The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean country that borders Haiti to the west on the island of Hispaniola. It is well-known for its beaches, resorts, and golf courses. Its landscape includes rainforest, savannah, and highlands, as well as Pico Duarte, the Caribbean's tallest mountain. In its Zona Colonial district, Santo Domingo's capital city has Spanish landmarks dating back 5 centuries, such as the Gothic Catedral Primada de America. The Dominican Republic has a Mediterranean climate with temperatures reaching a high of 30°C.

The Dominican Republic offers a diverse range of cultural experiences, from gastronomy to history, music, and arts & crafts, among other unique characteristics. Visitors are frequently drawn back to the Dominican Republic by the friendliness, generosity, and energy of the local population.

The Dominican Republic is a dreamy Caribbean location that's perfect for a memorable family holiday, with excursions suitable for visitors of all ages on offer, whether you are travelling with young children or teenagers.

Direct flights from Dublin Airport to Punta Cana are provided by Lufthansa. Allow our travel specialists to handle all the planning and booking for you!

Things to do in The Dominican Republic 

Attractions  

• Visit the Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia.
• Explore the town of Boca de Yuma.
• Get a taste of the way of life in the Dominican Republic at the Punta Cana Carnival.
• See the Casa Ponce de León.

Nightlife

In the Dominican Republic, music and dance are an essential aspect of daily life. No matter where you go in the country, whether it's Santo Domingo, the heart of nightlife and live music, or a little hamlet in the middle, there's excitement to be found everywhere. You will hear Dominican rhythms resonating from corner stores to neighbourhood clubs as people dance indoors or even outside in parks and public areas. Elaborate nightclubs and marinas in Punta Cana are equally well-liked destinations, blaring out house music or providing upscale wine bars for a quieter night out.

Dining Out

In the Dominican Republic, eating out can be very affordable as long as you stick to the reasonable neighbourhood restaurants, many of which provide excellent cuisine. Prices are higher in the more formal dining rooms, but even they are often relatively affordable by Irish standards. Moreover, the Dominican Republic holds plenty of food festivals too!

For Families  

There are a variety of daring activities available in the Dominican Republic's several theme parks and adventure parks, including zip line and buggy excursions through the untamed countryside. A visit to the parks around Punta Cana and Santo Domingo make for an easy and exciting day excursion.

Beaches

Tourists of all types can find the ideal spot to relax in the sun in the Dominican Republic thanks to the country's 21 beaches that have earned the Blue Flag for upholding international environmental and safety requirements.

Shopping 

The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean's largest shopping destination. Browse the designer shops in the Blue Mall and Gora, two of Santo Domingo's shopping centres, or browse around a few domestic and international boutiques in Punta Cana and La Romana.

Barcelo Desalia Festival

Barcelo Desalia Festival is a popular music festival in the Dominican Republic. This spectacular event mixes a captivating music with positive energy, which serves as the event's focus. In Playa Cabeza de Toro in Punta Cana, 5,000 people celebrate together while dressed in white. National and international DJs attend this crazy, unmatched seven-day music festival to display their talent. Ingrosso, Axwell, Bob Sinclair, Rehab, and Calvin Harris were previous headliners.

Best Time to Go

The hottest and wettest season of the year is Summer, while the humidity is at its highest between April and October. At the height of the day, temperatures are around 32°C, and rainstorms are more frequent but brief.

Local Info

Currency

The Dominican Peso is used in the Dominican Republic. Budget Travel recommends converting money prior to travelling or using currency exchange features on your mobile banking.

Time Zone   

The time zone in the Dominican Republic is Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4), meaning it is 5 hours behind Ireland.

Getting around  

There are various public transport systems in place. The Santo Domingo Subway allows you to get to some key attractions however it is mostly used by residents commuting to work. Taxis are widely available, and can be found outside the usual areas like airports and bus stations. Additionally, Uber and Cabify is available too, operating in Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Puerto Plata.