Barbados Travel Guide

Long one of the Caribbean’s most popular islands, Barbados is naturally charming and sophisticated, alive with possibilities and pulsing to the rhythm of the tropics. Barbadians both venerate their British heritage and celebrate their home’s perfect climate and unparalleled natural beauty.

Barbados invites you to wake up to the rhythm of the tropics and explore a paradise that’s naturally charming, alive with possibilities, and filled with warm and friendly souls who are always ready to greet you with a sincere smile.

The small but bustling city of Bridgetown is one of the oldest capitals in the Caribbean, teeming with historic sites such as Heroes Square (with its statue of Lord Nelson) opposite the restored Parliament Buildings, one of the hemisphere’s oldest synagogues, and the 18th-century St. Michael’s Cathedral. Along with the shops on Swan Street, Roebuck Street, and Tudor Street, there is also a new cruise ship terminal sporting 30 duty-free shops.

Some of the Caribbean’s finest beaches lie along Barbados’ Gold Coast, where you’ll also find some of the most luxurious hotels in the northern hemisphere. Spectacular stretches of fine coral sand highlight Paynes Bay, Brandon’s Beach, Paradise Beach, and Brighton Beach, all of which are open to the public.

Spectacular diving locations abound in Barbados – there are more than two dozen ringing the island’s coasts, full of healthy sponges, thriving corals and plant life, and a kaleidoscope of colorful fish. There is also an excellent collection of shipwrecks, with over 200 reported in Carlisle Bay alone! Most of the popular sites are found along the west and southwest coasts. Action-oriented vacationers also dive into snorkeling, parasailing, surfing, and windsurfing.

Embrace Barbados, where nature and sophistication mingle in exotic harmony.