Language

The official language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish. In tourist areas like resorts you will find people that speak other languages easily like English, French, German and others. Don’t hesitate to ask anyone for Spanish help if you encounter yourself in the major cities, you will find people with basic English or some that speak it well to establish a full conversation with you.

Holidays

January 1 - New Year's Day

January 6 - Epiphany Kings Day

January 21 - Our Lady of Altagracia

January 26 – Juan Pablo Duarte's Birthday*

February 27 - Independence Day

Celebrated with Liturgical calendar Good Friday/ Easter (Holly week)

May 1 - Labor Day*

June - Corpus Christi Day

August 16 - Restoration Day*

September 24 - Our Lady of Mercedes

November 6 - Dominican Constitution Day*

December 25 - Christmas Day

*These holidays celebrations are moved to the closest Monday.

Time Zone

Dominican Republic falls within the Eastern Time Zone (UTC/GMT -5 Hours) and do not follow Daylight Savings Time during winter. Dominican Republic has the same time as New York City, except for daylight savings time months.

Water

Tap water is safe for you to clean your teeth, take a bath, shower and wash clothing in but is not meant to be drinkable. There are many brands of Dominican bottled water that meet the highest international standards for you to drink and are available in groceries stores, department stores, bars, cafes and restaurants.

Drinking Age

The official drinking age in the Dominican Republic is 18 years old.

Electricity

Electricity in the Dominican Republic operates at 110 Volts/60 Hertz. However, is important for you to know that some voltage irregularities are common in the country that can cause less or surging voltage. We recommend using surge protection for any important appliance and computers.