10 BEST Things to do in Barbados

Planning a trip to beautiful Barbados? Well, first of all, we’re very jealous! We’ve visited this stunning place a few times, and we’ve fallen deeper in love with it every single time. 

And believe it or not, there are more things to do in Barbados than just lay on the beach! The island is teeming with wildlife, fantastic snorkeling locations, and some truly incredible food.

So with that in mind, we’ve put together this list of the top 10 things to do in Barbados to ensure that you enjoy a truly bucket-list-worthy vacation.

Things to do in Barbados

1. See all of Barbados on a private tour

We did this private tour on our first day in Barbados, but it’s also the perfect way for cruise passengers to see the island in just one day!

We were picked up bright and early by our guide, Yvette, whose mission for the day was to make us love the island as much as she did – and she certainly succeeded!

The best thing about this tour is that the itinerary is 100% customizable, so you can literally do whatever you want! We were keen to see Codrington College, the Cricket Legends Museum, and explore Speightstown, and Yvette made that happen for us. And after we told her that we’re big beer drinkers, she took us to the Banks Brewery, where we got to try plenty of it! 

If you book this tour, your day might look totally different than ours, but that’s the beauty of it! You can create your perfect itinerary and tick off everything that you want to see in Barbados, with a passionate local guide to help you. We also got some complimentary rum punch, which went down a treat in the Barbadian heat, I can tell you! 

We also recommend this tour because it’s run by a real “mom and pop” tour company, rather than a huge international enterprise, so it’s a fantastic local business to support.

2. Eat your way through Bridgetown 

If I’m being honest, Bailey and I didn’t know a ton about Bajan food before we visited Barbados. But after taking this food tour, we sure do now! We had so much fun exploring Bridgetown on foot with our guide, Paulette, who really showed us what Bajan hospitality is all about. 

Learning about the island’s cuisine and multitude of influences was absolutely fascinating, and we couldn’t believe how much food we got to try.

From black sugar cakes and fresh fruit to fishcakes, Bajan chicken, and macaroni pie, we got a little bit of everything! Well, more than a little bit, if I’m being totally honest. We ended up taking leftovers home!

Paulette ensured that our small tour group avoided the tourist traps and westernized restaurants, and dined like true locals. We also loved exploring the center of Bridgetown, which is actually UNESCO-listed thanks to its well-preserved colonial architecture.

This tour was definitely one of my favorite experiences in Barbados, and one that I would recommend to anyone visiting. I think this is a great tour to do early on during your time on the island. It was a great introduction to Bajan food, history, and culture, so it really set us up well for the rest of the trip.

3. Go snorkeling with turtles and a shipwreck

Snorkeling with turtles? You don’t need to ask us twice! 

We were so excited when we came across this snorkeling cruise, because not only does it offer the chance to get up close to some of nature’s most beautiful creatures, but it also allows you to go snorkeling over a shipwreck!

We had high expectations for this tour and we weren’t disappointed – in fact, it was the best thing that we have ever done in Barbados. 

There’s a 3- or 5-hour option available. We figured that for an extra $30 USD, we may as well visit an extra snorkel spot, have lunch, and get two more hours of beautiful views and unlimited drinks. It was money well spent in our opinion, and we have no regrets! 

The warm, calm waters here are super clear, so the visibility was excellent, and we spotted at least 5 turtles! We also saw tons of tropical fish and colorful coral, and we absolutely loved snorkeling around an old shipwreck.

We also have to give a big shout-out to the crew, who were just awesome. Plus, hanging out on a boat all day made for the ideal day in Barbados, fueled by lots of rum punch!

In my opinion, this tour sums up what a Barbados trip is all about, and who in their right mind would pass up the chance to go snorkeling with turtles?

4. Taste rum from the famous Mount Gay Distillery

Barbados is world famous for its rum culture, so we thought that it was only right that we dive deep into it with this guided rum tasting! Mount Gay Rum is one of – if not THE – best-known Bajan rums, and honestly, we couldn’t wait to learn more about it. 

We rocked up at the Visitor Center, which is only a 5-10 minute drive from central Bridgetown, and got a warm welcome from our host, Clarissa. We watched a short film about the history of rum in Barbados, before checking out some of the factory facilities. This isn’t a full-on distillery tour, but we definitely got a better idea of how rum is made.

Of course, the highlight of the tour was the guided rum tasting session! We got to try four of Mount Gay’s specialty rums.

This would have been fun on its own, but Clarissa gave us lots of information about each one and helped us to distinguish the different notes, so we definitely gained a much deeper appreciation for what we were drinking thanks to her. We also got some complimentary rum punch, which was absolutely delicious! 

Barbados’ rum is widely recognized as the best rum in the world, so you really can’t miss the chance to do a tasting while you’re on the island. Besides, this is a quick and fun experience that’s a stone’s throw from Bridgetown, so we found it super easy to fit into our itinerary.

5. Explore the Scotland District on an e-bike 

Barbados is known for its stunning scenery, so what better way to admire the coastline and explore those rolling hills than on this e-bike tour? Electric bikes are also a real godsend in the heat, I can tell you! 

We were picked up from our hotel in Bridgetown right on time and were driven across the island to the Scotland District. This is a quiet section of the island known for its rugged scenery and unique flora and fauna, so we were excited to explore it on two wheels!

The Scotland District is very different to the rest of the island, so it’s well worth checking out. 

Our guide, Adam, taught us a lot about the history of the area and took us to some fantastic highlights. We visited St. John’s Parish Church, which is a Gothic-style church that we definitely did not expect to find in Barbados!

Meanwhile, we loved the sweeping views of the area from Chimborazo Peak, which is one of the highest points on the island. Seeing the ruins at Hackleton’s Cliff was pretty cool, too, and naturally, we very much enjoyed stopping for a refreshing glass of rum punch! 

If truth be told, we may have struggled without the e-bike. These are the hilly highlands, after all! But since we did have the electric assistance, cycling around really couldn’t have been easier, and it was so much fun.

6. Go on a sunset catamaran cruise

If you ask me, nothing says “tropical vacation” like cruising around on a catamaran! And not only did this cruise allow us to feel like VIPs and enjoy some snorkeling, we also got to enjoy a glorious sunset from out on the water. It truly was the perfect afternoon!

We were picked up right on time from our hotel, and before we knew it, we were on the boat! We grabbed a spot on the nets and enjoyed the views, with a drink in hand, of course, and then it was time for our first snorkeling session. There was even a quick lesson for those who hadn’t done it before!

We loved swimming with turtles and a glorious array of tropical fish. The second snorkel stop was even better, as we got to explore a shipwreck! The snorkel spots were so quiet because most tours head out in the morning, so we had them all to ourselves.

We had a ton of fun in the water, but we loved our experience back on the boat just as much! There was an open bar with premium alcohol, and needless to say we took full advantage of that. There were also lots of yummy appetizers, so we certainly didn’t go hungry. 

Of course, the highlight of the tour was the sunset. The sky looked truly incredible, and enjoying it out on the water was such a special experience. We had an unforgettable afternoon in paradise, so make sure that you don’t miss out on this tour!

7. Feed monkeys at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve 

Barbados is rich in wildlife, and the green monkey is one of the island’s most famous species! As nature lovers, we wanted to guarantee a sighting of these unique primates, so we booked this tour of the Barbados Wildlife Reserve.

The best thing about this tour was that we got to visit the monkeys at feeding time, which meant we were able to enjoy up-close interaction with them. We also learned a lot about them from our guide, Charles, who taught us how the monkeys were brought over to Barbados from Africa in the 17th century.

We also got to see some baby monkeys in the arms of their mothers – how adorable is that?

There were a ton of other species in their natural habitat, including peacocks, iguanas, and tortoises. The reserve plays a really important role in the conservation of Barbados’ wildlife, so this is another great tour to support. 

We were sad to leave the reserve to be honest, but the blow was softened by the fantastic photo stops we made on the way home! We visited the north tip of the island and watched the Atlantic waves crashing against the shore, and stopped at a few very high viewpoints, from which we could see for miles on end.

Basically, if you’re hoping to spot wildlife in Barbados, this tour is a must. Spending time with the monkeys and feeding them an amazing experience that we certainly won’t forget in a hurry!

8. Visit Harrison’s Cave

Visiting Harrison’s Cave is Barbados’ ultimate eco-adventure! While the beautiful beaches above ground may be breathtaking, it’s definitely worth tearing yourself away for a few hours to check out this incredible underground cave system. 

It’s possible to do this as a private tour or join the shared version. Since we were traveling by ourselves in Barbados, we opted for the latter, but if you’re in a big group then the private experience can work out to be fantastic value for money! 

Rather than walking and crawling around, we rode through the cave system on an electric tram. Not only was it a ton of fun, it’s also great news for those with mobility issues who can’t clamber around on slippery surfaces. Instead, we were able to just sit back and enjoy the ride. 

We were blown away by the unusual beauty of Harrison’s Cave. From the stalactites and stalagmites to the waterfalls within the cave, it felt like we were cruising through a totally different world.

My favorite part was when we passed a natural pool, and the light filtering through a nearby hole was creating rainbows inside of the cave. It was incredible!

Before we first visited Barbados, we had heard that Harrison’s Cave is a must-see attraction. Now, we totally understand why! We’ve visited plenty of caves before, but this one is up there with the most impressive that we’ve seen, and riding through on an electric tram was certainly a novel experience.

9. Go on a submarine ride in the Caribbean Sea

Honestly, this submarine tour has to be one of the most unique experiences we’ve ever come across! Very few people ever get to ride in a submarine, so we just had to snap up this opportunity. 

The experience was just incredible. We reached 150 feet (45 meters) underwater, and the visibility was excellent. We got to see tropical fish, brightly colored coral reefs, and a shipwreck through the windows, which was incredible. It really was like Finding Nemo down there!

Our co-pilot taught us a ton about what we saw, which made it all even more interesting! In fact, all of the crew were so friendly and welcoming. They made us laugh and even played some fun music along the way. 

This was a real standout experience for us – after all, it’s not every day that you get to ride in a submarine. Normally, you would only be able to explore this deep underwater by scuba diving. For that reason, we think that this tour is an especially great choice for those who don’t have their PADI certifications, or families with kids who are too young to dive. 

If you’re looking for a bucket list experience in Barbados, this really is it. The marine life is mesmerizing, and honestly, we just love being able to say that we’ve been on a submarine now! 

10. Get off the beaten path in Barbados

We love getting off the beaten path, so this adventure safari just called out to us! Barbados is full of upscale resorts, but we wanted to get away from the tourist area and see a more raw and rugged side to the island, and this tour definitely delivered on that front. 

We were picked up from our hotel nice and early, but the adventure truly began when we hopped into our overland vehicle and headed off along barely-there dirt tracks and rugged roads. We began at Gun Hill and then enjoyed insane views at Edgecliff, before visiting the fishing village of Bathsheba, which is known for its rugged and dramatic rock formations. 

Along the way, we saw plenty of wildlife in the rainforest, an eerie abandoned windmill, and even a stray lion statue. One of my favorite spots was Little Bay, where we saw ocean water spouting out of blowholes, which was pretty incredible. Oh yes, we definitely got off the beaten tourist track with this tour! 

Then, after our wild adventure wrapped up, we ended on a sophisticated note with lunch at the Sugar Cane Club Hotel & Spa, which is a very elegant, colonial-style resort. 

Basically, if you’re looking to get off the beaten track and see a more raw and rugged side of Barbados, then don’t hesitate to book this tour. It’s ideal for adventurous travelers, and great value for money considering it’s a full-day tour with a fancy lunch included! 

Related Read: Ready to turn these ideas into a full trip? Check out our 5-day Barbados itinerary here to see how to fit it all in!

Where to Stay in Barbados

Barbados might be a small island, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have your top picks of places to stay! Prices tend to fluctuate during the high season, about October to April, and hotels are known to book up quickly, so don’t wait to reserve your stay.

Here are three great options for a luxury, mid-range, or budget stay:

Luxury – $$$

If you’re thinking of a luxury resort for your Barbados vacation, the Beach View Hotel is my top pick! Located on the West Coast, it has some of the top restaurants and nightlife. You can book standard hotel rooms, suites, or villas, and each is equipped with all the amenities you’ll need for a relaxing stay. There are four onsite pools or you’re a short drive to Payne’s Bay Beach.

It’s required to book three nights here, and prices start at around $350 to $450 USD. Check availability and book this stay on Booking.com.

Mid-range – $$

The Palms Resort is a lovely resort at a mid-budget price point. It’s a short walk to Shady Lane Beach, or you can enjoy the onsite pool. They offer suite style rooms or one and two bedroom apartments that are modern and make for a very comfortable stay! They require a minimum stay of 2 nights. 

Prices start from $150 to $300 USD depending on the time of year. Check prices and book this stay on Booking.com.

Budget – $

The Monteray Hotel is located in the lively Dover Beach area and is a short walk to the beach itself! This is a budget condo hotel, so while it’s not the most luxurious accommodation, it is clean and provides a comfortable stay. They offer suites or apartment style rooms, some with balconies, garden views, or pool views. 

They require a minimum of a 2- night stay and prices average around $166 USD per night. Book this stay on Booking.com!

Thanks for reading!

We loved visiting Barbados – it was truly the paradise we were looking for! Even if you only check off a few items on this list, I know you’ll fall in love with this beautiful island, the food, and friendly locals. We are already looking forward to our next visit!

If you found this blog helpful, be sure to check out our other travel guides! We’ve been all over the world and love sharing our favorite places and experiences. I’ll leave a few related reads below to inspire your travels and help you plan your next adventure!

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