The Cayman Islands are largely known for the two offshore activities of banking and scuba diving. Most people who travel to the Cayman Islands stay on the largest island called Grand Cayman. The main beach and resort area is called Seven Mile Beach along the west coast of Grand Cayman. The island offers great outdoor activities including coral reef scuba diving tours, sport fishing excursions, windsurfing, parasailing, birdwatching, hiking, sunsets, and time on the beach.

The Cayman Islands are well known as a destination for scuba diving vacations. The three islands of the chain are the peaks of underwater mountains allowing scuba diving tours that explore huge vertical drop offs, a barrier reef, and incredible coral. The Cayman Trench is the deepest part of the caribbean at over 4 miles deep. Snorkeling is plentiful without the need for a boat as you can swim in the shallow water before the reef and well before the Cayman walls vertical drop offs.

Yacht charters are a popular means for visiting the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands Yacht Club and Harbour House are two popular marinas that welcome visiting yacht charters. Both of these yacht clubs are located in the North Sound of Grand Cayman Island. Near the western town of West Bay on Grand Cayman is the yacht port of Morgan's Harbor Marina.

The Cayman Islands have one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean. Panhandling and unlicensed vendors are prohibited by law. The main shopping areas are Cardinal Avenue and Kirk Freeport Plaza both in George Town. The U.S. dollar is widely accepted along with the Cayman dollar. The airport is Owen Roberts Airport near the capital George Town.