Visiting Grenada soon, and not sure what to do on the island? Feel free to copy my exact Grenada West Indies itinerary--I won't tell anyone! After spending one week in Grenada, I feel like I've only scratched the surface, and definitely plan to return.
And if you enjoy this travel guide, you'll love my personal list of top things to do in Grenada, too!
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Is Grenada worth visiting?
In my opinion, absolutely, yes. If you're seeking warm weather, lush landscapes, stunning beaches, and fabulous food, this underrated island should be your next destination. I found it to be perfect for a spring getaway!
Grenada is a small Caribbean nation located near Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Lesser Antilles. It's actually comprised of three inhabited islands--Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique--and dozens of uninhabited cays and islets.
Travel Tips for Visiting Grenada West Island
The official language of Grenada is English. But Grenada's history includes colonization by both the British and the French, during which West African and later, Indian people were brought to the island to work on plantations and estates, so you may also hear Grenadian Creole and Patois languages spoken depending on where you are in the country.
As in most West Indies countries, manners or "broughtupsy" are important. You'll get much better results if you greet people, say "excuse me," and introduce yourself before asking for something. Basically, act like you have some home training!
Grenada is on Atlantic Standard Time, which aligns with North America's Eastern Time, depending on the time of year. They don't observe Daylight Saving Time, which I love.
Pro Travel Tip
United States dollars and credit/debit cards are widely accepted in Grenada, but I recommend converting at least some of your currency to Eastern Caribbean dollars for the most versatility. When using USD in cash, any bills that are worn or damaged are likely to be rejected.
This is the travel rewards credit card I use to earn points on everyday purchases (plus bonus points on travel spending), and cash them in for free flights, hotels, and experiences!
When's the best time to go to Grenada?
Grenada has warm weather year-round, with two distinct seasons: dry and wet. The dry season runs from January to May, and the wet or rainy season lasts from June to December each year, which coincides with hurricane season.
The high season for tourism runs from December through mid-April, with an influx of travelers from the United States, United Kingdom, and neighboring Caribbean islands, including many Grenadians returning home for the Christmas and Easter holidays.
I visited in late April, during the low travel season, and found attractions and restaurants to be uncrowded, plus I got a great deal on my hotel! The downside of this, though, is that it was harder to find oil down due to breadfruit not being as available. And lobster and lambi were also a bit scarce, because their season of peak abundance (September to April) was winding down.
Pro Travel Tip
A couple of really good reasons to visit Grenada outside of the high travel season:
1. Mango season runs from March through September and peaks from May through August.
2. Grenada's carnival, Spicemas, takes place in early August, and is unlike any other in the Caribbean Islands!
Getting There
Coming from the United States, most flights to Grenada depart from Miami, Florida, which is where I connected through from Houston, Texas, via American Airlines.
Travel requirements to Grenada for U.S. citizens include having a valid passport that is at least six months away from expiring, proof of a return ticket (or departing ticket if this is part of a multi-leg trip), and a completed Grenada Immigration and Customs Portal form.
I completed my form online ahead of time as it's valid within 72 hours of arrival, and I highly recommend doing that instead of using the paper form distributed mid-flight. All I had to do was pull it up on my phone to scan at an entry kiosk while other folks waited in a long, winding line for manual review.
Maurice Bishop International Airport is easy to navigate, and the pick-up area is straightforward. I was in my hotel room within an hour of landing--can't beat that!
How to Get Around
A few things to note about driving in Grenada:
- They adhere to the British system, driving on the left-hand side of the road, with driver's seats on the right sides of the cars.
- Compared to the U.S., roads are generally narrower and winding.
- As a traveler, you need a temporary local driving permit to legally drive in Grenada. These are typically issued by rental car agencies for about $30 ECD ($11 USD).
I mostly relied on local taxis, which were quick and knowledgeable, but they added up quickly. So I recommend being strategic in planning your days so that you aren't going back and forth to the same areas.
There are no international rideshare options like Uber or Lyft, but there is a public transportation option in the mini-bus system that operates from 6 am to 9 pm Monday through Saturday
And I walked around Grand Anse and from the ferry terminal to downtown St. George, but wouldn't say that the city as a whole is walkable. The island is generally quite hilly and mountainous, and there aren't sidewalks everywhere, so keep that in mind.
Get the best deal on your rental car in Grenada!
Where to Stay
I stayed at Mount Cinnamon Hotel & Beach Club on Grand Anse Beach, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had all the amenities I was looking for, plus by traveling in the quiet season I got a great rate on the lodging with daily breakfast included.
This boutique resort was just right for me as a solo traveler, though there were plenty of other guests, including families, couples, and friends on girls' trips.
Read my honest review of staying at Mount Cinnamon in Grenada!
Compare prices on all-inclusive Grenada hotels and resorts:
My Grenada 7 Day Itinerary
Day One: Pool Scene + Street Food
I flew into St. George's on a Wednesday afternoon, and spent the afternoon around the hotel property, followed by an evening in True Blue.
Pool Day - After checking into my room at Mount Cinnamon and getting settled, I spent the afternoon lounging at the pool--with plenty of fresh fruit punches in hand! During check-in, I made sure to exchange my cash for some Eastern Caribbean Dollars, since I forgot to do so after I landed.
Street Food Night - I had heard that Street Food Night at Dodgy Dock in the True Blue area is a must. And from the live music to the tasty food and general vibes, it delivered!
There's a large variety of Grenadian street food vendors all in one spot, which meant I could grab doubles, roti, vegetables, carrot cake, rum punch, and more for dinner. My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach, though, so I left with a to-go bag to snack on later.
Hungry for more? Check out my full list of foods to eat when you visit Grenada!
Day Two: Full Day Island Tour
This day started early and was jam-packed with activities across five of Grenada's seven parishes with Kell the Tour Guide.
Fort Frederick - We started the day with unreal views of St. George's from Fort Frederick and a Grenadian history lesson that honestly set the tone for the day and the rest of the trip.
Black Bay Beach was the next stop, and the walk down was super scenic and lush. We picked and tasted fresh cocoa, frolicked in the volcanic sand, and hiked up to explore Black Bay Cave, which is home to ancient indigenous petroglyphs.
Want to visit Black Bay Beach, too? Read my Grenada black sand beach guide before you go!
Concord Waterfall is close by to Black Bay Beach, and the water was crisp and refreshing. The rocks were a bit slippery, so I highly recommend wearing water shoes!
Sallee Boiling Springs is a must for an all-natural spa day! The sulphuric clay mask had my skin looking and feeling as glassy as any 12-step Korean skincare routine. 😂
We did way more, including rum and chocolate tastings and hitting Grand Etang National Park. Here's how to book your private Grenada island tour, too!
Day Three: Grand Anse Beach
Apparently, I overdid it the day before because I was moving slowly this day. The breakfast at Mount Cinnamon was so good, and the caramelized banana French toast was my favorite. I still think about the local nutmeg syrup!
Grand Anse Beach is the most popular in St. George, and I completely get the hype. The sand is soft and clean, and the water is just as beautiful and blue as it looks in the pictures! I spent the afternoon lounging at Savvy's Beach Club Cabana sipping on cold drinks.
Beach Bonfire - And at night, I went back to Grand Anse for the Friday Bonfire BBQ--complete with live music! I kept it light with a grilled fish dinner, but had to order the s'mores pack for dessert so I could roast them over the fire.
If you are in St. George's on a Friday, you should check it out.
Day Four: Morne Rouge
Morne Rouge Beach (aka BBC Beach as it's known by locals) actually outshone Grand Anse Beach for me! I spent the day posted up under the shade of a mango tree and taking dips into the clear, calm, warm water.
There are a few restaurants along the beach, and I got the curry goat and sorrel from Sur la Mel, which was fab. No notes!
Nightlife in St. George is a mix of Creole, Soca, Reggae, and Reggaeton with American pop and Hot 100 hits to satisfy the tourist crowds. If you want to get a good taste of local tunes, try Junction, Lavo Lanes, or Breweries.
Day Five: Beach Clubbing
Sundays in Grenada are pretty quiet because most businesses are closed or close up early--even if Google Maps says otherwise! Plan to make this day a beach day or to stay around your hotel.
Spiceland Mall is one of two major shopping malls on the island, and home to over 30 stores. I went there to shop for souvenirs and found the prices to be pretty reasonable. There's also a popular ice cream shop in the food court, but it was closed when I went.
Umbrellas is right on Grand Anse Beach and open til 10 pm on Sundays, so I spent some time there watching sports, tooling around the beach, and, of course, eating and drinking. Get the Lambi fritters (if available) and any of the local juices--passion fruit was my fave!
Day Six: Island Hopping
Carriacou is one of Grenada's sister islands, and a notable change of pace that was just right for me to tack a quick getaway onto the tail-end of my vacation itinerary. Check out the Grenada Osprey schedule or SVG Airlines for options on getting there.
Froggy's Island Hopping Tour - I spent my only full day in Carriacou hopping between neighboring uninhabited islands like Saline Island and Sandy Island. We swam with turtles, snorkeled through the underwater sculpture park, and ate local BBQ for lunch with unlimited rum punch!
Dinner in Tyrell Bay - There are plenty of walkable options right along the water, so I just strolled until something caught my eye (or my nose). Lambi Queen is really popular for lambi, wood-fired pizza, and cocktails. They were out of lambi for the day, so I just had some rum punch, then walked a few doors over to Gallery Bistro for Indian food.
Read how to plan your own quiet mini vacation to Carriacou next!
Day Seven: Spa Day + Souvenir Shopping
An afternoon departure from Grenada left plenty of time to seize the first half of the day!
Downtown St. George - I got back to Grenada bright and early and walked from the ferry port to the historic St. George's Market to buy souvenirs like spices and their famous nutmeg oil.
Spa Massage - And I timed things perfectly to go back to Mount Cinnamon for a deep tissue massage with Janelle, which was 10 out of 10. Ya girl was asleep on the table, drooling!
Fidel Grenada was my last stop en route to the airport. There are two locations, and I wanted to check out the one in Carriacou for a specific t-shirt that wasn't available at this one, but I did wind up taking some beautiful art home.
I packed light and left just enough room in my luggage for souvenirs. Click to read my free Grenada women's packing list with outfit ideas and links!
Frequently Asked Questions
The short answer is that it depends on when you go. Traveling outside the prime tourism season saved me about 30% on lodging, but everything else was about the same. Airfare from the U.S. can be as low as $500 during the off-season, and easily doubles during high times.
For Solo Travelers
Grenada is up there with some of my favorite Caribbean islands so far--probably between Dominica and Puerto Rico, and it's not specifically marketed as a solo travel destination, but I had a wonderful experience on my own!
I felt safe at all times, and had no issues navigating Grenada or Carriacou as a solo Black woman. Of course, I recommend taking the same safety precautions that you would in any other destination or at home. Grenada has a pretty low crime rate, and is currently at a level 2 Travel Advisory from the USA State Department.
Taking your first solo trip? Read my advice to solo female travelers--it applies to any destination!
More Favorite Moments from Grenada
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I hope this Grenada one-week itinerary helps you have the best trip soon and very soon. And sharing is caring, so be sure to pin this travel guide to Grenada for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
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