The magazine
Stories from Barbados
Every story, long read and guide in the ULTIMATE Barbados Island Guide, in one place.
Start here
Start here: planning your Barbados trip
New to Barbados? Begin with the essentials: the arrival form, money and driving on the left, the buses and ZRs, and five days from the west coast to a Friday at Oistins. Then choose your coast.
PlanBefore you goArrival form, money and driving
Getting aroundBuses, ZRs and taxisAnd driving on the left
ItineraryFive days in BarbadosWest, east and a Friday at OistinsHistory
History & heritage
The first Barbadians, English settlement in 1627, the sugar revolution and slavery, emancipation, independence in 1966 and the republic of 2021: Barbados’ heritage.
History & heritageHoletown, sugar and emancipation: how Barbados became a republicAmerindians, sugar, freedom and a republic
The back storyBarbados Art, Architecture & CultureIn Barbados the past is close at hand: a short drive takes you from a…In depth
Dig deeper: the back stories
Our in-depth guides to Sandy Lane, rum, Crop Over, Bridgetown’s UNESCO story, golf and diving.
Queen’s Park, BridgetownA Bajan ChristmasChristmas morning in the park, then great cake and jug-jug
In depth: nature & wildlifeWild BarbadosSea turtles, green monkeys and the gullies
RumRum in BarbadosMount Gay, St Nicholas Abbey and FoursquareCrop Over
Walk UNESCO-listed Bridgetown and the Garrison Savannah, visit St Nicholas Abbey and a rum distillery, and time a trip for Crop Over in July and August.
Our advice
Bridgetown on foot
Spend a morning in Bridgetown on foot, from Parliament to the Synagogue, and an afternoon at the Garrison, ending with a swim at Carlisle Bay. The back story
Areas
Barbados area by area
From the calm west to the wild Atlantic east: Holetown and the Platinum West Coast, UNESCO Bridgetown, Speightstown, the south coast at Oistins and Bathsheba’s Atlantic shore.
Area guideHoletown & the Platinum West CoastSandy Lane, Holetown and Limegrove
Area guideBridgetown & the GarrisonThe UNESCO capital and Carlisle Bay
Area guideSpeightstown & the northLittle Bristol, rum and wild coasts
Area guideThe south coastHastings, the Gap and Oistins
Area guideThe east coastBathsheba, gardens and the AtlanticThe north
Keep a day for the north, with Speightstown and St Nicholas Abbey.