25 Places to Go in 2025 Spotlight: Dominica

The people make Dominica a draw just as much as the nature. Immerse yourself in the Roseau Market, a vibrant hub of activity in the capital city where locals and tourists alike come for traditional dishes like callaloo soup, conch fritters, and soursop juice in between shopping for crafts and souvenirs. For more culture, plan your trip around one of the island’s festivals, like Mas Domnik (Dominica’s Carnival in the first week of March filled with parties, dancing, and calypso), the World Creole Music Festival in October, or the Independence Day celebrations in November. Or explore it all on a short island road trip.

Local Creole cuisine, which naturally has an emphasis on seafood at waterfront restaurants, is easy to find in Roseau. For accommodations in Dominica, consider eco-lodges like Secret Bay, which has luxurious rainforest villas, or boutique hotels like the Fort Young Hotel, a 1700s fort converted into a hotel at the center of the action in Roseau with a lively bar and proximity to the headquarters of Dive Dominica.