20 Things to Do in Barbados

Published by Shane Jones on

Barbados packs an extraordinary range of experiences into a small island. From world-class beaches and historic rum distilleries to UNESCO heritage sites and Friday night fish fries — here are 20 things you shouldn’t miss. A rental car makes it easy to tick off every one.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

  • Swim with sea turtles at Paynes Bay — hawksbill turtles feed in the shallows most mornings
  • Explore Harrison’s Cave — dramatic limestone caverns by electric tram in St. Thomas
  • Hike Welchman Hall Gully — a lush tropical ravine with green monkeys
  • Visit Hunte’s Gardens — a hidden horticultural masterpiece in a gully in St. Joseph
  • Surf the Soup Bowl at Bathsheba — one of the Caribbean’s best breaks
  • Walk the Animal Flower Cave — sea anemones in natural caves at North Point
  • Birdwatching at Graeme Hall Swamp — Barbados’s only inland mangrove

History and Culture

  • Bridgetown and its Garrison — UNESCO World Heritage Site — colonial military heritage in the capital
  • St. Nicholas Abbey — a 17th-century Jacobean plantation house with working rum still
  • Sunbury Plantation House — fully furnished Georgian great house open to the public
  • Barbados Museum and Historical Society — the island’s history from Amerindian settlement to independence
  • Speightstown — Barbados’s well-preserved second city with Georgian architecture

Food, Drink, and Entertainment

  • Oistins Fish Fry — the unmissable Friday night event: fresh mahi-mahi, local rum, live music
  • Mount Gay Rum Distillery Tour — the world’s oldest rum brand, based in Bridgetown
  • Foursquare Rum Distillery — multi-award-winning distillery in St. Philip
  • Watch horse racing at the Garrison Savannah — a uniquely Bajan Saturday tradition
  • Crop Over Festival — Barbados’s biggest annual celebration (July–August)

Beach and Water Activities

  • Snorkel the Carlisle Bay shipwrecks — six wrecks in shallow, clear water near Bridgetown
  • Kitesurfing at Silver Sands — consistent trade winds make this a world-class venue
  • Catamaran cruise down the west coast — popular half-day excursion with sea turtle swimming stops

The best way to experience all 20? With your own car. Book with appaRent and explore Barbados on your schedule.

Categories: Barbados Travel GuidesThings to Do in Barbados

Shane Jones

Shane Jones is the owner of Apparent Car Rentals (appaRent), a Barbadian-owned car rental company based in Hastings, Christ Church, Barbados. With years of experience helping visitors explore the island, Shane writes about driving in Barbados, the best places to visit, and how to get the most out of a Caribbean road trip.

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