Barbados holidays: a guide to the island
A calm turquoise west coast, surf on the east side and a Friday night fish fry in Oistins. Barbados is the easiest Caribbean island to fall for.
Barbados
Photo: Tom Jur / Unsplash
Barbados: easy Caribbean luxury
Barbados is the most easterly island in the Caribbean, around 34 kilometres long, with a coral limestone landscape of sugar cane fields, small villages and beaches all the way round. It was a British colony for more than 300 years and it still shows: English is spoken, people drive on the left and cricket is the national sport.
What makes Barbados easy to love is that everything works. The roads are good, the food is good and distances are short enough to stay on one coast and have dinner on another. Direct flights from London make it one of the simplest long-haul beach holidays from the UK.
Where to stay in Barbados
The west coast: the calm Platinum Coast
Between Bridgetown and Speightstown you find the best-known hotels, villas and restaurants. The sea is usually calm and clear, perfect for swimming, snorkelling and catamaran trips out to the turtles. Holetown has restaurants and shops.
The south coast: livelier and better value
Around St Lawrence Gap, Dover Beach and Oistins there are more bars, street food and hotels at every price point. There is also enough wind for kitesurfing at the southern tip.
The east coast: wild, beautiful and not for swimming
The Atlantic rolls straight in at Bathsheba, where huge boulders sit in the surf. It is one of the best-known surf spots in the Caribbean, but the currents make swimming dangerous. Come for the view, a long lunch and the quiet.
The coast
Photo: Tom Jur / Unsplash
Things to do in Barbados
Eat grilled fish and listen to music at the Oistins fish fry on Friday night.
Walk historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, which together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Take a catamaran along the west coast and snorkel with turtles and over the wrecks in Carlisle Bay.
Visit Harrison's Cave, a limestone cave you ride through on a small tram.
Taste rum at Mount Gay, regarded as one of the oldest rum brands in the world.
Drive across the island to Bathsheba for lunch overlooking the Atlantic.
Catch a cricket match at Kensington Oval if you are there in season.
The hotels we would book in Barbados
The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Coral Reef Club, west coast
Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Coral Reef Club: the classic west coast
A low-key hotel with cottages and suites spread through large gardens down to the sea in St James, and one of the hotels that defined the west coast. Hotels.com highlights the room service, two outdoor pools and Sandy Lane Beach close by.
Book your stay: See rooms at Coral Reef Club
Cobblers Cove: small and quiet north of Holetown
A small beach hotel near Speightstown and Mullins Beach, with breakfast included and a balcony or terrace in every room. Ideal if you want peace and a short walk to the sea.
Book your stay: See rooms at Cobblers Cove
The Crane, south east coast
Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
The Crane: on the cliffs above Crane Beach
The Crane sits on the cliffs above Crane Beach on the south east coast, one of the island's loveliest beaches with a pink tint to the sand. Hotels.com mentions the helpful staff and an evening social gathering.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Crane
When is the best time to visit Barbados?
December to April is the dry high season, with sunshine, trade winds and the highest prices. June to November is the rainy and hurricane season, although Barbados lies slightly east of the usual hurricane track. May and November can offer good value and fine weather. It is warm all year.
Check the current entry requirements before you travel. Read more about the region in our Caribbean holidays guide.
Barbados holidays: frequently asked questions
Where are the best beaches in Barbados?
The west coast has the calmest water, including Mullins Beach and the beaches around Holetown. The south coast has Dover Beach and Crane Beach. The east coast is beautiful but too dangerous for swimming in most places.
When is the best time to go to Barbados?
December to April is driest and most popular. May and November are good alternatives with lower prices.
How long is the flight to Barbados from the UK?
Direct flights from London take around eight to nine hours, and the return is usually a little quicker.
Do you need a hire car in Barbados?
Not if you stay on the west coast, but a car makes it easy to explore the east coast. Remember that Barbados drives on the left.
What is Barbados known for?
Beaches, rum, cricket, the Oistins fish fry and the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Bridgetown.