Grenada in brief
- Grenada is in the eastern Caribbean, at the south of the Windward Islands, about 9 hours from London.
- See St George’s, the spice and cocoa estates and Grand Etang.
- Relax on Grand Anse and snorkel the underwater sculptures.
- The dry season, January to May, is best.
Grenada is a green, mountainous island in the southern Caribbean, known as the Spice Isle for the nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and cocoa that grow in its rainforested hills. It has one of the Caribbean’s best beaches at Grand Anse, a pretty harbour capital, waterfalls and crater lakes, the world’s first underwater sculpture park and two small sister islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. It’s friendly, unhurried and far less developed than many of its neighbours. This guide covers where Grenada is, how to get there from the UK, what to see and do, the beaches, Carriacou and when to go.
Where is Grenada?
Grenada is in the eastern Caribbean, at the southern end of the Windward Islands, the arc of islands between the Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea. It lies about 160 km north of Venezuela, with Trinidad and Tobago to the south and St Vincent and the Grenadines to the north. The country is made up of three inhabited islands: Grenada itself, about 34 km long and 19 km wide, and Carriacou and Petite Martinique to the north-east. The capital is St George’s. Grenada has been independent since 1974 and is a member of the Commonwealth, with English as its language.
Getting to Grenada from the UK
- Flights: there are flights from London to Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International Airport in about 9 hours; some stop on the way in St Lucia. The airport is a few minutes from Grand Anse.
- Visa: British citizens don’t need a visa and can stay for up to three months.
- Getting around: taxis, a hire car (with a local permit; driving is on the left) or the colourful local minibuses. Roads are steep and winding.
- Island-hopping: ferries and short flights link Grenada with Carriacou, and flights go on to St Vincent, the Grenadines, St Lucia and Barbados.
What to see and do on Grenada island
St George's
Often called the prettiest harbour town in the Caribbean, St George’s climbs the hills around the horseshoe-shaped Carenage. Walk the waterfront, explore the spice market on Market Square, and climb to Fort George and Fort Frederick for views over the town and bay.
The Sendall Tunnel links the two sides of town, and the national museum tells Grenada’s history.
Spice and chocolate
Grenada is one of the world’s biggest producers of nutmeg, which even appears on its flag. Visit a nutmeg processing station, where the seeds and their red coat of mace are sorted by hand, and a cocoa estate where you can see chocolate made from tree to bar.
In the north, River Antoine rum distillery still uses a water wheel, as it has since the 18th century.
Diving and the underwater sculptures
In Molinere Bay, north of St George’s, the world’s first underwater sculpture park has dozens of figures slowly turning into coral reef, in shallow water ideal for snorkelling.
Divers can explore the huge cruise-ship wreck of the Bianca C, known as the Titanic of the Caribbean, and the reefs off the south coast.
Grand Etang and the waterfalls
In the mountains at the centre of the island, Grand Etang National Park protects rainforest around a crater lake, with trails to viewpoints and mona monkeys in the trees. Swim in the pools below the Seven Sisters, Annandale or Concord waterfalls; a guide is a good idea for the longer trails.
Grenada’s beaches
Grand Anse: about 3 km of soft white sand and calm water, just south of St George’s; one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, with plenty of space.
Morne Rouge: a smaller, sheltered bay next door, with very calm water for swimming.
La Sagesse: a quiet bay on the south-east coast, backed by a nature reserve.
Levera: a wild beach in the far north, where leatherback turtles nest from about April to July.
The south coast: a ragged line of bays and peninsulas, with sailing yachts at anchor and most of the island’s places to stay.
Carriacou and Petite Martinique
Carriacou, about two hours north-east by ferry or a short flight, is Grenada’s quiet little sister island: no big resorts, a few villages, a boat-building tradition and the Big Drum dance. Take a water taxi to Sandy Island, a sliver of sand and palms on a reef, swim at Paradise Beach and snorkel in the marine park. Tiny Petite Martinique is next door.
Note: Hurricane Beryl hit Carriacou and Petite Martinique in July 2024, and some tourist services are still being rebuilt. We check what’s open before we plan a visit.
Food and festivals
Try oil down, the national dish of breadfruit, salted meat, dumplings and vegetables cooked in coconut milk and turmeric, plus fresh fish, lambi (conch), roti and nutmeg ice cream, with a rum punch topped with grated nutmeg. The big festival is Spicemas, Grenada’s carnival in August, with steel bands and the early-morning J’ouvert, when the “jab jabs” cover themselves in black oil.
When to go
Grenada is warm all year, with highs of about 27 to 29°C. The dry season, from January to May, is the best time to go and the most popular. The wet season, from June to December, brings short, heavy showers, usually followed by sunshine. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November; Grenada lies near the southern edge of the hurricane belt and is hit less often than islands further north, but it does happen, as with Ivan in 2004 and Beryl in 2024.
| Month | High (St George's) | Rain (St George's) | Rain (Carriacou) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°C | 50 mm | 40 mm |
| Mar | 28°C | 40 mm | 25 mm |
| May | 29°C | 50 mm | 35 mm |
| Jul | 29°C | 130 mm | 140 mm |
| Sep | 29°C | 100 mm | 115 mm |
| Nov | 28°C | 145 mm | 150 mm |
10-year ERA5 averages. Rain comes mostly in short showers.
Ideas for your trip
Grenada beach and spice
- Grand Anse or the south coast (7 nights)
Beach days with a spice and chocolate tour, Grand Etang, St George’s and a snorkel trip.
Grenada and Carriacou
- South coast (7 nights)
- Carriacou (3)
Add the quiet sister island, if services are running.
Two-island Caribbean
- Grenada (7 nights)
- Barbados or St Lucia (7)
Combine the Spice Isle with a livelier neighbour.
Practical tips
- Entry: no visa for British citizens. Check the FCDO Grenada advice before you book, especially for Carriacou.
- Health: use insect repellent, as dengue occurs. Ask your GP about vaccinations.
- Sun and sea: the sun is strong; use reef-safe sun cream and don’t touch the coral.
- Money: the East Caribbean dollar is the currency; US dollars are widely accepted.
- Dress: beachwear is for the beach; cover up in town.
- Driving: on the left, on narrow, steep roads. Many visitors prefer taxis and guided tours.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Grenada in the Caribbean?
In the eastern Caribbean, at the southern end of the Windward Islands, about 160 km north of Venezuela, between Trinidad and Tobago to the south and St Vincent and the Grenadines to the north.
Is Grenada an island or a country?
Both. The country of Grenada is made up of Grenada island, the largest, and the smaller islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique. The capital is St George's.
Why is Grenada called the Spice Isle?
Because it grows so many spices, especially nutmeg and mace, as well as cinnamon, cloves, turmeric and cocoa. A nutmeg even appears on the national flag.
How long is the flight from the UK to Grenada?
About 9 hours from London. Some flights stop in St Lucia on the way.
What is the best beach in Grenada?
Grand Anse, about 3 km of white sand near St George's, is the best known. Morne Rouge, next door, has very calm water, and La Sagesse and Levera are quieter.
When is the best time to visit Grenada?
January to May, in the dry season. It's warm all year, and June to December is wetter, with the hurricane season from June to November.
Is Carriacou worth visiting?
Yes, for a quiet, unspoilt island with Sandy Island and Paradise Beach. Hurricane Beryl hit it in July 2024, so check what's open before you go.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Grenada?
No. British citizens can visit without a visa and stay for up to three months.
Keep planning
- St Vincent and the Grenadines guide
- Grenada holidays
- Saint Lucia holidays
- Barbados holidays
- Barbados holiday guide
- Antigua and Barbuda holiday guide
- Caribbean cruises
- The best Caribbean cruises from the UK
- Tailor-made holidays
- Tobago holiday guide
- Caribbean islands guide
Plan your Grenada holiday with a Travel Designer
Tell us when you’d like to go and we’ll find the right beach, add spice tours, diving or Carriacou, and arrange flights, in one ATOL-protected booking.
Make an enquiry Grenada holidays
