Secret Guide to Barbados

Swaying palm trees, sugar-white beaches, flying fish, and endless rum cocktails: that’s only a fraction of what Barbados has to offer. Despite measuring just 25 kilometres across, this island packs a mighty punch. Days spent beach-lounging and cocktail-sipping are perfectly complemented by endlessly scenic vistas, unforgettable hidden sights, and a heck of a lot of history. Discover our top recommendations to help fuel your wanderlust and give you reasons you never expected to visit this Caribbean island.

What to Do in Barbados

Dover Beach

Hidden Gem Beaches

All boasting white sands and palm trees, idyllic island beaches are always only a short walk away, wherever you are in Barbados. Some of the best include Miami Beach, Maxwell Beach, and Dover Beach, all hotspots for local food vendors, calm, clear waters, and fun watersports.

If you’re looking for something a little more secluded, hire a car (which we highly recommend you do for at least one day), to hit all the tiny, unknown beaches of the east coast: Skeetes Bay is well off the beaten track, Bath Beach is tranquil and peaceful, and Bathsheba is a paradise for surfers, complete with intriguing rock formations and epic coastal views from nearby cliffs.

Historic Sights

Inhabited since 1620 B.C., Barbados boasts a lengthy and intriguing history – from the Indigenous settlers that landed after crossing ferocious oceans from Venezuela, to the agricultural Arawaks, Carib cultures, and Portuguese explorers, all the way to the present day. The island has fought its way through history, with slavery, sugar plantations, and British colonisation at the centre of it all.

Barbados Museum & Historical Society

To gain an overview of the country’s past, visit the Barbados Museum & Historical Society, where exhibits detail the Amerindians’ history and showcase maps, plantation records and much more. A visit to Holetown will also certainly be in order for history buffs: once called Jamestown in honour of King James I, it is where British colonists first landed in 1625. Today, the Holetown boardwalk makes for a lovely wander in the sea breeze.

Harrison Point Lighthouse, Barbados. Getty/Alessandro Bellani

Harrison Point Lighthouse

A little off the beaten track, Harrison Point Lighthouse is a must-visit for urban explorers. It’s located down a single-track dirt road, but if you don’t mind a bit of an adventure, continue on to discover this abandoned lighthouse – you can even still climb to the top for views across the north coast and the ocean. On the opposite side of the island, Sam Lord’s Castle is an unmissable sight for those interested in the island’s history of piracy. This Georgian mansion was built in 1820 by notorious buccaneer Sam Lord but was struck down by a fire in 2010; the place is now left in eerie ruins.

Epic Vistas

Cherry Tree Hill. Getty/Ilja Van Rijswijk / EyeEm

Best View in Barbados

Ask anyone where you can find the best view in Barbados, and you’re likely to receive one of two answers: Cherry Tree Hill or Animal Flower Cave.

Part of the St Nicholas Abbey Plantation in the Scotland District, the road up to Cherry Tree Hill is lined with mahogany trees and swaying sugar cane. The main house is one of only three Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere, and the viewpoint is a picturesque spot offering vistas across the entire east coast of the island, including the historic Morgan Lewis Windmill and plenty of beaches with their lapping waves.

Animal Flower Cave sits below the cliffs on the far northeastern point of the island. It’s home to sea anemone, often referred to as animal flowers, which can be toured throughout the day (provided the tide levels are right!) If they aren’t, then fear not: the view from the top of the cliffs is nothing short of spectacular, with the churning waters below making for an incredible sight. During the winter months, you might even get lucky enough to witness humpback whales playing in the deep waters beyond.

Bathsheba

Surfing at Bathsheba

The powerful Atlantic waves that crash against the east coast make Bathsheba one of the best spots in the Caribbean for surfing. Known as the ‘Soup Bowl’, due to its waves forming a “bowl” shape as they break, then creating a frothy, bubbling whitewater that looks like soup simmering in a pot, this area attracts international surfers throughout the year, especially for the annual Soup Bowl contest, which sees world-class talent take to the waters.

However, you don’t need to be an expert to enjoy the waves. There are several surf schools in the area offering lessons for all skill levels, or you can simply rent a board and try your luck. For those who prefer to stay dry, the dramatic rock formations, known as the Bathsheba Rock or ‘Mushroom Rocks’, make for spectacular viewing and photography, as do the panoramic views from the nearby cliffs.

Snorkelling at Carlisle Bay

Carlisle Bay, located just south of the capital, Bridgetown, is one of the island’s most beautiful natural harbours and a designated marine park, making it the quintessential spot for underwater exploration. Its calm, clear waters are home to a vibrant ecosystem, including a thriving population of green and hawksbill sea turtles, which are often seen grazing on the seabed or swimming gracefully near the surface.

Dotted across the bay’s floor are six shipwrecks, intentionally sunk to create artificial reefs. These wrecks, ranging from a tugboat to a French freighter, are now teeming with colourful marine life, including seahorses, frogfish, eels, and numerous species of tropical fish.

You can easily rent snorkelling gear from vendors on Brownes Beach or Pebbles Beach, both lining the bay. For the best chance of spotting turtles and exploring the wrecks, we recommend taking a catamaran cruise or hiring a local glass-bottom boat tour. These tours often provide all the necessary equipment and take you directly to the best viewing areas, sometimes even including a light lunch and rum punch.

Best Authentic Bajan Food

Budget Bites

Although Barbados is a little on the expensive side, eating out doesn’t have to be. For a glimpse into local life on a budget, Baxter’s Road in Bridgetown is a must-visit, lined with food stalls offering a variety of local dishes, like macaroni pie, flying fish, and cou-cou.

At Cuz’s Fish Stand on Pebbles Beach, you’ll find some of the best fish cutters on the island – a sandwich of salt bread, fish, cheese, fried egg, and pepper sauce – combined with ice-cold Banks beers.

If you want to visit a traditional Bajan rum shop, Kermitt’s Bar in Christ Church is a great choice – here you’ll find succulent rotisserie chicken plates and a menu that changes daily.

Mid-Range

After visiting the north of the island, head straight to Fish Pot in Speightstown, where you can sample the freshest seafood the island has to offer. Housed in a 17th-century fort, this restaurant’s interior is as incredible as the food. Pair the seafood curry and grilled octopus with jugs of rum punch for a true Barbados experience.

Fine Dining in Barbados

If it’s time to splash out, you’ve plenty of upscale dining options. The Tides Restaurant in Holetown is often hailed as one of the island’s best restaurants, with a setting to match – you’ll be dining open-air in a treehouse offering panoramic views of the sea.

If you’d like your fish served a little differently, then a night at Nishi is a must: this Japanese restaurant uses the endlessly fresh fish of the island to craft unforgettable sushi, and you can watch it being elegantly prepared while you wait.

No list of Bajan eateries would be complete without mentioning The Cliff Barbados, which might be one of the island’s most expensive restaurants, but for good reason: overlooking the shimmering Caribbean waters with epic views at sunset, this is the place for a special occasion – reservations are recommended at least a week in advance.

Oistins, Barbados. Getty/zstockphotos

An unmissable experience

If you’ve heard anything about Barbados’ dining scene, then Oistins’ Fish Fry is likely to have garnered a mention (or 10). This unforgettable gathering happens every Friday night in Oistins, and locals and tourists alike gather to eat, drink, and be merry. Expertly grilled or fried fish is on offer from a range of food stalls, and you’d be missing out if you didn’t join in with the dancing by the main stage – you’ll often find live bands, DJs and even locals enjoying a karaoke tune or two.

Oistins, Barbados. Getty/zstockphotos

Where Do Locals Go in Barbados to Drink?

Considered the birthplace of rum, Barbados is home to a wealth of rum shops and distilleries. Book a visit to the Mount Gay distillery: established in 1703, it’s the oldest continuously-running rum distillery in the world, where you can explore the lands, molasses house, and much more. Combine this with a cocktail class, rum flight, or tasting with lunch for the perfect boozy afternoon.

Rum shops are the beating heart of the Bajan social scene, and the island is home to almost 1,600 of them. Visit one (or a few) for a true insight into local life – some of the best include London Bar, Lexie’s, and Braddie’s.

If daytime punch-sipping isn’t enough for you, the island houses several clubs for an unforgettable night out. Harbour Lights is lively as anything, with fire dancers and thrilling open-air performances after dark – they even have ‘free drink’ nights where the party gets truly wild.

A dry dock that doubles as a bar and nightclub, Blackwoods Screw Dock is one-of-a-kind: chilled-out during the day and ultra-energetic come nighttime, you can experience this unique bar whichever way you like.

Image courtesy of The SoCo Hotel, Barbados

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