Grenada Travel Guide
Welcome to the taste2travel Grenada Travel Guide!
Date Visited: April 2015
Last Revised: June 2026
Introduction
Welcome to Grenada!
Home to some of the friendliest people in the Caribbean.
In this country you will normally be greeted by a warm welcome and a big smile.
Fishing boats at Crayfish Bay.
Grenada is the most southerly of the Windward Islands, located a short boat ride south of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The country is known as the “Island of Spice” due to it being one of the largest exporters of nutmeg in the world, supplying 40% of the market.
Location
Located in the Lesser Antilles, Grenada consists of the main island of Grenada itself plus six smaller islands which lie to the north of the main island.
It is located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago and south of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The country consists of the islands of Grenada (main island), Carriacou and Petit Martinique.
The main island is 34-km long and 22-km wide.
You could explore most of the island in a few days with your own car.
History
Grenada was originally inhabited by native Carib Indians until the French arrived in 1649.
The French forced the natives to flee to neighbouring islands.
The French remained on the island until the British took control in 1763.
The French returned again for a brief period but then the British regained control and kept it until independence was granted in 1974.
Fisherman in St. Georges harbour
A coup in 1983, which resulted in the moderate government of Maurice Bishop being replaced by a strongly pro-communist government, concerned the US administration enough that President Ronald Reagan ordered US troops to invade the island.
Once a new (friendlier) government had been installed US troops departed.
Nutmeg is Grenada’s #1 export.
Grenada has a population of about 110,000 – which, like other Anglo Caribbean countries, is comprised of people of African, East Indian and European descent.
Flag
The flag of Grenada.
The flag of Grenada consists of two yellow triangles at the top and bottom and two green triangles at the hoist and fly sides.
These are surrounded by a red border charged with six five-pointed yellow stars; three at the top centre and three at the bottom centre, along with an additional star on a red disc at the centre and a nutmeg at the hoist triangle.
Adopted in 1974 at the time of independence and designed by a local Grenadian, the representation of a nutmeg is symbolic of the islands’ primary export.
Currency
The Eastern Caribbean Dollar.
The official currency of Grenada is the Eastern Caribbean dollar.
Headquartered in Basseterre, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) is the monetary authority for the following Caribbean nations:
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Grenada
- St. Kitts & Nevis
- Dominica
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
and the following British overseas territories:
- Anguilla
- Montserrat
The bank was founded in 1983 in order to maintain the stability of the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) and the integrity of the banking system of the member states.
The bank issues the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$), which is the currency of the member states.
Since 1976, the exchange rate has been pegged to the US$ at a rate of US$1 = EC$2.70.
Sightseeing
St. Georges
View of St. Georges, the capital of Grenada.
The capital and largest city (population: 4,500) of Grenada, St. Georges is located on the hillside of an old volcano crater, wrapped around a horseshoe-shaped harbour.
A stroll along the harbourside street – the Carenage – is a good way to familiarise yourself with the city.
The Carenage is home to bars, cafes, restaurants, shops and is full of activity from fisherman selling their catch to boats being unloaded, repaired etc.
Boat moored alongside the Carenage in St. Georges.
The city is small and compact and most sites can be covered on foot in one day.
In 2004 hurricane Ivan destroyed the city.
Today many buildings, including many of the main churches are still to be repaired.
St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church was destroyed in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan
Around the Island
Gouyave
Learning about nutmeg from a guide at the Belmont Estate.
North of St. Georges is the west coast town of Gouyave.
Worth a stop if you are passing through Gouyave is the Grenada Co-operative Nutmeg Association.
Nutmeg, laid out to dry, at the Grenada Co-operative Nutmeg Association.
At the co-op, you can learn all about the island’s #1 export while watching factory workers process the nut ready for export all over the world.
A worker at the Grenada Co-operative Nutmeg Association, sorting different grades of nutmeg.
River Antoine Rum Distillery
Rum from the River Antoine distillery.
This is a “must see” – a rum distillery founded in 1785 where the technology has not changed one bit.
The sugar cane is crushed by a huge waterwheel, the cane juice then flows into holding vats.
The giant distilling pots are fired by workers who throw wood onto the fire.
Everything here, including the bottling and labelling, is done by hand.
Firing the vats of alcohol at the River Antoine distillery.
The tour cost covers a sampling of the three different rums – it’s all rocket fuel stuff.
Very potent!
Belmont Estate
If you are driving on the east side of the island you should aim to arrive at Belmont Estate around lunch time.
The restaurant here does a great buffet lunch where you can try typical Grenadian cuisine.
This is a popular lunch stop for the tour groups so it can get busy.
The estate is still in family hands.
You can take a tour and learn all about the cocoa bean manufacturing and drying processes.
Cocoa beans drying at Belmont estate.
The onsite Grenada Chocolate Factory shop will satisfy the sweetest tooth.
Grenada Beaches
Sunset seen through a piece of fern coral at Morne Rouge beach.
The best beaches are in the south-west of the island, a short drive south of St. Georges.
The main beach with lots of white sand, beautiful Caribbean sea and great swimming is Grand Anse.
Here you’ll also find hotels, dive shops and a small shopping mall (only one on the island).
Further south is the more secluded but equally stunning Morne Rouge.
This is the best place to watch the sunset.
There are some hotels on the beach here.
Sunset at Morne Rouge beach.
Scuba Diving
A camouflaged crab on a piece of brain coral.
The diving on Grenada is very good. An interesting dive site is the Underwater Sculture Park.
You can also snorkel here as the sculptures are in about 10 metres of water.
The park is a 5-minute boat ride from the dive shops on Grand Anse beach.
Carriacou Island
View from inside a ruined windmill foundation on Carriacou Island.
North of the main island, set like a stepping stone between Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is tiny Carriacou Island.
Carriacou is home to 8,000 people. The capital city is Hillsborough, the only town on the island.
Everything is a 5-min walk in this town.
With a car you could tour the whole island in an couple of hours or walk it in a day.
Carriacou is reputed to be the friendliest, healthiest and safest island in the Caribbean.
It is a pleasant place to spend some time.
Accommodation
You will find accommodation concentrated in the south-west corner of the main island either in St. Georges or along Grand Anse or Morne Rouge beaches.
There are other options elsewhere around the island.
If you are going to Carriacou you should book in advance as accommodation is limited.
Best to book using booking.com
Eating Out
Restaurants on the island offer all the regular international dishes plus lots of local seafood and lambi (conch).
Calaloo soup (a leafy vegetable similar to spinach) is a local favourite as a starter.
As with the other Anglo Caribbean Islands, Chinese and Indian cuisine is also available.
You should not leave the spice island without trying nutmeg ice cream.
Visa Requirements
Visa policy map of Grenada.
Some nationalities require visas for Grenada – check your visa requirements prior to arrival.
Those countries highlighted in green and blue on the above visa policy map can visit Grenada visa-free.
Getting There
Air
The main airport of Grenada is Maurice Bishop International Airport (IATA: GND) which is located at Point Salines, about 8 km southwest of the capital, St. George’s.
The airport serves as Grenada’s primary international gateway, handling flights from the Caribbean, the United States, Canada, and seasonal services from Europe
It is the only airport in Grenada that handles regular international long-haul passenger flights, making it the country’s main aviation hub.
The following airlines provide international connections to Grenada:
- Air Canada Rouge: flies to/ from to Toronto–Pearson
- American Airlines: flies to/ from to Miami
- British Airways: flies to/ from to London (Gatwick)
- Caribbean Airlines: flies to/ from to Barbados, Port of Spain, St. Vincent–Argyle
- Delta Air Lines: flies to/ from Atlanta
- InterCaribbean Airways: flies to/ from Barbados, Georgetown–Cheddi Jagan, St. Vincent–Argyle
- JetBlue Airways: flies to/ from to New York (JFK)
- Liat20: flies to/ from Castries
- Sunrise Airways: flies to/ from Antigua, Castries
- Virgin Atlantic: flies to/ from Barbados, London–Heathrow
Sea
Cruise Ship
Cruise ships regularly call at Grenada, and it is one of the more established cruise destinations in the southern Caribbean.
Most cruise ships dock at St. George’s, using Melville Street Cruise Terminal, the primary berth for large cruise ships.
International Ferry Services
There are no scheduled international ferry services to Grenada, however, I have in the past taken a speed boat from the Grenada island of Carriacou to Union Island in Saint Vincent and Grenadines (SVG).
The two islands are just 15 km (9 mi) apart.
Such boats are informal and available upon request at the dock on Carriacou.
From Union Island, a daily ferry, the Jaden Sun, connects Union Island to Kingstown (the capital of SVG), stopping at many of the Grenadine islands.
Getting Around
My rental car on Grenada, where a 4WD is recommended to handle the rough roads on Grenada.
Public Transport
Grenada has a widespread and affordable public bus system, commonly referred to as “reggae buses”.
Located near the cruise terminal on Melville Street in downtown St. George’s, the bus Terminal is the place where all buses commence their journey to every point on the island.
Bus fares start at $2.50 EC (about $1 USD) and never exceed $10 EC ($4 USD)!
Taxis
Taxis are widely available in Grenada and are the most common way for visitors to get around.
You can easily find them at the airport, major hotels, and cruise ship terminals, or use local booking platforms like Haylup.
Car Rental
The best option for exploring Grenada is to hire a car upon arrival at the airport.
Note:
Tourists are legally required to purchase a temporary local Grenadian driving permit to rent and drive a vehicle on the island.
Foreign driver’s licenses and International Driving Permits (IDPs) are generally not accepted on their own as a substitute.
Most car rental companies can arrange and issue the permit directly to you when you pick up your vehicle.
The permit usually costs between $10 and $24 USD (or about EC$30 to EC$60) depending on the company.
Ferry
A daily passenger ferry runs between St. Georges and Carriacou with a connection to Petit Martinique.
The ferry service, which is operated by Osprey Express, departs from the Carenage in St. Georges.
The trip usually takes about 90 minutes, travelling up the west coast of the main island.
For fares and schedule, refer to the Osprey Express website.
That’s the end of my Grenada Travel Guide.
If you wish to leave feedback/ comments, you can do so using the form below.
Safe Travels!
Darren
Further Reading
Other travel reports from the Caribbean region include:
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Aruba
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bonaire
- Bermuda
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Montserrat
- Puerto Rico
- Saba
- Saint Barthélemy (Saint Barts)
- Saint Eustatius (Statia)
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin/ Sint Maarten
- Saint Vincent & The Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos
- Virgin Islands (British)
- Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Grenada Travel Guide Grenada Travel Guide Grenada Travel Guide Grenada Travel Guide Grenada Travel Guide
