Grenada (St. George's)

Grenada, the “Spice Isle”: horseshoe-shaped St. George's harbor, Grand Anse Beach, the world's first underwater sculpture park, and nutmeg and cocoa estates.

Grenada lies at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles, about 150 km north of Trinidad, and consists of the main island of Grenada plus smaller islands such as Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Known as the “Spice Isle” for its abundant nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves, it even has a nutmeg on its national flag. The capital, St. George's, wraps around a horseshoe-shaped harbor in a volcanic crater, with red-roofed, colorful houses stacked up the hillsides; it's considered one of the most beautiful harbor towns in the Caribbean. The climate is tropical maritime: the dry season from January to May is the best time to visit, while June–November is the rainy season, and the island sits on the southern edge of the hurricane belt (Ivan in 2004 and Beryl in 2024 caused severe damage). The Spicemas carnival takes place in August. Sightseeing falls into three areas: the southwest corner, with Grand Anse and Morne Rouge beaches and the hotel district, which serves as your base and the departure point for diving and boat trips; St. George's old town with Fort George and Fort Frederick; and the interior's Grand Etang rainforest national park with waterfalls such as Seven Sisters and Annandale. The north and northeast coasts, home to the Belmont Estate, the River Antoine rum distillery, a nutmeg processing station and Leapers' Hill, make a good full-day island tour with a hired driver. The Molinière Bay underwater sculpture park and the Bianca C shipwreck are well-known Caribbean dive sites. The main island is about 34 km long; driving is on the left, and a temporary local permit is required. Minibuses are cheap but run irregularly, so a hired driver or organized tour is recommended for an island loop. Maurice Bishop International Airport is right next to Grand Anse, with direct flights from London, Miami, New York and elsewhere. Plan to stay 4–6 days. The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (pegged to the US dollar, which is widely accepted). Carriacou is about a 2-hour ferry ride away and usually requires an extra night; its sights are not covered under this destination.

Top sights

Grand Anse Beach – A roughly 3 km white-sand bay facing St. George’s. It is Grenada’s most famous beach and the main cluster of its hotels.
Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park – The world’s first underwater sculpture park, created in 2006 by Jason deCaires Taylor. Snorkelers can see a ring of figures holding hands j…
St. George's Carenage – A horseshoe-shaped harbor inside a volcanic crater, where colorful warehouses and red-roofed houses climb the hillside. It is St. George’s…
Grand Etang National Park & Lake – A crater lake and mountain rainforest about 530 meters above sea level in the center of the island. Mona monkeys are often seen here, and i…
Belmont Estate – A 17th-century plantation in the north where you can watch cocoa being fermented and dried, then taste estate-made chocolate and Grenadian…
Fort George – A headland fort built by the French in 1705, overlooking St. George's Harbour and Grand Anse Bay. It is also where the 1983 coup took place.
Fort Frederick – An 18th-century fortress on Richmond Hill that defends against land attacks with its back to the sea. It is the best viewpoint over all of…
Seven Sisters Falls – A cluster of seven-tiered waterfalls deep in the Grand Etang rainforest. The two lower tiers are swimmable, making it Grenada's most popula…
Annandale Falls – A small waterfall and spice garden just 15 minutes by car from St. George's. It is a few minutes' walk and suits a relaxed outing.
Concord Falls – A three-tiered waterfall in the Concord Valley on the west coast. The first tier is reachable by car, while the upper tiers require a rainf…
River Antoine Rum Distillery – An old rum distillery operating since 1785 that still uses a water wheel to crush sugarcane. It is considered one of the oldest water-power…
Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station – The nutmeg cooperative's processing station in the fishing village of Gouyave, where workers hand-sort nutmeg and mace, filling the air wit…
Dougaldston Spice Estate – An old spice plantation near Gouyave where you can see sun-drying platforms and spices in their natural form, including nutmeg, cocoa and c…
Morne Rouge Bay (BBC Beach) – A small crescent bay on the south side of Grand Anse, with gentler waves and fewer people. It is good for swimming and snorkeling, and loca…
Levera Beach & National Park – A wild beach and mangrove wetland at the northeast tip of the island, facing Sugar Loaf Island, and an important nesting ground for leather…
Bathway Beach – A shallow beach on the northeast coast, enclosed by natural reefs that form a calm 'natural pool' inside.
Leapers' Hill (Sauteurs) – In 1651, the last group of Carib Indigenous people leapt from this cliff rather than surrender to the French. The northern town of Sauteurs…
Lake Antoine – A shallow lake in a volcanic crater only 6 meters above sea level in the northeast, surrounded by mangroves and farmland, with plenty of wa…
Grenada National Museum – A small museum housed in the former site of an 18th-century French barracks and women's prison, telling the story of the Indigenous peoples…
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception – A Catholic cathedral completed in 1818, its bell tower rising above the old town on the hillside and serving as a landmark of the harbour s…
St. George's Anglican Church – A stone church in Georgian style completed in 1825, whose bell tower and monuments reflect the island's British colonial history.
St. George's Market Square – An open-air market in the center of the old town, where stalls sell nutmeg, cocoa sticks, spice bags and tropical fruit, full of local life.
Westerhall Rum Estate – A long-established rum estate in the south that keeps old water wheels, stills and other historic equipment. Visitors can tour it and taste…
Magazine Beach – A quiet beach beside the airport runway, with white sand and clear water. It is a lesser-known spot for sunsets and watching planes take of…
La Sagesse Beach – A secluded bay on the southeast coast, where coconut palms, salt ponds and a nature reserve come together. It is ideal for a half-day escap…
Bianca C Wreck – An Italian cruise ship that caught fire and sank off St. George's in 1961. At 180 meters long, it is known as the 'Titanic of the Caribbean…
Mount Qua Qua Trail – A ridge trail starting from Grand Etang, taking about 3 hours round trip, with views of a volcanic lake, rainforest and the coasts on both…
Hog Island – An uninhabited island ringed by mangroves on the south coast, where yachties and locals gather for beach bar barbecues on Sunday afternoons.
House of Chocolate – A small chocolate museum and café beside Carenage, telling Grenada's cocoa story of 'from tree to bar'.
Mount Saint Catherine – Grenada's highest peak at 840 meters, an old volcanic remnant covered in primary rainforest. It is the island's most challenging hiking rou…

Where to eat

BB's Crabback Restaurant – A local restaurant opened by renowned chef Brian Benjamin on the St. George's harbour. Its signature is the crabback, l…
Patrick's Local Homestyle Restaurant – A small house serving nearly twenty local small dishes in one home-style set meal, the best place to experience the ful…
House of Chocolate – A chocolate mini-museum and café in Old St. George's, where you can sample chocolate from five bean-to-bar brands in Gr…
Coconut Beach French Creole Restaurant – A French Creole seafood restaurant under thatched huts at the north end of Grand Anse Beach, where you can eat lobster…
Umbrellas Beach Bar – The most popular budget beach bar on Grand Anse Beach, serving chicken wings and shrimp tacos with rum cocktails. The u…
The Aquarium Restaurant – A seafood restaurant on wooden decks by the water at Magazine Beach. The Sunday beach barbecue with live music is the m…