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Caribbean / Southern Caribbean / Grenada

St. George's (Grenada)

Cruise port guide and shore excursions for St. George's.

Ships
docked
Currency
Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$); US dollars accepted
Language
English (official); some French-African Patois
Time zone
America/Grenada
Season
Roughly September/October–June

At a glance

St. George's in a nutshell

Worth getting off?

Research verdictGet off the ship

Ships tie up right at the edge of St. George's, so you can walk straight into town, and Grand Anse Beach is a taxi or water-taxi ride away. Annandale Waterfalls is about 20 minutes' drive, with the Grand Etang rainforest higher up in the mountains.

  • Beaches
  • History
  • Food
  • Easy walking
  • Shopping

Where ships dock

Walk; the city center is a few steps across Melville Street, and the Carenage is about 10 min.

  • Melville Street Cruise Terminal (North and South Berths)

Best time to go

Most ships call from about September or October to June. The 2025–26 schedule ran September 2025 to June 2026.

Hurricane season runs June to November. Craft and souvenir shops open on Sundays and holidays when a cruise ship is in port.

Sources (12) · checked Oct 23, 2026

Book

St. George's shore excursions

We may earn a commission when you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. How we choose tours

Tours from Viator, $19–$500 and 12 hours or less. Recommended favours well-reviewed, fairly priced group tours.

Time ashore
Sort

A tour fits when its length plus 90 minutes to get there and back is within your time ashore.

See all St. George's shore excursions on Viator

Plan

Plan your day

Pick the plan that matches your time ashore, then check how far things are from the pier.

4hours ashore

Old town on foot, then a swim

  1. Walk out through the terminal's duty-free mall and cross Melville Street into the city center.
  2. Look around Market Square, then walk up toward hilltop Fort George. Check on the day whether the grounds are open to visitors.
  3. Stroll the Carenage waterfront and its old buildings, about 10 minutes from the terminal.
  4. Or skip the town and take a water taxi from the terminal to Grand Anse Beach for a swim.
  5. Leave plenty of time to get back. The ship will not wait.
Tours that fit 4 hours →

6hours ashore

Grand Anse Beach and the spice market

  1. Take a water taxi from the terminal, or a taxi or local bus, to Grand Anse Beach.
  2. Spend the morning on two miles of white sand with calm water, shaded by palms and sea grapes.
  3. Shop for spices, jewelry and local crafts at the Grand Anse Craft & Spice Market on the beach.
  4. Head back to town with time to walk the Carenage before all-aboard.
Tours that fit 6 hours →

8hours ashore

Rainforest, waterfall and spice country

  1. Book a guided island tour, or agree a fare with a licensed taxi before you set off.
  2. Stop at Annandale Waterfalls, about 20 minutes' drive from the capital, for a dip in the pool below the 30-foot falls.
  3. Continue up to Grand Etang National Park to see the crater lake and walk a short trail; watch for Mona monkeys.
  4. If time allows, add a cocoa and farm tour at Belmont Estate in St. Patrick parish. Ask your driver how long the trip takes before you commit.
  5. Get back to the pier well before all-aboard.
Tours that fit 8 hours →

How far from the pier

One way. Short call OK means 20 minutes or less.

  • The CarenageWalk10 min
  • Annandale WaterfallsTaxi20 min

Ship tour or go independent?

St. George's is easy on your own. Town is a few steps from the ship, buses and taxis wait right outside the terminal, and water taxis run from the terminal to Grand Anse. A ship tour or a pre-booked guide makes more sense for the interior and the north, where roads are narrow and winding and hikes are best done with a guide.

  • Once the ship sails, it won't return for late passengers, so build in a time cushion.
  • Taxis are not metered. Agree the fare in EC dollars before you get in.
  • Local minibuses run Monday to Saturday, and drivers often go over the speed limit.
  • Roads outside town are narrow and winding, with potholes and blind corners.
  • Waterfall trails such as Seven Sisters are rough, and a guide is advised.
Sources (12) · checked Oct 23, 2026

Getting around

Getting around & money

Getting around

No rideshare

  • WalkSt. George's is small and most of it is walkable. The city center and Market Square are just across Melville Street, Fort George sits on the hilltop above, and the Carenage is about a 10-minute walk.
  • TaxiTaxis pick up and drop off right outside the terminal. They are not metered and charge standard fares for most trips, but agree the fare in EC dollars before you set off. Use a licensed taxi; the plates start with H.
  • FerryWater taxis run from the Melville Street Cruise Terminal to the Grand Anse Craft & Spice Market on Grand Anse Beach. They are private hire and no price is published, so agree it before you board.
  • BusEC$2.50–6.50 depending on routeLocal minibuses leave from the St. George's Bus Terminus, a few steps north of the cruise terminal on Melville Street. Each bus shows its destination on a sticker, and a conductor on board can help you. The tourism authority lists service Monday to Saturday only.

Grenada's official transport information lists taxis, water taxis, minibuses and car rentals only. No rideshare app is listed, so plan on a taxi, water taxi or bus.

Money, tipping & phones

Money
Grenada uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), fixed at EC$2.70 to US$1 since 1976. US dollars are accepted. Banks give the best exchange rate. Hotels and car rental companies take major credit cards.
Tipping
Hotels and restaurants add 8% government tax, and most add a 10% service charge, so extra tips are up to you.
Phones
Local mobile networks are FLOW and Digicel. Check your carrier's roaming plan before you go.
Sources (8) · checked Oct 23, 2026

See & eat

What to see, eat and do

Must-sees

  • Fort George and the old townWalkableA fort built in 1706–1710 on the hilltop between the harbor and the open sea, with views over town and the south coast. Police headquarters moved out to the Carenage in March 2025 to clear the way for restoration, and there is no official word yet on visitor access, so check on the day.
  • The CarenageWalkableSt. George's historic harbor front, lined with old buildings and monuments, about a 10-minute walk from the terminal.
  • Grand Anse BeachRide neededTwo miles of white sand and calm turquoise water, with beach bars, water sports and the Craft & Spice Market.
  • Molinere Underwater Sculpture ParkRide neededSculptures first placed in 2006, now 5–8 meters down inside a marine protected area. See them by snorkel, scuba or glass-bottom boat; trips leave from St. George's and Grand Anse.
  • Annandale WaterfallsRide neededA 30-foot waterfall with a pool for an easy swim, about 20 minutes' drive from the capital.
  • Grand Etang National ParkRide neededA crater lake 530 meters up in the mountains, rainforest trails from 200 meters to several kilometers, and Mona monkeys.
  • Belmont EstateRide neededA 300-year-old working plantation in St. Patrick with cocoa and farm tours, a museum, a restaurant and chocolate for sale.

Free & cheap near the pier

  • St. George's on footFreeMarket Square, the cathedral and the historic Carenage waterfront are all a short walk from the ship.
  • Grand Anse BeachFreeTwo miles of white sand with calm water. Get there by bus, taxi or water taxi.
  • Fort FrederickUS$2 (EC$5.34)French-begun, British-finished hilltop fort (1779–1783) with wide views over the harbor and mountains.
  • Grand Etang National ParkUS$2 (EC$5.34)Crater lake, rainforest trails and a visitor center up in the mountains.

Eat like a local

  • Oil downThe national dish: a one-pot stew of root vegetables, meat, callaloo and spices, cooked in coconut milk.
  • Fresh seafoodLobster, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, grouper and crawfish turn up on many menus.
  • Nutmeg ice creamGrenada is famous for nutmeg, and it shows up in the island's ice cream.
  • SoursopA local fruit that turns up in juice and ice cream.
  • Local chocolate and rumGrenada grows its own cocoa and makes handcrafted rums, and Belmont Estate sells organic chocolate.

Rainy-day backups

  • Cruise terminal duty-free mallThe terminal's own mall has 35 shops and 10 kiosk spots selling electronics, fashion, jewelry, watches, perfume, local crafts and snacks, and it is open to everyone.
  • Belmont EstateA 300-year-old working plantation in St. Patrick parish with cocoa and farm tours, a museum, a restaurant and organic chocolate. Agree the drive time with your taxi or tour first.
Sources (16) · checked Oct 23, 2026

Good to know

Safety & accessibility

Safety & scams

Official advisoryUS State Dept: Level 2 — Exercise increased caution, because of crime (issued January 5, 2026; page updated August 6, 2026)

  • The US raised Grenada to Level 2 in January 2026 because of crime. Most crime is opportunistic theft, but armed robbery and sexual assault do happen. Avoid isolated areas and beaches after dark and carry little cash.
  • Use only licensed taxis (plates start with H) and agree the fare before you go.
  • Currents can be strong and not all beaches have lifeguards or warning flags. Ask locally before you swim.
  • Roads are narrow and winding, some are unlit, and pedestrians often walk in the road.
  • Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Carriacou and Petite Martinique in July 2024. The UK says tourist services there are still reduced while rebuilding goes on; Canada has lifted its warning against travel to those islands. Cruise ships call at St. George's on the main island.
  • Hurricane season runs from June to November.
  • In an emergency, dial 911 for police or fire. For an ambulance in St. George's, call 434 (St. George's General Hospital).

From official government and port sources. Check the latest advisory before you travel.

Accessibility

At the pier
Ships tie up at a 375-meter jetty, and the terminal and its duty-free mall open onto a square on Melville Street, so there is normally no tender. The port authority does not publish step-free or wheelchair details.
  • Taxis and buses stop right outside the terminal building.
  • Fort George is on a hilltop, reached by steps beside the Sendall Tunnel exit or by road.
  • Grand Etang Visitor Centre has parking, washrooms, viewpoints and picnic shelters.
Sources (9) · checked Oct 23, 2026

FAQ

St. George's cruise port FAQ

Can I walk from the cruise ship to St. George's?

Yes. The terminal opens onto Melville Street, the city center is a few steps across the road, and the Carenage is about a 10-minute walk.

How do I get to Grand Anse Beach from the cruise terminal?

Take a water taxi from the terminal, a taxi from outside the building, or a local bus from the terminus just north on Melville Street. Agree water-taxi and taxi fares before you set off.

Do I need Eastern Caribbean dollars?

Not strictly. US dollars are accepted, and the EC dollar is fixed at 2.70 to US$1. Banks give the best rate if you want to change money.

Is there Uber in Grenada?

Grenada's official transport information lists no rideshare apps. Use licensed taxis, water taxis or minibuses.

Was Grenada damaged by Hurricane Beryl?

Beryl made landfall on Carriacou and Petite Martinique in July 2024. The UK says tourist services there are still reduced, while Grenada's tourism authority says the islands are welcoming visitors again. Cruise ships call at St. George's on the main island.

Is Grenada safe for cruise visitors?

The US State Department rates Grenada Level 2, exercise increased caution, because of crime. Stick to busy areas, use licensed taxis, and avoid isolated places after dark.

Sources (9) · checked Oct 23, 2026

Every fact in this guide is checked against an official or published source, most recently on Oct 23, 2026.

All sources for this guide (30) · checked Oct 23, 2026