Tourism in Barbados

What are the best tourist places in Barbados?

Where is Barbados located?

Barbados is a small island nation in the middle of the beautiful Lesser Antilles chain in southeast Caribbean Sea Its capital is Bridgetown. It is surrounded by islands. Saint Lucia To the north, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the west, and Trinidad and Tobago to the south.

From the rocky east coast to the sparkling sands lining the west coast, the beautiful colonial bridges and Nelson statues in Bridgetown to the crumbling plantations and fishing towns of the north, Barbados is a truly charming and fascinating Caribbean destination.

Steeped in tales of piracy and English colonialism. It attracts scuba divers with its fringes of coral reefs. Sunbathers with its gorgeous southern beaches. Surfers with its famous Bathsheba Bay rollers. History buffs with its soaring forts and UNESCO sites. Foodies with its spice-coated swordfish – the list goes on.

Not to mention the luxurious hotels and comprehensive restaurants that are spread throughout the cities, or the always smiling locals who make a trip here always a happy one!

The best tourist places in Barbados and the most important activities that can be done there:

1. See the cliffs and waves of Bathsheba Bay Beach

Whether you come to Bathsheba to wax your surfboard and don your board shorts for a ride on the famous Soup Bowl waves, you can rest assured that you'll have a real treat.

Undoubtedly one of the most picturesque coastal locations in all of Barbados, it is nestled among the rocky headlands of the east coast.

Although swimming is not recommended (the tides can get quite rough), climbing the sea vines and sand dunes to watch the waves crashing in, or chatting with local Bajans at Bathsheba Park are two great ways to enjoy its natural beauty.

Bathsheba Bay

2. Wander around historic Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados.

Bridgetown Barbados

The UNESCO-certified capital of Barbados rarely fails to impress.

The city centre is home to the vibrant shopping strip of Broad Street, and is filled with small historic sites such as Chamberlain Bridge and the magnificent neo-Gothic Parliament Buildings, built in England's high Victorian style.

Chamberlain Bridge

Statues honoring Nelson and other great colonial figures sit in sunny squares, balanced by the lively docks of Bridgetown, where small cafes buzz with the chatter of off-duty travelers and local fishermen alike.

Yes, Bridgetown is a great place to walk around and enjoy the Bajan atmosphere.

Bridgetown

3. Relax in the middle of Hunte's Gardens, one of the most wonderful tourist places in Barbados.

A patchwork of blooming orchids, explosions of emerald green ferns, looming palms and yellow-tipped crab trees. This scenic horticultural enclave is a great place to learn about the wealth of biodiversity that graces the tropical Caribbean.

Owned by local Anthony Hunt, the gardens aim to be a complete sensory experience.

Visitors are invited to stroll the winding paths and nurseries, view the unusual flowers and relax as classical compositions drift through the boxes and canopies.

4. See a heritage wonder at St. Nicholas Monastery

St. Nicholas Monastery

Head through the green fields and palm groves east of Moore Hill in northern Barbados to discover the elegant Jacobean facades of St. Nicholas Monastery.

The site is one of only three heritage sites of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, and dates back to the 17th century, when sugar cane was first collected and harvested in the fields surrounding the central house.

Unusually, the crop is still grown here today, while the St. Nicholas Monastery itself has become the site of a museum, inviting travelers to explore its restored interior rooms.

Additionally, admission tickets include access to the beautiful trails on nearby Cherry Blossom Hill.

cherry tree hill

5. See Horses and History in Savannah's Garrison Historic District

Just a stone's throw from downtown Bridgetown on the south side of the island, travelers can delve into the mix of history and sporting events that make up the Garrison Savannah area.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site includes buildings such as George Washington's House, where the first former president of the United States took refuge in the 1750s.

In addition there is a series of ruined barracks and fortified buildings used by the British.

However, it is the Garrison Raceway that takes center stage.

In fact, this is where the wealthy landowners of Barbados used to race their horses, and today the exciting competitions continue, with regular race days on the Turf Club calendar from January through to April!

Horse Racing in the Garrison Savannah Historic District

6. Visit and hug the baobab tree in Queens Park

Baobabs in Queen's Park

Given the reputation of the Baobab tree for its magnificent, swollen trunk, the massive trunk of Barbados' largest tree can be found (and embraced), in the beautiful little lawns of Queen's Park in the heart of Barbados City. Bridgetown.

In fact, many consider it the fattest tree in the entire Caribbean. It would take about 15 mature trees to stretch around the entire circumference of the central branch. A small signboard provides information about the great tree’s age and heritage. The surrounding gardens host a beautiful bandstand and the Queen’s Park Art Gallery.

7. Walk along the Barbados Boardwalk

The Barbados Boardwalk is the first of its kind in the entire Caribbean. It connects nearly two kilometres of beachfront along the southern coastal stretches of the island.

It's flat and well-maintained, and attracts walkers and joggers, who can walk from the pearly sands of Rockley Beach in Hastings in the east to the coconut groves of Coconut Court Beach in the west.

Along the way, there are countless cottages and bars to enjoy, while there are also swaying palm trees, flowering cassia trees, beautiful clusters of fig trees and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the salty sea breeze. All of this makes this one of the best places to visit in Barbados.

8. Get to know the real Barbados in Speightstown

Speightstown

Offering something of a more authentic picture of island life, away from the beach resorts and preserved historic towns around Bridgetown and the south coast, Speightstown attracts travellers with its rows of dilapidated fishing huts and some age-stained architecture from centuries past.

You can also check out the exhibits at Arlington House Museum, where restored 18th-century rooms tell stories of British pirates and slavers.

Or head to the beach, where fruit and fish vendors compete for custom.

Arlington House Museum

9. Go supersonic on the Barbados Concorde Experience

But it is, and today thousands of visitors flock there every year to learn all about the world's first supersonic commercial aircraft.

Exhibits explore the advanced technologies used to propel these iconic aircraft to incredible speeds of over 2,000 km/h. Patrons can also see the aircraft fuselages for themselves, complete with sleek interiors and unforgettable swordfish nose designs!

10. Visit Harrison's Cave, the strangest tourist places in Barbados

Head to the high hills around Wallace Spring and Harrington in the heart of Barbados and prepare to delve underground, following the winding tunnels and caverns of Harrison's Cave – one of the island's most breathtaking natural wonders.

The subterranean passages here, filled with bulbous stalagmites and stalactites, conceal echo chambers like the 50-metre-high Great Hall and bizarre geological formations, such as the so-called Altar, formed by millions of years of mineral deposits.

Walking tours are available, while the tram ride into the depths of the cave is the most popular!

Harrison's Cave Tram Ride

Barbados Wildlife Reserve is located on the edge of the historic Farley Hill National Park. Where mahogany forests give way to the manicured gardens of St. Nicholas Monastery, it is the closest the island gets to a real zoo.

The site is also simple and filled with wonderful examples of the area's native fauna. It is home to groups of green monkeys, pink flamingos, slow-moving iguanas, endangered tortoises, multi-coloured parrots and snapping caimans.

In addition, entry to the attraction includes access to the nearby Grenade Hall: an interesting old signal station dating back to the 19th century.

Grenade Hall Forest Station

12. See the eerie ruins of Farley Hill

Now a national park, Farley Hill offers a glimpse into the island's long colonial history and a truly exotic experience amidst the swaying mahogany groves of central Barbados.

The centrepiece of the reserve is the dilapidated cottage at its heart, which was completely destroyed by fire in the 1960s.

Today it is a mere shell of its former glory, an echo of the time when it was home to wealthy colonial landowners like Sir Graham Briggs.

There are also plenty of walking trails around Farley Hill, along with panoramic lookouts over the east coast and a series of outdoor reggae concerts to enjoy throughout the year.

Flag of Barbados