Roseau, Dominica cruises

Explore a blend of bright Caribbean colours and 18^th-century architecture as you wander the streets of historic Roseau.

Roseau, Dominica port guide

With a French and English colonial history, Roseau is teeming with remnants of its past. Located on the southwest coast of Dominica, the capital is just over 5km squared, which makes it ideal for exploring on foot.

With streets laid out in an easy to navigate grid, each corner brings something new to photograph. The cobblestone Old Market. The botanical gardens. Not to mention the beautiful, turquoise Caribbean Sea on the west. Roseau is a real treat for the senses.

Top landmarks and sights in Roseau, Dominica

To learn about Dominica and its people, perhaps take in a few of the capital’s landmarks. These provide an insight into how the island has become the unique nation it is today.

Victoria Street

A short walk from the cruise port is Victoria Street. This is the home of several of Roseau’s most important landmarks. Here you’ll see the Carnegie Library, built in 1906 and the Fort Young Hotel, built on the site of what was once a military fort. There’s also a war memorial and a slave monument here, the latter of which was unveiled in 2013, to commemorate the African slaves who were transported to Dominica during colonial times.

The Old Market

Opposite the cruise terminal is Roseau’s Old Market. Once used as a site for the auction, punishment, and execution of slaves, over its 300 plus years the market has also been used for political meetings and farmers markets. Today, you’ll find an array of fresh fruits, crafts, and souvenirs here.

St Patrick’s Cathedral

The first church at this location was a simple wooden structure with a thatched roof built by islanders. Then, in around 1730, a French Catholic priest commissioned the construction of a larger church to accommodate the French worshippers who had settled in Dominica. The congregation grew further, and several structures have now been built and rebuilt after hurricane damage over the years.

Things to do in Roseau, Dominica

As well as exploring its history, Roseau offers plenty of other options when it comes to spending time here.

Visit Dominica Botanic Gardens

Close to the cruise port and free to enter, the Dominica Botanic Gardens are home to a beautiful spread of vivacious plants. Among the manicured lawns and gazebos, you’ll find orchids, ginger lilies, fruit trees, and the distinctive baobab tree, as well as a small bird sanctuary with Sisserou parrots.

Learn at the Dominica Museum

Also close to the cruise port is the Dominica Museum, a small space that houses a big history. Exhibitions here help to illustrate Dominica’s past, covering the life and times of the indigenous Kalinago people as well as the slave trade and Creole culture.

Take a dip in the thermal springs

Around a 15-minute drive inland from Roseau is the village of Wotten Waven, which is known for its thermal hot springs and mud pools. Set in the serene Dominican forest, the bubbling pools are rich in minerals thanks to the island’s volcanic earth. Why not sink in and embrace the healing sense of peace and wellbeing?

Eating and drinking near Roseau, Dominica

You’ll find all sorts of exciting cuisine to sample in Roseau, including local takes on familiar favourites as well as dishes you may never have heard of.

Seafood is eaten all over the island. You could try ‘braff’, a hearty fish soup that also uses pumpkin, potatoes, and other vegetables, for a tasty lunch. Or perhaps ‘titiwi accra’ fishcakes for something on the go. Crabs, crayfish, lionfish, mahi mahi (often listed as ‘fried dolphin’ on menus), and conch (a sea snail) are also widely served in restaurants and food stalls alike.

The national dish is callaloo, a green leafy soup made with spices and mixed vegetables, but in the past it was ‘mountain chicken’. Be aware, however, that this is a type of large frog, and not a chicken at all. The reason this dish has been demoted is because the population of this species of frog has significantly fallen, and so today a different type of frog is used.

Many dishes are finished off with hot sauce – Bello is a Dominican favourite, but you will find homemade versions too. These vary in heat, so be sure to check a small dab on the fingertip before diving in!

Shopping in Roseau, Dominica

When in Roseau, you might want to buy a gift or souvenir to remind you of your holiday. You’ll find a variety of hand-crafted trinkets at the Old Market on Victoria Street, including things like wooden ornaments, bags, clothing, and other items.

On the other hand, if you’re someone who likes to get to know a place through its local shopping scene, the New Market at the mouth of the Roseau River might appeal. On Fridays you’ll find meat, fish, and flower stalls here, but the market is liveliest on Saturdays, when farmers gather to sell their freshly harvested fruit and vegetables. If you’ll be in Roseau on the weekend, the New Market provides a wonderfully authentic glimpse into life on the island.

Getting around: Roseau, Dominica transport

Roseau itself is easy to explore on foot, with the cruise port being located right across the street from many of the main attractions. If you’d like to explore more of the island, however, you’ll find taxis are plentiful. There are also reliable buses that traverse the island during the day too.

Roseau, Dominica port facilities

There is no terminal building at the cruise port in Roseau, and you’ll disembark onto a narrow pier which is a short walking distance from the capital’s centre. Shops, cafes, restaurants, and tourist information are all close by.

Top tips for Roseau, Dominica

Currency

The currency used in Roseau, Dominica, is the East Caribbean Dollar. This is the same as what’s used in St Lucia, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla, and Montserrat. You’ll find that US Dollars, Euros, and Sterling are widely accepted, however change will likely be given in local currency.

Tipping

In Dominica, tipping is entirely up to the buyer’s discretion. If you have experienced great service, and would like to leave a tip, around 10% of the total amount of the bill is appropriate.

Weather

Dominica, like its neighbouring islands, experiences warm weather year-round. The winter months of January to March usually see temperatures of between 22 and 31 degrees Celsius, and in summer (May through to October) this raises slightly to 25 and 33 degrees Celsius. The region sees the most rain between August and December.