Set 100 miles east of the main curve of the Caribbean islands, this small, easygoing isle is where many of us get our first taste of this balmy region.
A good choice for families, with beach resorts to suit all budgets, it’s only 21 miles long and 14 miles wide but packs in a lot: rich heritage, varied landscapes, and a thriving restaurant scene. Most upmarket hotels sit beside the calm waters of the west coast, while the south is a more congested party zone with busy beaches and nightlife.
Although many visitors come to fly and flop, if you like to explore there is plenty to discover, from brightly-painted rum bars and venerable parish churches to challenging hikes and snorkelling with turtles.
Travel restrictions and entry requirements
All Covid-19 travel restrictions for UK travellers to Barbados have been lifted, and there are no testing requirements for entering Barbados whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated.
All travellers need to complete online immigration and customs forms 72 hours prior to arrival.
Best time to go
Barbados is a year-round holiday destination that is busiest in the peak season from mid-December to Easter, when travellers from Europe and North America flock in for a winter sun holiday.
Officially, the hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June to November with stormy weather most likely in September and October.
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For Bajans, the high point of the year is Crop Over, a spirited festival in early August that celebrates the end of the sugar cane harvest with costumed parades and calypso competitions.
Top sights
Bridgetown
In 2011, the island’s waterfront capital was awarded World Heritage status on account of its “outstanding British colonial architecture”. There are over a hundred landmark buildings, including the splendid neo-Gothic parliament, an inner harbour known as the Careenage and the military fortifications of the Garrison Historic Area. History fans should also visit the atmospheric Nidhe Israel Synagogue and its companion museum, which tells the story of the Jewish community that has been here since 1654.
Bridgetown has an inner harbour, synagogue, museum and colonial architecture
(Getty Images)
St Nicholas Abbey
Built in 1658, St Nicholas Abbey is a splendid Jacobean mansion set on a 400-acre plantation with magnificent trees, a scenic train ride and a free…
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