The Caribbean paradise isn’t complete without the best things to do in Barbados. Though technically located in the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Caribbean, Barbados is famous for its water attractions, sandy beaches, golf courses, and historical homes.
Bridgetown is the Capital city of Barbados, where you can find various dive and snorkel spots with plenty of marine life on Carlisle Bay. Similarly, Bathsheba Beach is a must-destination for surfers, and Dover Beach for its calm waters and the best resorts.
In addition, Barbados offers inland adventures, including Harrison’s Cave, Animal Flower Cave, and Hunte’s Gardens in St. Thomas. Barbados also presents you with the world’s best rum experience at Mount Gay.
This ultimate guide will assist you with the best things to do in Barbados, and make your trip amazing and memorable.
Things to do in Barbados
Andromeda Botanic Gardens
Established in 1954 by Iris Bannochie on a land of 8 acres at the parish of St. Joseph, as a pleasure as well as a botanic garden. She collected exotic flowering plants from all over the world. At present, the National Trust of Barbados administers the Andromeda Botanic Gardens and offers more than 500 plant specimens with amazing views of the ocean.
You can reach these gardens via bus or taxi from Bridgetown or Speightstown within 40-50 minutes. To visit these gardens is one of the best things to do in Barbados, as the gardens offer a mesmerizing natural atmosphere, where you can spend hours enjoying the spectacular greenery. If you want to learn the details of these plants you can download an audio guide on your smartphone.
Carlisle Bay
Carlisle Bay is located in the South West of Barbados with six shipwrecks. The calm and clear waters of the beaches at Carlisle Bay are ideal for swimming. The shipwrecks are a must-visit spot for diving and snorkeling. Besides, you can enjoy here glass boat or submarine tour, and explore marine life like leatherback turtles, rock lobsters, hawksbill, parrotfish, and seahorses. You can reach the Bay by bus or taxi.
The beaches at Carlisle Bay are famous among visiting families. Your children have a good time at these calm beaches. The local shops rent equipment for water sports, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and horseback riding.
Carlisle Bay’s beaches are open from morning to evening. You can have many facilities here like free parking, lifeguards, public restrooms, restaurants, and dive gear rental shops.
Harrison’s Cave
Harrison’s Cave, located about 5 miles away from Bathsheba Beach, was discovered in the late 18th century and opened for visitors in 1981. Harrison’s Cave is one of the most famous and best things to do in Barbados. You can reach the spot by bus at scheduled times or by taxi from Bridgetown.
The limestone Harrison’s Cave eco-adventure park presents almost 1.5 miles long different streams, stalagmites, and stalactites in the cavern. The cave is the only attraction in this eco-adventure park. This must-visit cave is well preserved. The site opens daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Chukka Caribbean Adventures company offers you a tram tour to the cave. Besides the tram tour, you are also offered different activities like a zip line, a nature trail, an aviary, and an educational film. The experienced guides give you details about the cave. You can tour the cave by tram which is operated by the company.
The Boatyard
The Boatyard is located on Browne’ Beach, Carlisle Bay, in Bridgetown, and is a famous place to visit with the family. This is a beloved spot with calm waters for snorkeling, boat ride, and water activities. You can witness sea turtles at the Boatyard.
The spot is open from 9am to 7pm Sunday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. You have to pay an admission fee for entry, which also includes water trampolines and inflatable slides. Get details about The Boatyard. The place is value for money.
Bathsheba Beach
Bathsheba Beach is a paradise for photographers which offers different rock formations. Similarly, Bathsheba’s Beach includes the popular Soup Bowl with top-notch waves, a must-visit destination for the surfers, where international surfing contests are arranged regularly.
You can reach the spot by rental taxi as the buses are limited here. Bathsheba Beach is free of entry ticket, and is open from morning to sunset. The beach is also famous for its attractive settings, best for surfing, kite flying, and picnicking.
Though there are some safe cave pools, swimming is not recommended here, because Bathsheba Beach offers rough waters and rocks. You can take water sport equipment on rent. Parking facilities, restrooms, and lounge chairs are available at the beach.
Hunte’s Gardens
Hunte’s Gardens is famous for a variety of plants, and different animals like the owner’s dogs, monkeys and hummingbirds. Located in St. Joseph parish in the southwest of Bathsheba Beach. Mr. Anthony Hunte, a local horticulturist is the owner of the gardens. You can also enjoy your picnic lunch here.
You can visit this place daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by car because bus routes are limited in this part of Barbados. Visiting this spot is one of the best things to do in Barbados during your visit to the Caribbean. You can purchase her tea, coffee, cakes, and rum punch.
You need not hire a guide for this tour, as Hunte is mostly available to answer your questions and give details about the plants and animals etc. This attraction is not free and needs an entrance fee for both adults and children. You can check relevant details. This attraction also offers a parking area, gift shop, and restroom. Hunte’s Gardens is a highly recommended place to visit in Barbados.
Dover Beach
Dover Beach is another popular attraction in Barbados, located in the southern part of Richard Haynes Boardwalk. This is a favorite place of those travelers who do not like crowded shorelines. The laid-back vibes of this beach compel the tourist to revisit and stay her again.
You can easily reach Dover Beach by bus, car, or taxi. Though the south coast of Dover Beach is not friendly for paddle boarding and kayaking, it favors skiing, surfing, Hobie Cat sailing, and windsurfing. The beach also offers a swimming area.
There are many hotels, bars, and restaurants on the beach with free street parking. You can also get a rental beach chair, umbrella, snorkeling gear, and equipment for watersports from the local vendors on small charges. Lifeguards are also present on the beach from morning to sunset. The beach also includes souvenir shops and public restrooms.
Speightstown
Barbados’ second big city, located in the parish of St. Peter, North west of Barbados. founded in 1630, which still exhibits colonial architecture. This has been a profiting town, and even today is an active port. The town offers local culture, diverse cuisine, and shops on its pathways. Though the town boasts peaceful and tranquil beaches, some restaurants turn into a party at night.
The reefers and divers can get rental chairs, umbrellas, and water sports equipment at the Mullins beach in the north end of the Speightstown. Similarly, the family and history buffs also have some attractions in the town like the Arlington House Museum. The Museum spans three levels full of Barbados history. You can enjoy some cold drinks and ice cream in the Museum’s café.
Swimming Horses
Barbados is also famous in the American regions for its oldest racetracks of Garrison Savannah. The local groomers, trainers, and owners of race horses after following a ritual, bring down their horses to the sea for healing their injuries. They reach Carlisle Bay, in the south of Bridgetown in front of the Radisson Hotel from sunrise to around 7 in the morning.
You will enjoy it as one of the best things to do in Barbados. If you want to take a photograph, you need to be careful in approaching these horses. In case, you should request the horse handler for a picture, because they don’t come there for the healing ritual.
The Mount Gay Visitor Center: Rum experience
The Mount Gay Visitor Center, located at Brandons Beach in the west of Bridgetown, is also one of the best things to do in Barbados and a must visit place during your visit to the Caribbean. Established in 1703, the Mount Gay has been producing world’s richest and aromatic rums in Barbados, and the distillery’s continuous productions span more than 300 years. The Mount Gay distillery, located in St. Lucy is among the only three remaining copper stills in the world.
You can tour Mount Gay, as they offer Master Classes and cocktail workshops, distillery experiences, and where you can treat yourself with premium rum flight experience. Similarly, you can also enjoy a featured rum tasting lunch and dinner. The Mount Gay distillery in St. Lucy Barbados, offers different packages and facilities for the visitors.
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