Bridgetown
is the Caribbean in motion
Welcome to Bridgetown
Wandering bustling Bridgetown, with its many sights and old colonial buildings, can easily occupy a day. There is good shopping, especially along Broad St and on pedestrian-only Swan St, which buzzes with the rhythms of local culture. The entire downtown area and south to the Garrison was named a Unesco World Heritage site in 2012 for its historical significance.
Top experiences in Bridgetown
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We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
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Bridgetown activities
Barbados Catamaran Snorkeling Cruise
After hotel pickup, head to the marina in Bridgetown to board your catamaran, El Tigre, a 60-foot-long (18-meter) and 24-foot-wide (7-meter) schooner that’s big enough to carry 50 passengers but is limited to 36 per cruise to provide more space. The boat offers both shady and uncovered areas so you can choose to sit wherever you’ll be more comfortable. Pull out of the marina and head along the west coast of Barbados, enjoying the sea breeze on your face and admiring the picturesque coastline. While you sail, just relax, sipping a cup of coffee or a glass of juice, rum punch or beer, and enjoy a slice of coconut bread.Make your way to your first snorkeling spot, where you should be able to see sea turtles. Spend 45 minutes snorkeling, and then hop back on board the boat to sail to your second snorkeling location, a shipwreck that has become a habitat for many tropical fish. You have another 45 minutes to snorkel here.If you’ve chosen the 3-hour option, you’ll then be dropped off at a west coast beach, where your cruise ends. Your transportation will be waiting for you at this beach to return to your hotel.If you’ve selected the 5-hour option, continue along the west coast to a third location, where you’ll stop to enjoy lunch on board the boat. Then hop in the water to cool off, swimming up to the nearby beach, if you wish, for a stroll along the sand. Back on board, enjoy a cocktail and listen to soca — a style of Caribbean calypso music — while the boat returns you to the marina in Bridgetown, where your cruise ends.Unlimited drinks (soda, beer and rum punch) are provided on both cruise options.
Best of Barbados Tour
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Harrison's Cave, Saint Thomas Parish, BarbadosThe spectacular HARRISON'S CAVE in Barbados is geographically located in the centre of the island, a natural phenomenon unique to the tropical world. Specially designed transport takes you down through the underground tunnels to a sight so beautiful, that few can compare. In the specially lighted caverns at Harrison's Cave, view the majestic stalactites and stalagmites which have been growing from the floors and ceilings for many centuries. Cascading through the caves, the crystal blue waters form magnificent pools and waterfalls, filling the senses with sights and sounds of such pure wonder.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Welchman Hall Gully, Saint Thomas Parish, BarbadosWelchman Hall Gully is located in the center of Barbados. This tropical hideaway is home to wild monkeys, majestic rainforest trees and delicate native plants.Walk along its shaded path. See Barbados as it appeared to the first settlers.Enjoy a spectacular view of the east coast and marvel at the abundance of life tucked away inside this collapsed cave.Watch monkeys feed on a specially built platform, swing from vines and groom each other in the trees.The gully and its occupants have fascinated tourists for hundreds of years.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown, Saint Michael Parish, BarbadosCarlisle Bay is named after the Earl of Carlisle who stole Barbados away from Sir William Courteen in the Great Barbados Robbery.Today Carlisle Bay has the whitest sand in Barbados & the mostbrilliant turquoise sea.The Carlisle Bay Marine Park has 6 shipwrecks in close proximity. The great diversity of brilliantly coloured marine life include, turtles, star fish, sand dollars, rays and more. You wil be visiting Copacabana on Carlisle Bay and joining Tranquility Cruises for a Turtle & Shipwreck Adventure in carlisle BayDuration: 2 hours 30 minutesStop At: Copacabana Beach ClubCopacabana Beach Club is a great beach club located on the beautiful Carlisle Bay. This is where you will have lunch on your tour before you board Tranquility Cruises for your Turtle & Shipwreck Snorkel AdventureDuration: 1 hourStop At: Tranquility Cruises, Bridgetown, Saint Michael Parish, BarbadosJoin us aboard Tranquility Cruises The boat has 2 washrooms on board, a bar and an upper and lower deck with lots of seating. There is a glass bottom area for those who prefer to stay on board and enjoy the sights bellow. Tranquility is also equipped with life vest, snorkel and mask for those who wish to get wet and explore a shipwreck or swim with turtles and fish. An extra treat for kids on board is the boats waterslide.Our Turtle and Shipwreck Cruise is 1 hour and 30 minutes long. On most days Carlisle Bay boasts calm turquoise waters with no undertow, delicately lapping on the soft white sand. This bay draws both locals and tourists alike with its breath-taking beauty above water, but also its’ thriving marine park that is enjoyed by scuba divers and snorkelers alike. Under the surface of the sea Carlisle Bay comes alive with vibrant tropical fish in abundance, sea horses, sea turtles, octopus, rays, and much more! This unique array of marine life is due in part to the six different ship wrecks in the water as shallow as 12ft. The wrecks are obviously another important contributor to the popularity of Carlisle Bay. For those seeking an adventure, you will not be disappointed with the sight of these sunken treasures.Please note that the sea life seen from day to day varies.Duration: 1 hour 30 minutesPass By: Glory Tours, Bridgetown, Saint Michael Parish, BarbadosTour operator
Beautiful Coastal Sightseeing Tour of Barbados
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Barbados Garrison, Bridgetown, Saint Michael Parish, BarbadosThe Garrison Historic Area From 1655 large fleets of British ships and soldiers were visiting and Barbados making it there base of operation. In the early years there were no barracks for them or provisions, the care and expense of the officers fell in the hands of Barbadians themselves. After repeated visits this became quite burdensome especially considering it was at a time when the island was quite impoverished. The legislature of Barbados was moved to petition the British government for a permanent garrison to be built on the island. It was not until 1780 that it was finally decided by the British Government to station a permanent garrison on the island. It was eventually decided that the Garrisons should be built near Charles Fort and St Anne’s Castle. 16 acres were purchased in 1789 and construction began by the early 19th century most of the buildings had been completed and had grown to cover 64 acres. The Garrison in Barbados is in fact the largest in the Caribbean.Many of the buildings were constructed of London brick brought out as ballast in ships which returned with sugar. Some 60 of the original buildings are still in existence today. The Savannah of itself was a very rocky area where many crabs lived. It had to be filled in and leveled for the troops to practice on. It was also the birthplace of cricket in Barbados and today serves as the islands racetrack.On November 30th 1966 Barbados was led into Independence by the then Premier Errol Walton Barrow, officially celebrating the achievement of nationhood as a sovereign and independent state within the CommonwealthDuration: 10 minutesStop At: Enterprise (Miami) Beach, Oistins, Christ Church Parish, BarbadosMiami Beach, Barbados, near the town of Oistins, is a popular sandy beach in Barbados. It is located on the south coast of the island, with usually calm waters and brilliant sunset views. On its north side is Enterprise Beach, a much more sheltered bay popular with families.Duration: 20 minutesStop At: Foul Bay, Saint Philip Parish, BarbadosSome say the name “Foul Bay” was given to this beautiful beach because up to the mid-1950s fishermen used to sell their catch on Foul Bay Beach. The fish was de-scaled and gutted on the spot. The smell was foul, hence the name. Others say Foul Bay it is an adaptation of the original name Fowl Bay which itself originated from the large number of migrating birds that once nested in a swamp located in the area.Foul Bay was the location where the famous Harp Gun was off loaded from a ship and then transported to its location at Paragon. Train tracks were laid to aid in transporting the gunDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Bathsheba Beach, Bathsheba, Saint Joseph Parish, BarbadosBathsheba is located on the Eastern coastline of Barbados. It is said that this area was named after the wife of King David whose name was “Bathsheba”. Legend has it that she bathed in milk to keep her skin beautiful and soft, and the rolling surf waters of Bathsheba’s “Soup Bowl” resembled Bathsheba’s bath. The area is popular with surfers. It is a popular area for locals and visitors alike and is dotted with several seaside cottages.Duration: 20 minutesStop At: Codrington College, Saint John Parish, BarbadosChristopher Codrington III (1668-1710), was the son the Governor General of the Leeward Islands. He spent most of his boyhood at Consetts, the site of the present College. Christopher Codrington III went to England where studied at Oxford University. He served in the Army for sometime before returning to the Leeward Islands to succeed his father as Governor General. His policy of helping the poor whites and slaves brought him into disfavor of the plantocracy. Consequently, he gave up the position of Governor and retired at Consetts in St John. Christopher Codrington III, died on Good Friday 1710. In his will he had left to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel the estates at Society and Consetts. One of his instructions was that his finances were to be used to fund a number of professors who were to teach medicine, surgery and divinity. Codrington's desire to Christianize the slaves was rejected by the Barbadian plantocracy, who opposed teaching the slaves how to read and write. It was only in 1790 when the anti-slavery movement in England exerted pressure on the Anglican Church and the SPG that this began to change. The construction of the College got under way in 1715. Economic depression, drought and other difficulties having caused further delays, the College was officially opened in 1745 The College served to prepare young Barbadians for entry into the two Universities in England - Oxford and Cambridge. Later on the College began to offer tertiary education, and was affiliated to the University of Durham It was in 1830 that the College began training candidates exclusively for ordination. The college has been damaged by hurricanes and fires that left only the walls of some buildings standing. It has closed repaired and reopened several times throughout the years.Today Codington College offers strictly theological studies. Duration: 25 minutesStop At: St. John's Parish Church, Saint John Parish, BarbadosAccording to the Anglican tradition, worship has been conducted on this spot since 1645. The first building, a wooden structure, was destroyed by fire in 1676 and replaced by a stone structure. Following the hurricanes of 1780 and 1831, the current building was constructed in 1836.Fernando Paleologus,a former church warden and planter was buried under the choir when he died in 1670. He was buried with his head pointing to the west and the body embedded in quicklime in accordance with the Greek Orthodox custom. Following the hurricane of 1831 his tomb was moved to the churchyard. Paleologus was a descendent of the brother of the great Emperor Constantine XI He fled to Barbados after his family was driven from the throne of Constantinople by the TurksDuration: 25 minutesStop At: Animal Flower Cave, Saint Lucy Parish, BarbadosWe visit North Point Barbados for the great views and a great Lunch at the Cave Restaurant. The Animal Flower Cave is also located at North Point But the entrance fees to the cave are not included in this tour the lunch however is. Dutring the Months of Dec to April Humpback whales migrate through the Caribbean. North Point is one of the popular viewing sights. Duration: 1 hourPass By: Speightstown PierThe town was at one point called Little Bristol because of it's trading links with Bristol England Larger ships always sailed into Speightstown because they could not get into Bridgetown until the deepwater harbor was constructed. They would load their cargo on to smaller ships that would then deliver to Bridgetown.Sprightstown is also the port that many slaves in the triangular slave trade first sailed into. Arlington House now serves as a museum but was once a make shift clinic for slaves who often arrived on the island ill due to the horrid conditions they endured on the Atlantic crossingJust North of Speightstown is Almond Hotel. This was once the Heywood’s sugar Plantation and was one of the locations used in the filming of the Tamarind Seed with Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif. Another was the old Paradise Hotel Pass By: Holetown Beach, Holetown, Saint James Parish, BarbadosHoletown is the site of the first British settlement on the island. On May the 14th 1626 Captain John Powell was the first Englishman to encounter Barbados. He along with his crew was in fact on their way from Brazil when the trade winds blew their ship the "Olive Blossom" into Barbados. On arrival to the Island, The Captain sent some men to the shore. They wrote the words James K of E on a tree and named the area James's town (Jamestown). Today Jamestown is called Holetown because the river outlet in the area reminded them of an area called "The Hole" in the Thames River in England.It was said that the first institution the English established in a new colony was a drinking house. The Spaniards and Church and the Dutch a fort. In Holetown there are two historic ChurchesPass By: Lord Nelson StatueAdmiral Nelson Statue In 1803 war broke out with the French and Spanish siding together against Britain. Admiral Nelson was seen as a savior at this time. After a dramatic announcement of the Trafalgar victory and news of his death reached the island A bronze statue of Nelson was erected in the area then renamed Trafalgar square. This statue is older than the one of Nelson in Trafalgar square in the UK Pass By: Glory Tours, Bridgetown, Saint Michael Parish, BarbadosTour Operator
Barbados Shore Excursion: Barbados Beach Day
Copacabana Barbados is located on the northern end of Carlisle Bay , just a short walk away from the island's capital of Bridgetown. Upon arrival at Copacabana Barbados you will be presented with a welcome drink and ushered to your very own place in paradise, complete with a beach lounger and shared umbrella. Copacabana has several bars available to enable quick and hospitable service. There is a onsite watersports center with several non moterized watersport rentals available and Snorkel excursions via Tranquility Cruises are also sold from this location There are two departures from the Bridgetown cruise ship port: 8:35am and 11:30am. Several return times are also available 12:30pm 1:30pm 2:30pm and 3:30pm.
Bridgetown Highlights Tour: Harrison's Cave, Bathsheba Beach
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Harrison's Cave, Saint Thomas Parish, BarbadosThe spectacular HARRISON'S CAVE in Barbados is geographically located in the centre of the island, a natural phenomenon unique to the tropical world. Specially designed transport takes you down through the underground tunnels to a sight so beautiful, that few can compare. In the specially lighted caverns at Harrison's Cave, view the majestic stalactites and stalagmites which have been growing from the floors and ceilings for many centuries. Cascading through the caves, the crystal blue waters form magnificent pools and waterfalls, filling the senses with sights and sounds of such pure wonder.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Bathsheba Beach, Bathsheba, Saint Joseph Parish, BarbadosBathsheba is located on the Eastern coastline of Barbados. It is said that this area was named after the wife of King David whose name was “Bathsheba”. Legend has it that she bathed in milk to keep her skin beautiful and soft, and the rolling surf waters of Bathsheba’s “Soup Bowl” resembled Bathsheba’s bath. The area is popular with surfers. It is a popular area for locals and visitors alike and is dotted with several seaside cottages.Duration: 20 minutesStop At: Chill 'n BreezeEnjoy Lunch at the seaside at Chill’n Breeze located in Barclays ParkBarclays Park, a 50-acre park climbing up a hillside on the east coast of the island, was opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1966 - the year of Barbados' independence..Barclays Park overlooks the very scenic Cattlewash area, where the Atlantic waves pound the shores. It's a lovely spot to enjoy the spectacular views and refreshing island breezes. There are plenty of picnic benches, shaded by lovely Casuarina trees.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Cherry Tree Hill, BarbadosCherry Tree Hill is eight hundred and fifty (850) ft above sea level and is a part of St. Nicholas Abbey plantation. Actually due to the size of the St. Nicholas Abbey property, Cherry Tree Hill actually borders, St.Peter and St. Andrew. Many years ago, the drive on either side to get to it was flanked by cherry trees, thus the reason for its name; however these were replaced with mahogany trees which now line the road. The trees were planted in celebration of the signing of The Treaty of Paris in 1763Duration: 15 minutesStop At: St. Nicholas Abbey, Saint Peter Parish, BarbadosSt Nicholas Abbey is located in Saint Peter, Barbados, and is a plantation house, museum and rum distillery Colonel Benjamin Berringer built the house in 1658. This house is one of only three genuine Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere. It's similar to the English Jacobean-era manor houses of the first half of the seventeenth century, the period between the Tudor and Georgian styles, beginning in the reign of James I.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Barbados Wildlife Reserve, Saint Peter Parish, BarbadosThe Barbados Wildlife Reserve lies in an enclosed area under a canopy of mahogany trees with winding red brick pathways beneath. If you look closely at the bricks, you can still see the stamps of the manufacturing companies. The bricks were brought to Barbados by ships, which used them as ballast. During the 17th and 18th centuries, these red bricks were used to construct boiler furnaces in Barbados sugar factories. The large wheel in front of the snack bar was acquired from an old sugar factory and was once used to drive rollers for crushing the sugar cane. The most popular animal at the Reserve is The Barbados Green Monkey. The monkey has brown and grey thick fur that has yellow and olive green flecks in it as an adult. In some lights, the monkey can appear green. This is why they are called green monkeys. Barbados Green Monkeys generally live in groups of fifteen to twenty. Within a family group, males gain their dominance by their size, strength and their ability to fight. Females, however, get their rank by the size of their families. Most infants are born during April and May.Other animals that can be found in the reserve include tortoises, mallards, peacocks, guinea foul, caiman, iguana, rabbits and a collection of various birds. There is also a large python that was a gift from the Ravensden Zoo in the United Kingdom. The deer found in the reserve are Brocket deer and were a gift from the Emperor Valley Zoo in TrinidadDuration: 1 hourPass By: Glory Tours, Bridgetown, Saint Michael Parish, BarbadosTour Operatior
Barbados Shore Excursion: Island Highlights Half-Day Tour
Everyone wants to spend a day in paradise and Barbados is truly just that. from your Barbados cruise port you will start your day with a journey over to the East Coast of Barbados. The first stop will be Cherry Tree Hill with its breathtaking views of the East Coast from there you will make your way to Morgan Lewis Windmill. The windmill is on the top 100 endangered historical sites in the world. As you come down onto the coastline you will travel through Cattlewash and make a stop in Bathsheba which was named for its great beauty. It is also the location of the Soup Bowl the favorite stop for surfers in Barbados. The next stop will be St John's Church one of the oldest churches on the island, set on a cliff and capturing spectacular views. From this Gothic church you will journey through the parish of St George past the Gun Hill signal station and the great white Lion as we make your way to the Garrison Historic area. The British built the first garrison in the West Indies at St Ann's Fort in 1705. The garrison, which served as the regional headquarters of the British Navy, soon expanded to include barracks and a parade ground. For more than a century was the largest British Colonial garrison. The Garrison has a special importance for the people of Barbados as it was here the flag of the independent nation was unfurled on 30th November 1966. After your tour you will have the option to be returned to the cruise ship or be dropped off in Bridgetown for shopping or at Copacabana Barbados for beach time. If you do select to be dropped off for shopping or beach time you will have to make your own way back to the port. The tour usually arrives in the Bridgetown and Copacabana Barbados area around 1pm - 1:30pm Tour Itinerary Highlights (All times are approximate and subject to change) Cherry Tree Hill ( 15-minute photo stop) Morgan Lewis Windmill (5-10 minute photo stop) Bathsheba ( 15-20 minute photo stop) St John's Church ( 20 minutes) The Garrison Avg length ( 15 minutes) Bridgetown ( drive through with historical commentary)