Discover Roseau: Gardens, Markets and History

Roseau brings together several distinct themes for a stay: urban greenery, market culture and history. When looking for a hotel in Roseau, you can consider which of these aspects you want to focus on during your trip.

Gardens and Cityscape

The Botanic Gardens of Dominica cover 40 acres and lie below Morne Bruce. They are about 50 metres from the Roseau River. The Sisserou parrot, Dominica’s national bird, lives in the Botanical Gardens of Roseau. If you are interested in urban greenery or the national bird, they offer a specific focus for your stay.

Roseau is small enough to explore comfortably on foot. The gardens are a distinct landmark within the city: they lie below Morne Bruce and close to the Roseau River. The Sisserou parrot is another special feature of this place, whether or not you are primarily planning your stay around the city’s history or its markets.

History and Markets

Roseau stands on the site of the old Kalinago village of Sairi and features a number of examples of 18th-century French architecture. These are two distinct historical aspects of the city: the former site of a Kalinago village and French architecture from the 18th century. If you are interested in Roseau’s history, you can keep both themes in mind as you explore the city.

The markets also offer distinct experiences. Old Market Square is a market with craft stalls for cruise visitors and other guests. At the riverbank, the New Market showcases fresh tropical fruit, vegetables and herbs. Thus, crafts at Old Market Square and fresh produce at the New Market represent two different market highlights.

Getting Around Roseau

Roseau’s cruise ship pier is opposite the Dominica Museum. Cruise visitors walk directly from their ships into the city to shop and take part in tours. This describes how cruise visitors arrive; Roseau can also be explored comfortably on foot as a small city.

The Visitors’ Information Center is located in Roseau’s former post office. If you plan to use it as a point of contact, check its current opening status before your visit.

Saint George as the Wider Destination Context

In the wider destination of Saint George, Segment 4 of the Waitukubuli National Trail runs from Wotten Waven to Pont Casse. The route lies in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Morne Trois Pitons National Park, is about 13.3 kilometres long, can be completed in six hours and offers views of five mountains. This hike is listed as requiring considerably more time than the shorter route to Middleham Falls.

Middleham Falls is also part of the wider destination of Saint George. The easy-to-moderate hike there takes 45 minutes and leads into the rainforest of Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The cascading falls are 200 feet high. The pool below is suitable for swimming, though the water is somewhat cool. When choosing between the two hikes, both the stated time required and the destination differ: Segment 4 runs from Wotten Waven to Pont Casse, while the shorter hike leads to a waterfall with a swimming pool.

Another natural attraction in the wider destination of Saint George is Boeri Lake. It lies at an elevation of 2,800 feet and covers about four acres. The lake is located in the crater of an old volcano; Morne Macaque, also known locally as Morne Micotrin, formed there. The old volcano separates Boeri Lake from Freshwater Lake, Dominica’s largest lake. The moderate hike to Boeri Lake starts at Freshwater Lake and is 1¼ miles long.

Titou Gorge also offers a distinctive nature experience in the wider destination of Saint George: a short swim leads from the foot of a waterfall through several natural chambers and pools. The high cliff walls are covered by intertwined trees.

Discover more destinations: Trafalgar, Giraudel, Loubiere, Morne Prosper, Laudat.

Return to the wider travel overview: Saint George.