St. George's

Understand

The volcano that created Grenada had a side crater that eventually sank and flooded, to create a natural harbour. This was on the west coast sheltered from the Atlantic and fierce trade winds, so it was the obvious place for a port and settlement. The first European settlers were French, who called the place Fort Royal, and realised that in hurricane season it could shelter their vessels from other islands less well-endowed. The British captured it in 1762, but didn't make too good a job of fortifying it against counter-attack. Back came the French who built a series of forts, only to see the island re-awarded to Britain in 1783. And so the principal bastion was re-named Fort George, commanding the Carenage, the natural harbour.

St George's remained at the centre of island life through the plantation years and slavery, then through emancipation, the late colonial era and independence. The harbour is still busy with cruise liners, but since the 1980s the main tourist destination and investment focus has been Grand Anse just south, while town has become run-down. Grenada seldom suffers hurricanes but was struck in 2004 and 2005, and reconstruction was hampered by several global financial slumps, the latest being Covid from 2020 through 2022. Your tourist spend however modest will be appreciated.

Get in

is on the peninsula 8 miles southwest, see Grenada (island)#Get in for facilities and flight connections.

Cruise ships often call at Grenada but there are no international ferries. The cruiser terminal is just north of Fort George.

east of the harbour has a ferry from the smaller Grenada islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, likewise see Grenada (island)#Get in.

St George's is the hub of all island transport, with a fleet of minibuses and taxis converging. Transport is especially good along the crowded southwest corridor from the airport and Grand Anse.

is on the shore 200 yards north of the cruiser terminal. A scrummage of taxi drivers wait along this strip.

Get around

Walk, the town is compact though some streets are steep.

The Discovery Train pootles round town every hour or so, buy tickets in the Esplanade Mall by the cruiser terminal. These include entry to the museum and Fort George, not that big a saving since in 2023 both remain closed. But it saves your legs on the steep streets, and is a safe experience for less adventurous tourists in dread of robbery or cannibals.