Dominican Republic
Country · Americas, Caribbean
The Dominican Republic is a country in the Caribbean region with a population of about 12 million and an area of 48,671 square kilometres. Its capital is Santo Domingo. The country offers visitors a mix of historical landmarks, coastal areas, and natural features.
Highlights
The site covers 7 top sights. Cultural and historical points of interest include the UNESCO-listed Ciudad Colonial, the Columbus Lighthouse, Fortaleza Ozama, Altos de Chavón, Monumento de Santiago, and Fortaleza San Felipe. Natural scenery can be found at Bahía de las Águilas, alongside the city of Santo Domingo.
Food and drink
Local dishes to try include the Chimichurri burger and Bizcocho dominicano.
When to go
Based on the capital's weather, daily highs remain consistent between 28 °C and 30 °C throughout the year, with lows from 20 °C to 24 °C. January through March and December experience lower monthly rainfall totals between 62 mm and 81 mm, while May through November see higher precipitation, peaking in May with 212 mm of rain over about 15 days.
Practical notes
The official currency is the Dominican peso and the primary language spoken is Spanish. Plugs of type A and B are used with a voltage of 110.0. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, and the time zone is UTC−04:00.
Cities
Food and drink to try in Dominican Republic
- Chimichurri burger
- Bizcocho dominicano
Top sights in Dominican Republic
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 30 °C. The wettest is May, with about 212 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
| Average low, °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
| Rainfall, mm | 68 | 62 | 64 | 89 | 212 | 169 | 161 | 190 | 198 | 188 | 136 | 81 |
| Rainy days | 10 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 12 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Santo Domingo (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Jaragua National Park