Barbados Travel Guide
Barbados Essentials
Language: English
Currency: Barbadian Dollar (BBD)
Rate:
Time Zone: GMT -4
Capital City: Bridgetown
Population: 285,000
Layout: See Map
Travel to Barbados
The eastern-most island of the Caribbean archipelago, and often regarded as 'Little England' in the Caribbean, Barbados offers endless pink and white beaches and a wealth of sightseeing attractions, including remnants of old England.
Most visitors come to Barbados for the beaches, and the western coast is loaded with coral shore beaches of fine white sand stretching along a blue-green sea with excellent snorkelling and scuba diving. Brandons, Batts Rock, Good Shepherd Beach and Paynes Bay are the more popular beaches here. As a result, the western coast is fairly built-up, while the southern coast is known for its nightlife.
The eastern coast contrasts with the western and southern coasts as it is fairly tranquil and offers lively surf, owing to the strong and constant trade winds. Attractions on the eastern coast include Bathsheba Beach, Andromeda Botanical Garden, Farley Hill National Park, Barbados Wildlife Reserve and Harrisons Cave. Lying to the north of the parish of St Peter, Farley Hill is a beautiful national park that surrounds the ruined, yet once grand Farley Hill Mansion.
The capital, Bridgetown, is often hot and clogged with traffic, but nevertheless has some great attractions. The waterfront is a good place to start any tour of the city and has a busy cruise-ship terminal complete with a multitude of duty-free and retail shops selling everything from arts and crafts of Barbados to leather goods and jewellery.
The 1813 monument of Admiral Lord Nelson stands proud in National Heroes Square, emulating its original London landmark, while great Victorian public buildings, complete with stained-glass windows, line the square. East of here is the 1655 Anglican church of St Michaels Cathedral, while nearby Synagogue lane houses one of the oldest synagogues in the western hemisphere.
The excellent Barbados Museum, located in the parish of St Michael, showcases Barbados's rise from prehistoric to modern times with its extensive collections of artefacts. Located in a former military prison, the museum also has fine examples of West Indian maps and decorative arts. Nearby stands the red St Ann's Fort with clock house, a British garrison in 1694.
The islands beautiful interior is scattered with little-visited parishes such as St Thomas and St George, which can be visited on foot or by car.
