Dominican Republic
History
A short-lived independence period began, an early but unstable step in Dominican Republic's statehood.
Independence was won from Haiti on 27 February, founding the republic.
The War of Restoration ended Spanish reannexation and restored the republic.
The United States occupation ended and constitutional government resumed.
A new constitution followed US intervention and opened a long period of civilian rule.
Part ofNorth AmericaMore countries, cities and routes.Short facts
RegionCaribbean
LanguageSpanish
Time zoneAST (UTC-4)
Drives onRight
Worth seeing
- Punta Cana: All-inclusive beach resorts on a 50 km stretch of palm-lined Caribbean sand.
- Santo Domingo: The oldest continuously inhabited European city in the Americas, UNESCO listed.
- Merengue and Bachata: Two UNESCO-recognised music genres born on this island define Caribbean culture.
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Santo DomingoPlanning questions
What is Dominican Republic known for?Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Merengue and Bachata.
What is the capital?Santo Domingo.
Which language is useful?Spanish.
When is the national day?27 February.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.
Upcoming events
Corales Puntacana Championship2026-07-16 - 2026-07-19 - PGA TourUse Santo Domingo as the first planning anchor for Dominican Republic, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.
Food & drink
Street food
Pina coladaKnown for
Punta CanaSanto DomingoMerengue and BachataSanto DomingoStreet foodPina colada
Music & Culture