36 Hours
36 Hours on Grenada
Celebration is in the air on Grenada (Gre-NAY-da), the lush Caribbean island nation between Trinidad, St. Vincent and Barbados, which in February marks its 50th year of independence after centuries of French and British rule. The small country, a paradise of volcanic hills and idyllic bays, is often overlooked by vacationers despite being home to Grand Anse, a perennial candidate for the best beach in the Caribbean. There’s more than just lying on the shore on Grenada, a 52 Places to Go pick for 2024. Scuba dive through a recently expanded underwater art gallery, and on land, explore St. George’s, a photogenic capital with a popular spice market. Later you can taste those flavors in the national dish: oil down, a hearty stew. Service can be teeth-gnashingly slow, but Grenadians are famously friendly, especially when you join them for “liming,” the unofficial, delightfully indescribable national pastime of chilling out and enjoying everything island life has to offer.
Recommendations
- Grand Anse Beach, one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, is a two-mile stretch of buttery soft sand with calm, clear blue waters and universal appeal.
- The Carenage of St. George’s, the capital city’s waterfront promenade, is a scenic, historic place to stroll beside fishing boats and colonial architecture.
- The Sunday barbecue at Aquarium Restaurant on Magazine Beach promises lobster on the grill and toes in the sand.
- Savvy Sailing Adventures hosts private sunset sail trips on a traditional wooden sloop.
- First Impressions Ltd. runs a sunset cruise aboard a catamaran.
- Morne Rouge Beach, also known as BBC beach, is a calm cove that makes an ideal splash spot for kids.
- Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park is an artistic project that has become an artificial reef and hub of marine life.
- Flamingo Bay is a popular scuba diving destination within the Grenada Marine Park with a boisterous reef wall.
- Magazine Beach, just behind the airport, is the perfect last-chance ocean dip before departure.
- Patrick’s Local Homestyle Cooking Restaurant is a great pick for Grenadian staples, including the elusive Friday afternoon oil down, the national dish.
- 61 West Restaurant and Beach Bar is one of the better bars to grab a bite on Grand Anse, with atmospheric lighting and live music many nights.
- West Indies Beer Company is a microbrewery and a popular gathering point on Friday nights.
- The Junction Bar & Grill is an open-air restaurant and bar that comes alive after dark with D.J.s and a steady student crowd.
- Sails Restaurant & Bar has a covered deck with a coveted view of the Carenage waterfront in St. George’s.
- La Plywood Beach Bar Cafe on Morne Rouge Beach is not much more than the colorful plywood it’s named for, but turns out tasty fish tacos and cold beer.
- St. George’s Market is a block or so of vendor stalls selling produce and spices to both locals and visitors.
- Art Fabrik, near the center of St. George’s, sells hand-painted batik pareos, bags, jewelry and other Grenadian souvenirs.
- House of Chocolate is a shop, cafe and museum on Young Street that sells cocoa products and offers a demonstration of how they are made.
- Calabash Grenada, a 10-minute drive south of Grand Anse Beach in the Lance Aux Epines neighborhood, is a family-owned luxury hotel with an ocean-view breakfast service also open to non-guests. Rooms start at $621. (Note that while the official currency is Eastern Caribbean dollars, all prices in this guide are listed in U.S. dollars, which are also accepted everywhere.)
- Laluna Boutique Hotel and Villas offers 16 cottages and three villas tucked into the foliage of the cliffs above the secluded Portici Beach, near Morne Rouge Beach. Accommodations include private plunge pools and access to a beach yoga pavilion and a seaside pool. Rooms start at $485.
- Radisson Grenada Beach Resort, on Grand Anse Beach, is family-friendly and has expansive grounds, multiple pools and a big breakfast buffet of local dishes. Rooms start at $260.
- A variety of budget-friendly short-term rentals can be found in the island’s hills above St. George’s, some with ocean views. Or try the northern end of the island for more remote locations with rugged coastlines — and note it can take an hour or more to drive there from St. George’s and Grand Anse.
- When renting a car, most drivers will need to obtain a government-issued temporary driver’s permit (about $22) by showing their driver’s license — the rental agency can help arrange. Grenadians drive on the left. Road conditions vary (think: goats, cliffs) and may be unlit at night, particularly through the mountainous rural areas.
- Taxis are available, especially from the airport and hotels. Public buses run to most locations ($1). Walking is advisable within St. George’s, which is often congested with cars. But most roads elsewhere do not have sidewalks, making travel on foot or by bike a potentially dangerous venture. Uber and Lyft do not operate on Grenada.
Itinerary
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