Travel Guide to Grenada 2026: Grand Anse Beach, Waterfalls & Spices
Planning to visit Grenada? This travel guide to Grenada covers everything you need for a first trip to the Caribbean's "Island of Spice": where Grenada is, the best time to go, visa and entry rules, the top places to visit, a 7-day itinerary, realistic costs, safety tips, and the best hotels and universities. Grenada is a three-island nation of nutmeg-scented hills, rainforest waterfalls, the two-mile sweep of Grand Anse Beach, an underwater sculpture park and some of the friendliest people in the West Indies.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and taxes in this travel guide to Grenada were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Grenada
- Capital: St. George's💡 Pastel houses around a sheltered horseshoe harbour
- Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD)💡 Fixed at EC$2.70 per US dollar; US dollars widely accepted. Check today's rate
- Language: English💡 Grenadian Creole is widely spoken
- Population: About 117,000💡 2026 estimate
- Area: 344 km²💡 Including Carriacou and Petite Martinique
- Time zone: AST (UTC−4) all year💡 No daylight saving time. Convert times
- Spice Isle: A nutmeg on the flag💡 One of the world's biggest nutmeg producers
- Power: 230 V, plug type G💡 UK-style three-pin plugs
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Grenada are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is Grenada?
Grenada is in the eastern Caribbean, at the southern end of the Windward Islands. It lies about 160 km north of Trinidad and Tobago and just south of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The country includes the main island of Grenada and the smaller sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Direct flights reach Grenada from Miami (about 3.5 hours), New York, Toronto and London (about 9 hours), plus connections via Barbados and Trinidad. Check the distance from your city with our distance calculator, or explore more in our North America & Caribbean guides.
📅 Best Time to Visit Grenada
The best time to visit Grenada is the dry season, January to May, with sunshine, trade winds and calm, clear water for diving. December to April is peak season, so book early. The wet season (June to December) brings short tropical showers and fuller waterfalls, and Grenada lies near the southern edge of the hurricane belt, so storms are less common than further north but still possible from August to October. August is Spicemas, the island's carnival.
Best for beaches, diving, hiking and sailing to Carriacou.
Cocoa farm tours, tastings and workshops across the island.
Carnival with Jab Jab mas, soca, calypso and steel pan.
Short showers, lush waterfalls and lower prices; watch hurricane forecasts.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Grenada to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Grenada Visa & Entry Requirements
Visa-free visits: citizens of the USA, UK, Canada, EU countries, Australia, most Commonwealth countries and CARICOM members can visit Grenada without a visa. Immigration officers usually grant tourist stays of up to 3 months, depending on your plans. Other nationalities should check whether they need a visa before travelling.
- Valid passportValid for at least 6 months beyond your stay.
- Return ticketProof of onward or return travel is required.
- Driving permitVisitors need a local temporary driving permit, issued by rental companies or the police.
- Main airportMaurice Bishop International (GND), near Grand Anse; Carriacou has a small airport and a ferry.
🔗 Official sources: Pure Grenada (Grenada Tourism Authority) · Government of Grenada. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Grenada were last checked in October 2026.
🏖️ Best Places to Visit in Grenada
These are the places we recommend most in this travel guide to Grenada, with the best months to see each one.
Two miles of soft white sand and calm turquoise water, a short ride from St. George's.
💡 Best time: All yearThe world's first underwater sculpture park, now a coral reef for snorkellers and divers.
💡 Best time: All yearA crater lake, rainforest trails and Mona monkeys in the island's mountainous centre.
💡 Best time: Jan–MayThe Carenage harbour, the spice market and views from Fort George and Fort Frederick.
💡 Best time: All yearRainforest waterfalls; hike to Seven Sisters for a swim in its pools.
💡 Best time: Jun–Dec (fullest)A 17th-century cocoa estate and the Gouyave nutmeg processing station.
💡 Best time: All yearOne of the oldest working distilleries in the Caribbean, still powered by a water wheel.
💡 Best time: All yearA sister island of boat builders, quiet beaches and the tiny postcard islet of Sandy Island.
💡 Best time: Jan–May🗺️ 7-Day Grenada Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Grenada is small enough to explore from one base near Grand Anse, with day trips by taxi, tour or rental car. Allow time for winding mountain roads.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Grenada day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Grand Anse: arrive, check in and spend the afternoon on Grand Anse Beach.
- St. George's: the Carenage, the spice market, Fort George and the National Museum.
- Molinere & west coast: snorkel the Underwater Sculpture Park, then visit Gouyave's nutmeg station.
- Grand Etang & waterfalls: the crater lake, Annandale Falls and a hike to Seven Sisters Falls.
- North & east: Belmont Estate for chocolate, River Antoine Rum Distillery and Bathway Beach.
- Carriacou (ferry or flight): Paradise Beach, Sandy Island snorkelling and boat-building at Windward.
- Relax: a final beach morning at Morne Rouge (BBC Beach) before your flight.
➕ With more time: stay a few nights on Carriacou, dive the Bianca C shipwreck, or sail to the Grenadines.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Grenada Cost?
Grenada is mid-priced for the Caribbean, with good-value guesthouses alongside luxury resorts. These are approximate daily costs per person in 2026, excluding international flights. Use our currency converter to see them in your own currency.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$70–110 | Guesthouses, local rum shops and roti stands, minibuses |
| Mid-range | US$200–350 | Boutique hotels, restaurant dinners, tours and dives |
| Luxury | US$600 + | Five-star beach resorts, private tours and sailing |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Grenada are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Grenada
Grenada is one of the safer islands in the Caribbean, and visitors are warmly welcomed. Take normal precautions: do not leave valuables on the beach, lock rental cars and avoid isolated areas after dark. Roads are narrow, steep and winding, with fast minibuses, so drive carefully (on the left). Use reef-safe sunscreen and wear water shoes on rocky shores.
Colourful local buses are cheap and fun; the conductor will tell you where to get off.
Grenada makes organic tree-to-bar chocolate.
Required to rent a car; rental companies can issue it.
Buy nutmeg, cinnamon and cocoa tea balls at the St. George's market.
Morning visits to the sculpture park have calmer water and fewer boats.
A friendly "Good morning" is expected before any question.
🏨 Best Hotels in Grenada: 8 Top Picks
Most of Grenada's best hotels are on or near Grand Anse and the south coast, close to the airport and St. George's.
A celebrated family-run resort right on Grand Anse Beach.
Check prices on Booking.com →Contemporary resort with a 100-metre infinity pool.
Check prices on Booking.com →Suites in tropical gardens on a quiet bay.
Check prices on Booking.com →A couples-only resort with overwater bungalows.
Check prices on Booking.com →Colourful suites above Grand Anse with a beach club.
Check prices on Booking.com →Italian-designed cottages on a secluded beach.
Check prices on Booking.com →Colourful resort on a bay, with a dive centre and cooking classes.
Check prices on Booking.com →Relaxed beachfront resort with a swim-up bar.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Grenada: hotels are picked for location, reputation and a spread of price levels. Prices and availability change daily, so the buttons open live Booking.com results for each property.
🤝 Affiliate disclosure: hotel buttons are affiliate links. If you book through them, AtlasWise may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which hotels we list.
🎓 Top Universities in Grenada
Grenada is internationally known for St. George's University, a major medical and veterinary school with students from more than 140 countries.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| St. George's University (SGU) | True Blue, St. George's | Private |
| T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) | St. George's | Public |
| University of the West Indies (Grenada site) | St. George's | Regional public |
International medical, veterinary and graduate school, founded in 1976.
Visit website →Grenada's main public tertiary college.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Grenada: the main higher education institutions in Grenada. Last checked: October 2026.
🌺 Grenadian Culture & Food
Grenadian culture blends African, French and British heritage with a strong love of music and festivals. Spicemas in August is the highlight, with dawn J'ouvert and the oil-covered Jab Jab masqueraders, calypso and steel pan. Carriacou keeps the African-rooted Big Drum dance and a famous boat-building tradition. Grenada gained independence from Britain on 7 February 1974, and the nutmeg on its flag celebrates its spice heritage.
The national dish is oil down: breadfruit, salted meat, callaloo and dumplings slowly cooked in coconut milk with turmeric. Try curried lambie (conch), fish with bakes, nutmeg ice cream, cocoa tea and rum punch dusted with fresh nutmeg. Local chocolate and Clarke's Court or River Antoine rum make great souvenirs.
❓ Travel Guide to Grenada: FAQ
Where is Grenada?
Grenada is in the eastern Caribbean, at the southern end of the Windward Islands, about 160 km north of Trinidad and Tobago. Its capital is St. George's.
Do I need a visa for Grenada?
Citizens of the USA, UK, Canada, EU countries, Australia and CARICOM countries can visit visa-free. Immigration usually grants stays of up to 3 months. You need a passport valid for 6 months and a return ticket.
What is the best time to visit Grenada?
January to May is the dry season and the best time for beaches and diving. August brings Spicemas carnival. The wet season runs from June to December.
Why is Grenada called the Island of Spice?
Grenada grows large amounts of nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, cloves and cocoa. Nutmeg is so important that it appears on the national flag.
Is Grenada safe for tourists?
Yes, Grenada is one of the safer Caribbean islands. Take normal precautions with valuables and drive carefully on narrow, winding roads.
What currency is used in Grenada?
Grenada uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar, fixed at EC$2.70 per US dollar. US dollars and cards are widely accepted.
Is the Underwater Sculpture Park worth it?
Yes. The Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park is easy to visit by boat on a snorkel or dive trip and is one of Grenada's most unusual sights.
How many days do you need in Grenada?
Five to seven days covers the beaches, St. George's, the rainforest and a day trip to Carriacou.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Grenada
- Pure GrenadaOfficial tourism portal
- Government of GrenadaOfficial government information
- St. George's UniversityGrenada's international university
- Grenada Chocolate FestivalFestival dates and events
Finished this travel guide to Grenada? 🌍 More Caribbean guides: St. Vincent & the Grenadines · Barbados · Trinidad & Tobago · Jamaica · All of North America & the Caribbean
⚖️ Compare Grenada with other countries in Compare Countries.
🏛️ Planning a bucket list? See the 20 best World Heritage Sites to visit.
Ready to plan Grenada?
Use our free travel tools to compare costs, time zones and distances, or browse our printable AtlasWise guides for other destinations.
Free travel tools → Browse AtlasWise travel guides🔖 Bookmark this travel guide to Grenada and check it again before you fly: we update entry rules, prices and hotels regularly.