Whether you’re looking for the perfect beach holiday or you want to experience the local culture, there’s something for everyone on this island. Take your pick from pristine beaches, a bustling capital and historic plantation houses.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bridgetown is the heart of Barbados’s lively tourism scene. It’s a city packed with colonial buildings and Nidhe Israel, a synagogue built in 1654.
Bridgetown
Bridgetown is the island’s capital city and a popular tourist destination. This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts multicolored historical buildings and pedestrian shopping streets.
The city centre has a serpentine layout, with buildings built and fortified throughout the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. It has an extensive garrison protecting Carlisle Bay, and landmark buildings including St. Michael’s Cathedral, the Barbados Mutual Life Assurance building, and the Parliament.
Broad Street, which runs through the centre of the city, is lined with shops, small malls, banks, and offices. Historic-style buildings and modern ones rub shoulders, a mix of the old and new that creates an intriguing atmosphere.
After a day of exploring, head to Mojos for a fun and casual dinner. This lively restaurant serves up delicious international dishes in a welcoming atmosphere. It’s also home to a rooftop bar where you can enjoy a drink after your meal. It’s the perfect place to relax after an eventful day in Barbados!
Bathsheba Bay
If you’re looking for the ultimate Barbados experience, head to Bathsheba Bay and soak up the pristine beaches and breathtaking scenery. Wide white sands stretch along a dramatic coastline of striking rock formations against which the Atlantic rollers break in cascades of foam.
This wild Atlantic coast is a world away from the glitzy resorts and hotels on the more developed west coast of the island. It’s a place where you can take long walks, surf and relax.
There are plenty of attractions to explore around the bay, from churches to botanical gardens and rainforest nature trails. There are also a couple of look out points that offer spectacular views across the entire island.
One of the most beautiful gardens on the island is perched up on a hill above Bathsheba Bay and is home to a fantastic array of plants. The dappled light and mossy trees make it a relaxing place to escape the busyness of the main town.
Flower Cave
At the northern point of Barbados, where the Caribbean and Atlantic meet, is a beautiful cave carved into a cliff face. It’s accessed via 27 very slippery coral steps that lead down into the cave, carved into a blowhole in 1912.
- Inside this cave you can find several openings which look out to sea and offer incredible views. They are filled with a variety of pools, some of which are deep enough for people to swim in.
- It’s a great spot for spotting the renowned sea anemones called animal flowers, which wave their tiny tentacles in the water and retract when you touch them. You can also see rock formations coloured green and brown by the oxidation of copper and iron.
- The cave is open every day of the year and a tour guide will take you through it. You can also visit the cliff-top bar and restaurant above it, known for its delicious meals and hand-squeezed lemonade.
Harrison’s Cave
Harrison’s Cave is one of Barbados’s most beautiful natural attractions. It is a limestone cavern, formed naturally by water erosion through the rock.
Located in the central uplands of Barbados, Harrison’s Cave is home to spectacular stalactites and stalagmites formed by the flowing water that runs through it. The stalactites hang from the ceiling of the cave and the stalagmites rise out of the ground.
When the light hits these calcite and limestone formations they appear as if glistening with tiny diamonds. This is due to the calcium present in the water which corrodes the limestone and creates these spectacular speleothems.
A renowned world class attraction, Harrison’s Cave offers an unparalleled underground experience as visitors journey aboard a tram, past crystal clear streams and cascading waterfalls. A well-informed guide provides historical information and at certain points you can leave the tram to explore up close.
