There is just so much to do – so many treasures to uncover – as you soak up the warmth and enjoy the comforts of our beautiful island. Land lubbers and sea farers alike can have their pick of surf and turf activities appropriate for all ages and stages of calm or daredevil delight! Singles, lovers, friends and families also have rich and plentiful options to choose from. Whether you want to swim or sunbathe, party and play hard or enjoy art, culture and cuisine at its best, it’s right here waiting for you. Discover Barbados. Lose yourself. Find you!
Barbados
Barbados is luxury at its very essence, it’s the island that offers diversity in a warm and welcoming environment, that is guaranteed to exceed the expectations of the most discerning traveller. The island offers today’s traveller the opportunity to explore the culture, heritage, adventure, culinary and romantic exploits that the island has to offer. With the Bajan way of life offering a combination of ease and passion, and a calendar that is truly packed with year round, world-class culture and sport activities, there’s always something to entice you! Even doing the simplest things in Paradise is a luxury. When in Barbados, people find themselves immersed into the Bajan art of living. With the quality of life, celebrations, openness and the many nuances of Bajan lifestyle, a visit to Barbados is a truly transcendent experience.
Catamaran Trip, Barbados
Top Things To Do
Windsurfing Barbados
Mount Gay Rum Tour, Barbados
Activities
The soft-sand beaches and turquoise water create postcard-perfect scenes but the friendly Barbadians are what truly set this island apart. Colonised by the British, Barbados is English speaking and has a distinctly British vibe. Cricket, horse racing, polo, high tea, and driving on the left side of the road are all part of the experience. Top attractions in Barbados, apart from the outstanding beaches, include caves, historic sites, gardens, plantations, a wildlife preserve, and numerous points of interest in the capital city of Bridgetown. Some of the most popular things to do involve the sea. Snorkeling, diving, swimming, fishing, and other excursions are readily available. For ideas on how to spend your time, see our list of attractions and things to do in Barbados.
Carlisle Bay
Carlisle Bay, on the edge of Bridgetown is compromised of beautiful blond beaches and long stretches of crystal-clear turquoise waters which makes this one of the most inviting areas to dip your toes in the sea or set up a beach chair. Pebble Beach is one of the best stretches along the bay, but Brownes Beach and Bayshore Beach are also enticing spots. You can wade or swim in the placid water, rent a stand up paddleboard, or simply relax on the beach. If you head down to Pebble Beach at dawn, you can see the racehorses getting a morning bath in the ocean and watch the sunrise. Washrooms and showers can be found at the top of the beach.
Carlisle Bay, Barbados
Bridgetown, Barbados
Bridgetown
Bridgetown, the nation’s capital, is home to a wealth of attractions, but it’s also simply a beautiful place to wander around. The landmark Parliament Buildings, easily recognizable by the neo-Gothic style architecture and clock tower, and the National Heroes Square are two of the main sites in the city center. Across the street from the Parliament Buildings is the lovely Chamberlain Bridge, with views over the Constitution River, known more commonly as The Careenage. From the bridge, you can see yachts docked along the waterway and the colorful buildings that line the waterside walkway.
Bathsheba Bay
Located along the rugged Atlantic coast, Bathsheba Bay offers a dramatic glimpse into the erosive power of the ocean. The beach here, popular with surfers but not a place for swimming, is dotted with huge rock formations created by the remains of ancient coral reefs undercut by the relentless waves. The water in the bay is shallow, and the surf creates a white lather, which led to the name Soup Bowl, a term well-known internationally in the surfing community.
As you arrive at Bathsheba Bay, the road descends from a high plateau down to the ocean and runs along the waterfront. You can see the remains of a staircase and structure in the surf and a little farther on is a restaurant and vendors selling goods. This is a good place stop and walk down to the beach or have lunch.
Bathsheba Bay, Barbados
Mount Gay Rum Distillery, Barbados
Mount Gay Rum Distillery
Come to the site where Mount Gay has distilled rum for over 300 years to discover how Barbados became the birthplace of rum and how Mount Gay’s focus on quality has made us the oldest, continuously running rum distillery in the world. With unparalleled access to our working estate, you will explore our lands, original well, molasses house, fermentation house, distillation house and bonds.
Oistins Fish Fry
If you’re wondering what to do in Barbados at night, Oistins’ Friday Fish Fry is the answer. Every Friday night, you can try locally caught fish fresh off the grill. Dozens of vendors set up here and offer a full range of fish and side dishes. Locals and tourists come to enjoy the food and atmosphere. Picnic tables or plastic tables under tents serve as makeshift restaurants. In front, along the ocean-side, vendors sell jewelry and trinkets. If you are in Barbados on a Friday night, this is something worth experiencing. It’s also one of the few free things to do in Barbados. The fish fry starts around 6pm and runs well into the evening.
Oistins Fish Fry
St Lawrence Gap, Barbados
St Lawrence Gap
St. Lawrence Gap, about 20 minutes from Bridgetown on the south coast, is a colorful 1.3-kilometer section of street known for its restaurants and shops. Most of the activity here happens in the late afternoon and into the night. As the evening goes on, the area becomes more and more lively. You can be the judge of what you are looking for. At the west end, where the street comes down to an ocean-side walkway, you can dine along the waterfront at places like Primo, with an indoor area and outdoor patio overlooking the ocean. Restaurants and other places in the center of the strip are much more casual, with street-side stools where you can watch the action.
When to visit
December to April is the high season and the coolest, driest time of year, with an average daily maximum temperature of around 28.5°C.
Getting here
Barbados is reachable with many international carriers flying daily.
How to get around
When getting around Barbados you can use a diverse array of means of transportation. You can drive, take a taxi or a water taxi, hire a motor boat, jump on a bus or just walk. It depends on where you go, your desire for diversity and the time that you have to get where you are heading.
