Dive into sizzling beaches, vibrant culture, and lush landscapes in the stunning Dominican Republic.
Holidays to the Dominican Republic 2026
Endless beaches: sunbathe, swim, and soak up the scorchio vibes!
Lush rainforests: Explore nature's playground, mahoosive and bursting with life.
Top-notch resorts: Swanky stays guarantee a boujee, 10/10 experience.
Delish cuisine: Tuck into tantalizing dishes, each bite a fiesta.
Good to know
🤩 Fun Fact: The Dominican Republic is the only place in the world where you can find the Rhinoceros Iguana!
🏖️ Best Beach: It’s got to be Bávaro Beach, hands down! With soft, white sand, turquoise waves, and the chance to swim with dolphins or snorkel among vibrant reefs, Bávaro is the epitome of paradise. What more could you possibly need? This beach has it all for a picture-perfect escape!
🍺 Price of a Pint: Around 250 Dominican Pesos (RD), which is approximately £3.50
Where to stay on your Dominican Republic holidays
The Dominican Republic is one of the Caribbean's absolute superstars! Year-round sunshine, some of the most gorgeous beaches you'll ever clap eyes on, friendly locals who'll make you feel like family, and it's brilliant value for money compared to loads of other Caribbean islands. The food's incredible (wait till you try the fresh seafood!) There's proper culture and history to explore if you fancy it, and the music and dancing scene is infectious. Plus, it's dead easy to get to from the UK with loads of direct flights.
When it comes to picking where to stay, these four resort areas are the absolute cream of the crop:
Punta Cana
The poster child of the Dominican Republic, with long white-sand beaches and endless all-inclusive resorts.
Buzzing nightlife, tons of dining options and super-easy transport links.
Ideal for: families (loads to do), couples (romantic stays) and groups/party lovers (lively vibes).
Bavaro
Punta Cana's more chilled neighbour with a local feel and quieter stretches of sand.
Same stunning coastline but less crowded and with more Dominican flavour.
Ideal for: families wanting convenience without chaos, and couples after low-key romance.
Uvero Alto
A peaceful, less developed coastline with intimate, upscale resorts.
Wide, uncrowded beaches perfect for some proper R and R.
Ideal for: couples, older travellers or anyone wanting tranquillity with a luxury twist.
Bayahibe
South coast gem with a proper fishing-village vibe and calm Caribbean Sea waters.
Fab for little ones, plus it's the launchpad for Saona Island and brilliant snorkelling.
Ideal for: families, adventure-lovers and anyone who wants authentic Dominican life mixed with beach days.
🏨 The best hotels for your holidays to Dominican Republic
From splashy family resorts with waterparks to swanky adults-only retreats, Dominican Republic hotels have got something for everyone. All of our picks below are all-inclusive — check out our all-inclusive Dominican Republic holidays for more. Or browse all our Dominican Republic hotels to find your perfect match.
Families
🎢 Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana – Private suite pools, character meet-and-greets and a very real chance of getting slimed. If the kids love SpongeBob, good luck ever getting them to leave.
🌴 Dreams Flora Resort & Spa – Waterpark, Explorer's Club for the littles, Core Zone for the teens, and swim-out family suites right on Bavaro beach. Everyone's sorted.
⛳ Barcelo Bavaro Palace – Massive five-star on Bavaro Beach with nine restaurants, a water park, golf course and Premium Level suites with hot tubs if you fancy treating yourselves.
☀️ Sunscape Coco Punta Cana – Just 10 minutes from Punta Cana airport, seven pools, 13 restaurants and even a mocktail bar for the kids. The Unlimited-Fun setup means zero stress.
🏖️ Dreams La Romana Resort & Spa – On the calmer Caribbean coast in Bayahibe, brilliant for younger kids who prefer gentler waves. Waterpark, kids' clubs and Saona Island day trips on your doorstep.
Couples
🌅 Secrets Cap Cana – Adults-only five-star on stunning Juanillo Beach with swim-out suites, gourmet dining and 24-hour room service. The kind of place where you genuinely forget what day it is.
🍹 Barcelo Bavaro Beach - Adults Only – All the perks of the Barcelo Palace complex — golf, casino, spa, nine restaurants — but in a peaceful adults-only setting on Bavaro Beach.
🌊 Secrets Royal Beach - Adults Only – Unlimited-Luxury in Bavaro with 24-hour room service, daily refreshed minibar and the Sip, Savor & See programme so you can dine at sister resorts too.
💃 Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville - Adults Only – Six a la carte restaurants, swim-up bar and beachfront views near La Romana. Quieter and more intimate than the Punta Cana mega-resorts.
🎶 Breathless Punta Cana - Adults Only – Stylish suites with private balcony whirlpools in Uvero Alto, plus pool parties, themed nights and live music. Social, lively and proper fun.
Luxury
👑 Sanctuary Cap Cana - Adults Only – Five pools, private beach, swim-out villas, butler service and five gourmet restaurants. If you're celebrating something special, this is the one.
🌟 Iberostar Selection Coral Bavaro – Exclusive oceanfront resort on Bavaro Beach with 24-hour concierge, daily-restocked minibar and pool-access suites. Full use of neighbouring Iberostar facilities too.
What are the best beaches to visit in the Dominican Republic?
The Dominican Republic isn’t short on coastline, but these showstoppers are the ones that really deliver those “wish you were here” vibes:
Bavaro Beach, Punta Cana - the queen of Dominican beaches. Long, dreamy white sand, calm turquoise waves and a ton of beachfront hotels, bars and water sports. Perfect for families, couples and anyone who likes their beach days with zero effort required.
Juanillo Beach, Cap Cana - think exclusive, elegant and ridiculously scenic. Shallow, crystal-clear water, swaying palms and chic beach clubs where you can sip cocktails with your toes in the sand. Couples and luxe-lovers, this one's basically your natural habitat.
Playa Macao, Punta Cana - a little wilder, a little breezier and a lot more adventurous. Great for surfers, beach walkers and anyone who prefers “untouched beauty” over perfectly lined-up sunbeds. Plus, the waves here bring big-time fun.
Playa Bayahibe, Bayahibe - calm Caribbean Sea, colourful boats bobbing offshore and some of the clearest snorkelling waters around. Ideal for families with little ones, chilled-out swimmers and travellers who love a beach with proper local charm.
Playa Rincon, Samana - the kind of untouched, remote stunner you see on travel posters and assume must be Photoshopped. Lush mountains behind you, gin-clear water in front of you and barely another soul around. Absolutely made for explorers.
Dominican Republic holidays 2026 travel guide
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Things to do for families in the Dominican Republic
Start your adventure at Manati Park in Punta Cana, where the little ones can get up close and personal with dolphins, parrots, and even iguanas. Take a family trip to Dolphin Explorer for a day of swimming with these friendly creatures and learning about marine life. For a bit of educational fun, visit the National Aquarium in Santo Domingo, which offers fascinating exhibits and touch pools.
Scape Park at Cap Cana is a must-visit with its zip lines, water caves, and jungle trails that promise endless thrills - but more on this later. Lastly, unwind at Bavaro Adventure Park, where everyone can enjoy activities like paintball, bungee trampolines, and a Dino World perfect for the kids. It’s a great mix of fun, learning, and adventure that the whole family will love.
👩🏼❤️👨🏾 Things to do for couples in the Dominican Republic
Couples seeking a romantic escape will find a Dominican Republic holiday brimming with dreamy activities. Begin your journey with a sunset cruise along the Punta Cana coastline, where you can sip champagne and watch the sky turn into a palette of vibrant colours. Later, you might fancy a stroll hand-in-hand through the charming streets of Santo Domingo. Relax as you indulge in a couple’s massage at one of the swanky beachside spas, then cap off your day with a candlelit dinner at a seaside restaurant.
🏝️ Things to do for groups in the Dominican Republic
Start your group escapade with a catamaran party cruise in Punta Cana, complete with snorkelling, dancing, and tropical drinks. Explore the 27 Charcos de Damajagua, where you can hike, slide, and jump through a series of refreshing waterfalls – an absolute thrill for adventure seekers.
For a cultural twist, take a day trip to Saona Island with its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters, perfect for lounging and beach games. Round off your day with a lively night out at the Coco Bongo Show & Disco in Punta Cana, where acrobatics, live performances, and dance floors promise a night of unforgettable fun.
✨ "Must Do's" Top Tips for a top trip to the Dominican Republic
🏝️ Day trip to Saona Island This postcard-perfect paradise off the southeast coast is the ultimate Caribbean flex. Crystal-clear shallows, swaying palms and that famous natural swimming pool where you can sip rum punch while standing waist-deep in turquoise water. Most trips include a catamaran ride, lunch and enough photo ops to keep your Instagram fed for months.
🌊 Conquer the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua Not for the faint-hearted, this adventure sees you hiking through lush jungle before jumping, sliding and swimming your way down a series of cascading waterfalls. You'll be kitted out with a helmet and life jacket, and guides make sure everyone gets down safely. It's exhilarating, slightly terrifying and absolutely unforgettable.
🏛️ Wander Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial Step back in time in the oldest European city in the Americas. Cobblestone streets, 16th-century architecture and a proper sense of history around every corner. Don't miss the Alcázar de Colón (Columbus's son's gaff) and the first cathedral built in the New World. Finish up with a cold Presidente beer in one of the buzzing plaza cafés.
🐋 Whale watching in Samaná Bay If you're visiting between January and March, this is an absolute must. Thousands of humpback whales migrate to Samaná Bay to breed and calve, putting on spectacular shows of breaching, tail-slapping and general showing off. It's one of the best whale-watching spots in the world – and yes, they really do get that close.
🌄 Swing over the world at Montaña Redonda This Instagram-famous hilltop has swings and hammocks perched right on the edge, giving you panoramic views of the coastline below. It's become a bit of a bucket-list spot, and honestly? The photos don't lie – it's absolutely stunning. Best visited in the morning before the clouds roll in.
🧗 Explore Los Haitises National Park Kayak through mangroves, spot exotic birds and explore caves with ancient Taíno drawings. This protected park on the northeast coast feels properly wild and untouched – a million miles from the resort pools. Boat tours from Samaná or Sabana de la Mar are the best way to experience it.
Getting Around the Dominican Republic
🚗 Public Cars - budget-friendly and snug, with space for a few extra passengers. Around 50 pesos per ride. Have small change and tell the driver your stop when you hop in.
🚐 Guaguas (Minibuses) - great for groups or longer hops. Routes shown on the windshield. Expect 100-150 pesos for inter-city trips. A fare-keeper collects payment and helps with stops.
💡 Top Tips for Public Transit - carry exact change for fares, as drivers often don’t provide change. Always confirm your stop with the driver when boarding to avoid confusion.
🚖 Taxis - easy to arrange via hotels or local services. Confirm fares upfront. Short waits cost about 100 pesos per 10 minutes. Day rates usually fall between 1,000-3,000 pesos, paid at the end.
More places to visit:
Popular Dominican Republic hotels
More Dominican Republic hotelsStunning Dominican Republic resorts
Popular Punta Cana destinations
Weather in Dominican Republic
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The weather in the Dominican Republic is like your favourite summer playlist - mostly sunny, always hot, and guaranteed to put you in a good mood. This Caribbean darling enjoys a tropical climate, which means it's bathing suit weather all year round.
During the summer (June to September), things heat up with temperatures floating between 28-32°C. It's all about endless beach days and sipping cocktails by the pool. Don't forget your sunnies and sunscreen, pals!
When winter (December to February) rolls in, the Dominican Republic doesn't skip a beat. Average temperatures dip a couple of degrees to around 26-28°C. It's like Mother Nature turned down the oven from roasting to baking - still warm, but a touch less sizzling.
But, here's the kicker, the Dominican Republic weather throws a curveball in the form of occasional tropical rainstorms, mainly between May and November. But hey, who doesn't love a good dance in the rain with a piña colada?
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FAQs
How long does it take to fly to the Dominican Republic?
How long does it take to fly to the Dominican Republic?
It takes about 9 hours to fly to the Dominican Republic from the UK - stock up on snacks and binge a few movies.
What’s the time difference between the UK and the Dominican Republic?
What’s the time difference between the UK and the Dominican Republic?
Dominican Republic is 5 hours behind of the time in the UK... hello, jet-lag, my old friend...
What currency do they use in the Dominican Republic?
What currency do they use in the Dominican Republic?
The official currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso. US dollars are also widely accepted.
What language do they speak in the Dominican Republic?
What language do they speak in the Dominican Republic?
The official language spoken in the Dominican Republic is Spanish.
Do I need a visa to visit the Dominican Republic?
Do I need a visa to visit the Dominican Republic?
Nope! UK passport holders can visit for up to 30 days without a visa. You'll need to fill in an online eTicket form before you travel (it's free and takes about five minutes). Your passport just needs to be valid for the duration of your stay – the usual six-month rule has been waived through to the end of 2026.
Can I use US dollars in the Dominican Republic?
Can I use US dollars in the Dominican Republic?
Yes! While the official currency is the Dominican peso, US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, resorts and for tipping. Most people find it easier to bring dollars rather than exchanging for pesos. Just make sure you've got small bills ($1s, $5s, $10s) for tips – staff prefer notes to coins since coins are tricky to exchange.
Should I tip at all-inclusive resorts?
Should I tip at all-inclusive resorts?
Here's something that might catch UK travellers off guard – tipping culture in the Dominican Republic is much closer to the US than back home. Even at all-inclusive resorts where gratuity is technically included, staff genuinely rely on tips to top up modest wages, and it's very much expected in tourist areas.
We'd recommend bringing around $50-100 in small US dollar bills ($1s, $5s, $10s) for a week's stay. You can pick up dollars from the Post Office or a travel money provider before you go – airport rates tend to be rubbish so sort it in advance.
A rough guide: $1-2 per drink for bartenders (tip early and you'll get faster service all week), $2-5 per meal for waitstaff, and $2-5 per day for housekeeping (left on your pillow each morning so the right person gets it). It might feel unusual if you're not used to tipping, but a few dollars here and there genuinely makes a big difference and often results in noticeably better service.
Is the tap water safe to drink?
Is the tap water safe to drink?
Stick to bottled water, which is cheap and available everywhere. Resorts provide bottled water in rooms, and ice at hotels and restaurants is made from purified water so you're safe to clink those cocktails. Brushing your teeth with tap water is generally fine.
What's the best time to visit the Dominican Republic?
What's the best time to visit the Dominican Republic?
December to April is peak season with the driest weather and sunniest skies – perfect beach conditions but also busier and pricier. May to November is technically rainy season, but showers are usually short and sharp (hello, afternoon tropical downpour followed by sunshine). You'll find better deals and fewer crowds. If whale watching is on your list, January to March is the sweet spot.
What's the electric plug type?
What's the electric plug type?
The Dominican Republic uses American-style two-pin plugs (Type A and B), so you'll need an adaptor if you're bringing UK devices. The voltage is 110V (compared to the UK's 230V), which is fine for phone chargers and most modern electronics, but check hair straighteners and other high-powered gadgets before plugging in.
How far is Punta Cana airport from the resorts?
How far is Punta Cana airport from the resorts?
Most east coast resorts are within 20-45 minutes of Punta Cana International Airport, making transfers pretty painless. Bavaro is about 25 minutes away, Uvero Alto around 40 minutes north, and Bayahibe roughly an hour south. Pre-booked transfers or hotel shuttles are the easiest option.
