Barbados

Key facts

• Region: The Caribbean
• Capital: Bridgetown
• Currency: Barbadian dollar (BBD), pegged to the US dollar at 2:1
• Languages: English
• Main airport: BGI — Grantley Adams International Airport, serving Bridgetown
• Best time to visit: December to April, the dry season; the island sits far enough south to be largely outside the main hurricane belt

Overview

The easternmost Caribbean island, Barbados is relatively flat, densely populated and heavily developed for tourism, with a strong British colonial legacy. Its west coast has calm water while the east coast faces Atlantic surf. It is known for reliable infrastructure and a broad range of resorts rather than a single signature attraction.

Airports

Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) is the only international airport, located at Seawell about 13 km east of Bridgetown. It handles direct flights from North America, the UK and other Caribbean islands. There is no significant second international airport, so BGI serves the whole island.

Main cities

Bridgetown is the capital and commercial centre, with its historic core around Broad Street and the Careenage. Holetown on the west coast was the first English settlement in 1627 and is now a resort and shopping area. Speightstown, in the north, keeps a more traditional town character. Oistins in the south is known for its Friday fish fry, and Bathsheba is the main settlement on the rugged Atlantic east coast.

Places to go

The Crane Beach on the southeast coast and Bathsheba's Soup Bowl are known for surf and scenery. Carlisle Bay near Bridgetown has calm water and several shallow shipwrecks used for snorkelling. Harrison's Cave is a developed limestone cave in the central uplands, and Hunte's Gardens is a well-known planted gully. St. Nicholas Abbey is a restored 17th-century plantation house. Animal Flower Cave is at the northern tip, and Bottom Bay is a scenic cove on the southeast coast.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into Barbados, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked