Last Updated on June 22, 2020 by Amanda Stancati
A visit to Barbados will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed. With no shortage of sandy beaches, culture, brilliant colours, gardens, and sports, Barbados offers a fun-filled Caribbean vacation for your family, friends, honeymoon, or luxury week away to relax.
If you’re looking for things to do in Barbados for your next vacation, this Caribbean isle offers plenty. Explore the west coast for calm beaches and white sandy shores for your swimming and snorkeling adventures, or enjoy surfing on the windy (and often deserted) beaches of the east. With the third oldest parliament in the world in Bridgetown, enjoy unique nightlife in the city, the beautiful coral and sandstone cliffs waiting for your hiking adventure in the north, and Harrison’s Cave limestone caves, Barbados remains a top tourist destination for many looking to seek asylum under the sun.
Before your next vacation, let us offer suggestions for things to do in Barbados:
Harrison’s Cave
A visit to Harrison’s Cave, located in the middle of Barbados and a 20-minute taxi ride from Bridgetown, is a must when you’re making your list of things to do in Barbados. One of the island’s most well-known attractions, Harrison’s Cave is perfect for nature lovers. A tour of the cave will have you admiring stalactites hanging from the roof of the cave and stalagmites that emerge from the ground, and crystal-clear water running from waterfalls into emerald pools. Learn about Barbados’ history on your cave tour and revel at the beauty of the earth’s underlay at Harrison’s Cave.
Beaches
A trip to Barbados should include a day of relaxation at one of the islands 60 beaches. Accra Beach might be the best on the island with it’s ground coral sand. This beach, on the southwestern shores of the island, is always lively and perfect for great swimming and stunning views of the ocean blue. Don’t miss the boardwalk at the eastern end of the beach for a leisurely walk, and stunning views of Barbados sunsets. For relaxing beaches and snorkeling, visit the west coast of the island, or the east for windy beaches and surf-worthy waves. For small secluded coves nestled among hundred-foot high cliffs, visit Barbados’ north coast. Everywhere you look in Barbados is stunning landscapes and glistening water.
Queen’s Park
Get to know the culture of Barbados with a visit to Queen’s Park, where, if you time it right, you might see an exhibit or live music. Originally home to the King’s house and the residence of the Commanding Officer of the British troops in the West Indies, Queen’s Park is a great area to learn more of the island’s history. In the midst of the park, find one of the largest trees in Barbados: a baobab tree estimated to be over 1000 years old. (The tree is 55 feet in circumference!). Take a quick trip to Queen’s Park while visiting Bridgetown, which is full of festivals, restaurants, and Barbados culture.
Mount Gay Tours
Truly experience rum in the birthplace of the drink. If you’re looking for things to do in Barbados to fill your vacation, a tour of the Mount Gay distilleries is a must-do. Rum, or liquid gold as some call it, and its relationship to Barbados dates back to the 1640s and 1703 when Mount Gay established their brand. Visit the distillery and learn how the drink is made, blended, and taste test samples. You might even like it enough to take a bottle home!
Stavronikita
Suit up and get to know Barbados by exploring its waters and discovering the Stavronikita dive site, located off the coast of Bridgetown. The S. S. Stavronikita, a Greek boat, sunk in the late 1970s and is now a busy dive site perfect for travelers looking to explore the depths of the sea and see Barbados’ aquatic life. The ship sits upright on the ocean floor and allows for a swim-through of the ship. Rumour has it the ship is now covered in coral and is a hub of marine life and fish. Be sure to visit on a sunny day so you have good visibility, despite the depth.
For help planning your Barbados vacation, call 1-800-665-4981 and speak with one of our experienced travel agents.
