Things To Do In Barbados

2 places and guides from our Barbados coverage, gathered into one page.

Cruise Port Guide, Things To Do, Shore Excursions

Start at the Bridgetown cruise port, where most visitors arrive. From there, head to the island’s top attractions: the historic Garrison Savannah, the UNESCO-listed Bridgetown and its Careenage, and the underground Harrison’s Cave with its stalactite formations. For a full day, combine a morning at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve with an afternoon at the nearby Grenade Hall Signal Station. The reserve is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is $12 for adults, $6 for children under 12. The signal station, a restored 19th‑century military post, costs $5 per person and closes at 4 p.m. Both are on the west coast, a 20‑minute drive from the cruise terminal.

Best Things To Do In Beautiful Barbados

Barbados’s best beaches include Crane Beach on the south coast, with its soft white sand and gentle surf, and the more sheltered Mullins Bay on the west coast. Crane Beach has no facilities, so bring water and snacks; Mullins Bay has a beach bar and chair rentals for $10 per day. For snorkelling, head to Folkestone Marine Park on the west coast, where entry is free and equipment rental costs $15 for a mask, snorkel and fins. The park is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the best visibility is between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Inland, explore the abandoned sugar mills that dot the island. Many are on private land, but the ones at St. Nicholas Abbey and the Barbados Museum are accessible to visitors. The museum, housed in a former military prison, charges $15 for adults and $8 for children, and is open Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. St. Nicholas Abbey, a 17th‑century plantation house, offers guided tours at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. for $25 per person. Both sites provide insights into the island’s sugar‑producing past and the secrets of Barbados's abandoned sugar mills.

For a taste of local culture, visit the Oistins Fish Fry on Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to midnight. A plate of grilled flying fish, macaroni pie and coleslaw costs about $12. The fish fry is located on the south coast, a 15‑minute drive from Bridgetown. Alternatively, the weekly Holetown Festival on the west coast runs every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with live music and local crafts. Admission is free, and a rum punch costs $5.

If you’re looking for attractions and activities in Barbados, consider a catamaran cruise along the west coast. Half‑day trips depart from Bridgetown at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., cost $75 per person, and include snorkelling stops at two reefs, a buffet lunch and an open bar. Book at least 24 hours in advance through the cruise port’s tour desk. For a shorter outing, the Barbados Boardwalk in Hastings, Christ Church, offers a free 2‑kilometre walk past restaurants and beach bars. It is open 24 hours and is well‑lit until 10 p.m.

For evening entertainment, the 600‑seat Daphne Joseph‑Harrison Auditorium in Bridgetown hosts live theatre and concerts. Tickets range from $20 to $50, and the box office is open Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Check the schedule at the tourist office near the cruise terminal. Finally, the island’s only casino, the Barbados Casino at the Hilton Barbados, is open daily from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. and requires a $10 entry fee. Dress code is smart casual; no shorts or sandals after 7 p.m.