What to do in Barbados?

First of all, it is worth saying that many readers may not be very familiar with where Barbados is. I was not completely sure of its exact place in the Caribbean myself until I moved to Guadeloupe. After nearly two years living in the Guadeloupe archipelago, after leaving French Polynesia, we decided to explore somewhere not too far away without spending a fortune. Our choice was Barbados. Several articles will follow about our visit to this destination, which is still relatively unknown among French travelers. In this first article, I’ll give you an idea of what you can do in Barbados.

Keep in mind that we were there for 15 days, while many people only stay for one day. One question we were asked several times during our stay was: what can you do in Barbados in one day? And you know what? It is not an easy question to answer, haha. But I’ll try to address it at the end of this article.

If you’re planning to spend some time there, have a look at our full guide to accommodation in Barbados!

Although this is not the main purpose of this article, you can click the link above for our top accommodation recommendations on the island, you can also look up places to stay on the map below!

I plan to write 4 or 5 articles about Barbados over time. So I won’t go into too much detail here, but the goal is to give you a good overview of what to do and see if you have some time on the island. Although Barbados is relatively small, if you take your time, you can easily spend an enjoyable week here without getting bored.

Admittedly, we stayed for two weeks, which may seem a bit long. Our aim was to spend time as a family, relax, and unwind. So for us, it was perfect. Without further ado, let’s get started. I almost forgot: we found a great price on a rental car with DiscoverCars, so don’t hesitate to check it out.

To be honest, Bridgetown did not win us over right away. While there are lively streets, such as the famous Broad Street, the rest did not really stand out to us. We spent a morning casually wandering through the streets.

Many people visit Barbados for its beautiful beaches. The island has gorgeous white sandy shores. However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.

First, there is something quite specific about the island: the west coast and most of the south coast are highly developed, with luxury hotels, residences, and restaurants. At first, it can feel a bit expensive and, frankly, not very interesting. In contrast, the less developed and wilder east coast offers a very different experience, although there are fewer beaches where swimming is easy.

Second, your experience will also depend on when you visit. In April 2023, we encountered a significant amount of sargassum on the beaches. Sadly, the east coast was almost inaccessible in places because of the seaweed. We could still play with the kids on the beach, but swimming was impossible. It was a shame because we caught glimpses of some genuinely wild and beautiful spots. Without the seaweed, these places must be magnificent.

We explored the west coast in more detail, and fortunately, that is where many of the most beautiful beaches are. The only challenge is finding beach access, which is not always easy at first if you do not know the area. It took us several days to figure out how to access these magnificent beaches for free. In the end, you need to keep your eyes open and look for signs that say “Public Access Beach.” While the beaches in Barbados are public, access to a large number of them has effectively been limited by private developments. In our view, this is a real shame, as it takes away some of the charm of the place, even though we have to admit that some beaches are absolutely beautiful.

I am considering writing a full guide to all the Barbados beaches we visited. In the meantime, here are a few worth exploring:

• East Coast: Bathsheba Park, Bath Beach, Cove Bay
• South Coast: Bottom Bay, Crane Beach, Silver Sands Beach, Pebbles Beach, Dover Beach, Miami Beach, Rockley Beach, Foul Bay
• West Coast: Paynes Beach, Sandy Lane Beach, Batts Rock Beach, Mullins Beach, Heywoods Beach

For a quieter experience, especially if you are with children, head to the west coast. The east coast beaches are also beautiful, except when there is sargassum, but they are rougher and swimming is more challenging.

Your experience will also depend on what you have seen before. Living in Guadeloupe, we have had the chance to visit large botanical gardens spread over several acres, which is not really the case in Barbados. Nonetheless, Barbados has several botanical gardens that are well worth visiting. We personally explored three of them:

• Andromeda: a beautiful, airy garden with many plants and trees.
• Hunte’s Garden: probably the best-known and most famous garden on the island. It is truly lovely, especially for observing plants, although it has fewer large trees. Despite being quite small for the price, it remains an enjoyable visit.
• Flower Forest Botanical Gardens: our last stop, and a nice blend of the first two gardens. Quite interesting if you have some time.

I plan to cover these three gardens in more detail, with plenty of photos, in future articles. No rush, though, stay tuned! There is also another garden on the island, Tropical Garden Barbados, where you can see many orchids.

It may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but like many limestone areas around the world, especially on islands, Barbados has some impressive caves. The most notable ones include Animal Flower Cave, our favorite, and Harrison’s Cave. For those less familiar with English, the word “cave” simply means “grotto.”

I’ll go into more detail about these two caves, both worth visiting, in upcoming articles.

Animal Flower Cave is in the far north of the island, in a truly magnificent setting. There is an excellent restaurant on the edge of the cliffs, with stunning views, and you can head underground for a swim in a magical setting. Although there were a few people, it was nothing compared with the other cave. Personally, we had a fantastic time there.

Harrison’s Cave was a different story. We were initially hesitant because it looked very touristy, but we eventually decided to go. It is heavily advertised across the island and the entrance fee is quite high. In the end, our family visit left us a little underwhelmed. It is a pleasant place, with classic stalactites and stalagmites that kids can enjoy. However, the overall experience feels closer to an amusement park because of the crowds, which was not really what we were hoping for.

I’ll go into more detail about these caves in upcoming articles.

During our stay, we discovered several cultural sites worth exploring. We made choices based on our own preferences, but if you enjoy this kind of visit, there are plenty of short stops to consider. Here are the top three we visited or considered:

This was initially part of our plans, but its location on the opposite side of the island from our Airbnb led us to skip it. However, we have heard good things about the place. You can visit an old plantation house, a museum, and even a rum distillery. There is also a family-friendly mini-train tour, which could be fun.

On the same site, don’t miss the Cherry Tree Hill lookout, around 250 meters above sea level, offering beautiful views.

This place was only fifteen minutes from where we were staying, and we drove past it several times. The whole site looked interesting, so we visited in the late afternoon to enjoy the beautiful light. Do not expect anything visually extraordinary, but for a one-hour family walk, it was genuinely enjoyable. The site is home to one of the oldest Anglican colleges in the region, built around 1714. It is still used today for students and various ceremonies. You can explore the site and its old stone buildings, which are more than 300 years old, during a paid visit. The site is well preserved and pleasant to walk around. You can spend an hour there and even enjoy an ice cream in the park at the end. A lovely spot, this Codrington College.

We visited this beautiful church, the oldest on the island, built in 1628 and located not far from where the first English settlers landed in Barbados. We went there in the morning on a day when mass was taking place, and it was genuinely interesting to see. We were able to walk around the outside of the church, where there are some old graves. All in all, it was a very interesting experience to include in our trip.

Unfortunately, Barbados is not quite comparable to what we are used to in Guadeloupe. It is relatively dry, with limited forest cover. Its geographical position in the Caribbean may partly explain this, but clearly, natural sites are not its strongest point. However, the east coast is much wilder than the west, and you will find some beautiful spots along the cliffs. For our part, we visited a few natural sites, but there are others, as mentioned below.

Let’s be honest: we did this mainly for the kids. It is a nature reserve with various animals. The walk along the paved, shaded path is both interesting and kid-friendly. Along the way, you’ll come across chickens, peacocks, some deer, and a few monkeys. There is even a room with reptiles, and the visit ends with monkey feeding, which gives the place a bit of a zoo-like feel. It is a pleasant outing, though not especially memorable for adults. However, if you are traveling with children, it can be a good experience to consider, as kids always enjoy seeing animals.

While we did not personally visit the other nature reserves mentioned below, here is some information about each in case you happen to be passing through.

This is another “natural” site in the parish of St. Thomas, and a good spot for nature lovers who want to explore a small tropical forest, said to be reminiscent of what the island looked like 300 years ago. You can discover a beautiful tropical garden with a variety of plants, either on your own or with a guide. The presence of monkeys, always a plus for children, and the cave remnants along the way add to the charm. Feedback has been positive, and the photos look very tempting. We believe it is well worth a visit!

Located not far from the Barbados Wildlife site mentioned above, we would not consider this a must-see. We visited it together, and while you can walk through a beautiful but relatively dry forest, especially compared with what we find in Guadeloupe, and explore a cave, there is nothing particularly remarkable beyond that and a few monkeys.

This is one site we unfortunately missed, as we only discovered it after returning to Guadeloupe. It is known for its spectacular views of the surrounding area. You can stroll through the vegetation and explore the ruins of a 19th-century mansion. It definitely seems worth the detour!

We went there again in the evening during our trip, as we were staying nearby. The atmosphere is genuinely pleasant and reminded us of the famous food trucks on the island of Mayotte. Granted, it is touristy and crowded, but it is worth a visit to enjoy some delicious grilled fish in a local setting.

Barbados is famous for its rum, and visiting a distillery during your trip can be a fantastic experience if you have not had the chance to do so yet. We must admit that we have already visited almost all the distilleries in our region, so we skipped this one. However, if it is new to you, it is definitely worth considering.

When we say we did not have time for certain things, you might think we spent the whole stay doing nothing, haha! But remember, our main goal was to rest, relax, and enjoy time together as a family. Scuba diving with Mélanie was rather complicated, as it would have required arranging childcare. Nevertheless, Barbados has several dive centers and numerous dive sites. Diving conditions are generally excellent on the west coast, making it a good choice for beginners. Several sites are highly regarded, including the famous SS Stavronikita, Folkestone Marine Reserve, Carlisle Bay Marine Park, and SS Berwyn, to name a few.

If you have the opportunity to dive in Barbados, it is well worth it, especially to explore the magnificent wreck of the SS Stavronikita.

Sure, it might sound cliché, but during our vacation, we decided to spend a day at a lovely hotel.

After some research, we chose the Savannah Beach Club and thoroughly enjoyed our day, relaxing, playing with the kids in the pool, and enjoying a beachfront buffet. Overall, it was a day of pure luxury, haha!

While we were there, the most common question was: what can you do in a day? Considering that many tourists only spend a day here on a Caribbean cruise, it is difficult to recommend just one activity. Yes, the west coast beaches are beautiful, but if you are cruising around the Caribbean islands, you will probably discover even more stunning and less developed places. Instead, I would suggest visiting the caves, especially Animal Flower Cave in the far north of the island. It is truly worth a visit, and its cliffside location is magnificent. You can also enjoy lunch at the restaurant just above the cave.

I am coming to the end of this article on things to do and see in Barbados. As I said, it may not be one of the most extraordinary places to discover, but we had a great time as a family and, most importantly, we managed to switch off, especially me, haha.

At the end of the day, spending quality time with the people you love is the best!

See you soon for another article.

Written by Sylvain PONS

I had the opportunity to go on a 2-week family holiday to discover the island of Barbados, which is just a stone's throw away from Guadeloupe, where we live. Here are a few stories about the time we spent there!

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