Grand Cayman is one of the most accessible Caribbean islands for North American travelers. Numerous airlines offer frequent direct flights to Grand Cayman’s Owen Roberts International Airport from cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and others. Miami, just under two hours away, is a gateway city to the Cayman Islands, with up to four daily direct flights to Grand Cayman during the high travel season.
Cayman Airways offers small daily inter-island flights between Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. While there is no public ferry service between the islands like you might find in other Caribbean destinations, travelers can also choose private boat charters, which are relatively affordable.
Many visitors also arrive in Grand Cayman by cruise ship at the port in the capital city of George Town. The cruise port allows for up to four ships to anchor at once; any additional ships remain in harbor. Passengers are tendered to shore and arrive at one of three terminals.
Grand Cayman enjoys warm, tropical weather year round, with temperatures hovering around the 80s. Wet weather and tropical storms are possible during the Atlantic hurricane season between June and November.
Best Hotels & Resorts
The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa
The largest pool in Grand Cayman and the longest stretch of white sand on Seven Mile Beach make The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa one of the most impressive resorts on the island. Extensive health, wellness, and activities offerings, plus a kids club, the Hibiscus Spa, and innovative dining options like Woto are highlights.
Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
The Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa sits on the heart of Seven Mile Beach. This 264-room property also boasts the impressive Library by the Sea cocktail bar and Mexican street food-inspired beach eatery Coccoloba, which warrant a visit even among travelers staying elsewhere.
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Home to the largest luxury suite in the Caribbean, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman shines after an extensive refurbishment in 2021. The resort’s Cayman Cookout festivities every January are a must for foodies, though the tasting menus at Blue by Eric Ripert make the resort a culinary destination year round.
Palm Heights
Opened in October 2019, Palm Heights is a stylish boutique property and one of the newest resorts in Grand Cayman. With just 52 rooms and suites, it offers a refreshing boutique experience amidst nearby mega-resorts.
Best Things To Do
Stingray City
Kittiwake Shipwreck
National Gallery of the Cayman Islands
Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
Nightlife
Library by the Sea
Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa’s Library by the Sea serves a curated collection of literary-inspired cocktails that offer
Highlights include a glowing blue Dune-inspired drink and a Hemingway daiquiri made using 1932 Bacardà rum, just like the author would have had at El Floridita in Havana. Drinks are “served” with first-edition and vintage copies of the tomes that inspired their creation.
Next Door
Located in the shopping and entertainment hub of Camana Bay, Next Door is a new cocktail bar offering some of the most innovative drink creations on the island. A commitment to using sustainable ingredients and frequent live music events have made it one of the island’s best happy hour spots.
Best Restaurants
Blue by Eric Ripert
The Caribbean’s only AAA Five-Diamond restaurant, Blue by Eric Ripert at the Ritz-Carlton offers tasting menus highlighting local seafood, making it the undisputed fine dining star of Grand Cayman. Reservations required.
Ms. Piper’s Kitchen + Garden
Patterned after a bohemian backyard oasis, Ms. Piper’s Kitchen + Garden might just be the coolest place to eat in Grand Cayman. The retro 70’s vibe woven into every detail and international-inspired menu are refreshing and unique.
Woto
As Grand Cayman’s first dedicated poke, sushi, and ceviche restaurant, The Westin’s Woto has quickly become a favorite dining destination. Chefs trained in Japan make dishes authentic, while locally-sourced ingredients root them in Caribbean flavors.
Peppers Bar & Grill
Tastemakers, foodies, and chefs across the island all recommend beachfront Peppers Bar & Grill as one of the best local restaurants in Grand Cayman. “The jerk chicken, rice, and peas are the best on the island,” says Wrigley.
Coccoloba
Coccoloba at Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa is Seven Mile Beach’s elevated beach bar experience. The Mexican street food-inspired menu offers everything from fresh-catch tostadas to churros and an incredible piña colada.
How To Get Around
Rental Car
With so many of the best resorts, bars, and restaurants in Grand Cayman clustered along Seven Mile Beach, booking a rental car is only a necessity for travelers looking to explore Rum Point or the island’s East End. The airport is the best place to rent a car, with a number of large companies here. Remember that cars drive on the left side of the road in the Cayman Islands, though you can find cars with the steering wheel on either side of the vehicle.
Taxi
Taxis tend to be the best transportation option for most travelers in Grand Cayman, though they can be comparatively expensive. Download CI:GO, an app the Cayman Islands government created to calculate taxi fares between locations, which will estimate your fare in USD and Cayman Islands Dollars (KYD).
Rideshare
Grand Cayman doesn’t have the ridesharing companies most visitors will recognize from home. The local app Island Ride is an alternative, though many travelers tend to stick with taxis, as ridesharing can be even more expensive than a standard taxi.
Local Buses
Mini-buses run on predetermined routes around the island and cost just a few dollars per trip, though they tend to get crowded and won’t stop if they’re already full. Catch a bus at a stop along the route or by flagging one down as it passes. More information on routes and schedules is available on the Public Transportation Unit website.
