Discover Barbados: Your Ultimate Guide to 'The Rock'
The Essentials
🗺 Geography
Barbados is a small but mighty island country. It is only 34 kilometres (21 mi) long and up to 23 km (14 mi) wide, but it is densely populated, with over 250,000 people. As a result, you can feel this when rush hour comes along and you are stuck in traffic on the way home from work.
💡 To put its size into perspective, you can easily make the drive from the south to the north in ~40 minutes, and from west to east in ~30 minutes (with no traffic). That being said, there is a lot to see and I recommend you divide your visit up into the different regions.
Barbados is made up of 11 parishes. As the island is not volcanic, it is relatively flat. If you look at the map of Barbados, you can divide it up into four regions: the north, west, south, and east coasts:
📍 The North Coast has 'animal flower' caves you can go swimming in as well as rum distilleries you can visit.
📍 The West Coast has golden sand beaches, high-end and luxury stores, and is often where catamarans drop their anchors for the day. The capital, Bridgetown, is in the southwest.
📍 The South Coast is known for its beautiful white sand beaches and more stores, including a 1.6km (1 mi)-long Boardwalk that makes it walkable and accessible to get to different beaches.
📍 The East Coast has the best surfing spot on the island, Soup Bowl, as this coast faces the Atlantic Ocean with waves almost 360 days a year.
💸 Currency
Barbados uses the Barbadian Dollar (BBD). A good thing to know is that most shops and services will also accept US Dollars (USD).
It is always good to carry cash with you, as cash is widely used at markets and local vendors. You can exchange money at the airport, although I always recommend you request foreign cash from your bank in advance for the best rates.
On the island, you will find the following banks: Republic Bank, RBC Royal Bank, First Caribbean Bank (CIBC Partner), The Bank of Nova Scotia, First Citizens Bank.
☀️ Weather
The weather in Barbados is enjoyable year-round. For some, the summer months (May-September) may be too hot, as temperatures average between 28° (82°F) to 31°C to (88°F). This is also the rainy season. In my experience, however, weather in Barbados can change several times in a day, and you can experience rain followed by hot and sunny weather shortly after, year-round. The winter months only differ by three degrees (26°C or 79°F) during October-April.
📆 When to Visit: Best time to Visit Barbados
Having lived there year-round, I know that the most busy and tourist-filled times are between November-March.
I personally always enjoy the summer months (May-September) as it is quieter and beaches emptier, plus the heat doesn't bother me. That being said, when to visit will come down to personal preference in terms of climate and budget.
Transportation: Travelling to, from, and around Barbados
✈️ Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI)
This is where you will first step foot on the island. The airport flies to over 30 direct destinations.
🚘 Getting Around
Renting a car: the most convenient way to explore. Car rental agencies are available at the airport and throughout the island.
Taxis: affordable and readily available. Ideal for getting around if you stay on the South Coast, which is walkable from Bridgetown to St. Lawrence Gap.
Public transportation: The minibus system is budget-friendly but doesn’t follow a strict schedule. Hail them anywhere along the road.
Accommodations: Where to Stay
West Coast
South Coast
East Coast
What to See and Do
Ocean Escapades
It's impossible to go wrong with the beaches in Barbados. One thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn't go swimming on the East Coast - this is where the Atlantic waves are rough. The West and South Coasts are the go-tos for gold and white sand beaches. Below are my personal favorites.
About Pebbles Beach:
🐴 Every morning, the horses from the Garrison are walked down to Pebbles Beach (between 5-6am) to rinse the horses. If you wake up early, you may just get to have a glimpse at the horses geting ready for the day.
🐢 Want to see turtles? Pebbles & Carlisle Bay are typically where the boat tours go to. I personally would not recommend one of the tours as they are disruptive to the turtles. Instead, why not rent a kayak and roam the waters to see who you find? Alternatively, I've also swam out further at Carlisle Bay and happened to come across some curious beings.
⚓️ To further enjoy the ocean, I recommend doing one of the catamaran boat rides. They have some for everyone - some more relaxed and some that are more drinking and party-focused. Usually they have rides either in the morning over lunch or in the afternoon over dinner. They depart from the Bridgetown harbor and tend to anchor on the West Coast around Holetown for lunch. Here are some recommendations for varying budgets:
Taste of Barbados
Barbados has a great food scene. Here are some local spots:
Ahh... Chefette. Named by combining the words 'Chef' (to cook) and 'Fete' (to party), Chefette is a local fast food chain that is very popular among locals. They are known for their chicken tenders and the dipping sauces that accompany them. The all potato roti is my go-to vegan option, but there aren't many others.
If you eat fish you will want to check out the Oistins Fish Market. If you go on a Friday night it will be bustling with live music. This is where you can try the Barbados national dish - flying fish and cou cou.
🌱 Eating Plant-Based or Vegan
If you're like me and you eat vegan, there are plenty of places for you to fulfill your cravings too. The list below includes restaurants that anyone can go to, vegan or not.
Insider Recommendations
Eat like a Local: Go to the Farmer's Markets
There's no better way to get a feel for the local culture than to go to markets and meet the artisans. In Barbados, my favorite place to be on a Saturday morning is at Brighton Farmer's Market. It is located inland and would require a car's drive to get to.
If you can't make it to Brighton Market, another great spot is the Artsplash Café Market (mentioned above in A Taste of Barbados), open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8am-2pm, the market takes place right in the parking lot of the café.
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