Barbados Things To Do
Crane Beach in Barbados with pink sand, turquoise waves and palm-lined cliffs
Crane Beach in Barbados with pink sand, turquoise waves and palm-lined cliffs

Eastern Caribbean · Barbados

Calm West Coast Beaches and UNESCO-Listed Bridgetown in Barbados

Where to stay, the best tours and realistic itineraries — everything you need to book Barbados with confidence.

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Barbados lies in the eastern Caribbean, with the capital Bridgetown on its southwestern side and Grantley Adams International Airport about eight miles away. The West Coast around Holetown and Speightstown has calm, soft-sand beaches; the South Coast has Oistins and St Lawrence Gap; the Atlantic shore at Bathsheba is for experienced surfers. Inland are Harrison's Cave, Welchman Hall Gully and rum estates such as St Nicholas Abbey.

Good to know

  • Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI)
  • Cruise terminal at Bridgetown Deep Water Harbour
  • Driving on the left
  • Public buses and ZR vans reach main sights

Why visit Barbados

  1. UNESCO-listed old Bridgetown

    A 17th–19th-century British colonial town with 115 landmark buildings and the Garrison Savannah racetrack on a former parade ground.

  2. Harrison's Cave

    About 1.5 miles of caves with stalactites and streams, seen by tram or on a guided caving tour, plus zip lines in the park.

  3. Rum estates and distilleries

    Tour Mount Gay or the old St Nicholas Abbey estate and taste rum where it is made.

  4. Friday nights at Oistins

    The South Coast fishing town turns its market into a fish fry with grilled seafood and music, busiest on Fridays.

  5. Snorkelling in Carlisle Bay

    A beach next to Bridgetown and the starting point for many snorkel and boat trips.

Where to stay

South Coast

First-time visitors

Hastings, St Lawrence Gap and Oistins in Christ Church: the widest choice of stays, walkable streets, restaurants and nightlife. Beaches range from calm to surf.

Which area suits you?

Bridgetown

History

The capital and largest city, with the UNESCO-listed historic centre and Garrison. Better as a sightseeing stop than a beach base.

Which area suits you?

Start here

Things to do in Barbados

When to go

  1. Late December–mid-April

    Driest, busiest and most expensive. Holetown Festival in February, Holders Season early in the year, Reggae Festival around April.

  2. June–August

    Warm, with showers starting. Crop Over, the island's biggest festival, fills these weeks with calypso and parades, ending with Grand Kadooment Day.

  3. September–October

    Wettest and least sunny months, yet still about 7 hours of sun a day in short, heavy showers. Fewer visitors and lower rates.

  4. November

    End of the rainy period, with the Barbados Food & Rum Festival and Independence celebrations through the month.

Weather

Weather in Barbados

Weather by month →

Barbados weather by month

Barbados weather by month
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSeptOctNovDec
High / Low (°C)
27°
26°
27°
26°
27°
26°
27°
26°
28°
27°
28°
27°
28°
27°
29°
28°
29°
28°
29°
28°
28°
27°
28°
27°
Rain (mm)
34
19
19
28
51
72
74
95
98
132
107
49

Average daily high and low (°C) and monthly rainfall (mm) · Forecast: MET Norway (yr.no) · Climate averages: NASA POWER

Practical tips

  • Leave camouflage at home: wearing or carrying any camo print, even on children's clothes or bags, is illegal.
  • Cars drive on the left and most are right-hand drive, so take extra care at junctions and roundabouts.
  • Ask your rental company whether you need a visitor driving permit or pay a daily levy instead.
  • Bus stops are marked "To City" or "Out of City"; cross-island trips take more planning than runs to Bridgetown.
  • Carry a passport and proof of onward travel, and watch your bags in busy tourist areas.

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