19 Best Sights in Barbados

Popular for fashion and travel-industry photo shoots, Bottom Bay is the quintessential Caribbean beach. Secluded, surrounded by a coral cliff, studded with a stand of palms, and blessed with an endless ocean view, this dreamy enclave is near the southeasternmost point of the island. The Atlantic Ocean waves can be too strong for swimming, but it's a picture-perfect place for a picnic lunch on the shore. Park at the top of the cliff and follow the steps down to the beach. Note: because of the seclusion, it's not advisable for women to go to this beach alone; going with a group is much safer. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Swimming is unwise at this windswept beach with pounding surf, which follows the Atlantic Ocean coastline in St. Andrew, but you can take a dip, wade, and play in the tidal pools. Barclays Park, a 50-acre public park up the road, has a shaded picnic area. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunrise; walking.

The cherry trees for which this spot was named have long since disappeared, but the view from Cherry Tree Hill, just east of St. Nicholas Abbey greathouse, is still one of the most spectacular in Barbados. Although only about 850 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest points on the island and affords a broad view of the rugged East Coast and the entire Scotland District—so named because its rolling hills resemble the moors of Scotland. Today, when approaching from the west, you drive through a majestic stand of mature leafy mahogany trees. Stop at the crest of the hill for a stunning panoramic view.

Unlike other West Coast beaches, Heywoods is quiet and unspoiled. The long stretch of crisp white sand is wide and never busy, and the water is calm and ideal for snorkeling and swimming. The entrance to the sea is a gentle slope making it ideal for kids, but some areas can be rocky. There are no amenities here for snacks so take a picnic. Amenities: none. Best for: sunset; swimming; snorkeling; walking.

The cemetery, also referred to as Gravesend or Garrison Military Cemetery, is near the shore behind historic St. Ann's Fort. First used in 1780, when the area was pretty much marshland, the dead were placed in shallow graves or simply left on top of the ground where, within a few short days, many were absorbed into the swamp. In the early 20th century, a number of the remaining graves were dug up to provide room for oil storage tanks; salvaged headstones were placed on a cenotaph, erected in 1920–24. A "Cross of Sacrifice" was erected in 1982 to honor all the military dead; a second cenotaph, erected in 2003, honors the Barbadian merchant seamen who died in World War II.

Straddling the Ermy Bourne Highway on the East Coast just north of Bathsheba, this 50-acre public park was gifted to Barbados by Barclays Bank (now First Caribbean International Bank) after independence was declared in 1966. Pack a picnic lunch, run around, and enjoy the gorgeous ocean view.

Although unsafe for swimming, the miles of untouched sand along the East Coast Road in St. Joseph Parish are great for beachcombing and wading. Expert surfers from around the world converge on Bathsheba's Soup Bowl, at the south end of the beach, each November for the Barbados Surf Pro competition. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunrise; surfing; walking.

Just north of downtown Bridgetown and within walking distance of the cruise ship terminal, the sea at this southernmost pair of the West Coast beaches is as calm as a lake. This is also one of the island's longest sandy stretches: you can easily walk from here all the way up to Batts Rock Beach. On hot days, particularly on weekends and holidays, you'll find locals taking a quick dip. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguard; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

In the early days, Bridgetown's natural harbor was where schooners were turned on their sides (careened) to be scraped of barnacles and repainted. Today, The Careenage serves as a marina for pleasure yachts and excursion boats. A boardwalk skirts the north side of The Careenage; on the south side, a lovely esplanade has pathways and benches for pedestrians and a statue of Errol Barrow, the first prime minister of Barbados. The Chamberlain Bridge and the Charles Duncan O'Neal Bridge span The Careenage.

This tiny East Coast village is perched high in the clay-yielding hills that have supplied local potters for about 300 years. A few working potteries are open daily to visitors, who can watch as artisans create bowls, vases, candleholders, and decorative objects—which are, of course, for sale.

An impressive stand of cabbage palm trees lines the road leading to the coral-stone buildings and serene grounds of Codrington College, the oldest Anglican theological seminary in the western hemisphere, opened in 1745 on a cliff overlooking Conset Bay. The college's benefactor was Christopher Codrington III (1668–1710), a former governor-general of the Leeward Islands whose antislavery views were unpopular in the plantocracy of the times. You can visit the chapel, stroll the grounds, gaze at the duck pond, enjoy the view, and even have a picnic.

This powerful statue of an enslaved person—whose raised hands, with broken chains hanging from each wrist, evoke both contempt and victory—is commonly referred to as the Bussa Statue. Bussa was the man who, in 1816, led the first enslaved peoples rebellion on Barbados. The work of Barbadian sculptor Karl Brodhagen, the statue was erected in 1985 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved peoples in 1834.

This public park, opened in November 2021, is located in the southern area of Bridgetown. It offers visitors and locals an opportunity to relax, reflect, and learn about aspects of the island’s rich culture and heritage dating back to the 1930s. In addition to a display of 17th- and 18th-century items commonly used by the planter class (farmers who were wealthy, more educated, and politically inclined), the main attraction of the two-acre recreational space is the Builders of Barbados Wall, also known as the 1937 Memorial Wall. The engraved stones that make up this curved wall display the surnames (and, in some cases, first names) of all those who lived on the island. The park, which has a spacious seating area with a roof, is also dotted with some intense artwork encapsulating aspects of the 1937 riot, as well as pictures depicting historical facts. The 1937 riot, or 1937 labor rebellion, refers to the social unrest that took place on July 26, 1937, led by national hero Clement Payne, in response to what the Black population considered to be social, economic, and political oppression. At the time, native Blacks were mostly employed in agriculture and did not have access to the same opportunities as whites, who were considered the planter class.

Located on the waterfront, this lovely shaded spot is a great place to relax and take in the sights and sounds of Bridgetown while you enjoy the view of the Parliament Buildings and National Heroes Square across the water. Note the statue of the island's first prime minister, the late Errol Walton Barrow, affectionately known as the "Father of Independence."

Don't miss the Independence Arch on the Chamberlain Bridge right next door.

This national park is the site of beautiful gardens, a children's playground, a sports/events field, and one of the island's two immense baobab trees. Brought to Barbados from Guinea, West Africa, around 1738, this tree has a girth of more than 60 feet. Queen's Park House, built in 1783 and the historic home of the British troop commander, now houses the Daphne Joseph Hackett Theatre, which hosts special events and exhibits, and the Queen's Park Gallery, which features work by both emerging and established artists. The park is open seven days a week during Crop Over season.

The park underwent refurbishments in 2021; most notable is the new lake that features a stunning map of Barbados. There are plans to rename the park and transform the space into a hub of Bajan arts and culture.

This is the location of East Coast Light, one of four strategically placed lighthouses on the island; it's not open to the public. Although civilization in the form of new homes is encroaching on this once-remote spot, the view of the entire Atlantic coastline is still spectacular—and the cool ocean breeze is refreshing on a hot day.

Also known as the South Coast Boardwalk, this mile-long stretch begins at Accra Beach and follows the waterfront west past private homes, restaurants, and bars to Needham's Point. It comes alive during early mornings or late evenings and on weekends, when locals and tourists go for a run or leisurely stroll. Police can often be seen patrolling the area on Segway scooters

This is the oldest of four lighthouses on Barbados. Assembled on the island in 1852 after being displayed at London's Great Exhibition the previous year, this landmark lighthouse is just east of Miami (Enterprise) Beach, near the southernmost point of land on Barbados. The 89-foot tower, with its distinguishing red and white horizontal stripes, is closed to the public—but visitors may freely walk about the site, take photos, and enjoy the magnificent ocean view.

Although no one has proven it, George Washington is said to have worshipped here in 1751 during his only trip outside the United States. By then, the original structure was already nearly a century old. Destroyed or damaged twice by hurricanes, the cathedral was rebuilt in 1789 and again in 1831. Officially called "Cathedral Church of Saint Michael and All Angels," it currently seats 1,600 people and boasts the largest pipe organ in the Caribbean.