6 Best Things to Do in Roseau, Dominica

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Not many people have the Commonwealth of Dominica on their travel radar. No, people usually head to places like Jamaica or St. Martin.

The small Eastern Caribbean island is relatively untouched, full of waterfalls and national parks to attract nature lovers and hikers. Unfortunately, when business requires you to spend all of your time in Roseau, its tiny capital, you miss out on all of that. You do, however, get a good idea of what Roseau Dominica is really like.

While my husband Dan and his business partner had five days of meetings in Roseau, we wives had to look for things to do in Roseau on our own to keep us entertained.

Cityscape of Roseau Dominica with mountains in the background
View of Roseau from our hotel room

There are some fantastic day trips from Roseau on offer. Whale watching, snorkeling, boiling lakes, food … The Nature Island has a lot going for it.

But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not only did abandoning Richard’s wife and toddler to a week’s worth of nothing to do seem heartless, I couldn’t in all good conscience abandon my poor son Chris. He was stuck in our hotel room with a week’s worth of schoolwork.

Plan B: Explore Dominica’s capital city and discover things to do in Roseau with the others.

What is Roseau Dominica like?

Tucked on a narrow strip of land between sea and mountain, Roseau is a quaint town with a decidedly Caribbean air. It’s so obviously different from America that while we were there we almost forgot that we were still in the same hemisphere.

Although it’s Dominica’s capital and its largest city, Roseau is quite small by international standards. It’s only about 10 blocks wide and deep. If that. Being so small, there are a limited number of things to do in Roseau. If you plan it right, you could do them all in just one day in Roseau.

What are the best things to do in Roseau?

I’ll be honest: After having spent a week in Roseau, this is a pretty exhaustive list of places to visit and things to see.

1. Shop at the Old Market

Roseau’s Old Market has a dark history: It once was one of the major slave trading markets in the Caribbean. Today it has received new life as a bustling hub where locals chat and tourists shop.

If you want a souvenir that was actually made in Dominica (versus China), head to the Old Market. There, you’ll find a variety of arts and crafts, local-grown spices, and handmade products, like fragrant soaps and oils. You’ll also find a lot of the usual tourist stuff, like t-shirts, magnets, and postcards.

Sign for an ice cream shop in Roseau Dominica

2. Visit Roseau Museum

We were thrilled when Friday rolled around and the men didn’t have meetings; it gave us all a chance to show them around the city. We finally visited the Dominica Museum, which conveniently was only steps from the hotel.

The museum is pretty much single-handedly maintained by one man, Lennox Honychurch. He is the foremost historian of the island and has added an interesting collection of photographs, archaeological finds, and cultural displays.

  • Open: Mon-Fri 9-4 pm, Sat 9 am-noon
  • Price: small entrance fee

3. Wander through Dominica Botanical Gardens

Bus crushed by a hurricane. An icon in the Botanical Gardens in Roseau Dominica
This African Baobab tree, nicknamed “Goliath,” was felled by Hurricane David. It landed on a school bus which, thankfully. was empty at the time.

We also saved the gardens until the men could join us. Once one of the finest gardens in the Caribbean, Dominica Botanical Gardens was the victim of bad timing. In August 1979, the entire island was devastated by Hurricane David and because they had gained independence from England only a few months before, no help was forthcoming.

While the gardens have never recovered their former glory, they are still beautiful and definitely worth a visit.

  • Open: 6:00 am – 7:00 pm, free admission.

4. Hike to Morne Bruce

The “mountain” side of Roseau is Morne Bruce, and it offers incredible views over the city.

We were told that it’s a short hike up, but even so, it doesn’t seem wise to do such a steep climb when it’s super hot weather. There’s no point in tempting fate. It’s much easier and faster to go by car.

ⓘ TIP:  Are you visiting with a toddler? Be forwarned: Navigating a stroller through Roseau will give you a workout! Few streets had good sidewalks and some had no sidewalks at all. We found it easier to wheel a child around than to carry him everywhere, especially in that oppressive heat.

5. Talk to the locals

Woman in Roseau Dominica

People in Roseau are friendly and just as curious about you as you are about them. Strike up a conversation and enjoy yourself!

We were there in September, and it was roasting hot. Due to the heat, many Roseau residents spend their days outside in the shade, chatting to each other or selling their wares to passersby. A few of the shops were air conditioned, but most of them were stifling, and no one seemed to mind having only one or two fans.

Except for us. Not being used to the climate, we started looking for fans everywhere we went. When we found one, we lingered in front of it for as long as possible, marveling at how the locals barely seemed to break a sweat.

Like most kids, the little guy never let the temperature get him down. He made many friends for us with his sunny disposition and winning smile. Dominicans are really friendly and although we were of a different color, they never made us feel different.

On the bright side, I’m told that walking in hot weather burns more calories.

5. Find the Smoothie Man

Fresh fruit smoothies, only $5 EC ($1.87 US)
Though you can’t see it, the burned-out building behind Smoothie Man is actually a nightlife spot.

Speaking of locals, our first day in town we discovered a simple stand only a few blocks from our door where a very friendly man made yummy smoothies from fresh fruit!

Fruit drinks are nutritious and tasty, so every morning our first priority was to walk over and see if he had opened for business for the day.

For EC$5 (about $2.80), his blender would whip up a refreshing drink, using only the island’s freshly-harvested fruit and some ice. We almost always bought one to take on our morning walks.

ⓘ TIP: If he’s still there, you’ll find his fruit smoothie stand just one block away from where the cruise ship docks. If he isn’t there, please let us know.

Smoothie or no, by lunchtime we’d be dripping wet with sweat from the heat and exercise, hungry, and ready to return to the hotel for a shower and the air-conditioned comfort of our rooms. Our biggest disappointment of the entire trip was that the Garraway Hotel has no pool; we really could have used it.

ⓘ TIP:  Any time you’re going to a Caribbean island, make absolutely sure you will have access to either a pool or the beach. Must. Cool. Off.

6. Take a day trip from Roseau

There are a lot of things to do in Dominica, and the creative islanders have turned nearly all of them into cruise ship shore excursions. Whether you’re on the island for a day or for a week, here are the ones that get the best reviews.

  1. Cabrits National Park and Fort Shirley
  2. Trafalgar Falls
  3. Emerald Pool
  4. Snorkeling/diving at Champagne Reef and Champagne Beach
  5. River tubing in one of Dominica’s 365 rivers (you read that right!)
  6. Morne Trois Pitons National Park, Dominica’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site
  7. Titou Gorge
  8. Boiling Lake
  9. Middleham Falls
  10. Whale watching (seasonal)

We can personally vouch for the first five, all of which we did before we left Dominica.

ⓘ TIP: You can find dozens of excursions from Roseau HERE.

Top tips for shopping in Dominica

1. Avoid shopping on the bay front.

The most expensive stores are right on the bay front, conveniently within view of every disembarking cruise ship passenger. This is expensive real estate, and as a result most of those seafront shops are owned by the cruise companies and contribute little to Dominica’s economy.

They carry all the usual touristy things you can find in every other cruise port. We’re talking everything from jewelry to clothing to overpriced, tacky souvenirs made in China and goofy things like Obama rum.

2. Check the side streets.

Far better deals can be found on Roseau’s side streets, where tents will pop up when a ship is in port. Go here to shop: Many of those products are handmade and brought into the city for the day.

And in case you’re wondering, it’s perfectly safe to wander the streets. You’ll see a ready smile whenever you pop into a local place.

3. Astaphan’s is a window into island culture.

Astaphan’s is the largest store in Roseau, a modern shop with a variety of Caribbean products. Far more interesting than the duty free emporium, if you ask us.

Everyone knows where it is. It’s only a few blocks from the Bay Front. But then, Roseau is so small that nothing is very far.

4. Buy products made in Dominica

Shopping for gifts and souvenirs is a fun part of any vacation, and Dominica has some nice locally made products that you can buy. Buying them at a market or local grocery store will save you money as well as help the economy more.

When you’re shopping at the Old Market, look for vendors selling handmade jewelry and fragrant oils, soaps, and perfumes. Carib baskets are also popular, but be wary of the clothing as some of it is imported in bulk.

If you’re interested in local herbs and spices, bay leaves, cinnamon, and cocoa, are grown and harvested across the island by local farmers. (It’s the real cinnamon, too, not the cheaper cassia substitute that’s usually sold in grocery stores.)

Dominica produces an excellent line of Bay Rum products for men, as well as quality food items made by Bello. We especially recommend Bello’s Creole style cayenne pepper sauce.

ⓘ TIP: You can also find Dominica Bay Rum herbal soap, Grand Bay Rum Aftershave, and Bello Hot Sauce on Amazon.

Where to stay in Roseau

Dominica sunset

If you plan to spend more than one day in Roseau, Dominica’s top hotel is the Fort Young Hotel, so named because it was a fort at one time. For history buffs, their Fort Rooms are housed in part of the original fort buildings. I would have liked to stay there, but I was overruled.

We stayed across the street in the Garraway Hotel, because it’s the best hotel for businessmen. It was not quite as posh as the Fort Young but it was comfortable … and a whole lot more affordable. The staff were attentive, we had air con, and our room had fabulous views of the bay front and the city. Not to mention, you can view the luminous sunsets from the rooftop.

Sure, the Garraway may be a good choice for businessmen. It would even be fine for tourists who take day trips into the cooler mountains, but it was not the best choice for us. We were wandering around Roseau in the stifling heat all day. If we had known that our hotel didn’t have a pool, we would have gotten down on our knees and begged our husbands to spring for rooms at Fort Young. Price be damned.

The Fort Young Hotel in Roseau
The Fort Young Hotel in Roseau

Roseau life

Roseau Catholic church (2)

In the afternoons, I spent my hours on my own with smoothie #2, talking to locals and wandering the streets with my camera. I found some interesting churches and buildings around town.

I also discovered Windsor Park Sports Stadium. Used mostly for soccer (football to you Europeans), it was built through a grant made by the People’s Republic of China to the Government of Dominica.

Windsor Park Sports Stadium, through a grant made by the People's Republic of China to the Government of Dominica

Where to eat in Roseau

At the Fort Young, fish sticks are made by the chef, not Mrs. Paul. These were made from fresh tuna.
At the Fort Young, fish sticks are made by the chef, not Mrs. Paul. These were made from fresh tuna.

It’s been a while since we were in Dominica. We don’t know what’s changed menus or if they have new chefs, but the following places get good reviews:

  1. Cozy’s Niche.
  2. Old Stone Grill & Bar.
  3. Le Petit Paris Bakery and Restaurant.
  4. Ruins Rock Cafe.
  5. Palisades Restaurant.

Here are a few things we learned while we were eating in Dominica:

  • The islanders are very family-oriented, so few shops or restaurants are open in the evening.
  • It’s particularly difficult to find somewhere to eat on Sundays. You most likely will end up at a fast food joint or a hotel restaurant, as we did.
  • Dan and I found a local pizza parlor one evening. Guess what: green beans are good on pizza!
  • We also ate at a Chinese restaurant twice. Even though I’m not a fan of Chinese food, but their dishes tasted nothing like the Chinese stuff we’re used to in the States. Perhaps the owners were from a different part of China….
  • Dan and I tried Roseau’s KFC on Friday night. That was a different experience! Dominica’s KFC doesn’t have combo meals; everything is a la carte. Also, they don’t know what a “free drink refill” is. Guess that American concept doesn’t work here.

Cruise ships: another side of Roseau

Man setting up his souvenir booth in Roseau Dominica
Drummer/musician setting up his American flag before the cruise ship arrives.

Sleepy little Roseau comes alive whenever a cruise ship comes in. Two ships arrived the week we were there. Our hotel windows overlooked where the ships dock so we had a chance to watch everyone set up their booths for the tourists.

We didn’t enjoy our walks as much on cruise days. Shopkeepers who normally left us to look around in peace became fiercely competitive, nagging us for the dollars they assumed we wanted to spend.

Every guide on the bay front offered a tour too, and some of them were quite intriguing. I’ve listed the best ones above. Had we been in the market, we’d have had a hard time choosing which one to take!

Vendors & tour buses prepare for Carnival Victory's arrival

Still, the cruise industry is vital to Dominica’s well-being. If it doesn’t get income from tourism or other new enterprises, Dominica may someday be forced to find its income elsewhere, perhaps building the Chavez refinery it has been resisting. It would be a shame if this island had to sacrifice its greatest resource – its natural beauty – in order to survive.

FAQs about Dominica

ⓘ TIP: Activated charcoal is a well-known remedy for travelers diarrhea. It’s available at pharmacies as well as on Amazon.

Plan your Dominica trip

Places to stay

Related books on Amazon

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Written by Linda

Linda is multilingual and has been to over 50 countries. Her insatiable love of travel, cuisine, and foreign languages inspired her to create As We Saw It, where she documents her trips, shares practical itineraries, and offers insider tips. She’s passionate about helping fellow travelers save time, money, and hassle, and loves to discover new places to explore.

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5 thoughts on “6 Best Things to Do in Roseau, Dominica”

  1. Great post it it so rare to see a post on Dominica which is just the most beautiful island I think in the Caribbean. I lived on Antigua for many years and we often visited this island to relax, check out the waterfalls and admire the flowers. Thanks for the reminders.

  2. Your post reminded me about a trip we took many years ago to Rosarito, a small town in Mexico: hot like hell and no air conditioning. The best inn in town had a couple of rooms with fans though. But it that kind of heat they weren’t helping much. Unlike you however we weren’t stuck there, so after a day we ran out of there as fast as we could. You seem to have coped pretty well with Roseau, considering the amount of time you had to spend there. I think you were very inventive.

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