Top Attractions in Saint George’s, Grenada

Whilst we spent time driving around the island of Grenada in our hire car my final post centres around its capital -Saint George’s. Located on a horse-shoe shaped harbour, frequented by all sizes of cruise ship and surrounded by the hillside of an old volcanic crater Saint George’s sits in the south west of the island.

Our self guided walking tour of the city began at:
The Carenage -for over 300 years this area of the capital has provided a safe haven for sailors and their vessels, serving as a vital lifeline for trade and commerce. We managed to find a free parking space directly on the main road and disembarking we were not only struck by the feel of the warm sun on our skin but also the amount of boats of all shapes and sizes bobbing around on the clear waters whilst on the opposite side of the road charming colonial-era buildings reminded us of history past.

It’s worth mentioning here that we hired our car from Avis but unlike other Avis offices we have frequented which are normally sited at the airport, this office is in a petrol station! We had to take a taxi from the airport to pick it up which all seemed a bit strange to us at first particularly when we were introduced to the man in charge, who to be honest looked like a cross between an old sunbaked pirate and a travelling gypsy adorned with much jewellery including many Captain Sparrow style earrings!
The car was not brand new but was a little battered and worn which we later learnt was a blessing when you are navigating the roads around the island trying to avoid the oncoming cars and concrete drainage ditches ever present on your lefthand side. Eric, as we christened him, met every challenge we faced him with including the extremely steep hillsides we regularly had to negotiate in order to get in and out of our hotel. So steep that at times you felt as if you were going to topple backwards!

Walking alongside the sea, stopping now and again to watch the local fishermen at work we walked to the:

Grenada National Museum -open Monday to Friday from 9-4.30 p.m. this is not a large museum but what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in both the welcome and knowledge of the staff and in the information available.
It acts as a beacon of cultural preservation outlining the history of the islands’s rich and diverse heritage from the earliest Arawak Indians, to the colonial era, slavery and the plantation economy. The history of the island continues with it’s journey to independence, the rise of the far left and it’s association with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro leading to the invasion by USA troops and the assassination of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. Today the island has a fairly young Prime Minister in Dickon Mitchell who as leader of the National Democratic Congress led his party to victory in June 2022 and will serve a five year term.

They also have changing exhibits and when we visited I was enamoured by the “Say My Name” display. Having studied the slavery era I was amazed at this latest exhibit where the names of hundreds of captive Africans and their descendants enslaved on six sugar estates in Grenada are detailed.Unnamed slaves were represented by blank tags.

House of Chocolate -Leaving the museum behind and heading left and just slightly up the hill we then came across this museum which celebrates Grenada’s vibrant cocoa production and chocolate-making culture. You can gain a real insight into every stage of the chocolate making process from cultivation to the actual delivery of delicious chocolate treats.
Needless to say there are a variety of sweet treats for you to savour and buy to take home. We bought a couple of delicious cakes each to take back to our hotel and enjoy with a cup of good old English tea. I have to admit they were really scrummy!

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church – Heading on up the hill and off to the left we then stopped at this church founded in 1830 which is an enduring legacy of Scottish immigrants who settled on the island in the early 19th century. The church suffered significant damage during Hurricane Ivan which has left the building in a state of disrepair. You can still, however, admire the iconic clock tower and standing on top of the hill you get magnificent views of the harbour and the cruise terminal below.
From here you can normally then venture up to Fort George which was constructed between 1706 and 1710 and not only admire the fantastic panoramic views but also learn more about Grenada’s history but it was closed for renovations when we were there.

York House – From the church we made our way across to York House which was originally built in the 1770’s and was the seat of the Grenadian Parliament until Ivan struck in 2004. It holds many memories including a visit by the Duke of York in the 18th century after which the building was named. The lower floor housed the Supreme Court making it a keystone in the island’s judicial system and Queen Elizabeth II presided over a special session of Parliament here when she visited in 1985.
The building was damaged beyond economic repair but still stands as a reminder of times gone by and the destructive nature of forces beyond man’s control.

Immaculate Conception Cathedral – Just a bit further up the road and overlooking the harbour we walked to the cathedral which has stunning views once again of the surrounding area. For some reason it seemed odd to find an actual cathedral on this fairly small Caribbean island and yet despite suffering devastating damage during Ivan the community worked hard to ensure this place of worship was returned to it’s former glory.

Whilst we were walking in this area we spotted a couple of delightful extra sights. Firstly this stunning home, tucked behind some railings with a beautiful garden and colonial features. I wonder who lives there?

Secondly the schools in Grenada start each day at 8.00 a.m. and finish at 2.00 p.m. and as we made our way back down the hill from these last two places of interest to our final destination we found ourselves surrounded by school children. Education is free on the island for 5-16 years of age and they all dress so smartly in their uniforms with white shirts or blouses, ties or scarfs and navy trousers/skirts. Little girls, aged 5-6 years old happily walked down the hill, holding hands in lines of three or four whilst older children ignoring their younger counterparts jostled and played as they made their way home. Such is the community spirit and safety on the island that parents do not come and collect their children but await their return at home. It was a real sight to behold and drew a smile to my face.

The Market – This is a major attraction within the city and stands at the heart of a vibrant square surrounded by colonial architecture and full of hustle and bustle. It is a focal point for the locals to come and buy all sorts of fresh island fruits, vegetables and of course spices as well as giving them an opportunity to browse other stalls selling clothes, bric a brac, homely goods and ready made foods.
On our amble around we came across a gentleman selling spices who didn’t pressure us to stop and buy, he merely greeted us in a friendly manner and as a result caught our attention. Hubby was interested in the bags of baking spices and left with a sizeable bag of orange spice (think orange zest in smell) whilst I perused the bags of bark. The stallholder asked me if I was looking for something specific and I told him mauby root. He then produced a large bag from which he made me up an agreed amount to buy and take home. Mauby bark is boiled with water, sugar, and spices like cinnamon, cloves, and anise to create a beverage and was a favourite with my children when they were younger and visited their Caribbean grandparents. 

The market also sits right next to the cruise ship terminal which has seen a precinct of shops grow up, completely undercover through which those leaving and returning to the ship need to walk in order to access tours etc. The shops here are predominantly aimed at this trade and souvenir and clothing shops predominate.

Heading back down to the Carenage we pass the Logos Hope moored in the harbour. We were told about this when we were on our Sculpture Tour. This floating library, last seen in Grenada in December 2017, has an extensive collection of over 5,000 different books spanning diverse genres and subjects. Here in the Western world we take books for granted but not every nation has the same access to libraries and book shops. The ship gives families and reading enthusiasts across Grenada the opportunity to explore thousands of titles when Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating book fair, docked at St George’s Port from February 20 to March 11, 2025.

Visitors will find everything from children’s literature and academic texts to books on science, sports, cookery, medicine, and faith, all offered at accessible prices.The vessel’s expansive book fair caters to readers of all ages and interests, featuring comprehensive selections of dictionaries, atlases, and hobby-related publications. The ship opens it’s gang blank six days a week, Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00, and Sundays from 13:00 to 22:00, with final entry at 21:00 daily.

Adult visitors aged 13-64 have to pay 5 EC per person to enter, while seniors 65 and over can get in free of charge. Children under 12 also enjoy free admission but must be accompanied by an adult, with a ratio of one adult per ten children maximum.

I, personally, found this amazing. Where else would you see this?

This ends my top three recommendations of things to do in Grenada but I will be posting a final segment on places we ate on the island to give you a flavour of what is available.