Lime green and tangerine-colored houses line the rolling green hills of Barbados, and as you coast up and down these windy roads, you’ll see wild sheep, friendly locals waving from their porches, and the blue Caribbean Sea with palm trees swaying along the shores below.
Barbados has those stunning white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters that you’ll only find in the Caribbean, but this island offers so much more than pretty scenery. Our communications specialist, Jolee Sullivan, fell in love with this island’s charm and its people instantly. She’s here to share why Barbados should absolutely top your list of Caribbean islands to visit.
Fantastic Food
If there’s one thing you should do on Barbados, it’s a food tour. You’ll sample fresh mango, sour ackee, and tamarind from fruit carts, the famously deep-fried fishcakes, and a whole lot of macaroni pie. We also attended the electric Chill & Grill at pureocean Restaurant, where steel pan music and a breathtaking fire dancer performance lit up the night!
Our recommendation: Lickrish Food Tours, Dina’s Bar & Cafe, and pureocean Restaurant
Nonstop Nightlife
Nearly everyone we met mentioned the Oistins Friday Night Fish Fry as the best thing to experience on Barbados. We also loved the St. Lawrence Gap for top-notch dining, rum punch, and live music. Don’t miss pureocean Restaurant’s Wednesday Chill & Grill with drink specials and a breathtaking fire dancer’s performance!
Our recommendation: Harbor Lights Barbados for delicious dinner and a show!
All the Nature You Need
Quote from a local: “We are outdoor people.”
Driving around this lush island, you’ll see miles of sugarcane fields and long stretches of beaches. Visit the Barbados Wildlife Reserve where monkeys, tortoises, and tropical birds roam freely, and sail with El Tigre Sailing & Snorkeling to swim with sea turtles and stingrays.
Venture underground at Harrison’s Cave, or stroll through Hunte’s Garden. See it all with Beautiful Barbados Tours.
Rich History & Lots of Rum
Barbados, the birthplace of rum, has a deep history with the beloved spirit, dating back to the establishment of the Mt. Gay distillery. Enjoy a rum punch anywhere, or visit St. Nicholas Abbey for a rum tasting inside a preserved 17th-century plantation with a working steam mill and tasting room.
Explore Bridgetown (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and St. John’s Church with Williams Tours Barbados to experience Barbados’ rich history and culture.
Where to Stay
Our number one bit of advice for Barbados is to stay somewhere comfy near the St. Lawrence Gap for optimal beach access and easy exploring. Save the splurge for adventures—there’s so much to see!
Our guides were happy to pick us up from and drop us back off at Divi Southwinds Beach Resort. We stayed for a week, and it wasn’t nearly enough. We can’t wait to go back!