The 8 things to do in Roseau

What to do in Roseau, Dominica? This small town contains things to see: here is a top 8 of the must-see things to visit Roseau!

What to do in Roseau, in Dominica ? Located between the two French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, Dominica, English-speaking but discovered by Christophe Colomb in 1493, is a sometimes forgotten jewel of the Caribbean archipelago. It's sometimes confused with Dominican Republic ... The island is the most mountainous island in the Lesser Antilles. The Roseau capital, inhabited by 16,582 souls and located in the south-west of the island, is worth stopping there and its heritage makes many travellers want. Its tropical climate is already dreaming: it never goes below 21°C at night and the thermometer never exceeds 28°C on average.

The town of Roseau, crossed by the homonymous coastal river, has a unique heritage, combined with Caribbean architecture and French-style: the city holds its name from the French settlers who, astonished to see so many roses grow on the banks of the river, baptized the city with the name of this plant. The city, colorful and dynamic, offers scenery in the form of a postcard.

You know what to do to Roseau? You've been drawn up a list of things to do by visiting Roseau.

1. Old Centre

After more than a hundred years of lust and conflict between France and England for the possession of the island, France definitively sold the island to the English, in 1763 after the signing of the Treaty of Paris . The old town centre dates from the 18th century, although it was destroyed by natural disasters and rebuilt on several occasions. The city was confined to the old city until the development of the city in the 19th century.

In the old town, admire the facades of colorful and wooden houses. The city centre resembles an obstacle race: the sidewalks are raised to prevent flooding during hurricanes and rains. The level of these sidewalks is uneven: you also have to look where you put your feet!

2. The Old Market

It would be a pity, to visit Roseau, not to do as the premises: the Old Market is one of the popular activities of Roseau. The Old Market – also known as Old Market Plaza or Dawbiney Market Place – lies behind the Museum of Dominica, near the seaside.

Colourful stands of artisanal production objects, bags, carpets and various buns: no, it is not the Christmas market but in the popular market that was the city’s core for more than 300 years. It was also – much less funny – a targeted place for political meetings, executions and the slave market. Still today, the locals flock to glean freshly harvested products from the earth.

3. The New Market

What to do in Roseau? The new market, to humour the popular and friendly atmosphere of the city! It is held every working day and Saturday – not Sunday, so! – and allows to find all the best fresh products of the island: tropical fruits, vegetables, local products and also sumptuous seasonal flowers.

4. Spread in the streets of Roseau

Here we are in the West Indies: when we come to visit Roseau, we have to expect to hear reggae and see smiles. The popular atmosphere is exhaled in the streets of the city centre, so that we respect local customs and customs in return (and yes, we are not home!). You will surely see the children dressed in their uniform go to school or come back, then you will feel the many flavors of the Antilles. If you are lost, don’t hesitate to ask for help to passers-by rather than by taking refuge on the internet.

The centre is home to a multitude of small Creole and French restaurants, bars to taste the colds of the island and many shops to shop, from the supermarket to small independent shops.

5. The Museum of Dominica

Emblem of the city, the Museum of Dominica housed in a small orange building, 1810. The museum is part of the old colonial town, adjacent to the old market. If you want to learn more about the history and culture of Dominica, this archaeological museum is to be done: it contains many exhibitions on the cultural, archaeological and regional history of the island.

6. Our Lady of Fair Heaven Cathedral

This cathedral built in volcanic stone required more than 100 years to erect it: the construction began from 1800 and was inaugurated in 1916. Roseau Cathedral was initially known in French under the name Church of Notre-Dame du Bon Port du Mouillage de Roseau. It is a Romanesque cathedral that also represents the Creole influence. The building also contrasts with Caribbean architecture.

7. The Botanical Garden

Visit Roseau without making the Botanical Garden Wouldn't be too bad, but blasphemous! Powder of unmissable greenery on the heights of the capital, it has 50 species of trees, several varieties of birds and two species of endemic lizards on the island. The gardens were severely affected by Hurricane David in 1979, and a baobab fell on a school bus fortunately empty of schoolchildren. To account for the power of the winds, the bus and the tree were left as they were. Before the hurricane, the Botanical Garden was one of the largest conservatories of Caribbean plants.

8. Get to Morne Bruce

Want to visit Roseau by getting green? In this case, we'll have to go up to Morne Bruce , by a stone staircase of 35 steps and steep and shady paths. The site offers a 30-minute walk to the top, to enjoy a splendid view of Roseau.

How to get to Roseau?

Traveling to Dominica requires transit through another Caribbean island. France does not have flights to Dominica, so you will have to take a first flight to La Guadeloupe , La Martinique or Saint Lucia . To find a flight at the best price, don’t hesitate to take a look at our partner’s website Ulysses .

Once on site, you have the choice:

- The boat : At the departure of La Martinique, La Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia, the Saintes and Marie Galante, the company L Islands Express connects to the Roseau terminal in Dominica, due to 3 to 7 crossings per week. On the price side, count a good budget of 119€ the round-trip crossing, 79€ for a single trip. - The car : To go to Roseau, we can rent a car but the roads are windy and dangerous: the Dominicans are driving fast. Rent a 4×4 if the budget allows it, because they are expensive but it will be an ideal solution to really go everywhere and radiate freely throughout the island. For example, we think of the difficult access to certain beaches. It should be noted that here you drive to the left. A local driver’s licence will be required, issued upon presentation of the French driver’s licence (justify at least 2 years of experience and have more than 25 years of experience). Cost: 30 EC$ (8,40 €) per driver. - The plane : This is the fastest way, but not the most economical (between €150/190 per round trip). At the departure of the French islands, the Air Caribbean and the Liat companies provide several flights mainly to the Canefield airport at Roseau (10 minutes from Roseau). Careful, think about getting in touch with you first, because the second airport in Dominica, Melville Hall , is located him, at 1:30 am from Roseau. Finally, know that these flights are not direct, and require a stopover between 2am and 4am. - The bus : From Canefield Airport, minibuses can be taken if you don’t want to rent a car. Lines in the southwest are well served, Monday to Saturday, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Sunday. As in South-East Asia, it will often be necessary to wait for the bus to be full to leave (the independent drivers seeking to return their journeys): time must be taken! As for the taxi, it's very expensive...

Where to stay in Roseau?

Several neighbourhoods and other places caught serve as accommodation in Roseau. As the city is not very large, the French quarter – the old colonial quarter – will be targeted, the Newton area on the seafront along Victoria Street, and the area of Pottersville . To find a cheap hotel in Roseau, check out this Compare hotels which, according to your dates of stay, will offer you the best offers.