Barbados · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Barbados
These are the places worth your time in Barbados, from the Garrison and Carlisle Bay in Bridgetown and the fish fry at Oistins to the turtles of the west coast and the boulders of Bathsheba. Classics sit beside quiet corners many travellers miss, so every kind of visitor finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Bridgetown
Arts and Culture
- Nidhe Israel Synagogue and Museum (Synagogue Lane)
One of the oldest synagogues in the Americas, with a restored mikvah and a museum on the island's Jewish community. - Parliament Buildings and Museum of Parliament (National Heroes Square)
The neo Gothic home of one of the Commonwealth's oldest parliaments, with a gallery of the National Heroes. - Barbados Museum and Historical Society (Garrison)
Set in the old military prison, it covers the island from its first peoples through slavery to independence. - George Washington House (Garrison)
The house where a young George Washington stayed in 1751, with tunnels beneath the Garrison to explore. - St. Michael's Cathedral (Spry Street)
A calm coral stone cathedral with a long history, a short walk from the busy centre. - Barbados Military Cemetery (Needham's Point)
A quiet, historic cemetery by the sea near Charles Fort. - Independence Arch and Chamberlain Bridge (The Careenage)
Landmarks over the inner harbour, beautiful at dusk.
Nature and Outdoors
- Carlisle Bay (Bay Street)
Calm turquoise water with shallow shipwrecks makes this the best town beach for snorkelling and swimming. - Brownes Beach (Bay Street)
Where Bridgetown residents take their early morning sea bath before work.
Shopping and Markets
- Cheapside Market (Cheapside)
The Saturday morning market is full of fruit, spices, fish cakes and Bajan conversation. - Pelican Craft Centre (Princess Alice Highway)
Local artisans sell pottery, art and crafts close to the cruise terminal. - Cave Shepherd (Broad Street)
The island's historic department store, good for duty free shopping and Bajan souvenirs. - Swan Street (City centre)
The local shopping street, lively with vendors, music and everyday Bajan life.
Bars and Nightlife
- The Boatyard (Bay Street)
A beach club on Carlisle Bay with water toys by day and parties at night.
Restaurants
- Waterfront Cafe (The Careenage)
A relaxed spot on the inner harbour for Bajan dishes and people watching. - Lobster Alive (Carlisle Bay)
A beach restaurant on Carlisle Bay known for fresh lobster and live jazz.
Things to Do
- Mount Gay Visitor Centre (Spring Garden Highway)
Learn the story of the rum that claims to be the oldest brand in the world, with tastings. - Garrison Savannah horse racing (Garrison)
Race days on the historic savannah are a classic Bajan social occasion. - Kensington Oval (Fontabelle)
The home of West Indies cricket in Barbados, where a match is a party. - Atlantis Submarine (Shallow Draught)
A real submarine dives to the reef off Bridgetown so non swimmers can see marine life. - Charles Fort and Needham's Point lighthouse (Needham's Point)
An old fort with cannon and sea views at the southern end of Carlisle Bay.
Events
- Crop Over Grand Kadooment (Spring Garden Highway)
The finale of the summer festival, a parade of costumed bands and soca on the first Monday of August.
Stays
- Hilton Barbados Resort (Needham's Point)
A large resort on a peninsula between two beaches, a short walk to the city.
Places to Visit in South Coast
Events
- Oistins Friday Fish Fry (Oistins)
The island's most famous night out, with grilled fish, music and locals dancing to oldies. - Oistins Fish Festival (Oistins)
An Easter weekend festival of fishing, boat races and food.
Restaurants
- Champers (Hastings)
Clifftop dining over the sea with sunset views. - Tapas (Hastings)
A boardwalk restaurant with sea views and a relaxed, smart feel. - Pisces (St. Lawrence Gap)
A waterfront seafood restaurant at the heart of the Gap. - Chefette (Rockley)
The island's own fast food chain, beloved for rotis and chicken.
Bars and Nightlife
- Café Sol (St. Lawrence Gap)
A Mexican themed bar famous for margaritas in the Gap. - Harbour Lights (Bay Street)
A famous open air nightclub on the beach, best on Monday nights.
Nature and Outdoors
- Accra Beach (Rockley)
A lively public beach with lifeguards, vendors and boogie board waves. - Sandy Beach (Worthing)
A reef protected beach with shallow water that suits children. - Miami Beach (Enterprise)
A calm swimming side, a wild wave side and food vans in the shade. - Silver Sands (Christ Church)
A breezy beach that is a magnet for kitesurfers and windsurfers. - Long Beach (Chancery Lane)
A long, wild beach that is often empty. - Dover Beach (St. Lawrence Gap)
A long beach next to the Gap with water sports.
Things to Do
- Richard Haynes Boardwalk (Hastings)
A seaside walk that is perfect at sunrise or sunset. - Freights Bay surfing (Christ Church)
The island's gentlest surf break and a great place to learn. - South Point Lighthouse (Christ Church)
A clifftop lighthouse on the island's southernmost tip.
Shopping and Markets
- Oistins Fish Market (Oistins)
Watch fishermen land and fillet the catch.
Stays
- Sea Breeze Beach House (Maxwell)
An all inclusive on a quiet stretch of beach.
Places to Visit in Holetown
Nature and Outdoors
- Paynes Bay (St. James)
The classic place to swim with green and hawksbill turtles. - Folkestone Marine Park (Holetown)
A marine reserve with snorkelling and a museum by the beach. - Sandy Lane Beach (Paynes Bay)
A public beach of fine sand with calm, clear water. - Mullins Beach (St. Peter)
A calm beach with a beach bar and sunset views.
Shopping and Markets
- Limegrove Lifestyle Centre (Holetown)
Designer shops, cafes and a cinema in the heart of town. - Chattel Village (Holetown)
Painted wooden chattel houses selling crafts and souvenirs.
Arts and Culture
- St. James Parish Church (Holetown)
One of the oldest churches in Barbados. - Holetown Monument (Holetown)
Marks the 1627 landing of the first English settlers.
Events
- Holetown Festival (Holetown)
A February festival of parades, crafts, music and food.
Restaurants
- The Cliff (Derricks)
Dramatic clifftop dining with tables lit by torches. - The Tides (Holetown)
Fine dining under a mahogany tree by the sea. - The Lone Star (Mount Standfast)
Beachfront dining in a former garage. - Tim's on the Beach (Holetown)
A casual beach restaurant on the sand. - Cin Cin by the Sea (Prospect)
A stylish seafront restaurant with Mediterranean flavours.
Bars and Nightlife
- Mullins Beach Bar (Mullins)
A sunset bar on the sand with music and cocktails. - John Moore's Bar (Weston)
A legendary rum shop on the sea with fish cakes.
Things to Do
- Catamaran turtle and shipwreck cruise (West coast)
Sail the calm coast and swim with turtles over shipwrecks. - Earthworks Pottery (St. Thomas)
Watch potters at work and buy colourful ceramics. - Harrison's Cave (St. Thomas)
A tram tour through a cave of stalactites and streams. - Welchman Hall Gully (St. Thomas)
A tropical gully where you may see green monkeys.
Stays
- Sandy Lane (St. James)
The island's most famous luxury resort. - Coral Reef Club (Holetown)
A family owned resort in gardens by the sea.
Places to Visit in Speightstown
Arts and Culture
- Arlington House Museum (Queen Street)
An interactive museum on the town's trading past. - St. Peter's Parish Church (Speightstown)
A historic church rebuilt after fire. - Morgan Lewis Windmill (St. Andrew)
The largest intact sugar windmill in the Caribbean.
Things to Do
- Speightstown Jetty (Speightstown)
The best spot for sunset in the north. - St. Nicholas Abbey (St. Peter)
A Jacobean great house with a rum distillery and steam railway. - Animal Flower Cave (North Point)
A sea cave with rock pools and Atlantic views. - River Bay (St. Lucy)
A picnic spot on the wild north coast. - North Point (St. Lucy)
Cliffs and Atlantic views at the island's northern tip.
Nature and Outdoors
- Heywoods Beach (St. Peter)
A long, quiet beach north of town. - Gibbes Beach (St. Peter)
A calm beach shaded by trees. - Farley Hill National Park (St. Peter)
Ruins of a great house with views down the east coast. - Barbados Wildlife Reserve (St. Peter)
Walk among green monkeys and tortoises. - Cherry Tree Hill (St. Andrew)
A hilltop with sweeping views of the Scotland District.
Restaurants
- Fisherman's Pub (Speightstown)
A waterfront local restaurant with a Bajan buffet. - The Fish Pot (Little Good Harbour)
Seafood in a former fort by the sea.
Stays
- Cobblers Cove (Road View)
A small luxury hotel in gardens by the sea. - Port St. Charles (St. Peter)
A marina with apartments and villas.
Places to Visit in Bathsheba
Nature and Outdoors
- Bathsheba Beach (St. Joseph)
Giant coral boulders and rolling Atlantic surf. - Andromeda Botanic Gardens (Bathsheba)
A cliffside garden with orchids and coast views. - Hunte's Gardens (St. Joseph)
A magical garden in a sinkhole. - Flower Forest (St. Joseph)
A garden with walking paths and views. - Cattlewash Beach (St. Joseph)
A long, empty beach for walks. - Bath Beach (St. John)
A protected beach with calm water on the east coast. - Bathsheba rock pools (Bathsheba)
Shallow pools for a soak on calm days. - Bottom Bay (St. Philip)
A sheltered cove framed by cliffs. - Crane Beach (St. Philip)
A pink tinged beach below cliffs.
Things to Do
- The Soup Bowl (Bathsheba)
A world famous surf break to watch from the shore. - Barbados National Trust Sunday hikes (Island wide)
Free guided hikes across the island. - East Coast Road drive (St. Joseph)
A scenic drive along the Atlantic. - Ragged Point (St. Philip)
The easternmost point of the island.
Arts and Culture
- St. John's Parish Church (St. John)
A clifftop church with sweeping views. - Codrington College (St. John)
An avenue of royal palms and a lily pond. - Sunbury Plantation House (St. Philip)
A great house with period furniture and a carriage collection.
Stays
- The Crane (St. Philip)
A resort on the cliffs above Crane Beach.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Baxter's Road (Baxter's Road, Bridgetown)
The long running late night street for fried fish and a rum after midnight. - Cutters and sweet bread at Cheapside (Cheapside, Bridgetown)
A cutter and a cold drink from a market vendor is the city's classic breakfast. - Uncle George's (Oistins, South Coast)
A long standing fish fry stall known for marlin and flying fish. - Pat's Place (Oistins, South Coast)
A favourite fish fry stall for generous plates and friendly service. - Cafe Luna (Enterprise, South Coast)
Rooftop dining with ocean views and a romantic atmosphere. - Primo Bar and Bistro (Dover, South Coast)
A popular spot for drinks and dinner by the sea. - Bean and Bagel (St. Lawrence Gap, South Coast)
Breakfast and lunch on a terrace by the water. - Sea Shed (Worthing, South Coast)
A relaxed beach cafe for breakfast and sunset drinks. - Relish Barbados (Rockley, South Coast)
A friendly cafe for breakfasts and light lunches near the boardwalk. - Old Jamm Inn (St. Lawrence Gap, South Coast)
A lively bar with live music and karaoke. - Surfer's Bay Beach Bar (Christ Church, South Coast)
A laid back surf bar at Freights Bay. - Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary (Worthing, South Coast)
The largest inland body of water on the island and a haven for birds. - Deep Blue kitesurf lessons at Silver Sands (Christ Church, South Coast)
Lessons in some of the Caribbean's steadiest winds. - Coconut Court Beach Hotel (Hastings, South Coast)
A family friendly hotel on the sea near the boardwalk. - Rockley Golf and Country Club (Rockley, South Coast)
Apartments around a golf course close to the boardwalk. - The Sands Barbados (Worthing, South Coast)
Apartments on the water close to the Gap. - Ragamuffins (First Street, Holetown)
A cosy local restaurant in a chattel house. - Lexi's (Holetown, Holetown)
A lively bar and restaurant in the town centre. - Cafe Mojo (Holetown, Holetown)
A friendly cafe bar with live music. - Tamarind by Elegant Hotels (Paynes Bay, Holetown)
A family friendly hotel on Paynes Bay. - Mango Bay (Holetown, Holetown)
An all inclusive in walking distance of town. - Grenade Hall Signal Station and Forest (St. Peter, Speightstown)
A historic signal station with a forest trail. - Orange Street Grocer (Speightstown, Speightstown)
A waterfront cafe and deli. - Speightstown fish market (Speightstown, Speightstown)
Where boats land the catch each morning. - Speightstown rum shops (Speightstown, Speightstown)
Small rum shops for local conversation. - Little Good Harbour (St. Peter, Speightstown)
Cottages and suites near the sea. - Chalky Mount Potteries (St. Andrew, Bathsheba)
Traditional potters in the hills. - Round House (Bathsheba, Bathsheba)
A small inn with lunches and ocean views. - Dina's Bar and Cafe (Bathsheba, Bathsheba)
A colourful spot for drinks by the sea. - Sea-U Guest House (Tent Bay, Bathsheba)
A guest house with a garden and lunches. - Atlantis Historic Inn (Tent Bay, Bathsheba)
A historic inn by the sea.