Area guide · UNESCO World Heritage
Bridgetown in one page: Parliament and National Heroes Square, the Synagogue district, the Garrison and its museum, George Washington House, Carlisle Bay’s beach clubs and the cruise port.
The back story
Why UNESCO listed Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison in 2011, and a walk through the old town, the Synagogue district, Parliament and the Garrison.
The back story
The island’s capital, a 17th-century port town and its military Garrison, listed together by UNESCO in 2011.
A real submarine to the reef
Day and night dives in a real submarine to the reefs and wrecks off Bridgetown, from the Shallow Draught harbour.
The Shallow Draught, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
The 17th-century port and its garrison
Bridgetown’s old town and the Garrison, inscribed by UNESCO in 2011 as one of the earliest fortified port towns of the British Atlantic.
Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
The island’s story in a military prison
The island’s museum of heritage and culture, in 19th-century military prison buildings in the UNESCO-listed Garrison.
The Garrison, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Where the young Washington stayed
Bush Hill House in the Garrison, where the young George Washington stayed for two months in 1751, now a museum, with 1820s tunnels below.
The Garrison, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
A synagogue founded in 1654
The Synagogue Historic District in the heart of Bridgetown, a city block of heritage buildings around the Nidhe Israel Synagogue, founded in 1654.
Synagogue Lane, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Democracy since 1629
The Parliament Buildings on National Heroes Square, with the Museum of Parliament and the National Heroes Gallery inside.
Trafalgar Street, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
The island’s arts council since 1957
The gallery of the Barbados Arts Council, inaugurated in 1957, at the Pelican Craft Centre on Harbour Road.
#20 Pelican Craft Centre, Harbour Road, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Racing on the old parade ground
The old parade ground of the Garrison, a horse-racing venue since the 19th century and home of the Barbados Turf Club and the Sandy Lane Gold Cup.
The Garrison, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
The city beach with shipwrecks
A wide bay of calm water and white sand on the edge of Bridgetown, with a marine park of shipwrecks to snorkel.
Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
A long town beach
A long, soft-sand beach on Bay Street at the northern end of Carlisle Bay, close to Bridgetown.
Bay Street, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
White sand by the Hilton
A white-sand beach on the south side of Carlisle Bay, with the Hilton as its backdrop and calm water for swimming and paddle-boarding.
Needham’s Point, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
A family beach north of town
A small family beach at Black Rock, just north of Bridgetown.
Black Rock, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
The home of West Indies cricket in Barbados
The island’s Test cricket ground in Bridgetown, home of Barbados cricket, which hosted the 2007 Cricket World Cup final.
Pickwick, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Racing on the Garrison Savannah
The club that runs horse racing on the Garrison Savannah, including the Sandy Lane Gold Cup, one of the Caribbean’s leading race days.
The Garrison, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Lobster and jazz on the beach
A beachfront lobster restaurant at Wesley House on Bay Street, with live jazz; the lobsters are held in tanks on Bequia before they arrive.
Wesley House, Bay Street, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
The planter’s buffet
A Bajan restaurant in an old Barbadian home just outside Bridgetown, famous for its all-you-can-eat planter’s buffet lunch.
Bay Street, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Town lunch, Bajan style
A down-to-earth lunch spot on McGregor Street in Bridgetown, known for homemade Bajan plates, rice and stews.
McGregor Street, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Coffee before the submarine
The café of Atlantis Submarines Barbados at the Shallow Draught harbour, by the departure point for the submarine dives.
The Shallow Draught, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Rum punch at Black Rock
A rum punch bar and grill on Seclusion Road in Black Rock, just north of Bridgetown.
Seclusion Road, Black Rock, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Rum where the story is told
Mount Gay’s visitor centre on the Spring Garden Highway outside Bridgetown, for tastings, cocktail workshops and a lunch-and-rum experience.
Exmouth Gap, Brandons, Spring Garden Highway, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Loungers, cabanas and the city beach
A beach club on Carlisle Bay, with loungers and cabanas, showers and lockers, a cocktail and sports bar and a beachfront restaurant.
Lower Bay Street, Bridgetown, St. Michael, Barbados BB11156Explore View on map
A beach day on Carlisle Bay
A beach bar and restaurant on Carlisle Bay, open 365 days a year, with a seaside deck, Caribbean food and beach packages.
Bay Street, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
The night club on the beach
A beach bar, night club and entertainment venue on Bay Street, on the sand of Carlisle Bay.
Marine Villa, Bay Street, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Bridgetown’s department store
The department store on Broad Street in Bridgetown, the island’s main shopping street.
Broad Street, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Fine watches and jewellery
The Caribbean watch and jewellery retailer, in the Colonnade Mall in Bridgetown.
Colonnade Mall, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Barbadian craft by the harbour
A craft centre on the Princess Alice Highway by Bridgetown’s harbour, with studios and shops of Barbadian craft and the Arts Council gallery.
Princess Alice Highway, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Bridgetown’s market
The public market at Cheapside in Bridgetown, for fruit, vegetables and local produce.
Cheapside, Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
The island’s main hospital
The island’s main public hospital in Bridgetown, with the Accident & Emergency department and the emergency ambulance service.
Bridgetown, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
The private hospital in town
A private hospital on St. Paul’s Avenue in Bayville, St. Michael.
St. Paul’s Avenue, Bayville, St. Michael, BarbadosExplore View on map
Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2011.
Yes. It curves south from the edge of the city, with beach clubs, shipwrecks to snorkel and calm water.
Been there? Share your experience and tips with other visitors.
