Barbados offers everything that the discerning holidaymaker might desire. Superb beaches are lapped by the Caribbean Sea – yet many are almost deserted. The South Coast is lively with restaurants, bars and nightclubs; the West Coast is somewhat quieter, although it has some of the finest hotels and restaurants on the Island.
The East and North Coasts are rugged and wild with spectacular scenery – a must for the photographer, experienced surfer or wildlife enthusiast.
This enormous variety of landscape, from tropical gardens and plantation houses to the wild Atlantic Sea at North Point, makes touring the Island a must. All over the Island the land is green and lush – thus earning the name “Little England”.
The capital, Bridgetown, is the duty-free centre of the Eastern Caribbean, making it a haven for shopping. Great buys include perfume, cosmetics, leather, liquor, jewellery, sports gear, crystal and electrical items. There are many fine buildings to see, including the House of Assembly and Parliament Buildings. It also has its own Trafalgar Square with a monument to Horatio Nelson overlooking Careenage. This is a natural harbour which serves as a berth for many yachts. Shops and restaurants front the harbour, including the famous Waterfront Café where you can idle away the evening hours with good drinks, good food and excellent jazz! Barbados alson has many art galleries displaying local craft as well as thriving potteries, such as Earthworks.
For the more energetic amongst you, Barbados is renowned for its sports facilities. Foremost is cricket – played all day, every day – on the beach, in the local parks or at the Kensington Oval. There is also golf, tennis, squash, horse-racing, marathon running, aerobics and body building. Many world class events take place in Barbados. Lastly – watersports. You may waterski, snorkel, windsurf, deep sea fish, or sail (in any combination!). Or take a trip in a glass-bottomed boat or Atlantis, a recreational submarine.
Places to see:
Barbados has its own National Trust which preserves many of the Plantation Houses, spectacular gardens and historic sites around the Island. Places to visit include Sunbury House, The Old Synagogue and Cemetery, Hunte’s Gardens, Welchman Hall Gully and Andromeda Gardens. Harrisons Caves, Barbados Wildlife Reserve, Mount Gay Rum Distillery, Garrison Historic Area (including Barbados Museum), Oistins Fish Market, Bathsheba and the Flower Forest. There are also several parish churches which highlight Barbados’s long connection with England.
Things to do:
Barbados is famous for its golf courses. These include Royal Westmoreland, Sandy Lane and The Barbados Golf Club (courses designed by some of the world’s leading Golf course designers).
There is plenty to do after a hard day’s sunbathing – restaurants with menus to suit all budgets, nightclubs, bars, spectacular extravaganzas showing the best of Barbados, concert halls, jazz clubs and pub. Most hotels offer some evening entertainment, but when the pace gets tough just relax with a long drink and take in the night air.
Festival Time: the Barbados Jazz Festival happens in January. Holders Season of opera, music and theatre is March/April time. CROP OVER is a 5-week long celebration of the end of the sugar season and takes place in July/August – ending with KADOOMENT over the 1st weekend in August.
Party Time: Barbados boasts nightclubs, restaurants and bars where you can dance to live music or DJs.
