Dominican Republic • República Dominicana
The Dominican Republic is an island, well, half of an island-nation in the Caribbean Sea; it shares the large island of Hispaniola with Haiti, its neighbor to the west. It is the second-largest Caribbean nation after Cuba, in both population and area.
The Dominican Republic constantly gets bombarded with tourists looking to laze upon its picturesque, white, sandy beaches. However, for the traveler looking to take in a bit of that Latin American culture that defines the Dominicans (or Quisqueyanos, colloquially), you won’t have to look far to get away from the tourist traps and start diving into the local scene.
Other than the jagged cliff lines and palm-studded beaches that the DR is famous for, the inner portion of the island is quite rural in nature. This is a great place to head to try some of the best foods that the country has to offer, as well as to glimpse an often-overlooked natural beauty that’s waiting just around the corner.
Santo Domingo is the capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic, as well as the oldest European city in the Americas (continuously-inhabited), having been founded in 1496 by Christopher Columbus’s brother, Bartholomew. Because of this, it has a rich history and culture that is just begging to be shared, and the city’s ample museums and galleries will help paint a picture of just what life was like in the early days.
Dominican Republic Travel Information & Key Points
General points to know about the country of the Dominican Republic – demographics, important ages, phone numbers, key statistics, and more, whether you’re traveling there or not.
Capital: Santo Domingo (& largest city)
Population: 10.8 million (2019 estimate)
Language(s): Spanish
President: Danilo Medina
Vice President: Margarita Cedeño de Fernández
Currency: Peso (DOP)
Area: 48,442 km2 (18,704 mi2)
Dialing Code: +1-809, +1-829, +1-849
Time Zone: Standard Time Caribbean (UTC-4)
Demonym: Dominican (what is a demonym?)
Endonym: República Dominicana (their name for their country)
Emergency Number: 911
Drinking Age: 18
Smoking Age: 18 to purchase
Age of Consent: 18
Drives on the: Right
Electricity & Adapter: 120 V, 60 Hz, Plug Types A / B (define)
ISO Country Code: DO