Our Highlights on Grand Cayman
In our opinion, the most incredible experience on Grand Cayman is a visit to "Stingray City" — you take a boat out to a sandbank where you can feed stingrays in the wild. It's truly an amazing experience.
By the way: the Cayman Islands are where Caribbean dive tourism began, as Grand Cayman is renowned for its stunning reefs.
Dive tours have been offered here for about 50 years. One special attraction on Grand Cayman are deep-sea submarine dives, where two passengers at a time can descend to depths of 300 meters.
But the beaches are equally impressive. A beautiful stretch of sand lies west of the capital: Seven Mile Beach, a long beach with coral sand.
The capital George Town, on the island's west side, is a paradise for shopping enthusiasts.
In the former capital, Bodden Town, you'll find the Pirate's Caves — an underground cave system where pirates took refuge in the 18th century.
Not so great: In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan, a Category 5 storm, passed within about 50 km of Grand Cayman. Wind speeds reached up to 290 km/h. There were several fatalities and 80% of the island's buildings were destroyed. It was the worst hurricane ever to strike the island.
Weather, Climate Data & Best Time to Visit Grand Cayman
The weather is warm and tropical year-round. Trade winds provide pleasant cooling. The rainy season runs from May to October, though showers tend to be short and intense — and therefore quite refreshing. Hurricane season is from June to November. The best time to visit is therefore winter and spring.
Entry Requirements, Recommended Vaccinations & Other Information
EU citizens do not need a visa to enter. A passport valid for at least six months is required. Cruise passengers can identify themselves with their boarding pass.
No additional vaccinations beyond the generally recommended ones are required for the Cayman Islands.
The Cayman Islands have their own currency, the Cayman Islands Dollar, which was first introduced in 1972.
Getting to Grand Cayman
There are three airports in the Cayman Islands:
Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman, Little Cayman Airport on Little Cayman, and Gerrard Smith Airport on Cayman Brac.
Left-hand traffic is the rule on the Cayman Islands.
Where Is the Caribbean Island of Grand Cayman?
Grand Cayman, at 197 km², is the largest of the three Cayman Islands in the Caribbean.
Together, the three islands — Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac — cover an area of 262 km². Jamaica lies approximately 290 km to the northwest, Cuba about 240 km away, and Miami is roughly 740 km distant. The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.
History of the Cayman Islands
- By pure chance — because his ships drifted off course — Columbus discovered the island group on May 10, 1503. The islands were named after the sea turtles living there: "Las Tortugas."
- From 1540, the island group was renamed to "Caymanas."
- Starting in 1666, the islands were settled from Jamaica, only to be abandoned again shortly after.
- In 1670, Spain recognized English sovereignty over Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. It wasn't until 1962 that the Cayman Islands gained the status of a British Crown Colony with self-governance.
By the way: The Cayman Islands are also known as the "Switzerland of the Caribbean." The reason for this nickname is the large number of banks located here and the tax-free status they enjoy. George Town is therefore one of the world's largest financial centers!
