What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit St. George's, Grenada.
Photo: P. Hughes / Wikimedia Commons
St. George's is the small, hilly capital of Grenada, built around a horseshoe harbour called the Carenage. It's a coastal city with a mix of colonial forts, markets and beaches nearby, good for travellers who want history and sea in one stop. Grand Anse Beach and the Underwater Sculpture Park sit a short trip away. The best months to visit are December, January, February and March, when conditions are most settled for walking the town and spending time on the water.
Two to three days cover the main sights: Fort George, the Carenage, the National Museum and Market Square in town, plus half a day each at Grand Anse Beach and the Underwater Sculpture Park.
Town centre
A French-built stone fort on the headland above the harbour mouth. Most people come for the view over the Carenage, the red-roofed town and the sea. Part of the site is still used by the police, so some areas may be off limits.
Town centre
The horseshoe-shaped inner harbour, lined with old stone and brick warehouses, cafés and fishing boats. It is the easiest place to get a feel for the town, and a good spot to watch harbour life from a waterfront bench or bar.
Grand Anse
Grenada's best-known beach, a long curve of pale sand with calm water, a short drive or bus ride south of the town centre. Hotels, bars and water-sport operators line parts of it, but there is plenty of room to spread out. It can get busier when cruise ships are in port.
Richmond Hill
A hilltop fort on Richmond Hill, just east of the town. It has some of the widest views on the island, over St. George's, the harbour and the south coast. The road up is steep, so most visitors come by taxi or on a tour.
Town centre
A small museum in an old colonial building near the Carenage. It covers Amerindian finds, the plantation era, and the island's modern political history. Displays are simple, but it gives useful context before you explore the rest of the town.
Town centre
The town's main open-air market, where local people buy fruit, vegetables and spices. It is a good place to see and buy nutmeg, cinnamon and cocoa, which the island is known for. Expect some sales pressure from vendors aimed at visitors.
Molinière Bay
A collection of sculptures placed on the seabed in a protected bay north of town, now covered in coral and sea life. You see it by snorkelling, diving or from a glass-bottom boat, usually on a boat trip from St. George's or Grand Anse. Visibility depends on the weather, so it is less worthwhile on rough or cloudy days.
Town centre
A narrow old tunnel through the hill that links the Carenage side of town with the Esplanade and the cruise terminal. It is a short, unusual walk that most visitors pass through anyway. Watch for traffic, as cars and buses use it too.
Morne Rouge
A smaller, quieter bay just south of Grand Anse, also called BBC Beach. The water is usually calm and good for swimming. Choose it if Grand Anse feels too crowded.
St. Paul's
A private garden on the edge of town with paths through tropical plants, flowers and spice trees. It is a quiet stop for anyone interested in the plants and spices grown on the island, and it is easy to combine with a tour of the area around town.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best month: January | 27°C / 24°C | 15 days (53 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 28°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: February | 28°C / 24°C | 12 days (42 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 27°C | 8.3/10 |
| Best month: March | 28°C / 25°C | 15 days (44 mm) | 11.5 h/day | 27°C | 8.0/10 |
| April | 29°C / 25°C | 13 days (37 mm) | 11.7 h/day | 28°C | 7.3/10 |
| May | 29°C / 26°C | 15 days (54 mm) | 11.6 h/day | 28°C | 7.0/10 |
| June | 29°C / 26°C | 21 days (105 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
| July | 29°C / 26°C | 24 days (132 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
| August | 29°C / 26°C | 23 days (116 mm) | 11.3 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| September | 30°C / 26°C | 19 days (95 mm) | 11.3 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| October | 29°C / 26°C | 22 days (119 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| November | 29°C / 26°C | 23 days (136 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
| Best month: December | 28°C / 25°C | 20 days (81 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 28°C | 8.0/10 |
Highs reach 27.3°C with 15 rain days and 53mm of rain. Sea temp is 27.6°C. Scores rate this a best month to visit.
This is the driest month, with 12.4 rain days and 42mm of rain. Highs hit 27.5°C. It scores highest of the year as a best month.
Highs climb to 27.9°C with 14.7 rain days and 44mm of rain. Sea temp is 27.4°C. Still rated a best month.
Highs reach 28.7°C with only 12.6 rain days and 37mm of rain, the lowest rainfall total of the year. Rated a good month.
Highs touch 29.1°C and rain days rise to 15.2, with 54mm of rain. Sea temp warms to 28.2°C. A good month.
Rain days jump to 20.8 and rainfall climbs to 105mm, a clear step into the wetter half of the year. Highs stay at 28.8°C. A good month.
July is the wettest in frequency, with 23.9 rain days and 132mm of rain, so expect frequent showers. Highs sit at 28.6°C. Still a good month.
Rain stays heavy with 23.3 rain days and 116mm of rain, and sea temp reaches 29.7°C. Highs are 28.9°C. A good month.
Highs peak at 29.6°C, the warmest of the year, with 19.4 rain days and 95mm of rain. Sea temp hits 30.2°C. A good month.
Rain is heavy again, with 21.7 rain days and 119mm of rain. Highs stay at 29.2°C and sea temp peaks at 30.2°C. A good month.
November is the wettest month by rainfall, with 136mm over 22.8 rain days, so showers are frequent and sometimes heavy. Highs are 28.5°C. A good month.
Rain eases to 81mm over 19.7 days, and highs cool slightly to 27.9°C. Sea temp is 28.3°C. Scores lift this back to a best month.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Grenada →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, beach lovers
Grand Anse is a long, sandy beach just south of town, with many places to stay, eat and shop close together. Minibuses run often along the main road into St. George's, so you can manage without a car. The drawback: it gets crowded on cruise-ship days, and parts feel more like a resort strip than a local area.
Good for couples, calm swimming
Morne Rouge is a small, sheltered bay next to Grand Anse, with calm water that suits relaxed swimming. You can walk over the headland to Grand Anse for more food and shops. The drawback: there are few services in the bay itself, and the connecting road is hilly and has little pavement.
Good for history, local life, walkers
The capital's horseshoe harbour, the Carenage, is lined with old stone warehouses and red-roofed houses, with Fort George and the market a short walk away. Stay here to see everyday Grenadian life rather than beach resorts. The drawbacks: the streets are very steep, there is no real beach in town, and evenings can be quiet once shops close.
Good for sailors, students, quiet stays
True Blue is a residential peninsula near the airport and St. George's University, with a marina and a relaxed, local feel. It is handy for early flights and for boat trips. The drawback: it is not walkable to town or to the main beaches, so expect to use taxis or buses.
Good for families, villas, privacy
Lance aux Épines is a leafy southern peninsula of villas, gardens and marinas, and one of the quietest places to stay near the capital. It suits longer stays and groups who want space. The drawback: it is far from town and restaurants, and public transport is limited, so a hire car helps.
Places within 2½ hours by train, bus, ferry or car.
ferry
Osprey Lines, Dolly C and Tyrrel Bay Express run this route, and there are no ferries on Sundays. Osprey makes the round trip twice a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so it is the only ferry that allows a day trip. On Saturday, Tyrrel Bay Express is the only ferry, and it leaves Grenada in the afternoon. The duration is an estimate. Check the current fare and times on the Osprey Lines page before you travel.
This is Grenada's national dish, a one-pot stew of breadfruit, salted meat, dumplings and coconut milk. Families cook it on Sundays and at gatherings, often outdoors in a big pot.
Grenada is known as the Spice Isle, and nutmeg shows up in local cooking, drinks and desserts. Look for nutmeg ice cream or nutmeg syrup sold at small shops around the harbour.
A thick green soup made from callaloo leaves, coconut milk and often crab or pork. It's a common starter at local restaurants and home kitchens across the city.
A light, peppery soup made with local fish, vegetables and ground provisions like yam or dasheen. It's a filling lunch option found at market stalls near the waterfront.
A soft flatbread wrapped around curried chicken, beef or vegetables, reflecting the island's Indian influence. It's a popular quick meal at lunch counters in the city centre.
A warm drink made from local cocoa, spices and milk, often served at breakfast. Many households in St. George's make it from scratch using cocoa balls bought at the market.
The best time to visit St. George's is December to March. These months have the highest scores, from 8 to 8.3, with February the top month. January to March are the driest months, with 42 to 53 mm of rain. December is wetter at 81 mm but still scores 8. Highs stay between 27.3°C and 27.9°C, so it is warm but not too hot.
Yes, August is a good month, but it is not one of the best. It scores 7. It is warm, with highs of 28.9°C and a sea temperature of 29.7°C. The downside is rain. August has 23.3 rain days and 116 mm of rain, more than double the amount in the drier months of January to March.
November is the rainiest month in St. George's, with 136 mm of rain. July has the most rain days at 23.9. From June to November, rain totals range from 95 to 136 mm a month. If you want dry weather, avoid these months and choose January to April, when rain is between 37 and 53 mm.
Yes, the sea is warm all year. Sea temperatures range from 27.1°C in February to 30.2°C in September and October. This makes Grand Anse Beach, Morne Rouge Beach and the Underwater Sculpture Park good options in any month. Plan for more rain from June to November, though.
You can see the town centre in 1 full day. Fort George, the Grenada National Museum and Market Square take about 1 hour each. The Carenage takes 1–2 hours, and Sendall Tunnel takes under 30 minutes. Fort Frederick and Bay Gardens are outside the centre and take 1 to 2 hours. Add half a day each for Grand Anse Beach, Morne Rouge Beach and the Underwater Sculpture Park.
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