You can experience many ‘must see’ Barbados attractions without losing your relaxing vacation at the beach. Even when visiting Barbados with kids. We’re going to show you how!
Our family has a tendency not to relax much during our summer holidays. We’re always on the run hoping to see as much as possible in whatever European destination we’ve decided to visit. So we do understand the desire to see and do it all.
That said, our spring vacations are different. We usually visit a warm tropical location and try to balance exploring our destination along with ensuring to have plenty of downtime on the beach and at the pool. We’ve found that Barbados is one of the best island destinations with kids. During our visit to Barbados in March, we were able to enjoy many Barbados attractions as well as have a relaxing beach vacation. You can too!
Below we’ve listed 7 one day Barbados itineraries. For those staying more than one day, check out this series of one day options for enjoying your well-earned vacation in Barbados. Remember, the goal is to enjoy Barbados attractions and relax!
If visiting Barbados for less than 7 days, you can
pick and choose which days below are of interest to you or your family.
If visiting Barbados for longer than 7 days, you can
spread out our suggested Barbados attractions and spend more incredible time at
the beach or you can add some Barbados attractions that we have saved for our
next visit to Barbados. I’ve made sure to include list of those at the end.
If you’re visiting from the Barbados cruise port so only visiting for a day, you’ll want to check out The Perfect One Day Barbados Catamaran Excursion: Sunken Treasures and Incredible Sea Turtles and A Fun and Exciting Barbados Excursion Around the Island. You can also consider one of the options in this post if you’re looking for a more low key day.
Oh, and if you’re just starting in planning a trip to Barbados and looking for a great place to stay, we just loved our villa at Glitter Bay on the west coast. That said, there are many amazing Barbados accommodations for you to consider.
1st One Day Itinerary: Explore the things to do in Bridgetown
The beauty of Barbados is that no coast is too far for
an outing. We stayed on the west coast near Holetown but it was easy to explore
the things to do in Bridgetown which was only 30 minutes away by rental car. If
you choose not to drive, it’s an easy ride on a local bus. If you’re visiting
Barbados with kids, they’ll enjoy Bridgetown too!
We parked at the City Center Mall. It was easy to access and you can park anywhere above the second floor. You can walk to all the great Barbados attractions that old town Bridgetown has to offer. After parking, leave the mall and head towards the water to find Wharf Road and the boardwalk. This boardwalk will lead you to all the best things to do in Bridgetown!
This beautiful boardwalk runs along the Caribbean coast. Take your time meandering along the boardwalk and enjoy the waterfront.
You’ll notice a large Chefette across the street that would be a nice stop if you’re hungry. While not a ‘Barbados attraction’, Chefette is very popular. It is a family owned Bajan company that has a large variety of food on its menu but specializes in chicken. It’s very tasty!
Explore
Historic Bridgetown
Continue to wander the boardwalk until you reach the Chamberlain bridge, home of the Independence Arch. This arch marks the 21st anniversary of Barbados independence.
Continue left through Independence Park and walk the other bridge back across the water.
Next, head towards National Hero’s Square. For those
familiar with London, this used to be known as Old Trafalgar Square. It too has
a statue of Lord Nelson but this wasn’t made to represent the square in London.
In fact, this bronze statue of Lord Nelson was added to the square 27 years
before the Nelson’s Column in London’s Trafalgar Square. The statue of Lord
Nelson is ‘ground zero’ from which many distances in Barbados are measured.
In National Heros’ Square you’ll also find the cenotaph, commemorating those Barbadians who died in war.
There is also a magnificent dolphin fountain. If anyone has visited Disney World, the dolphins immediately reminded us of the artistic dolphins at the top of the Starwood Dolphin Hotel near Epcot. Hopefully the water will be flowing in the fountain when you visit as it was rather dry when we were there.
As you wander through National Hero’s Square, it will be easy to find your next stop, one of the top things to do in Bridgetown: Parliament.
Parliament borders upper Broad Street and Hero’s Square. It’s the third oldest Parliament in the English-speaking world next only to Britain and Bermuda. Parliament is open on Monday and Wednesday to Saturday for tours … as luck would have it, we visited on a Tuesday. If you’d like to tour Parliament, make sure you plan better than we did!
Shopping in Bridgetown
For us, as we were visiting Barbados with kids, one thing top on our list to do in Bridgetown was to shop for souvenirs. The kids wanted to get a few things for their friends at home and most souvenirs around Holetown were a bit pricey. They were also searching for flags and soccer jerseys which they buy where ever we travel.
Two streets I had heard about for shopping in Bridgetown were Swan Street and Broad Street. We opted to visit Swan Street first as it has more local stores whereas Broad Street has more high-end sellers.
Swan Street was fantastic for inexpensive souvenirs.
We were able to find souvenir keychains, bracelets, flags and magnets for a
great price. There were also many clothing stores with nice beach wraps and
dresses. It started to rain so our time there was cut a bit short but it was
definitely worth a visit. As mentioned, if you’d like to shop for high end
items, Broad Street is the place!
The
Boatyard in Bridgetown, Barbados
Now that you’ve explored the historic and shopping aspects of Bridgetown, it’s time for the beach! This is especially true if you’re visiting Barbados with kids.
I was googling the day before our visit as we had hoped to find a nice beach near Bridgetown for the afternoon. I had heard that Carlisle Beach was one of Barbados top attractions but hadn’t heard about a place called the Boatyard so we thought we’d check it out. It was so much fun!
The
Boatyard: Fees and Amenities
The Boatyard is not far from the area we explored in
Bridgetown. If you travel by car, they have their own parking and if that is
full, there is parking across the street.
Initially we were taken back by the price of admission. At the time we visited adult admission was $60bbd ($30usd). While it seems really high, each adult receives $45bbd ($22.50usd) credit bar and restaurant credit. This made it only $15bbd ($7.50usd) each!
For that price we had lounge chairs, umbrellas, access to the restaurant and bar (food was very good and cost much less than other beach restaurants we had visited) and access to clean washrooms.
The
Boatyard: Activities
On top of all these amenities, there was a trampoline, a rope swing, a diving platform and there were regular boats travelling to snorkel with the sea turtles and shipwrecks.
Perfect for anyone visiting Barbados with kids and all of these activities were included with the price of admission! The kids had a great time while John and I relaxed on the beautiful beach.
Loving these waves!!
2nd
One Day Itinerary: It’s a Beach Day at Alleyne’s Bay, St. James, Barbados!!
Barbados in March has fantastic weather. The daytime
high is around 30C (86F) and the nighttime low is around 23C (73F). The
temperatures in Barbados stay around the same all year but Barbados has low
rainfall in March so it’s a great time to enjoy a beach day! Our favourite
beach to spend a day is Alleyne’s Bay beach on the west coast of the island,
otherwise known as the platinum coast of Barbados.
We count ourselves lucky because we stayed at Glitter
Bay which is on Alleyne’s Bay beach but you may be staying on or near Alleyne’s
Bay too. There are many accommodations directly on Alleyne’s beach including Glitter
Bay Villas and Suites, the Fairmont Royal Pavilion and Lonestar Boutique Hotel.
The Colony Club and Coral Reef Hotel are also just a short walk away during low
tide (during high tide there is an outcrop that makes it difficult to pass at
times).
Even if you aren’t staying on the beach at Alleyne’s Bay, we met a lot of people wandering the beach who were staying further away and decided to come visit for the day. Even families that were visiting Barbados with kids. The beauty of all the beaches in Barbados is that they’re all public beaches. Locals and visitors alike can explore and wander along any of Barbados beaches without concern of wandering on private property or being stopped by security guards. That means that a full array of Barbados attractions await!
Whether you’re staying nearby or coming from elsewhere
on the island, Alleyne’s Bay is a great location for beach time and water fun.
Sun
and Sand Activities on Alleyne’s Bay Beach
Get a lounge chair and relax
Exploring local beaches is listed as one of the top Barbados attractions in many guide books so finding a lounge chair would rate high on my first thing to do.
Several locations rent lounge chairs, including a spot in front of Juju’s restaurant.
Enjoy a walk along the beach and collect sea glass
Alleyne’s Beach is a quiet, wide beach that runs almost 1km in length. It’s the perfect length for a nice walk, any time of day.
As you explore, look where the waves roll up the beach to find beautiful sea glass in a variety of colours. We were able to find green, blue, brown and one piece of red, which we hear is quite hard to find.
Look for ghost crabs
Being in Barbados with kids, they had a great time searching for crabs. We found many crabs as we wandered the beach. Some were hanging out on wooden decks reaching into the bay.
Others were just heading in and out of their holes on the beach. They’d try to camouflage themselves!
Have a picture painted
For the 10 days we visited, a local gentleman was set up on the beach drawing pictures on request. He varied location throughout our time there but hopefully you’ll be able to find him. His pictures were very well done.
Eat at a beach restaurant
Despite being quiet, Alleyne’s Bay has some amazing restaurants directly on the beach. One of our favourite was Juju’s, a rustic beach restaurant.
We tried several dishes and all were fantastic. We especially enjoyed the chicken and flying fish.
We ate at Lonestar for dinner one evening and didn’t have breakfast or lunch there but the lunch meal is said to be wonderful. The same is true for the Fairmont Royal Pavilion Beach Club.
Water
Activities at Alleyne’s Bay Beach
Swim and Float
Alleyne’s Bay is calm and serene with very few strong
waves. It’s a wonderful place to swim or float on an air tube or mattress and
just soak up the sun and enjoy the beach, definitely one of Barbados best
attractions.
Snorkel near Lonestar restaurant in search for turtles
It’s no secret that we love to snorkel and snorkeling is one of the best Barbados attractions. We brought all our gear so we could snorkel in Barbados. I’m disappointed that we didn’t get a chance to snorkel in front of the Lonestar restaurant. I’ve read that it’s the place to be if snorkeling on Alleyne’s Bay beach. Keep an eye out for sea turtles!
Wave Jumping
While Alleyne’s Bay is known for its calm waters,
there are still some gentle waves. We found these fantastic for wave jumping.
Even more fun if you have a ball to toss around.
Rent a Jet Ski
From the day we arrived in Barbados, our kids wanted to ride a jet ski. There are a few options. You can rent from a gentleman on the beach or, I believe, you can rent from the beach kiosk at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion Beach Club.
A few days into our visit we met Jamal and Wayne. We rented two of their jet skis for 30 minutes and all the boys had a great time.
Jamal and Wayne had life vests for all and took their time teaching the boys how to operate the jet skis. They were also given safety instructions including the warning to beware of swimmers and snorkelers. Coming too close to either can be life threatening.
Life jackets 
Instructions 
More instructions 
Good to go!
John drove with Caiden on back and Lucas drove on his own. Sydney was supposed to go with him but bailed at the last minute.
I was thinking that a half hour would not be long enough but it was the perfect amount of time to enjoy this amazing Barbados attraction.
Rent other water “toys”
The Fairmont Royal Pavilion Beach Club has many items available for rent. At the time of our visit they had kayaks, paddle boats, sea floats, hobie cats and stand up paddleboards. Just talk with those at the beach kiosk at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion Beach Club.
Note: Priority does go to the guest of the Fairmont and other’s with passes.
3rd One Day Itinerary: A Catamaran Excursion … a Favourite Barbados Attraction
Swimming with sea turtles is one of the top things to do in Barbados. While there are many options, ranging from luxury Barbados catamarans to rustic private boats, you really need to experience this incredible Barbados attraction.
We booked far in advance for a five-hour Barbados catamaran tour with Sail Calabaza. It was one of the most amazing days we’ve ever had in all our travels.
Captain Sean and his crew went above and beyond. They were amazing with the kids, carefully cared for all passengers while in the water and made a delicious buffet meal.
We were able to spend as much time as we wished with beautiful sea turtles and explore sunken ships.
If you’re visiting Barbados with kids and unsure if
they’ll fit in, don’t be concerned. We chose Sail Calabaza in large part due to
the small number of passengers. Our group of 12 had five kids between ages of 7
and 16. All were welcomed by the crew and other passengers. There are adults
only Barbados catamaran cruises to consider if you aren’t in Barbados with
kids.
Even if visiting from Barbados cruise port for one day, this is one activity that we highly recommend.
For more details check out our full post on our incredible day on a Barbados catamaran with Sail Calabaza.
4th One Day Itinerary: Shopping and Exploring the Barbados Attractions in and around Holetown
This half day suggestion is perfect for a morning or
afternoon leaving the other part of the day for visiting a nearby beach or
returning to your accommodation for a dip in the pool. This is also a great
option for those arriving at the Barbados cruise port who are looking for a lot
of variety in their day.
St.
James Parish Church
Your first stop is a visit to St. James Parish Church, the oldest church in Barbados. The original wooden structure was built in 1628 by British settlers. It was replaced by a stone structure in 1690 and enlarged in 1875. This is essentially the St. James Paris Church as it exists today.
The interior is beautiful with lovely stained glass. Visitors can also see historical artifacts dating back to the 1600s including the original baptismal font.
At the time of this post, St. James Parish Church is open to visitors on weekdays from 9am to 1pm.
Limegrove
Shopping Complex
Next on our itinerary is a visit to Limegrove Lifestyle Centre.
This is a wonderful shopping complex that is only a six-minute walk from St. James Parish Church. If you’d rather not walk or if you decided to skip a visit to the church, Limegrove is directly on the highway and easily accessible by bus, rental car or taxi. If travelling by car, there is plenty of free parking in back.
The complex covers two floors and has several local stores with beautiful beach wear and tasty treats as well as high end boutiques such as Longchamp and Cartier. If you’re looking for fantastic shopping in Barbados, this is the place to be.
Stores are open 10am to 7pm daily except Sunday when they are closed.
Sydney and I really enjoyed just walking through and window shopping. It’s a beautiful complex with unique designs throughout.
If you’re looking for something to do in the evening,
Limegrove also has a cinema with all the latest movie releases.
Chattel
House Village
A chattel house is unique to Barbados. It is a home
that can be moved because it has little attachment to the ground below it.
Their construction dates back to days when they were found on plantation
grounds so that they could be moved to other plantations when needed.
Chattel House Village is a popular Barbados attraction and it’s only a five-minute walk from Limegrove. If you’d prefer to drive to Chattel House Village, we think the best parking is in the Massy grocery store parking lot.
The Chattel House Village in Holetown is a collection of
chattel houses in a beautiful lush area of Holetown. There is an individual
shop in each colourful house that focuses on different wares including boutique
clothing, jewellery, cigars and specialty foods. There is also a small
restaurant.
We were able to pick up several very nice locally made
souvenirs in the Best of Barbados Gift Shop at the Chattel House Village. Best
of Barbados also has a shop at the airport departure terminal so if you forget
to get something, like we did, that’s another great option.
Bean
n’ Bagel
By now you’re probably a little hungry. Continue walking past the Chattel House Village and to your left you’ll see the Bean n’ Bagel. It’s a nice open air, but covered, restaurant with a great menu.
We ate there twice during our stay and it was fantastic both times. I had the best latte! They also serve a wonderful club house sandwish, tuna melt, breakfast burrito and burger. On top of wonderful quality, their prices are great too!
The staff working there are some of the nicest people we
met during our holiday. We were meeting someone for a late lunch on our last
visit and she was running behind schedule. Although the Bean n’ Bagel closes at
3pm, our wonderful server didn’t rush us out (although we tried to leave as
close to then as possible so they could all go home). The staff remained
friendly and helpful despite being past their closing time.
Oh, and if you like wine there’s a little wine shop, The
Grape Vine Wine and Spirits, right next door. It has a much better selection
than Massy’s but is also a little more expensive.
If you’d prefer to start your day travelling north on Highway 1 instead of south it’s a definite option. This would allow you to stop at the Bean & Bagel for breakfast before starting your day. This might be the perfect situation for those arriving from the Barbados cruise port. Just remember to keep in mind that, at present, St. James Paris Church closes to visitors at 1pm.
Now that you’ve explored a little, it’s time to find
something fun and relaxing to do. That’s a little different for everyone so off
you go, wander Holetown, head to the nearest beach, jump in the pool or have a
nap and enjoy your vacation!
5th One Day Itinerary: Explore the Barbados Attractions on the mid West Coast
Snorkeling
at Mango Bay
As mentioned before, where ever you stay on Barbados,
the other coast isn’t far. One of our most fun, fly by the seat of your pants
kind of days was the day we decided to explore the west coast.
If you follow this day, you’ll get a chance to snorkel in Barbados, possibly swim with the sea life and sea turtles (they’re wild so nothing is guaranteed), meet some locals, walk along one of the most popular beaches on the west coast and have a Bajan delicacy for lunch. Not a bad day! (Note: None of these areas have snorkel gear for borrow or rent so you’ll need your own.)
Our goal for the day was to find a great spot for snorkeling from the beach. I had heard plenty about Folkestone Marine Reserve as it’s a protected area for sea life and stated to be one of Barbados top attractions. In the end, I asked on the Barbados forum on TripAdvisor as the folks there were a great help in my initial planning. I learned that instead of the Folkestone Marine Reserve, there may be better Barbados snorkeling further south. So off we went to our first stop … Mango Bay.
We set out early with our snorkel gear and swim suits
for the morning. We popped flip flops and our gear in the trunk of our rental
car for Mango Bay. We were told there are a few ways to reach Mango Bay. One
way is to park at Surfside restaurant or near Zaccios and the Scotiabank. You
can walk to the beach from there and wander north to the Palm Beach Condos. The
second way is to park at Limestone shops and walk down 1st Avenue
and past Palm Beach Condos to the beach. Since we had already experience
parking at Limestone, we opted for that suggestion.
After parking, we crossed Highway 1 en route to the
beach. We missed taking 1st Avenue but in a round about way found
Mango Bay hotel and then Palm Beach Condos which was next door. As we turned
the corner around the condos, we easily found the beach.
There were plenty of people on lounge chairs so that
was our first stop. You’ll need to walk southward along the beach and look for
a gentleman renting lounge chairs. If unsure, just ask someone. We chose 3
chairs so we would have plenty of space to dry off after our time in the water.
Lucas didn’t want to snorkel so he relaxed on the beach for awhile.
The rest of us walked back the beach to be directly in front of the Palm Beach Condos. There had been a catamaran excursion in the area just before we arrived with passengers swimming with sea turtles so we figured TripAdvisor hadn’t steered us wrong. The catamaran excursion had left but there were still plenty of snorkelers around.
John was the first in and swam over the nearby reef to open water. Sydney, Caiden and I were a little more timid. I didn’t like crossing on top of the reef as it wasn’t deep and I expected to scratch myself. In the end, Caiden and I explored closer to shore and saw some beautiful fish.
John swam further out and didn’t end up seeing any sea turtles but several people we spoke to did see a few so I expect it’s generally a good chance to swim with the turtles if you don’t plan to take a catamaran excursion. You may want to give the Folkestone Marine Reserve a chance as well. It has good reviews and may be another alternative.
Explore
1st Avenue in Holetown
After resting for a bit so we could dry off (yes, the one thing we forgot to bring was towels!), we walked back towards our car. This time we walked along 1st Avenue. It is such an eclectic street. There was beautiful street art and cute small restaurants. If you have time, it’s the perfect location to stop for a coffee or a refreshing drink.
Being in Barbados with kids we didn’t explore the area at night but I’ve heard 1st Avenue in Holetown is also a fantastic place to hear some local music in the evenings.
The
Roti Den
One of the most popular local dishes in Barbados is roti. To be honest, we really didn’t know what this is we hadn’t seen it on a menu yet. We wanted to try it before leaving and had heard great things about The Roti Den at Payne’s Bay so we decided to visit for lunch.
Much to our surprise, The Roti Den isn’t actually on Payne’s Bay beach. It’s located across the highway so the restaurant is easily accessible by bus, car or taxi. If driving, there is a small parking area just behind it. The Roti Den is a very small house with a few tables and kitchen inside. It’s a small location but makes up for it with flavour!
There were many different items on the Roti Den menu but the most popular by far were the many kinds of roti.
Roti is a curry like potato blend (with meat and/or vegetables (chick peas and root vegetables)) wrapped inside a freshly made flatbread. We tried both the chicken and lamb. Lucas enjoyed his so much that he ordered a second!
The prices were very good and we all thoroughly enjoyed our lunch. That said, in retrospect I would not choose lamb next time as it has many bones. I’d instead choose the chicken or another meat option.
Payne’s
Bay Beach
Payne’s Bay beach is one of the most popular beaches in Barbados and also one of the most popular places to stay on the west coast. We had considered a few condos on Payne’s Bay beach so, combined with its reputation of being a fantastic beach, we decided to check out this great Barbados attraction. It makes for a wonderful walk after lunch.
There are signs on Highway 1 that indicate where you can access the beach. Remember, the beach is public but the businesses and resorts on the beach are not so you can’t simply walk through their buildings to reach the beach. There are several entry locations to choose from though. If you’re leaving The Roti Den, cross the road and walk to the right (north) and you’ll see a sign indicating access to the beach.
Payne’s Bay beach is definitely a pretty location. We
were rather tired from our morning snorkeling so we just wandered south along
the beach. I’d recommend walking north as well since I think we missed a large
part of Payne’s Bay beach. The area further north is wider and there are
options for jet skiing and other water activities and Barbados attractions.
There are also people renting lounge chairs if you’d like to stay awhile.
Depending on how much time you spend at each location,
this one-day itinerary could take a half or three-quarters of a day. You still
have plenty of time to relax on a beach chair, have a drink in a beach bar or
swim at your resort or villa.
6th
One Day Itinerary: Sunday in Barbados
From our experiences, most shops and interior sights are closed on Sundays. There are still plenty of beach activities and catamaran excursions available such as those mentioned earlier but remember, with most Bajan’s not working on Sundays, the beaches and water attractions will be busier than during the week. If you’re visiting Barbados on a Sunday, it’s the perfect time to take in a few other local activities that aren’t available other days of the week.
Local
Markets
Barbados’ local markets are a great stop for Sunday
mornings. I’d consider it an off the beaten path Barbados attraction. While a
little hard to reach by bus, they are easy to reach by rental car or taxi. Hastings Farmers Market
is on the south coast and open on Sundays from 8am-2pm and Holder’s
Hill Market is on the west coast.
We visited Holder’s Hill Market which takes place on
Holder’s Hill, next to the polo grounds. The market is open from 9am to 2pm
every Sunday. There is such a variety of local sellers that you’ll be hard
pressed to make a quick exit. But because you’re on vacation and it’s Sunday,
you don’t have to!
The first area you’ll reach is the fruit and vegetable market area where you can pickup some juicy fresh local fruit to try. They also offer homemade juices which are fantastic. Our favourite was cucumber and ginger. It was icy cold and so refreshing on a hot day. The fruit and vegetable booths also have other wonderful items including a variety of hummus and breads.
If you’re interested in antiques, don’t miss the antiques available in the small building beside the fruit and vegetable market. We didn’t stop in as, honestly, we know nothing about antiques but it was very busy which is a good sign.
Head slightly down the hill and you’ll find individual tables and tents with local sellers.
When we visited there were local jewelry makers selling local jewelry made of leather, seeds and beautiful sea glass, beach clothing, food vendors, locally made ice cream, incredible artists and so much more. Caiden bought a bracelet made of seeds (in orange, his favourite colour) and I bought a beautiful blue sea glass necklace.
Sunday
lunch in Barbados
A traditional Sunday lunch is a big deal in Barbados. You can find a great variety of options at many of the local hotels. We like to check out What’s on in Barbados before visiting to find the options available but you can always contact hotels near you to see if they offer Sunday lunch.
Sporting
Events in Barbados
I’m sure it changes depending on the sporting season but when we were in Barbados in March, we had the option of watching polo, football and motor sports. We were particularly interested in polo as we have never seen it before.
Polo often takes place at Holder’s Hill so we planned
to visit after the Holder’s Hill Market. The polo matches usually start at 3pm
and tickets are readily available at the gate. Each match day usually hosts two
matches so it’s a fantastic Sunday afternoon activity.
As a side note, my kids bailed on going to a polo match when they realized they wouldn’t actually be playing themselves. We opted instead to spend the afternoon at the beach. Because it’s Barbados and you have to relax too!!
7th
One Day Itinerary: Around the Island in a Day
You can explore the east and north coasts of the island on your own with a rental car but it’s so much easier if you hire a private guide for the day.
Whether you explore on your own or with a guide, make sure to visit Bathsheba, one of the ‘must see’ Barbados attractions, and the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. You may be able to see surfers in the rough waters.
As you explore, you can stop at a local artisan or pottery boutique, visit Morgan Lewis Mill and experience the views from Cherry Tree Hill.
Depending on the length of your day, you can also
visit popular Barbados attractions such as St. Nicholas Abbey, Barbados Animal
Reserve or Harrison’s Cave.
At the far north, don’t miss Animal Flower Cave for
amazing views and a walk inside the caves.
Earthworks Pottery 
St. Nicholas Abbey 
Animal Flower Cave
Some of the best parts of Barbados are away from the popular south and west coasts, so whether looking for a one-day excursion from Barbados cruise port or looking for one day off the beaten path during a longer visit in Barbados, check out One Day Barbados Excursion around the Island with kids for more details.
Additional
Barbados Attractions to Consider
With only 10 days in Barbados we only explored the tip of the iceberg. There were many places we had wanted to visit and many Barbados attractions that we wanted to see but there just wasn’t enough time. We hope to visit again next spring so we already have a list of additional Barbados attractions that we really want to explore.
All except the Oisten Fish Fry, which happens in the evening, would also be an option for those visiting from the Barbados cruise port.
Here they are in case you’d like a few more ideas:
Oisten’s Fish Fry
Oisten’s Fish Fry takes place most days of the week
but the busiest and most popular time is Friday evening. Many booths are set up
cooking a variety of local fish. It’s a festive atmosphere with great food and
local entertainment.
Visit Speightstown and eat at Fisherman’s Pub
Speightstown is a small community on the west coast.
Once the busiest port in Barbados, it is now more historical in nature. It has
a lovely old town, museum and beach front. Fisherman’s Pub is known for having
traditional Bajan food for fantastic prices.
Visit Mullin’s Bay beach and have fun with the water activities
Mullin’s Bay beach is a popular beach on the west coast, en route to Speightstown. If you’re visiting Barbados with kids they’re going to love it here! The bay has a few companies offering water skiing lessons, jet skis, water trampolines and climbing pyramids and tubing.
Walk Welchman Hall Gully and visit the monkeys
Welchman Hall Gully is in central Barbados. It’s a
nature reserve area with a nice walking trail. Visitors can often see wildlife
including green monkeys. The bonus for us is that there are no snakes or
poisonous creatures in Barbados so it’s a great place for a nature walk.
Cheeky Barbados green monkeys wandering around our resort. The kids loved them!
Explore Harrison’s Cave
Harrison’s
Cave
is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Barbados. The cave is filled
with beautiful stalagmites and can be accessed by foot or by tram, depending on
the tour you choose.
Visit Atlantis Submarine
Atlantis Submarine is based near Bridgetown and offers
daytime and nighttime submarine tours of the freshwater coral reef.
If you’re looking for some vacation inspiration, check out our 50 photos of Barbados to help inspire your visit to this beautiful island!
18 Comments
Angela · April 17, 2020 at 12:34 pm
I visited Barbados around 15 years ago when my boys were smaller. I have since visited many other Caribbean islands but this remains my favourite. We did all the things you recommend along with a trip to Bathsheba and the green monkeys. We also had some pottery made up in the hills which we still have today. After reading your blog I want to go back!
Claire · December 3, 2019 at 6:47 am
I just booked a trip to Barbados in the Black Friday sales and now after reading this i’m very excited to go 🙂 That Catamaran Excursion looked incredible!
Carmen Edelson · April 12, 2019 at 7:08 am
I can totally relate to this! Sometimes I feel like I need a vacation after a family vacation because we are always on the go! A beach day is always necessary 🙂
Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions · April 12, 2019 at 2:36 am
Barbados is definitely an island on my list! It looks like there are a ton of fun activities for kids, but I think as an adult I would still enjoy everything on this list 🙂 I love how many animals/nature options there are, including the ghost crabs, the monkeys, and those beautiful sea turtles!! Roti also looks delicious. All in all looks like a really awesome destination!
Sandy N Vyjay · April 11, 2019 at 11:11 am
It is always a toss between packing too many activities in and relaxing. We too do reserve some holiday just for relaxing. However, when it is Barbados, the temptation to get as many activities in would be an irresistible temptation. All the itineraries sound great for an immersive experience of beautiful Barbados. But would personally prefer a beach day itinerary with watersports and lazing in the sands.
Nic · April 9, 2019 at 3:56 am
Barbados looks incredible, I’ve never visited this region but my parents just came back from a Caribbean cruise and spent some time in Barbados! It looks like one of those places where there is just so much to do but equally its great if you just want to chill!
Cindy · April 8, 2019 at 2:36 pm
I had no idea that there’s so much to do in Barbados, beyond the beach. That said, I’d love to relax at Alleyne’s Bay Beach, and go snorkeling at Mango Bay. But, I’m with you, the catamaran excursion would top the list. I would love to see sea turtles!
Maggie · April 8, 2019 at 2:29 pm
My family is definitely a “do-it-all in as little time as possible” type of travel family haha. So I like the idea of breaking up the itinerary into particular days so that people can pick and choose what suits them! Looks like there’s a lot more to do on Barbados than I realized. I’ve never been to the Caribbean but I’d love to explore here myself some day!
Kris · April 7, 2019 at 10:41 pm
I love how many fun things you fit in. I’m not much of a relax-all-day vacationer, so I like the idea of mixing in exploring with beach time. My only time in the Caribbean was one day in Nassau, and I didn’t enjoy it, but it seems like there’s so much more that would appeal to me in Barbados.
Nitin Singhal · April 7, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Caribbean beaches are so beautiful. I would love to visit Barbados or other Caribbean islands. You have listed lots of things and activities to do. I am saving this post for the future.
An Indian Traveler · April 7, 2019 at 5:10 am
Beautiful pictures. I really want to visit the Caribbean. Apart from beautiful beaches, I would love to watch a cricket match. Thanks for the itinerary ideas.
Divya · April 6, 2019 at 9:45 pm
This looks like such a dreamy holiday…so relaxing & refreshing. Thanks for sharing the details. 🙂
Marvi · April 6, 2019 at 9:32 am
Sounds like you had a lot of fun with the kids and the entire family 🙂 The Catamaran Excursion sounds lovely. I love the fact that it was for a small group only and it’s family friendly too..
Joanne · April 6, 2019 at 2:29 pm
Thanks Marvi. It really was a lot of fun. I have a more detailed post coming soon on our catamaran excursion so keep an eye out for it 🙂
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