The Dominican Republic has its own style of music. The earliest form of music is merengue and perico ripiao, which both originated in the countryside as re-interpretations of suggestive folk songs. Bachata is also a Dominican invention, one that has become increasingly popular worldwide. Reggaeton, a style of music originating in Panamá and Puerto Rico, defines the party lifestyle of the country and is popular with the youth, although the music is disliked by most of the older generations. Salsa music, though not of Dominican origin, is also a part of the popular music scene of the country.

The Dominican Republic has several unique instruments. Indians native to the island made güiros, hollowed out gourds with notches, which players grated with a fork. The güira evolved similarly, a metal cylinder with holes, scraped to make a percussive beat. Just as important is the tambora, a two-sided drum. Traditionally, one side of the drum was made of a male goat's skin soaked in rum, while the skin on other side came from a female goat, which had never borne offspring.

The national beer is Presidente, the national drink is rum, and the national game is either dominos or baseball. The Dominican Republic has its own baseball league which runs from October to January. Many MLB players and minor leaguers play in this six-team league during off-season. The winner of the Dominican winter league goes on to represent the country at the Caribbean World Series against Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Venezuela.