Highlights
Bridgetown and its Garrison
The capital's historic centre and the nearby military Garrison are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Parliament Buildings, old warehouses on the Careenage and the Garrison Savannah, a racecourse since the nineteenth century.
Harrison's Cave
A large limestone cave in the centre of the island, explored on a tram tour past stalactites, stalagmites and underground streams and pools.
Bathsheba
A village on the rugged east coast, where huge rocks sit in the surf. The Soup Bowl reef break is one of the best-known surf spots in the Caribbean.
Carlisle Bay
A sheltered bay south of Bridgetown with clear water and several shallow shipwrecks, popular for snorkelling and swimming with turtles.
Oistins
A fishing town on the south coast, known for its Friday night fish fry, when stalls grill flying fish, mahi-mahi and lobster and music plays late into the evening.
St Nicholas Abbey
A Jacobean plantation house built in the seventeenth century, one of very few of its kind in the Americas. It also has a working rum distillery and a steam mill.
Animal Flower Cave
A sea cave at the northern tip of the island, with rock pools and openings looking out over the Atlantic. Its name comes from the sea anemones that live in the pools.
Interesting facts about Barbados
- Barbados became a parliamentary republic in 2021, replacing the British monarch as head of state while remaining in the Commonwealth.
- George Washington's only trip outside mainland North America was to Barbados in 1751; the house where he stayed is now a museum.
- The grapefruit is thought to have first appeared in Barbados as a natural hybrid in the eighteenth century.
- Unlike most of its neighbours, Barbados is not volcanic but is formed mainly of coral limestone.
- The national dish is cou-cou and flying fish, and the flying fish appears on Barbadian coins and the island's tourism imagery.
Best time to visit
The dry season from December to April is the most popular and expensive time, with sunny weather and lower humidity. May and June are quieter and still largely dry. The rainy season and Atlantic hurricane season run from June to November, though Barbados lies further east and south than many islands. The Crop Over festival, celebrating the end of the sugar harvest, peaks in early August with music and costumed parades.
Practical information
| Capital | Bridgetown |
|---|---|
| Currency | Barbadian dollar (BBD); US dollars widely accepted |
| Languages | English |
| Plugs | Type A, B |
| Voltage | 115 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 211 police, 511 ambulance, 311 fire |
| Driving | On the left |
| Tipping | Many restaurants add a service charge of around 10 per cent; if not, tip about 10 to 15 per cent. Taxi drivers and guides appreciate tips. |
Getting around
Barbados has a good public bus network, including government buses and privately run route taxis and minibuses, which cover most of the island at a flat fare. Taxis are unmetered, so agree the fare before you set off. Renting a car gives more freedom for the east and north coasts, but roads are narrow and signage can be patchy. Driving is on the left.
Staying connected in Barbados
Mobile coverage is generally good across Barbados, with 4G in most areas and strongest in the west and south. Signal can weaken in some valleys in the interior and in parts of the rugged east coast. Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and common in cafés and restaurants. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land so maps and messaging work from the airport.
See Barbados eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Barbados
- Google Maps: Driving directions and offline maps, useful on the narrow inland roads.
- WhatsApp: Used by many taxi drivers, tour operators and guesthouses for bookings.
- XE Currency: Convert between Barbadian and US dollars when prices are listed in both.