Things to do in Barbados

25 things to do in Barbados

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Explore the stunning Harrison's Cave

  Ride a tram through magnificent caverns with stalactites, stalagmites, and cascading underground waterfalls in the heart of Barbados.

  Welchman Hall, St. Thomas

• Snorkel with wild turtles in Carlisle Bay

  Swim alongside graceful green and hawksbill turtles in calm, shallow waters just off a white-sand beach near Bridgetown.

  Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown

• Tour the historic St. Nicholas Abbey

  Step back in time at a 17th-century sugar plantation house and rum distillery, then ride the heritage railway through mahogany forests.

  Cherry Tree Hill, St. Peter

• Sample rum at the Mount Gay Distillery

  Taste the world's oldest commercial rum at its birthplace with a guided tour of the working distillery and a sensory rum-pairing experience.

  Spring Garden, St. Michael

• Watch surfers ride the Soup Bowl in Bathsheba

  Marvel at expert surfers tackling powerful reef breaks at this world-famous right-hand wave, framed by dramatic rock formations and foaming tides.

  Bathsheba, St. Joseph

• Snorkel the shallow reef at Folkestone Marine Park

  Float above a protected coral reef teeming with tropical fish just metres from the shore, with marked snorkel trails and a sunken statue.

  Holetown, St. James

• Devour a flying fish cutter at Cuz's Fish Shack

  Bite into the iconic Bajan sandwich—crispy fried flying fish in a soft salt-bread bun—from a beloved seaside shack on Bay Street.

  Bay Street, St. Michael

• Visit George Washington House and its museum

  Walk through the restored plantation home where the young George Washington stayed in 1751, part of the UNESCO-listed Garrison area.

  Garrison, Bridgetown

• Lose yourself in the enchanting Hunte's Gardens

  Descend into a lush sinkhole garden where terraced paths wind among rare plants, hidden benches, and classical music drifting from hidden speakers.

  Castle Grant, St. Joseph

• Join the Friday night Oistins Fish Fry

  Dance under the stars, feast on grilled marlin and macaroni pie, and mingle with locals at the island's liveliest weekly street party by the fishing boats.

  Oistins Bay Gardens, Christ Church

• Stroll through the UNESCO-listed Bridgetown and Garrison

  Explore a historic Caribbean capital with well-preserved colonial architecture, vibrant shops, and a military garrison dating to the 17th century.

  Bridgetown

• Gaze over the east coast from Cherry Tree Hill

  Stop at this breezy ridge for sweeping views of the rugged Atlantic coastline and lush cane fields, framed by ancient mahogany trees.

  St. Andrew

• Peer into the sea-carved Animal Flower Cave

  Climb down into natural limestone caves at the island's most northerly point, where sea anemones dot rock pools and waves crash against weathered cliffs.

  North Point, St. Lucy

• See green monkeys at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve

  Wander through a natural mahogany forest where free-roaming green monkeys, tortoises, deer, and agoutis cross your path at feeding time.

  St. Peter

• Walk the south coast boardwalk from Hastings to Rockley

  Stroll a scenic seaside boardwalk linking sandy coves and turquoise bays, with views of swaying palms and swimmers darting through clear water.

  Hastings to Rockley, Christ Church

• Step back in time at Sunbury Plantation House

  Tour a beautifully preserved 17th-century plantation home filled with antique furniture, carriages, and baroque cellars that survived slavery and storms.

  St. Philip

• Scuba dive the Stavronikita wreck in Carlisle Bay

  Descend to a sunken 120-metre freighter encrusted with corals and patrolled by curious barracuda and turtles, directly off the Bay's soft sand.

  Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown

• Watch a polo match at Holders Hill

  Spend a twilight Sunday with a rum punch in hand watching thundering ponies on the lush polo fields of the west coast's high society.

  Holders, St. James

• Try traditional Bajan pudding and souse on a Saturday morning

  Sample the tangy, spicy pickle-meat dish with steamed sweet potato and cornmeal that defines local weekend lunches at the Oistins fish market.

  Oistins Fish Market, Christ Church

• Float with turtles in the crystal waters of Paynes Bay

  Enter the calm, glassy sea from a quiet west-coast beach to casually snorkel with gentle turtles that glide inches away from swimmers.

  Paynes Bay, St. James

• Uncover island history at the Barbados Museum

  Browse galleries covering Amerindian settlers, rum-soaked colonial life, and natural history inside a former 19th-century military prison at the Garrison.

  Garrison, Bridgetown

• Hike to the rustic Chalky Mount Potteries

  Trek into the green hills of St. Andrew to discover a family-run pottery where traditional clay pots are still shaped and fired in open kilns.

  Chalky Mount, St. Andrew

• Dance the night away in St. Lawrence Gap

  Follow the strip along a lively 1.5km stretch of the south coast for tropical cocktails, beach bars, and live music that goes until dawn.

  St. Lawrence Gap, Christ Church

• See thoroughbreds swim at Garrison Savannah

  Arrive at dawn to watch racehorses being walked and bathed in the sea by their grooms, a surreal and timeless Barbadian scene beside the historic racetrack.

  Garrison Savannah, Bridgetown

• Wander the paths of Andromeda Botanic Gardens

  Lose yourself in six acres of exotic flowers, orchids, and cascading streams set on a hillside with views of the Bathsheba coastline.

  Bathsheba, St. Joseph