Dominican Republic Travel Guide

What is the Dominican Republic known for?

The Dominican Republic is known for long stretches of white-sand beach, warm Caribbean water, tropical mountains, historic cities, merengue and bachata, baseball, resort areas and a distinctive culture shaped by Taíno, African and European influences.

The country is home to Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean, as well as protected national parks, wetlands, caves, rivers and marine environments. Outdoor activities include hiking, rafting, diving, snorkeling, fishing and whale watching.

Santo Domingo contains one of the oldest European colonial districts in the Americas, while larimar — a rare blue variety of pectolite — is strongly associated with the Dominican Republic and is commercially mined there.

Dominican cuisine includes dishes such as La Bandera, mangú, sancocho, tostones and roast pork, while Mama Juana is one of the country’s best-known traditional drinks.

What are the best places to visit in the Dominican Republic?

The Dominican Republic offers several major resort, cultural and coastal destinations, each with a different atmosphere.

How many days should I spend in the Dominican Republic?

We recommend 7-10 days based on what you want to see and do. Tripmasters vacation packages are customizable, allowing travelers to select the number of nights, hotel and activities.

What is the best way to get around the Dominican Republic?

What is the currency of the Dominican Republic?

The official currency is the Dominican peso (DOP). U.S. dollars are commonly accepted in many resorts and tourism businesses, but the Dominican peso is the appropriate default for local purchases and change.

ATMs, banks and authorized exchange services are widely available in major cities and resort areas. Credit cards are commonly accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger tourism businesses.

Do people speak English in the Dominican Republic?

Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic. English is widely used in many hotels, resorts and tourism businesses, but fluency varies outside the principal visitor areas.

Learning a few basic Spanish phrases can be helpful when traveling beyond major resorts and tourism centers.

The Dominican Republic has warm tropical weather throughout most of the year, while mountainous areas are noticeably cooler than the coast and lowlands.

December through April is generally the drier and busiest season. March through May can offer a good balance of warm weather and somewhat lower visitor demand. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November.

December – April

This is the busiest period of the year, especially around Christmas, New Year and peak winter weeks. Popular resorts should be booked well in advance.

March – May

Spring can provide a useful balance of warm temperatures, good beach conditions and somewhat lower demand than the heart of winter.

June – November

These months are generally warmer and wetter and overlap with Atlantic hurricane season. Travelers should monitor forecasts and understand hotel, airline and travel-insurance policies.

Tipping is common in the Dominican Republic, particularly in restaurants, hotels, taxis and tourism services. Some bills may already include taxes or service charges, so travelers should review the total before adding an additional gratuity.

Currency: Can I tip in U.S. dollars?

Yes. U.S. dollars are widely accepted in many tourism businesses, while Dominican pesos are also appropriate and often more practical for smaller local gratuities.

Final Thoughts:

Tipping is discretionary beyond any included service charge. Dominican pesos and U.S. dollars are both commonly used by visitors in tourism areas.