The Ultimate George Town Grand Cayman Travel Guide

By Lindsey Turnbull on 4th October, 2022

Where is George Town?

George Town, Grand Cayman, is the capital of the Cayman Islands, situated to the south of lively Seven Mile Beach and to the west of residential South Sound. This historic location is home to Cayman’s seat of governance, the House of Parliament, is a busy district for business, as well as being a brilliant location for shopping and dining.

Sightseeing in George Town

Learn more about the destination with a self-created George Town Grand Cayman excursion to see all the interesting historic sites of the capital. Begin at atmospheric Fort George to see Cayman’s history in art form, then cross to Heroes Square, where monuments to Cayman’s seafaring past, along with statues and busts of prominent Caymanians, abound in numbers. Marvel at the unique design of the Central Post Office, the beautiful Elmslie Memorial Church and the George Town Public Library (both old and new libraries). A must-visit is the Cayman Islands National Museum, which has some great exhibitions and displays, as well as an interesting video on Caymanian history, and two animatronic exhibitions, which really bring history to life! 

Downtown George Town Cayman Islands

Central George Town (sometimes simply referred to as “downtown”) is home to Cayman’s cruise passenger port and is the location for cruise ship tourists to alight. It has therefore developed into a first-class shopping district, with duty free jewellery, perfumes, cosmetics and watches a particular draw for visitors. Kirk Freeport is a one-stop-shop for all duty-free shopping needs, with its beautiful Bayshore Mall an enticing location in which to browse and pick out a perfect piece for you or a loved one. Shopping in George Town is a breeze thanks to newly pedestrianised Cardinal Avenue, which runs down the heart of George Town and is flanked either side by great shops featuring international brands.

Eating downtown

Some fantastic restaurants, cafés and bars are all within easy walking distance of the heart of the capital, including The Brasserie, a lovely oasis of delicious food and pleasing old-style surroundings. Their restaurant menu includes sustainable and local foods and has a lively bar at which you can sit and chat, while their café offers great food on the hop and excellent coffee. Vegans ought to make a visit to Bread & Chocolate, Cayman’s only fully vegan café and renowned for its excellent breakfasts and lunches, while coffee shops abound, including one of Cayman’s oldest coffee shops, the Daily Grind, situated on top of Bread & Chocolate. Still in George Town, and just a short walk up to the start of Seven Mile Beach, is the fantastic Wharf restaurant, a top pick for dining in Cayman, complete with idyllic ocean-front vistas just perfect for sunset viewing. Take a short taxi ride out east down South Church Street and The Wharf’s sister restaurant, Grand Old House, awaits diners. This is one of the oldest buildings in George Town Grand Cayman, a former plantation house more than 100 years old. Grand Old House also offers ocean-front dining and brilliant cuisine to match.

To unearth a sense of what Cayman is all about, don’t miss out on a visit to George Town Cayman Islands.