Things To Do in Barbados

Excursions and Tour Operators – Things To Do in Barbados

For Barbados tour operators offering island tours to see colourful manicured gardens, green monkeys, historic sites and spectacular east coast views, as well as ocean tours and much more, follow the links below:

Popular Barbados Excursions and Tourist Attractions – Nature and Wildlife Inspired Gardens and Reserves:

Barbados Wildlife Reserve – Wander around an old-growth mahogany forest while spotting a variety of animals including turtles, monkeys and tiny deer. Also, check out the bird and iguana sanctuaries. The reserve also encompasses the Grenade Hall Signal Station – A forested area with interesting artifacts and hiking trails. Located inland at the northern end of Barbados.
Welchman Hall Gully – A unique sunken cave system provides a rich environment for a large variety of exotic tropical plants and trees. The gully is also home to a large troop of wild green monkeys. For a more detailed and colourful review, check out our Welchman Hall Gully blog post. Located near the centre of the island.
Hunte’s Gardens – Enjoy a spectacular tropical garden situated in a historic plantation while listening to classical music. Located near the centre of the island.
The Flower Forest Garden – This 53 acre Nature Reserve in the Scotland District displays rare and exotic tropical blooms and foliage along with panoramic views of the island’s ruggedly beautiful east coast. Located near the centre of Barbados.
Coco Hill Forest – A lush and hilly 53-acre rainforest and farm filled with tropical flora and scenic look-outs of the east coast. Easy “Green Therapy” hiking trails can be enjoyed on your own or as part of a guided tour. Located near the centre of the island.
PEG Farm and Nature Reserve – Enjoy breathtaking views from Hackleton’s cliff. The farm is all about People, Environment and Growth, where they offer an Eco Tour that highlights agricultural and natural sites on the property. Located near the centre of Barbados close to the east coast.
Andromeda Botanic Gardens – A manicured landscape in the seaside area of Bathsheba, featuring a variety of plants from around the world. Centrally located near on the east coast.

Popular Barbados Excursions and Tourist Attractions – Cultural and Heritage Landmarks:

Historic Bridgetown – Barbados’ capital city is home to the Garrison (and Garrison Tunnels), a Unesco World Heritage Site as well as the country’s Parliament Buildings, a number of museums, George Washington House and the Mount Gay Visitor Centre. Located on the south-west coast of the island.
St. Nicholas Abbey – The plantation features one of only two surviving 17th-century Jacobian Great Houses in the Caribbean, a working rum distillery, including an old steam mill and modern hybrid pot/column still, as well as a newly restored/built Heritage Railway system. Tours include a short film from the 1930s, a train ride around the plantation to Cherry Tree Hill, as well as a sampling of rum. For a more detailed and colourful review, take a look at our St. Nicholas Abbey Blog post. Located at the northeast end of Barbados.
St. John’s Parish Church – With origins in the 17th century, the remarkable 19th-century Gothic church provides spectacular picturesque views of the east coast. The intriguing cemetery is home to the last Christian Emperor of Constantinople (Paleologus’ tomb). Located near the east coast of the island.
Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill – This Barbados National Trust site features the largest and only intact 18th-century windmill in the Caribbean! Located at the northeast end of the island.
Farley Hill – This small Barbados National Park is home to the ruins of an impressive 19th-century mansion on a hillside that provides stunning views of the hilly Scottish District and gorgeous east coastline. Located inland at the northern end of Barbados.
Sunbury Plantation Great House – A stunning 17th century restored Caribbean home featuring a large ‘set’ dining room, local prints and more… Located at the southeast end of Barbados.

Popular Barbados Excursions and Tourist Attractions – Relaxing Places with Spectacular Views:

Cherry Tree Hill – The second-highest point on Barbados provides breathtaking views of the rugged hills and ridges of the island’s ‘Scottish Highlands’ district as well as the wild shoreline of the east coast. Located at the northeast end of the island.
Bathsheba – A quiet seaside village with its boulder-strewn beach and dangerous-looking coral formations close to shore offer a uniquely different view of Barbados than the touristy west and southwest coasts. Centrally located on the east coast of the island.
Gun Hill Signal Station – The site of a 19th-century outpost provides one of the most spectacular panoramic views of the island and surrounding southern seas. Located in the south-central part of Barbados.
Ragged Point Lighthouse – This 19th-century structure located on the southeastern corner of the island over-looks the rough Atlantic Ocean from its unique vantage point.
Cove Bay – A rocky landscape provides amazing southernly views of the east coast, including Bathseba and dramatic Chalky Mount. Located on the east coast near the north end of the island.
The Richard Haynes Boardwalk – Three miles (5km) south of Bridgetown, this wooden boardwalk hugs the coast for over half a mile (1km) between Rockley Beach and Hastings beach. Located on the southwest coast of Barbados.

Other Popular Barbados Excursions and Tourist Attractions Include:

Pelican Village Craft Centre – Located in the southwest corner of Bridgetown, the large arts & crafts market is home to 25 workshops and stores.
Earthworks Pottery – Barbadian master potters produce a large variety of ‘made to be used’ ware. Located centrally near the west coast.
The St. Lawrence Gap – Located on the west side of the south coast, this area is known for its collection of bars, clubs and restaurants. This is the Barbados hotspot for music-filled nightlife. There is also a wide variety of street food and arts & crafts available from local street vendors.
Bushy Park Racing Circuit – The leading circuit racing facility in the English-speaking Caribbean offers Go-karting, the Suzuki Swift Experience, the Radical SR3 Experience as well as off-road karting. Located in the southeast corner of the island.
The Mount Gay Rum Distillery offers some great tours – For more information, check out our Mount Gay Distillery Experience Blog post.
The Garrison Savannah – At the south end of Bridgetown is the historic horse racing track.
Barbados Caves are a very popular tourist attraction. The island’s coral and limestone geology provide large natural caverns with underground streams and more. Check out Harrison’s Cave, The Animal Flower Cave and Coles Cave on our Barbados Caving Page.

Looking for Nature?

Turner Hall Woods – This 50 acre Nature Reserve is probably the wildest area left in Barbados. This heavily wooded reserve contains diverse flora and fauna, including wild monkeys as well as hiking trails. Located in the north-central part of the island.
Chancery Lane Swamp – This protected seasonal wetlands area is home to Pelicans, Heron and Frigate Birds. Dozens of migratory shorebirds can also be spotted there. Located at the southern tip of the island.
Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge – A good location to spot more than a dozen species of shorebirds and waterbirds. Located at the southern end of Barbados.
Folkestone Marine Park – Located on the west coast of Barbados, a series of large flat reefs are situated within protected buoys. Tropical fish and vibrant marine life can be accessed easily from shore. The Park also includes an Information Centre and Museum.
Carlisle Bay Marine Park – The waters just offshore from one of the Caribbean’s most famous beaches is home to half a dozen shipwrecks, and other boat remnants, in water as shallow as 12 feet (4m). There’s also plenty of tropical fish and other marine life, including large numbers of turtles and several rays skimming the sea floor.
Nice little greenspaces in Barbados includes Queen’s Park in Bridgetown as well as Barclays Park and Bathsheba Park on the island’s east coast.

For our “Best of” overview of ‘things to do’ on the Island, click on our Top 7 Barbados Attractions blog

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Of course, there’s always the beaches… Barbados is famous for its soft white sand beaches along the west and southwest coasts. The south coast also has amazing beaches along with an active watersport community, while the rugged east coast beaches are famous for its views and world-class surfing!

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