St. George's

St. George's, the capital of Grenada, is widely considered one of the most picturesque harbour towns in the entire Caribbean, its pastel-painted and red-tile-roofed buildings tumbling down steep green hillsides around the beautiful, sheltered horseshoe of the Carenage, its inner harbour. Steeped in French and British colonial history, the town is crowned by the historic Fort George on a headland, offering sweeping views, and dotted with old churches, a lively market square fragrant with spices, and colourful streets. Compact, charming and full of character, it is a delight to explore on foot and the perfect base for the Spice Isle.

What you actually see

• The Carenage - the picturesque horseshoe inner harbour.
• Fort George - the hilltop fort and its sweeping views.
• The market square - the lively market fragrant with spices.
• The colonial streets - the pastel houses climbing the hills.

When to go

December to April, the dry season, for the most pleasant weather to explore on foot; the town is busiest when cruise ships are in port, so the market and harbour are liveliest, while an early start or later afternoon is calmer. The market square is at its most colourful and fragrant on a Saturday morning.

Honest expectations

St. George's is a small, hilly working capital and cruise port, so it can be busy and steep to walk, and beyond its pretty harbour and fort, its attractions are modest; a few hours to a day suffices. As one of the loveliest and most authentic harbour towns in the Caribbean, though, with its horseshoe harbour, hillside pastel houses, historic fort and spice-scented market, St. George's is genuinely charming and a delightful base for Grenada.

Nearby

Grand Anse, the underwater sculpture park and the spice estates are close by.