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Best Things to Do in Barbados With One Day
Barbados is another fine Caribbean island you shouldn’t miss if your cruise ship docks at Bridgetown. At only 166 square miles (431 square kilometers), it isn’t big, but it has a lot to offer. From powdery white sand beaches and botanic gardens to markets and colonial buildings, it’s loaded with natural and historic sights.
But how should you prioritize your time if you have only one day in Barbados?
In short, focusing on the sights of Bridgetown and Bathsheba will give you a rewarding day of activities in Barbados.
Read on for a few of the best things to see and do on a day trip to the island. If you’re fortunate enough to have more time here, check out the lengthier list of what to do in Barbados that follows later in this post.
Arrival in Barbados
On the map, Barbados is the easternmost island in the curved chain of islands that make up the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.
Your cruise ship is likely to dock in Bridgetown, Barbados—the island’s capital. The docking area is large, so your cruise ship might be docked far from the terminal. Not to worry though, as shuttles may be available starting at 0800. This well-organized terminal has numerous souvenir and convenience stores and good bathroom facilities. In fact, the bathrooms overall on this island are quite good.
Tourist Information Office and Map of Barbados
Walk over to the tourist information office where you can pick up some country and city maps and good info about bus options. Spend a few minutes reviewing the most important places to you on the island, how far away they are from one another, and how to get from place to place.
This is a good opportunity to reconfirm with the tourist information office which sights are open that day. Finalize your itinerary and let the fun begin!
But first, one quick warning: wearing camouflaged clothing and smoking tobacco in public are illegal in Barbados. You can be fined or imprisoned or both if you violate these rules. Do you know what the inside of a prison in Barbados looks like? Don’t find out.
Assuming it’s open, I’d recommend spending the bulk of the day exploring the splendid Andromeda Botanic Gardens, located on the eastern coast. This and Welchman Hall Gully in the center of the island are your best bets if you’d like to experience the natural beauty of the country. Both are also among the better things to do in Barbados during COVID times because you’ll be outdoors (though there’s still a risk of infection during transport to and from the gardens).
Fairchild Bus Stop
Head over to the Fairchild Bus Stop, which is a 20-30 minute walk. At the bus terminal, buy a bus token and get in line at the right stop to Andromeda. If it’s going to be a while before the bus departs, don’t waste a lot of time waiting at the bus station—check out the Parliament Buildings nearby that are described below, then return in time to catch your bus to Andromeda.
Once you’re aboard, it’s a bumpy 45-minute ride to the gardens, but the driver should drop you off right in front. Locals are friendly and helpful if you have any questions.
Andromeda Botanic Gardens
Andromeda Botanic Gardens (open from 0900-1700 daily) may be the highlight of your day and it’s worth spending at least a couple of hours here. An entry ticket for an adult isn’t cheap, though. As of 2022, it was 30 Barbados dollars (about $15 U.S.).
Iris Bannochie, the island’s leading horticulturalist, and her husband Harry Bayley created these gardens in the mid-20th century. The gardens are loaded with intriguing flora and fauna spread out over a 6-acre complex of hills and ponds. You’ll see giant millipedes winding their way through Barbados cherry trees as hummingbirds zip by. There are jackfruit, starfruit, mangosteen, bearded fig, assorted cacti, and countless other trees.
Pick up the laminated guidebook and begin your walk around the gardens.
The first area contains a collection of red and torch gingers, which are common in Barbados, and heliconias, which are not.
The screw pine is not a pine at all, but plants native to Madagascar with sharp edges along its leaves.
The plants of the bougainvillea garden are native to South America.
The Giant Mexican Sunflower shown below is a superb fertilizer commonly used in Barbados and parts of Africa.
The strange looking Annatto plant produces a red or orange food coloring from the seeds in its pods. This is used in many foods like European cheeses.
You’ll come across a Palm Garden that includes Macaw Palms (beware of its many spines), the Cuban Old Man Palm, and the Cabbage Palm. These trees are used to create grand avenues in Barbados and elsewhere in the Caribbean.
This gazebo was constructed especially for the visit of Queen Ingrid from Denmark in 1971.
A pond filled with fish and covered with lily pads.
A striking orange bromeliad, which can be grown in the sun or shade, though its color will change to green in the shade.
Bathsheba Beach
After you’ve seen Andromeda Botanic Gardens, you can walk over to Bathsheba Beach. Enjoy a walk along its golden sands and check out the odd but impressive series of rock formations by the sea. Don’t try to swim here though because of the dangerous undercurrents.
Buses head back to Bridgetown each hour on the hour. You’ll be back in Bridgetown in a little over 30 minutes if you can avoid peak traffic hours.
Walking Tour of Bridgetown
Once back in Bridgetown, you’ll see that the city itself makes for a fun self-guided walking tour. In fact, the downtown area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. You’ll find a mix of architectural styles from Victorian colonial to modern. Take a look at the stores along Swan Street and Broad Street. Then see the following places that can be reached easily on foot.
St. Mary’s Church
Take a quick look at St. Mary’s Anglican Church on your way to the market. Built in 1827, it can hold up to 1200 people.
Cheapside Market
Walk over to the Cheapside Market. A few stalls inside this building and on the streets outside hawk assorted produce, like brightly colored peppers, giant avocados, soursop, bananas, papayas, eggplant, and more.
The market is open from 0700-1500 every day except Sunday. Like many similar markets in the Caribbean, Cheapside Market is at its most lively on Saturdays. It wasn’t that active on the Thursday afternoon that I visited, though.
Parliament Buildings – House and Senate
Once back in Bridgetown, spend some time walking along the boardwalk.
Make your way across a bridge to the Parliament Buildings. Here you’ll find a nice history museum. The building also offers tours of the House of Assembly and Senate subject to availability. As of 2022, the Parliament Buildings are open from 1000-1600, but check the link above to be on the safe side. You can buy a ticket to the complex for around $5 (or 10 Barbados dollars).
Spend some time studying the political history of Barbados in the museum but not too much. The real sightseeing highlight of the place is the guided tour of the House and Senate in the adjacent building. No photos are allowed inside, sadly, so I have none to share. Instead, I’ll give you this detailed written account of what you’ll see of the interior and hear from your guide.
You’ll ascend a staircase and find a great seal of Barbados. Here are portraits of Bajan (yes, a citizen of Barbados is a Bajan) leaders like Errol Barrow, who led the independence movement that made Barbados independent in 1966. It has remained part of the British Commonwealth. The island elected its first female Governor General recently. Bills start in the House, go to the Senate for approval, then end up in the House again for final approval. The House is much larger than the Senate, and each member serves a 5-year term. The two main parties are the Democratic Labor Party and Barbados Labor Party.
The chamber has a small rectangular table at the far end with a stained glass window behind it. Other windows profile some great figures from British history. The walls are made of coral limestone. Parliamentarian seats flank the table and audience seats are located toward the rear of the chamber.
The next stop on the tour is the Senate. This is a darker, more dignified chamber with a vast oval table. The ceiling is a dark mahogany with silver painted trim.
Barbados was the third English colony to establish a parliament, doing so early in 1639. Plaques explain terms like vestry and parish (the latter being an administrative unit like a province).
There’s an interesting contrast between old photos that show the all-white parliamentarians of 1912 and more recent photos of the all-black or mixed race members of parliament in 2008.
You’ll also see some giant murals portraying major events in the country’s history. A heroes gallery profiles selected Bajan leaders.
More Fun Things To Do in Barbados
If you have a few days in Barbados, the extra time will open up your sightseeing horizons. Consider exploring some or all of the following activities and things to do on the island, depending on your interests.
Barbados History Museum
If you’re a history buff, you might take a taxi to the Barbados History Museum. It’s housed in a 19th century prison. Note that the price to get here may be steep—from the dock to the museum and back would have cost $30 when I visited.
George Washington House
Another good choice for historians is George Washington House, which is close to the Barbados Museum. The first US president did in fact live here as a young man in 1751.
Nidhe Israel Museum
Study the history of the Barbados Jewish community at Nidhe Israel Museum, which occupies a renovated Jewish community center originally built in 1750.
Cricket Legends of Barbados
Cricket Legends of Barbados is a must see place for fans of the sport and perhaps the Caribbean’s greatest cricket museum. It holds a variety of items connected to the game, including profiles of some of the island’s greatest cricket players.
Welchman Hall Gully
See some more of the plant life at Welchman Hall Gully, located in the center of the island. Enjoy the views on a walking trail through a canyon. This area has some of the island’s original tropical rainforest, which is much harder to find elsewhere in Barbados these days. You might also see some Barbados Green Monkeys in this natural gully.
Farley Hill National Park
Farley Hill National Park, also in central Barbados, provides excellent views of the surrounding land and sea, including the coast of Bathsheba. It’s located near the ruins of a former plantation. You’ll find gardens with mahogany, whitewood, casuarina, and royal palm trees here.
St. Nicholas Abbey
Visit St. Nicholas Abbey, the majestic 17th-century plantation home with an ugly history. It’s located in the northeastern part of Barbados. Here you’ll find the Great House, gardens, and a rum distillery.
Paynes Bay or Rockley Beach
Enjoy the beach and the water at Paynes Bay or Rockley Beach, both located on the western coast of the island. With over 10 miles of white sand beaches overlooking stunning clear water, this area has been nicknamed “The Platinum Coast.”
The Weather in Barbados
If you’re wondering about the weather for Barbados, be aware that it has a tropical climate, which makes it hot and humid pretty much all the time.
It rains frequently in Barbados during the summer and early fall, especially between June and October. Even during the wet season, showers can end abruptly though, with hot sun drying everything out in short order. The island is driest between December and April.
The temperature doesn’t change much from season to season. It stays between the mid-70s and high 80s Fahrenheit (23-31 degrees Celsius) year round, with only a few degrees difference between January and June, though the weather will shift from dry to wet during that time frame.
Explore the Rest of the Lesser Antilles
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this overview of the best places to visit in Barbados.
Once you’ve had your fill of Barbados, start planning your journey to another Caribbean island. If you’re on a cruise ship, you’re probably going to visit several. Check out our guide to Antigua.