Bridgetown Barbados Tour

ridgetown Barbados, the nation's capital and a financial and commercial hub for the region, is among the most cosmopolitan of the Caribbean’s cities.

Though the area was uninhabited when the first British settlers arrived in 1628, Arawak Indians had previously called the island home before disease and earlier European explorers drove them away.

Though the island gained independence from Britain in 1966, British culture has left an indelible mark. English is the principal spoken language and the city’s shops and restaurants feature an interesting mix of British and Caribbean influences.

The city hosts a population of about 100,000 people and is quite dense, making exploration by foot an easy and rewarding venture for visitors. Though modern office buildings are a common sight, colorful colonial buildings are a staple on smaller side streets and neighborhoods.


The city’s main thoroughfare is Broad Street, where many duty-free shopping opportunities exist, offering both locally crafted and international goods.

Cave Shepherd is a shopping center on Broad Street and provides some of the best variety in duty-free shopping. Those looking for local crafts should travel a little farther down the road to Pelican Village, where a wide selection of handcrafts, art and local food is available.


Broad Street is also home to some of the city’s historic attractions, such as St. Mary’s Anglican Church, built in 1825, and the Barbados Parliament Building, a truly unique municipal building with a beautiful clock tower and vaulted windows.

St. Michael’s Cathedral is a short walk away and, together with a nearby synagogue, has been standing since the mid 17th century. Though a bit off the main drag, these sites are well worth the visit for those interested in getting a taste of the island’s history.

Near the Parliament Building is National Heroes Square and the War Memorial and Fountain Gardens, a great place to stop and enjoy the city’s atmosphere while you rest by the fountain.

Walking a bit further will take you to Wharf Street, where you can walk along the boardwalk, charter a boat for a sea turtle tour or take off for a helicopter tour of the island.


For some outdoor fun, taking a boat to one of Barbados’ many sandy beaches for snorkeling, swimming and wind surfing is a popular choice. Several dedicated ships make these journeys, some of them offering entertainment such as calypso parties, open bars and rope swings into the ocean.

Many locations on the island can be visited through a Land Rover tour. Gun Hill Signal Station provides excellent views of the island, and a drive through Joe’s River Tropical Rain Forest will allow you to see the island’s lush natural vegetation firsthand.

For those looking to get a more potent taste of the island’s vegetation, several rum factories offer tours just north of town. These, along with most sites on the island, are easily accessible by rental car, taxi or by public bus.

While rental cars are readily available on the island, traffic can be heavy and somewhat aggressive in the city, so visitors should exercise caution and consider using the reliable and well-organized public transit system if necessary.