Travel and Tourism Information

Travel - International

AIR

Barbados does not have a national airline. Barbados is served by a number of international airlines including Air Canada, Air Jamaica, American Airlines, British Airways, BWIA, Canadian Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. BWIA, Caribbean Star and LIAT run flights to most of the neighbouring islands.

International Airports

Barbados (BGI) (Grantley Adams International) is 13km (8 miles) southeast of Bridgetown, in Christ Church. To/from the airport: There is a regular bus service to the city (travel time – 45 minutes) which departs every 10 minutes, and a 24-hour taxi service (travel time – 30 minutes). Please note that airport porters are ubiquitous and charge Bd$1 for transporting luggage between the luggage claim area and the street. Facilities: Bank, post office, bureaux de change, bar, shops and restaurant. The outgoing duty free shop carries a range of items including jewellery, perfumes, china, crystal, cameras, shoes and clothing. The official opening of the grand new arrivals terminal took place in October 2005. The expanded terminal is twice the size of its predecessor (over 70,000 sq ft, of space. Four new jet boarding bridges, a new diplomatic lounge, an extension to the existing departure area have been given the green light by the Government. Other expansion plans include the construction of a multi-storey car park, a fully functional airport hotel and an aviation museum.

SEA

The Main ports: Barbados, which has a deep-water harbour at Bridgetown, is a port of call for a number of British, European and US cruise lines (website: http://www.barbadosport.com). The Bridgetown Cruise Ship Terminal is a multi-purpose marketplace containing duty free shops, a local goods market, restaurant and bar, customs, immigration, health services and police facilities. Other services include a bureau de change, car hire, ATM and a communications centre with telephones, fax machines and mobile phone hire. There is a small departure tax.

Travel - Internal

AIR

There are no internal services.

ROAD

Barbados has a good network of roads which covers the entire island, but there are many potholes (except on the main highway) on the roads and care should be taken. In rural areas, roads are often narrow, unlit or lack sufficient grip. Driving time to the east coast from Bridgetown has been greatly reduced following the completion of the trans-insular highway. Traffic drives on the left. Speed limits are posted in kilometres per hour (40, 60 and 80 kph maximum) and are lower than in the UK. The road journey from Bridgetown to Speightstown takes about 30 minutes and to Holetown or Oistins about 20 minutes. Bus: Buses are frequent and provide comprehensive coverage of the island at a flat rate of approximately Bds$1.50 for all journeys. Although cheap, buses are crowded during the rush hours. All buses terminate at Speightstown. Mini vans: Licensed mini vans, identifiable by their ‘ZR’ licence plate, operate around the island and can be flagged down by tourists and locals. There are no fixed schedules, but service is frequent. Rates are the same as for buses, but mini-vans are usually quicker and not for the faint-hearted. Taxi: Taxis do not have meters but fares are regulated by the Government. Listings are available from the Tourist Office. It is advised to check the fare before travel. The fare can usually be paid in US dollars (fixed exchange rate: Bd$2 - US$1) as well as in Barbados dollars. Car hire: Anything from a mini-moke to a limousine may be hired at the airport, at offices in Bridgetown and at main hotels. Petrol is comparatively cheap. Cars may be hired by the hour, day or week. Cars can be booked by calling a car hire agency, which will then send a car over to the applicant's hotel. Courtesy Car Rentals is the only car hire agency situated at the airport, and is located in the Arrivals Hall. Documentation: A Barbados driving permit is required. This can be obtained from car hire companies, the Ministry of Transport (Mon-Fri 0830-1430), the airport (every day 0800-2200) or police stations in Hastings, Worthing and Holetown. There is a registration fee of Bd$10. A valid national licence or an International Driving Permit should also be held.

URBAN

Bridgetown has a local bus network and taxis are available.

Resorts & Excursions

The dramatic differences between the east and west coast must not be missed. The east (Atlantic side) is less developed and ruggedly beautiful. The west coast is the Caribbean side, where there is more hotel development, but the coastline remains elegant and attractive. The sea is calm and clear and this is the coast where watersports come into their own. Barbados is actively promoting ecotourism. The Barbados National Trust has implemented programmes to support this venture. Various hiking, cycling and walking events are available and information can be obtained from the Barbados National Trust, Wildey House, Wildey, St Michael, Barbados (tel: 436 9033 or 426 2421; fax: 429 9055; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; website: http://trust.funbarbados.com)
Bridgetown: The island was discovered by the Portuguese in 1536, but throughout its colonial history, which ended with the Declaration of Independence in 1966, Barbados was under British sovereignty. This is strongly reflected in the old capital of Bridgetown which has a decidedly English character; so much so that there is even a miniature of London's Trafalgar Square, complete with a statue of Lord Nelson. The city is small and there are many excellent walking tours. Places worth a visit include the Fairchild Market, St Michael's Cathedral (built in 1789), Belleville, Government House, the Barbados Museum, the Old Synagogue and the Garrison Savannah. Temple Yard has a Rastafarian street market
St John: There is a breathtaking view of the east coast from St John's Parish Church. The church's cemetery contains the grave of Ferdinando Paleologus, a possible descendant of the Byzantine Emperors.
Codrington College: Situated near Consett Bay, and one of the oldest schools of theology in the Western hemisphere, built in 1745.
Morgan Lewis Mill: Also in the east, this is a splendid example of a Dutch windmill from the days of the sugar cane planters. It has been completely restored and is open to the public.
Newcastle Coral Stone Gates: Situated in St Joseph, these gates were erected by 20th Century Fox for the film Island in the Sun, and the area affords a commanding view of the magnificent east coast beaches.
The East Coast Road: One of the most exciting drives on the island, with the Atlantic crashing over treacherous reefs on to the rugged and beautiful coast.
Andromeda Gardens: The array of exotic plants grown along terraced gardens make this the prettiest area of St Joseph.
Welchman Hall Gully: Owned by the National Trust, this botanic garden in St Thomas is home to many rare fruit and spice trees.
Holetown (St James): The monument in the town gives the date of the founding of Barbados' first settlement by the English as being 1605, although this event in fact took place in 1627. There are still a few structures dating from that time. St James, the first church, still retains a 17th-century font, and a bell inscribed 'God bless King William, 1696'.
Harrison's Cave (St Thomas): This eerie, luminous cavern makes a spectacular excursion. Completely lit, one can see every part from a special train which takes the visitor on a mile-long ride underground. It is open every day 0900-1600.
Flower Forest: A 50-acre botanical garden in which can be found almost every plant that grows on Barbados. The grounds offer pleasant walks and spectacular views of Chalky Mountain, the Atlantic Ocean and Mount Hillaby.
Bathsheba: Small pastel-coloured houses cling to the chalky cliffs that rise above the Atlantic.
Potteries: This village is famous for its ceramic artworks.
Gun Hill Signal Station: Notable both for its splendid view of St George's Valley and for the lion carved out of a rock by a British soldier in the days when Gun Hill was an army look-out point.
St George's Church: 18th-century, and worth a visit for its wonderful altarpiece.
Platinum Coast: This beautiful stretch of coast is also known as Millionaires Row. There are fine beaches of white sand and clear, turquoise waters.
Speightstown: Typical West Indian village, with attractive wooden houses, shops and old churches.
Animal Flower Cave: A cavern carved out by the sea with coral rock tinted almost every imaginable colour.
Farley Hill: Once a fine plantation house, now in ruins, still covered in hibiscus and poinsettias.
St Nicholas Abbey: Another plantation house, graced with Persian arches and well-kept gardens.
The Atlantic Coast: Take the inland road through sugar-cane country with little churches and tiny towns with pretty houses. See the dramatic view from Crane Beach.
Sam Lord's Castle: Once an old plantation house, but now a hotel, beautifully decorated with furniture made from Barbados mahogany.
Barbados Wildlife Reserve: Wildlife, some indigenous and some introduced to the island, roams free in a mahogany forest. Animals that visitors may expect to see during their visit include green monkeys, tortoises, deer, wallabies, pelicans and otters. There is also a screened aviary where peacocks, turkeys, toucans, macaws, lovebirds, parrots and an iguana may be viewed.