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Voykit pocket guide · Cayman Islands
George Town, Grand Cayman
George Town
Grand Cayman is a car-and-taxi island: sleep on Seven Mile Beach, do the George Town waterfront in one morning before the cruise crowds, and spend the other days on the beach and the water.
George Town is a small harbour capital of a few streets, so the town itself takes half a day. The trip is decided by weather, the cruise-ship calendar and how you get around: taxis are fixed-fare and expensive, buses run mainly along the west coast, and a rental car makes the island easy. Four areas cover a first visit; Stingray City and Rum Point are boat or drive days on top of them.
- Country
- Cayman Islands
- Local name
- George Town
- Best months
- Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · Dec
- Time zone
- America/Cayman
- Stay
- 2 days: George Town waterfront in the morning, Camana Bay and Seven Mile Beach the rest of the time
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- KYD
- Money
- Cards work almost everywhere; US dollars are accepted at the fixed rate CI$1 = US$1.20, and change often comes back in Cayman dollars. Carry small notes for buses, tips and market stalls.
- Daily spend
- Budget CI$80–130 excl. bed · Mid CI$130–250 excl. bed · High CI$250+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Check roaming with your home carrier first; US carriers often work at a high rate. Local prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are sold at the airport and in town (check current offers).
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- 120 V, US-style two-pin and three-pin sockets (types A and B); no adapter needed for US devices.
- Tipping
- Many restaurants and hotels add a service charge of about 10–15 percent; check the bill. If none is added, tip 10–15 percent. Round up for taxis.
- Water
- Tap water is desalinated and treated and generally safe, but many visitors drink bottled water; ask at your hotel.
- Toilets
- Cafés, shopping centres, Camana Bay, the public beach facilities and larger hotels; few street toilets in George Town.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Local lunch plate | CI$10–16 |
| Sit-down lunch main | CI$20–35 |
| Beer at a bar | CI$5–8 |
| Bottle of water, shop | CI$2–3 |
| Airport taxi to Seven Mile Beach | CI$25–35 per car |
| Public bus ride | CI$2–3 |
| Museum entry | check (CI$ single digits to about CI$10) |
| Mid-range hotel or condo, per night | CI$250–500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM)
- GCM to Seven Mile Beach: one fixed-fare taxi to the door, 15–30 minutes; the risk is a late flight when few taxis wait, so book the pickup with your hotel.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) (Owen Roberts) | Direct flights from several US cities, Toronto, London and Caribbean hubs; Cayman Airways to the Sister Islands | About 10 minutes by taxi to George Town, 15–30 minutes to Seven Mile Beach |
| Royal Watler Cruise Terminal (George Town) (Cruise terminal) | Cruise ship tenders; ships anchor offshore and passengers ride tenders to the terminal | It is in the centre |
| Sister Islands airports (Cayman Brac and Little Cayman) (Gerrard Smith and Edward Bodden airfields) | Cayman Airways and Cayman Airways Express flights from Owen Roberts | Not applicable |
Typical fares
- Airport → Seven Mile Beach, taxi per car
- CI$25–35
- George Town → Seven Mile Beach, taxi per car
- CI$15–25
- Public bus, one ride
- CI$2–3
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
A car or taxi island: walk inside George Town and Camana Bay, take a taxi or rental car between areas, and use the west-coast buses only if you are not in a hurry.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside George Town, inside Camana Bay, along the beach |
| Taxi | CI$15–35 a ride depending on zone (2026 estimate) | Airport, George Town to Seven Mile Beach, restaurants at night |
| Rental car | About CI$50–90 a day plus insurance and fuel (2026 estimate) | Rum Point, East End, West Bay and a free day at your own pace |
| Public bus | About CI$2–3 (2026 estimate) | George Town to Seven Mile Beach and West Bay in daylight |
| Tour operators and hotel shuttles | Varies | Boat trips, island tours and airport transfers |
| Ride-hailing apps | Not applicable | Not relied on here |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass. Taxis are fixed-fare and add up quickly: a rental car pays off after about two or three rides a day.
- Late at night
- No rail. Buses run on fixed routes and stop early in the evening; taxis need a phone call.
See and do
01Stingray City sandbarStingray City
The island's signature outing: wild rays in waist-deep water on a sandbar.
Hours: best First morning departure · Price: US$50–100 · Time: 3–4 h · 19.3878, -81.2913
02Seven Mile Public Beach
The long public beach with calm, clear water; the sunset is the free show.
Hours: best Morning and sunset · Price: Free · Time: 1–3 h
03Cemetery Beach snorkellingCemetery Beach
An easy shore snorkel on a calm morning without a boat.
Hours: best 08:00–10:00 · Price: Free; gear CI$10–20 · Time: 1–1.5 hHours: best 8:00 AM–10:00 AM · Price: Free; gear CI$10–20 · Time: 1–1.5 h · 19.3405, -81.3945
04Cayman National Museum
Seafaring, turtling and storms in the island's history museum on the harbour.
Hours: best Before 10:00 · Price: Check locally · Time: 1 hHours: best Before 10:00 AM · Price: Check locally · Time: 1 h
05Camana Bay Observation Tower
A free view over the sound and the planned town below.
Hours: best Late afternoon · Price: Free · Time: 20–30 min
06Fort George ruinsFort George
Ten minutes at the wall of an 18th-century fort on the harbour front.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 10–15 min
07Rum Point and Kaibo beach day
Shallow water, hammocks and beach bars across the sound.
Hours: best Weekday · Price: Meals CI$15–30 · Time: Half to full day
08Devil's Grotto and Eden Rock snorkel
Reef and caves close to the shore, just south of the waterfront.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free; gear CI$10–20 · Time: 1–2 h
09Bodden Town and Pedro St. James
The oldest settlement and the site tied to the first Cayman assembly.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Small entry fee · Time: Half day
10The Brasserie
A sit-down lunch of local seafood in air-conditioning between museum and shops.
Hours: best 12:00–13:30 · Price: CI$25–50 · Time: 1–1.5 hHours: best 12:00 PM–1:30 PM · Price: CI$25–50 · Time: 1–1.5 h · 19.2938, -81.3777
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Stingray City sandbar (North Sound) | Boat from a dock on North Sound or near Seven Mile Beach, booked as a tour | Half day |
| Rum Point and Kaibo (north coast) | Rental car or taxi, about 45–60 minutes from Seven Mile Beach | Half to full day |
| Hell and the Cayman Turtle Centre (West Bay) | Car, taxi or bus, about 20–30 minutes north of Seven Mile Beach | Half day |
| Bodden Town, Pedro St. James and the East End | Rental car or a guided drive, about 30–60 minutes east | Full day |
| Cayman Brac and Little Cayman (the Sister Islands) | Cayman Airways or Cayman Airways Express flights from Owen Roberts | Overnight or more |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown local lunch counters | Rice and beans with fish or chicken · Downtown | CI$10–16 | Budget |
| Camana Bay Farmers and Artisan Market | Cake, fruit and baked snacks · Camana Bay | CI$3–10 | Budget |
| Calico Jack's | Fish, burgers and a local beer on the sand · Seven Mile Beach | CI$15–30 | Mid-range |
| Cracked Conch | Conch fritters and seafood · Seven Mile Beach side | CI$25–45 | Mid-range |
| The Brasserie | Local seafood and produce · George Town business district | CI$25–50 | Mid-range |
| Luca | Sit-down Italian · Camana Bay | CI$40–70 | Splurge |
| Resort and destination restaurants | Tasting menus and Caribbean fine dining · Seven Mile Beach resorts | CI$70–150 | Splurge |
Per person, one meal, 2026 estimate in Cayman dollars. Service charge is often added: check the bill. Confirm hours the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | CI$150–250 | George Town and small Seven Mile Beach guesthouses | Guesthouses, small hotels, apartments |
| mid | CI$250–500 | Seven Mile Beach condos and hotels | Beachfront and across-the-road condos, mid-range resorts |
| splurge | CI$600+ | Seven Mile Beach resorts and Camana Bay | Luxury resorts and villas |
Per room per night in Cayman dollars, 2026 estimate; Christmas to New Year and the spring-break weeks add a large premium.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Good morning | Good morningsaid before any question, in a shop or to a driver |
| What is the fare to Seven Mile Beach? | What's the fare to Seven Mile?fares follow a zone rate card, not a meter |
| What is the catch of the day? | What came in today?fish is sold by the day's catch |
| Is the service charge included? | Is service added?asked before tipping |
| Cayman kind | Caymankindthe local shorthand for friendly, helpful manners; the tourist board uses it too |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Cover-up: Swimwear is for the beach and boat; put on a shirt and shorts or a cover-up in shops, restaurants and George Town.
- Greetings: Say 'good morning' or 'good afternoon' before you ask a question or start a purchase; it is expected.
- Camouflage: Wearing camouflage clothing is against local law for civilians; leave it at home.
- Marine life: Do not touch coral, chase turtles or take shells, conch or fish from protected areas; fines apply.
- Driving: Drive on the left, give way in roundabouts to traffic already in them, and do not drive after drinking; the road police are active.
- Tipping: Check for an added service charge; otherwise about 10–15 percent.
Red lines
- Do not take coral, shells or fish from marine parks; follow the rules at Stingray City.
- Beachwear is for the beach: cover up in George Town and shops.
- Drug laws are strict, including for cannabis.
Scams and watch-outs
- Boat operators who add fees at the dock after you have booked: get the price, what is included and the weather cancellation rule in writing before you pay.
- Time-share sales stands on West Bay Road and in Camana Bay offering free gifts for a 'short' presentation of 90 minutes or more: skip them.
- Taxi drivers who quote a price for the car above the zone rate card: ask for the official rate card, or ask your hotel what the fare should be.
- Beach and cruise-day sellers who press bracelets or braiding on you before the price is agreed: a clear 'no thank you' first.
One and two days
1 day
A cruise call or a layover with a hotel and a boat. Skip: Stingray City and Rum Point: they are half-day trips each.
- 08:308:30 AMMuseum and fort before the crowds
- 10:0010:00 AMHeroes Square and the waterfront
- 11:3011:30 AMTaxi to Camana Bay, market or tower
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch at Camana Bay
- 14:002:00 PMAfternoon on the beach
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Cayman Islands Department of Tourism: www.visitcaymanislands.com/
- Wikivoyage — Grand Cayman: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Grand_Cayman
- Cayman Islands Department of Environment: doe.ky/
- Camana Bay: www.camanabay.com/
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
George Town, Grand CaymanGeorge Town
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Stingray CityStingray City sandbar
- Cemetery BeachCemetery Beach snorkelling
- Fort GeorgeFort George ruins
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
There are no embassies on the island; note your own country's consular office for Jamaica, Miami or London before you fly.
English is the language of daily life. Drive on the left, take the rate card in a taxi, and carry small notes for buses.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/george-town-cayman-islands). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.