Bridgetown
The capital of Barbados on Carlisle Bay: an old harbour, a garrison listed by UNESCO, and the beaches of the west and south coasts on either side, twenty-five minutes from the runway.
- Arrival
- Grantley Adams International · BGI
- To the city
- About 25 minutes by car
- Private jets
- Two private terminals at BGI
- Best time
- December to June
The city
A harbour town, and two coasts.
Bridgetown stands where the Constitution River meets Carlisle Bay, on the south-west of the island. Its old centre and the Garrison to the south were inscribed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011: streets laid out in the seventeenth century, the Careenage where ships were once hauled for repair, and the parade ground of the British garrison.
From the town, the west coast runs north through Paynes Bay, Holetown and Speightstown, calm water and the island's best-known hotels; the south coast runs east past Hastings and Oistins towards the Atlantic side.
Arriving
One airport, two doors.
Grantley Adams International, in the south-east of the island, is the airport for all of Barbados, about sixteen kilometres from Bridgetown. Scheduled cabins and private aircraft share the runway and use separate terminals.
- Antigua 1 h 00
- Punta Cana 1 h 50
- Boston 4 h 45
- São Paulo 5 h 55
- Geneva 9 h 30 long-range jet
When to go
December to June.
The trade winds temper the heat all year. December to May is the dry season and the height of the year on the island; from June to November the showers are heavier and it is the Atlantic hurricane season, which Barbados, east of the usual tracks, sees less of than most of the Caribbean.
- 28° J 63 27°
- 29° F 39 26°
- 30° M 37 27°
- 30° A 45 27°
- 31° M 57 28°
- 31° J 98 28°
- 30° J 135 28°
- 31° A 154 28°
- 30° S 159 29°
- 30° O 178 29°
- 29° N 177 28°
- 29° D 96 28°
What to see and do
Days in and around Bridgetown.
-
Landmark
The Careenage
The old inner harbour in the centre of town, crossed by the Chamberlain Bridge.
-
Landmark
The Garrison
The parade ground of the British garrison, now the Savannah where the island races its horses.
-
Landmark
Carlisle Bay
The bay off the town: white sand, clear water, and old wrecks to swim over.
-
Culture
St Nicholas Abbey
A Jacobean plantation house of 1658 in St Peter, toured with its gardens, small museum, rum distillery and a tasting.
Official site -
Nature
Harrison's Cave
Crystalline limestone caverns in the central uplands, open to visitors since 1981 and seen from a tram that stops at the formations.
-
Food & wine
Mount Gay Visitor Centre
Tastings and blending sessions at the visitor centre of the Barbadian rum house, set just outside Bridgetown.
Official site -
Nature
Andromeda Botanic Gardens
Eight acres above the Atlantic at Bathsheba with more than 500 plant species, about 50 of them palms, and a banyan at the centre.
-
Racing & sport
Kensington Oval
The Pickwick Cricket Club ground on the west side of town, rebuilt for the 2007 World Cup to hold about 30,500.
-
Golf
Royal Westmoreland
An eighteen hole, par 72 course designed by Robert Trent Jones junior in St James, on the west coast above Holetown.
Official site
Where to stay
On the west coast, and along the south.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
- Sandy Lane A house of coral stone on its own bay, opened in 1961, with its golf courses on the hill behind.
- Fairmont Royal Pavilion On the beach, with every room facing the sea.
- Coral Reef Club Family owned and run, in gardens that lead down to the water.
- O2 Beach Club & Spa All-inclusive, with a pool on the roof above the beach.
- The Sandpiper A sister hotel of Coral Reef Club, run by Wayne and Karen Capaldi, with three suites up in the trees.
- Cobblers Cove An independent house of forty suites, each with a veranda facing the sea.
- Colony Club, a Luxury Collection Resort, Barbados Lagoon pools that wind through the gardens to the beach.
- The House, Barbados, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort For adults only, on the beach at Paynes Bay.
- The Crane On the cliff above Crane Beach, receiving guests since 1887.
- Sandals Royal Barbados For couples, all-inclusive, with a pool on the roof.
- Hilton Barbados Resort The closest to the town, on the point at the south end of Carlisle Bay.
Where to dine
Where the island dines.
Barbados has no MICHELIN Guide: a selection of the island's best-known tables, shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these restaurants.
- The Cliff Above the sea Fine dining $$$$ Derricks, St James
- L'Acajou At Sandy Lane Contemporary $$$$ St James
- The Tides On the water's edge Seafood $$$$ Holetown
- Lone Star On the beach European and Caribbean $$$ Mount Standfast, St James
- Champers On the water Caribbean seafood $$$ Hastings, south coast
- Buzo In Hastings Italian $$$ Hastings, south coast
- Lobster Alive On the sand Lobster $$$ Bay Street, Bridgetown
Flying to Bridgetown?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.