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Grenada, the southernmost of the Windward Islands, is known as the Spice Isle, and its national flag features a nutmeg. In the capital, St. George’s, pastel-colored buildings and red-roofed houses climb the steep hillsides around the horseshoe-shaped harbor of the Carenage, reaching toward Fort George, built by the French in 1705.
Beyond the capital, roads wind north through rainforest, passing waterfalls and former cocoa estates with stone drying floors. Along the southwest coast, Grand Anse stands out for its long stretch of pale sand and is among the island’s best-known beaches.
Distances may look short on the map, but winding mountain roads make journeys slower than expected. On a five-day trip, giving each part of the island its own day leaves more time to explore without rushing.
Useful things to know
Main language(s): English
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD, $)
Cash and cards: Hotels, resorts, and larger restaurants take cards, while taxis, minibuses, and market stalls expect cash. Carry XCD 80 to XCD 200 (US$30 to US$74) for small purchases.
Tipping: Most hotel and restaurant bills include a 10% to 18% service charge. If yours does not, leave 10%. Tip taxi drivers 10% to 15%.
Traditional food: Oil down, the national dish, leads a list of Grenadian classics that also includes callaloo soup, bakes and saltfish, and nutmeg ice cream.
Water and coffee costs: A small bottle of water costs XCD 3 to XCD 5 (US$1 to US$2), and an espresso or cappuccino at a café costs XCD 10 to XCD 14 (US$3.50 to US$5).
Taxis and ride apps: Uber and Lyft do not operate in Grenada. Use licensed taxis with fixed fares, hotel transfers, or Haylup, a local ride app that accepts cards.
Plug and voltage: Type G socket, 230 V
Dining and shop opening hours: Restaurants serve breakfast from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, lunch from noon to 2:00 pm, and dinner from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Most shops close early on Saturdays and stay closed on Sundays.
Emergency number: 911 for police and fire, and 434 for an ambulance
Where to stay in Grenada
Grand Anse, Grenada’s best-known resort area, follows a 2-mile (3 km) beach of pale sand and calm, clear water on the southwest coast. Hotels, beach bars, cafés, and shops line the road behind the shore, and the market and forts of St. George’s are a short taxi or water-taxi ride north.
Best for: Beach days, full-service resorts, and travelers who want the widest choice of hotels on the island
What to expect: Swimmers and beach vendors during the day, music from the beach bars around lunchtime, and restaurants that fill up after sunset
Hotel prices: Well-rated hotels in this area cost XCD 620 to XCD 3,100 (US$230 to US$1,150) per night.
Distance to major sights: 10 to 15 minutes by taxi to St. George’s Market Square, or 5 minutes by water taxi to the Carenage
Quietness: The beach and main road stay busy from morning to late afternoon, and the area calms down once the last dinner seatings end.
Main trade-off: Rates here are higher than in most other parts of the island, and the central stretch of beach gets crowded from December to April.
Good to know: Water taxis link the beach with the Carenage in St. George’s for XCD 13.50 to XCD 21.50 (US$5 to US$8) per person, a quicker trip than the road.
Morne Rouge is a small bay just south of Grand Anse, past Quarantine Point, with a crescent of white sand about half a mile (800 meters) long. Its shallow, calm water is ideal for easy swimming, and a few low-rise hotels and beach bars keep the setting relaxed, five minutes by car from Grand Anse.
Best for: Couples, families with young children, and travelers who want calm water and fewer people than at Grand Anse
What to expect: A quiet crescent beach with a few hotels, guesthouses, and open-air beach bars, plus little street activity in the evening
Hotel prices: Well-rated hotels in this area range from XCD 310 to XCD 1,890 (US$115 to US$700) per night.
Distance to major sights: 15 to 20 minutes by taxi to Fort George and 5 minutes by car to Grand Anse Beach
Quietness: Hotel guests and a few day visitors fill the beach in daylight hours, and evenings are noticeably quieter than in Grand Anse.
Main trade-off: Few restaurants and shops are within walking distance, and the steep road toward St. George’s has no sidewalks for long stretches.
Good to know: Rocks at both ends of the bay are good for snorkeling, but lifeguards are rarely on duty, so swim with care.
St. George’s, Grenada’s capital, wraps around the Carenage, an inner harbor lined with old stone warehouses, cafés, and fishing boats. Steep streets climb to Fort George and the hilltop cathedral, Market Square fills with spice and produce stalls, and the Carriacou ferry leaves from the waterfront.
Best for: Sightseeing on foot, short stays, and travelers who want forts, churches, and the market within walking distance
What to expect: A working port town with harbor traffic, busy market mornings, and locals and visitors sharing the Carenage by day
Hotel prices: Well-rated hotels in this area are scarce, and the few small hotels and guesthouses in town start at XCD 255 (US$95) per night.
Distance to major sights: 5 to 10 minutes on foot to Market Square, and a short, steep walk from the Carenage up to Fort George
Quietness: The port and market keep the center loud during the day, and the streets empty out once offices and shops close in the early evening.
Main trade-off: The town has no beach, so you need a taxi or water taxi to reach Grand Anse, and the steep streets make walking tiring in the heat.
Good to know: Osprey Lines ferries to Carriacou leave from the Carenage at 9:00 am Monday to Saturday and at 5:00 pm Monday to Friday.
Lance aux Epines is a quiet, upscale residential area on Grenada’s south coast, where villas, small white-sand beaches, and boutique hotels face the yachts anchored in calm Prickly Bay. The airport and Grand Anse are a 10-minute drive away, and St. George’s is 20 minutes north by taxi.
Best for: Longer stays, sailing and marina access, and travelers who want a residential setting close to the airport
What to expect: Villas and small hotels along quiet roads, a handful of waterside restaurants and bars, and yachts moored in the bays.
Hotel prices: Well-rated hotels in this area charge XCD 445 to XCD 2,160 (US$165 to US$800) per night.
Distance to major sights: 10 minutes by taxi to Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) and Grand Anse, and 20 minutes to St. George’s
Quietness: Days are calm apart from activity at the marinas, and nights are quiet, with most evening noise coming from hotel and marina bars.
Main trade-off: Beyond a few restaurants and bars near the marinas, most dining spots and beaches are a taxi ride away.
Good to know: Prickly Bay is a popular yacht anchorage, and Secret Harbour Marina has a waterfront bar within walking distance of many villas.
Gouyave lies 45 minutes north of Grand Anse on a winding coastal road, Grenville is on the far east coast, and Grand Etang’s highland rainforest is cloudy and wet with no beaches, so all three are better as day trips.
Hotel deals
Getting around Grenada
Taxis connect the airport with St. George’s and the beaches, water taxis ferry passengers to Grand Anse, and rental cars let you explore the north.
Taxi
for airport runs and late hours
Licensed taxis charge fixed fares by zone, so agree on the price and currency before you set off. The ride from the airport to Grand Anse costs XCD 40 to XCD 70 (US$15 to US$25), and drivers expect cash. Haylup, a local ride app, takes cards and shows the fare upfront.
Water taxi
for St. George’s to Grand Anse
Water taxis cross between the Carenage in St. George’s and Grand Anse Beach in 5 minutes, compared with 10 to 15 minutes by road. A one-way ride costs XCD 13.50 to XCD 21.50 (US$5 to US$8) per person, and boats operate by private hire, so arrange the return pickup in advance.
Rental car
for exploring the island
Rental cars cost XCD 135 to XCD 200 (US$50 to US$75) per day, and every driver needs a local permit for XCD 60 (US$22), which most rental companies arrange. Grenada drives on the left, and interior roads are narrow, steep, and poorly lit after dark.
*Prices are based on rates updated as of October 2026 and may change at the time of travel.
Use taxis or Haylup for airport runs and late dinners, water taxis to reach Grand Anse from the capital, and a rental car for trips to the rest of the island.
Iconic places in Grenada
Fort George
The French built Fort George between 1706 and 1710 on the headland above the Carenage. Inside are barracks and underground rooms, and cannons line the ramparts above St. George’s harbor. The fort housed the police headquarters until 2024 and now welcomes visitors as a historic site.
Time needed: About 1 hour
Entry: Admission costs XCD 5 (US$2) per person, paid in cash at the gate. The fort is open daily from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Tip: Walk up from the Carenage in the morning, before the heat builds on the steep climb.
Grand Anse Beach
Grand Anse is Grenada’s best-known beach, a curve of pale sand nearly 2 miles (3 km) long on the southwest coast. Its calm water is ideal for swimming, and hotels, beach bars, and cafés line the shore, 10 to 15 minutes by taxi from St. George’s.
Time needed: 2 to 4 hours
Entry: Free. Loungers and umbrellas are available for rent at hotels and beach bars along the shore.
Tip: Stay for sunset, when the sun drops into the sea off the west-facing shore
Underwater Sculpture Park
Off Molinère Bay, 2 miles (3 km) north of St. George’s, more than 100 sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor rest on the seabed, including Vicissitudes, a ring of 26 children holding hands. National Geographic lists the park among its 25 Wonders of the World.
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours, including the boat ride
Entry: Admission costs XCD 19 (US$7), plus XCD 120 to XCD 350 (US$45 to US$130) for a glass-bottom boat, snorkel, or dive tour. Visit the official site for details.
Tip: Book a morning boat trip, when the sea is calmer and the sculptures are easier to see.
Overlooked places in Grenada
Belmont Estate
Belmont Estate, a 300-year-old plantation in St. Patrick, an hour’s drive northeast of St. George’s, still grows and sun-dries organic cocoa, makes its own chocolate, and serves Grenadian lunches.
Time needed: 1 hour, or 4 hours with the chocolate-making tour
Entry: Tickets cost XCD 30 (US$11) per adult, or XCD 208 (US$77) for the chocolate tour. Visit the official site for details.
Tip: Avoid Saturdays, when the estate tour is closed, and stay for lunch at the restaurant.
Fort Matthew
This hilltop 18th-century fort above St. George’s offers stone ramparts, old cannon, and broad harbor views. It is quieter than the waterfront forts and rewards a slow walk through its ruins.
Time needed: About 1 hour
Entry: Free; visitors can walk the ruins and exterior ramparts anytime.
Tip: Walk 490 feet (150 m) to Fort Frederick next door and see both forts in one visit.
What to eat in Grenada
Nutmeg, cocoa, coconut, and fresh fish shape Grenadian food, and the best local cooking turns up at waterfront restaurants on the Carenage and at lively weekly food nights.
Oil down
Oil down, Grenada’s national dish, slow-cooks breadfruit, salted meat, chicken, dumplings, and callaloo leaves in coconut milk and turmeric. Try it at Street Food Wednesday at Dodgy Dock in True Blue, which starts at 6:30 pm.
Callaloo soup
Callaloo soup blends the leaves of the dasheen plant with okra, coconut milk, and herbs into a thick green soup, sometimes with crab. BB’s Crabback, a waterfront restaurant on the Carenage in St. George’s, serves a well-regarded bowl.
Bakes and saltfish
Bakes are small rounds of fried dough served with saltfish sautéed with onions, peppers, and tomatoes, a pairing many Grenadians eat for breakfast. Deyna’s Tasty Foods in St. George’s serves it every morning.
Nutmeg ice cream
Grenada is one of the world’s leading nutmeg producers, and the spice gives this creamy ice cream a warm, slightly sweet finish. Rick’s Café in the Grand Anse Shopping Centre serves it along with pizza and casual meals.
Best time to visit
Temperatures in Grenada change little through the year, so rainfall shapes the seasons: driest from December to May, wettest from June to November.
Best for: Dry beach days, calm seas, and holiday trips
What you get: Temperatures range from 75°F to 85°F (24°C to 29°C). Rainfall drops, but peak-season crowds fill the most popular beaches and hotels.
Trade-offs: Hotel rates reach their highest levels of the year over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Best for: Sightseeing and long beach days with fewer crowds than in the winter peak
What you get: Temperatures range from 76°F to 86°F (24°C to 30°C). March is the driest month, and steady sunshine suits island drives and boat trips.
Trade-offs: Heavier rain returns in late May, and some hillside roads turn muddy after downpours.
Best for: Spicemas, Grenada’s carnival in August, and quieter beaches early in the season
What you get: Temperatures range from 78°F to 86°F (26°C to 30°C). Rain falls on more days, and August averages 18 wet days, the most of any month.
Trade-offs: Hurricane season begins in June, and hotels sell out during carnival in the second week of August.
Best for: Flexible travelers who want lower hotel rates and the quietest beaches
What you get: Temperatures range from 77°F to 87°F (25°C to 31°C). September is the hottest month, and November brings the year’s heaviest rainfall.
Trade-offs: Hurricane season lasts through November, so storms and heavy rain can disrupt travel plans.
A 5-day plan in Grenada
This plan gives St. George’s, the rainforest interior, and the southwest coast a day each, with time underwater at the sculpture park and an easy beach morning near the airport before you fly home.
Check in, then spend the afternoon on Grand Anse Beach, where the calm water makes a gentle first swim after the flight. Browse the Grand Anse Craft and Spice Market for nutmeg and cocoa, then watch the sunset over the sea from the sand before dinner at one of the beachfront restaurants.
Climb to Fort George early for the harbor views, then walk down through the Sendall Tunnel, a narrow passage cut through the hill in 1894, to the Carenage. Visit the Grenada National Museum, housed in 18th-century French barracks, and taste cocoa at the House of Chocolate on Young Street. After lunch at BB’s Crabback, take a taxi up Richmond Hill to Fort Matthew and Fort Frederick for late-afternoon views over the capital.
Leave early and drive north from St. George’s to Annandale Falls, a 30-foot (9-meter) cascade with a cold, clear pool, then climb the road to Grand Etang. Walk the Shoreline Trail around the crater lake and look for mona monkeys near the viewing area. Continue to Belmont Estate in the northeast for the estate tour and a Grenadian lunch at its restaurant, then return south in the late afternoon.
Book a morning boat trip from Grand Anse to the Underwater Sculpture Park, where calm early-day conditions offer the clearest views of the figures on the seabed. Spend the afternoon at Morne Rouge, swimming in the calm bay and snorkeling along the rocks at either end. If it is a Wednesday, finish with Street Food night at Dodgy Dock in True Blue.
Keep the last day close to the airport. Spend the morning at Magazine Beach on the island’s southwestern tip, a quiet stretch of golden sand with good snorkeling, then have an unhurried seafood lunch at Aquarium, the open-air restaurant at the beach’s southern end, before the short ride to the terminal.
Business-class flights from the US to Grenada
Travelers from the East Coast can fly to Grenada nonstop, while West Coast flights connect through at least one hub, adding several hours.
New York (JFK) to Grenada (GND)
JetBlue offers nonstop flights from New York (JFK) to Grenada (GND), which take 5 hours and sometimes feature the airline’s Mint business-class cabin with lie-flat seats. American Airlines offers flights to Grenada through Miami (MIA), Delta Air Lines through Atlanta (ATL), and Caribbean Airlines through Port of Spain (POS). One-stop flights on this route take 8 to 10 hours. Business-class round-trip tickets start at $1,700 with one stop and at $2,300 for the JetBlue Mint nonstop.
Los Angeles (LAX) to Grenada (GND)
No airline offers nonstop flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Grenada (GND); every itinerary includes at least one stop. American Airlines routes travelers through Miami (MIA), and Delta Air Lines flies via Atlanta (ATL), both on overnight departures. One-stop itineraries take 11.5 to 13 hours, and business-class round-trip tickets cost $1,900 to $3,700.
Take your time exploring Grenada's spice-scented landscapes
Grenada is small, but its winding roads turn short distances into long drives, so the trip flows best when each day stays in one part of the island: forts and markets in St. George’s, rainforest and cocoa estates inland, and reefs and calm bays along the southwest coast. Once you have settled on your dates, AranGrant’s travel experts can find business-class flights to Grenada and a hotel that fits your plans.
