Highlights
Grand Anse Beach — a two-mile sweep of soft golden sand and calm turquoise water — is one of the Caribbean's finest and the island's beach heart, backed by a relaxed strip of resorts and restaurants. Nearby, the picturesque capital St George's, with its horseshoe Carenage harbour, colourful hillside houses and old fort, is one of the prettiest ports in the region.
Grenada's interior is a lush, mountainous rainforest — the Grand Etang National Park with its crater lake, the Seven Sisters and Annandale waterfalls for swimming, and hikes through spice plantations. The island's spice heritage (nutmeg, cinnamon, cocoa) comes alive on plantation and chocolate-factory tours, and in the local rum distilleries.
Underwater, Grenada is a diving standout — the world's first underwater sculpture park (an eerie, beautiful art installation on the seabed), plus reefs and the wreck of the 'Bianca C'. Add the nutmeg-processing town of Gouyave and its Friday 'Fish Friday' street party, and the tiny, tranquil sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, for an authentic, uncrowded Caribbean escape.
When to go
January to April (the dry season) is the best time — sunny, warm and less humid, ideal for the beaches, diving and spice-island tours, and outside the hurricane season.
The wetter season (June to November) is greener, hotter and more humid with afternoon showers, and includes the Atlantic hurricane season, though Grenada lies toward the southern edge of the belt (lower risk than the northern islands). The lively Spicemas Carnival peaks in August. Grenada is warm and sunny year-round, cooled by trade winds. For the finest, driest beach and diving weather, aim for the January-to-April season.
Visa & entry
Many nationalities (including the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia) can enter Grenada visa-free for tourist stays (commonly up to 90 days), with a passport valid for your stay, proof of onward travel and accommodation required. An online immigration form may be needed before arrival.
Confirm the current visa-free allowance and any pre-arrival requirements for your nationality on Grenada's official immigration portal before you travel, as details can change.
Health & safety
Grenada is one of the safest and most laid-back islands in the Caribbean, with a genuinely welcoming atmosphere and lower crime than many neighbours. Petty theft can occur, so use hotel safes, don't leave valuables on the beach, and take normal precautions, particularly in quieter areas after dark.
The main genuine risks are natural — rip currents at some beaches, sun, steep rainforest trails (a guide is wise for the longer hikes), and the hurricane season (though the risk is lower this far south). Winding roads make driving demanding. Healthcare is limited for serious cases. Check your government's advisory before departure, though Grenada is generally low-risk.
Getting around
For easy travel, use hotel transfers and taxis (unmetered, so agree the fare first). The cheap, lively public minibuses cover the island and are an experience, if crowded and fast. A hire car (drive on the left; a local permit is required, easily arranged) gives freedom to explore the beaches, waterfalls and spice plantations on narrow, winding roads.
Water taxis and boat trips reach beaches and the underwater sculpture park, and a ferry or short flight connects to the sister island of Carriacou. Given the compact size, a mix of taxis, tours and a hired car or driver covers the island comfortably.
Money
The East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate (about 2.7 to US$1), and US dollars are widely accepted, often given change in local currency. Cards are accepted at hotels, resorts and larger restaurants, and ATMs are available in the main towns, but carry cash for small vendors, markets, buses, beach bars and tips. Bring newer US dollar notes. Tipping is customary — around 10-15% in restaurants (check whether a service charge is already added) and small tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff.
Grenada