote-like Hoyo Azul
- Go rafting or canyoning around Jarabacoa
Tours & excursions on Dominican Republic
Compare guided trips, boat days and tickets.
Landmarks on Dominican Republic
Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo
The first European city in the Americas, with its oldest cathedral.
Read guide →
Saona Island
Palm-lined beaches and a shallow natural pool with starfish.
Read guide →Map
Where to stay
Punta Cana & Bávaro
all-inclusive resorts and long beaches
Santo Domingo
colonial history and city life
Las Terrenas (Samaná)
laid-back beach town
Cabarete
kitesurfing on the north coast
Getting there & around
Punta Cana airport has one of the region's busiest flight schedules. Check entry rules and the e-Ticket form before you fly.
Search flightsCompare car hire
Cross over: nearby islands & regions
Combine Dominican Republic with a neighbour. Distances are straight-line.
Turks and Caicos370 km away
Puerto Rico381 km away
US Virgin Islands556 km away
British Virgin Islands583 km away
Cartagena & Colombia's CaribbeanNeighbouring region · 1,092 km
Florida KeysNeighbouring region · 1,363 kmHeader photo: Desox7x, CC0
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