Dominikanische Republik

Top 5 Orte

1. Zona Colonial · Santo Domingo

   First European city in the Americas: the cathedral, Alcázar de Colón and Calle Las Damas.

2. Bávaro and Punta Cana beaches · Punta Cana

   Long white-sand beaches lined with resorts.

3. Saona Island · Bayahibe

   Popular boat day trip to protected Caribbean beaches.

4. Samaná Peninsula · Samaná / Las Terrenas

   Humpback whale watching (roughly January to March), beaches and the El Limón waterfall.

5. 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua · near Puerto Plata

   Guided climbing and sliding through a series of natural waterfalls.

Unterwegs vor Ort

• Fahrdienst-App

  Uber

  Works well in Santo Domingo and Santiago and is cheaper than taxis. In Punta Cana, local taxi groups have harassed Uber drivers and passengers at resorts and the airport, so pickups there can be difficult (varies).

• Taxi

  Authorised taxis

  Use airport, hotel or dispatcher taxis with fixed fares agreed in advance; taxis rarely use meters. Few taxis cruise the streets in Santo Domingo.

• Öffentlicher Nahverkehr

  Santo Domingo Metro and Teleférico

  Two metro lines and a cable car; pay with a rechargeable smart card. Very cheap.

• Busse

  Caribe Tours / Metro Tours

  Comfortable air-conditioned long-distance buses between Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Samaná and other cities. Expreso Bávaro links Santo Domingo with Punta Cana.

• Busse

  Guaguas

  Local minibuses and shared cars (carros públicos) that are cheap but crowded; most stop running at dusk.

• Taxi

  Motoconchos

  Motorbike taxis are common but often have no helmets; UK advice is to avoid them.

Geld und Bargeld

Währung: DOP · Dominican peso

Cards work in resorts, malls and larger restaurants, but cash pesos are needed for guaguas, colmados, beach vendors and tips. US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, often at a poor rate. Use ATMs inside banks (Banco Popular, Scotiabank, BHD) and expect a fee per withdrawal. Keep your card in sight when paying because card cloning is reported.

Wechselkurs nach DOP prüfen

Trinkgeld

By law, restaurant bills include 18% ITBIS (VAT) and a 10% service charge (shown as 'ley' or 'servicio'). Many people leave about 10% extra in cash for good service. In resorts, small tips for bar staff, housekeeping and guides are common and appreciated.

Nützliche Sätze

• La cuenta, por favor. The bill, please.
• ¿El servicio está incluido? Is service included?

Umgangsformen

• Greet people with 'Buenos días' or 'Buenas tardes' before asking for anything.
• Trying a little Spanish is appreciated outside resorts.
• Avoid conversations about Haiti and race; they are sensitive topics.
• Dress modestly in churches and in towns; swimwear is for the beach and pool.
• Bargaining is normal with beach vendors and at markets, not in shops with marked prices.
• Dominican time is relaxed; service can be slow.

Maschen und wie du damit umgehst

• Motorbike bag and phone snatching

  Wo: Santo Domingo streets, also cars stopped at traffic lights

  So funktioniert’s: Thieves on motorbikes grab bags and phones from pedestrians or reach into car windows.

  So vermeidest du es: Keep bags on the side away from the road, phones out of sight, and car windows closed in traffic.

• Card cloning

  Wo: Shops, restaurants and ATMs

  So funktioniert’s: Cards taken out of sight are copied and used later.

  So vermeidest du es: Keep your card visible when paying, use bank ATMs, or pay cash.

• Unofficial guides

  Wo: Parque Colón and the Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo

  So funktioniert’s: People offer tours then demand high fees, or steer you to shops that pay them commission.

  So vermeidest du es: Agree a price in advance or use licensed guides booked through hotels or tour companies.

• Street money changers

  Wo: Tourist areas

  So funktioniert’s: Aggressive changers use bad rates or sleight of hand.

  So vermeidest du es: Change money at banks or use ATMs inside banks.

• Pushy beach vendors and excursion sellers

  Wo: Punta Cana and Bávaro beaches

  So funktioniert’s: Vendors approach repeatedly and sell overpriced or unlicensed excursions.

  So vermeidest du es: Say 'No, gracias' firmly; book excursions through known operators with reviews.

• Taxi overcharging

  Wo: Airports, resorts, Santo Domingo at night

  So funktioniert’s: Taxis have no meters; drivers quote high prices to tourists, and unlicensed cabs carry robbery risk.

  So vermeidest du es: Agree the fare before getting in, use hotel or airport taxis, or Uber where it works.

Sicherheit

• Opportunistic crime ranges from pickpocketing to armed robbery; do not show jewellery, expensive phones or large amounts of cash.
• Avoid walking alone at night, especially on poorly lit streets and beaches.
• Sexual assaults have been reported at beach resorts; do not leave drinks unattended.
• Road safety is poor; avoid driving at night and avoid motoconchos.
• Contact the tourist police (CESTUR, still widely called POLITUR) in tourist areas or call 911.
• Hurricane season runs June to November.

Wie verbreitet Englisch ist

Widely spoken in all-inclusive resorts and Punta Cana; limited in Santo Domingo outside hotels and rare in the countryside. Basic Spanish is very useful.

Quellen

• GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Dominican Republic, safety and security
• Wikivoyage: Dominican Republic
• Wikivoyage: Punta Cana
• Wikivoyage: Santo Domingo
• Wikipedia: List of tipping customs by country

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