In this article, we discuss the best ways for tourists to get around Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
1. Car
The best way to get around Grand Cayman is to drive your own car.
Most shops, restaurants and activities are too far apart to walk to. Most tourists choose to rent a car during their vacation in Grand Cayman.
Also, the climate can be very hot in Grand Cayman, meaning that you will be more comfortable inside an air-conditioned vehicle, compared to walking outside in the sun.
If you are interested in renting a car during your vacation, then check out our articles where we discuss whether it is safe to drive in Grand Cayman as a tourist, and also whether you need to rent a car when vacationing to Grand Cayman.
2. Public Bus
Public buses in Grand Cayman can be useful, but it depends on where you are staying.
If you are staying on or near Seven Mile Beach, then there are lots of public buses. Buses will drive by every 5-minutes.
If you are staying further out, on the east-side of Grand Cayman, then public buses are less frequent, meaning that you may have to wait up to 20-minutes for a bus to arrive.
Another issue with public buses in Grand Cayman is that they don’t go to all areas on the island. There may be parts of Grand Cayman that you want to explore, but you won’t be able to get there with public buses. For example, most of the beaches and snorkel spots in Grand Cayman can’t be reached with public buses.
There are no public buses at the airport in Grand Cayman. This means that you will either need to rent a car or take a taxi when you arrive at the airport in Grand Cayman.
Public buses in Grand Cayman are very safe, and you can tell the driver where you want to go. It costs about $2.50 USD per person to take a public bus.
3. Taxi
Taxis in Grand Cayman are very expensive.
It costs about $30 USD to $40 USD to take a taxi from the airport to Seven Mile Beach.
If you are still interested in using taxis, then check out our article where we review the top 15 taxis in Grand Cayman.
We recommend that you rent a car as it is cheaper and allows you to explore the island in a way that you can’t with taxis.
4. Walking
We don’t recommend that you walk in Grand Cayman because most shops, restaurants & activities are too far apart to walk to.
Also, the climate can be quite hot during the day, meaning that most people aren’t comfortable walking.
If you are staying on Seven Mile Beach, then you can safely walk to shops and restaurants that are a few minutes from your hotel or condo. However, any further and it’s best to take a bus or drive your own car.
Grand Cayman is very safe, meaning that as a tourist, you can walk almost anywhere without having to worry about crime.
5. Bicycle
The roads in Grand Cayman can be dangerous for cyclists because there aren’t many bicycle lanes.
If you have experience cycling, then you can rent a bicycle in Grand Cayman without issues.
In general, using a bicycle isn’t the most practical way to get around Grand Cayman if you are a tourist.
6. Boat
There is no real way to use a boat to get around Grand Cayman.
There are lots of fun snorkel tours and stingray city tours that utilize boats, but you should not try to rent a boat for day to day travel.
7. Uber & Lyft
There is no Uber or Lyft in the Cayman Islands.
You can read our article where we explain why Uber & Lyft don’t operate in the Cayman Islands.
What is the best way to get around Grand Cayman?
The best way to get around Grand Cayman is to rent a car. Other methods of transport are less reliable.
How long does it take to drive around Grand Cayman?
It takes about 2.5 hours to drive around Grand Cayman.
How long does it take to drive across Grand Cayman?
It takes about 1-hour to drive from the west-side to the east-side of Grand Cayman.
Final thoughts
The best way to get around Grand Cayman as a tourist is to rent a car.
Other methods of transportation are less reliable than having your own car.
If you are looking for things to do during your vacation, then check out our article where we review the top 25 things to do in Grand Cayman.
