So youβre planning that dream get-away vacation to Barbados in the Caribbean. With the warm temperatures year round, friendly people and beautiful beaches it makes this island the perfect place to unwind. With all the things to see and do, the following sites and activities would make a great addition to your list!
The activities to do in Barbados can be divided into five categories: shopping, swimming/sunbathing, sight-seeing, recreational sports and clubbing/night-life.
Shopping:
Swan Street Market β In this open-air flea market, tourists can find almost every item imaginable! From delicious tropical fruit, to colorful clothing, coral jewelry and leather shoes, street vendors sell a wide variety of items at reasonable prices and cater their business primarily to tourists.
Broad Street β This is the main upscale shopping area in Barbados. Here you will find several large department stores offering Duty-Free shopping with a wide variety of exquisite and unique items ranging from fine jewelry to designer clothing.
Cheapside Street Market β Here you can mingle with the locals as you haggle over the various fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and hand-made items on sale.
Earthworks Pottery β This specialty factory/store hand makes a variety of beautiful yet functional tableware with exquisite decorations in traditional designs.
Swimming/Sunbathing:
Bathsheba Beach β A great beach which is extremely popular year-round! It offers great panoramic views of the island along with a variety of water-sports such as scuba diving.
Gibbs Beach β The pristine white sand coupled with the calm and clear waters make this beach an ideal location for families with small children. Not as well known as some other beaches, so there will be smaller crowds to deal with.
Crane Beach β With eighty-foot cliffs that overlook this beach, this beach is by far one of the most breath-taking to bask upon . Whether you chose to sunbath or go for a swim, you will not be disappointed!
Soup Bowl β The surfersβ paradise! This is by far the most famous beach on the island as a major surfing tournament is held here each year. This beach is on the Atlantic coast and has consistent sizeable waves throughout the day!
Sight-Seeing:
St. Nicholas Abbey β This is a wonderfully maintained example of the traditional Barbadian plantation house surrounded by sugarcane fields. Guided tours begin hourly and you will become immersed in the colonial beauty that surrounds you!
Andromeda Botanic Gardens β This botanical garden is full of exotic flowers and shrubs and has elegant well-maintained gardens with ponds and breathtaking scenery! The perfect place to unwind after a busy day of sightseeing!
Gun Hill Signal Station β This historic British Outpost provides visitors with a peek into the former colonial Barbados while affording spectacular, panoramic views of almost the entire island!
The Barbados Museum β This is an excellent stop on a sight-seeing tour, and will reward the tourist with a rare glimpse at artifacts from the islandβs past. From tools of the native Amerindian tribes that initially inhabited the island to some of the early carriages the graced the island during the colonial period, this museum has it all!
Morgan Lewis Mill β This is one of the only remaining functional windmills in existence in the Caribbean. Complete with all of its original machinery, guided tours of this facility are a wonderful treat. When youβre done, climb to the top for some breath-taking views of the island!
Recreational Sports:
Sandy lane Golf Course β The renowned par 72 resort course designed by Tom Fazio, offers 18 holes of action with angled slopes and magnificent views of the island! Resort offers wonderful restaurants and bars to unwind both before and after your game.
Royal Westmoreland β This is a relatively new up-scale 27-hole course with breathtaking views of the western coast of the island. Tennis and Spa facilities are also offered.
Turner Hall's Woods β This is an excellent venue to go hiking while exploring a lush tropical wonderland! This forest has changed very little since the English arrived on the island in the 1600βs, and features many different species of plants and animals.
Friars Craig β For the Scuba Diving beginner, this is an excellent site to visit to explore a sunken colonial ship. Prepare yourself for a big adventure as there is an abundance of marine life and the wreck is in close proximity to a coral reef!
Clubbing/ Night-Life:
Ship Inn β This is a very popular hangout for tourists and features a live band every night!
Coach House β Imagine a British pub in the tropics! Warm atmosphere, great drinks and good times are had by all!
Waterfront Cafe β Live jazz and steel pan music are featured on weekends at this bar/nightclub. The relaxing atmosphere is second to none!
Mullins Beach Bar β Best place on the island to experience a tropical sunset with a cocktail in hand!
After Dark β This night club is a favorite spot to drink and dance the night away!
The island is a beautiful place to unwind and relax, but with so much to see you may feel overwhelmed. These suggestions should enhance your trip to Barbados, help to guide your adventures, and make your stay more enjoyable.
