This laid-back Caribbean port town sits between mountains and sea, with its colonial buildings, lively market streets, and easy access to Morne Trois Pitons National Park.
Roseau, the capital of Dominica, sits between the Caribbean Sea and mountains. Walk through streets lined with wooden colonial buildings, buy mangoes and cinnamon at the Old Market, or swim in the bubble-filled waters of Champagne Beach. You can hike to Trafalgar Falls, explore the Botanical Gardens, or try fresh fish with callaloo soup at local restaurants.
Getting Around Roseau's City Center
The city center covers just over 5 square kilometers, with streets in a grid pattern from the Old Market Plaza. You'll find many main landmarks along Victoria Street, including the Carnegie Library and Fort Young Hotel. Mini-buses connect Roseau to other parts of the island for EC$2-5 per trip. You can get taxis at the cruise port and Fort Young Hotel, with fixed rates to main attractions.
French Quarter Architecture
The French Quarter's wooden buildings from the 1700s have balconies and hurricane shutters. Walk to the Lilac House on Kennedy Avenue to see three distinct gingerbread patterns and latticed veranda railings. At Old and King George V streets, the J.W. Edwards Building stands two stories tall with a stone ground floor and wooden gallery above.
Markets and Local Food
Shop at the Old Market Plaza daily from 7 AM to 6 PM for tropical fruits, local crafts, and spices. The New Market along the riverbank opens from Friday morning through Saturday night. Local restaurants serve Creole dishes like callaloo soup (EC$15-20) made with leafy greens and spices, and fish caught the same morning. Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to bills.
Natural Attractions Near Roseau
Swim at Champagne Beach, 15 minutes south of the city, where underwater geothermal vents create streams of bubbles through the water. Drive 20 minutes to see Trafalgar Falls, two parallel waterfalls of 200 feet each. Visit the Wotten Waven area, 15 minutes inland, to soak in thermal springs and mud pools heated by volcanic activity.
Where to Stay
Sleep in the Fort Young Hotel, a converted 17th-century fort with 73 rooms starting at US$200 per night. Central Roseau's family-run guesthouses cost US$50-100 per night. In Roseau Valley, cottages near waterfalls and sulfur pools charge US$75-150 per night.
