Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Barbados has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
- Viewpoint
- Climb up Cherry Tree Hill for super views over the island, or to St John’s church for spectacular views over the east coast. There’s also an amazing view when you come over the hill on the road to Bathsheba from St Andrews.
- Arts and culture
- Cricket is a most important matter in Barbados (check out the road names; every roundabout is named after a cricketing great). Go and visit Kensington Oval, to the west of Bridgetown, and see if you can catch a match. Artwise, you’ll find small galleries in most parishes, but especially in Holetown and Speightstown. At Earthworks in St Thomas (+1 246 425 0223), you can watch potters in action.
- Something for nothing
- Sunrise on an east coast beach – head to Bathsheba to greet the dawn with the surfers.
- Shopping
- Earthworks pottery makes a good souvenir; you’ll have eaten off it in every restaurant or bar you visit. For handmade silver jewellery, kaftans and bikinis, we like Beth and Tracie in Speightstown (+1 264 422 0401) at the north end of the strip. The island capital of Bridgetown is good for duty-free goods, such as beauty products, CDs, trainers and watches.
- Daytripper
- Sail away on a five-hour cruise with a Small Cats catamaran (+1 264 421 7582)’ they’ll pick you up from anywhere on the south or west coasts, give you a stunning and informative tour of the island, deposit you on a deserted beach for lunch, and send you snorkelling with sea turtles.
- Best beach
- The further north you head along the west coast, the less populated the beaches. To the south, the lagoon side of Miami beach is quieter than most, and protected by reefs. Worthing beach is great for beginner kite-surfers; Silver Sands is more full-on, with big waves. Seasoned surfers take to their boards at Bathsheba on the east coast.
- Perfect Picnic
- If you’re getting up early for the east coast sunrise, pick up your picnic breakfast the day before at Patisserie Bistro Flindt in Holetown (see Cafés). Head to Barclays Point for a picnic table, or to Bathsheba with a couple of towels to sit on.
- Walks
- Apart from wild beach rambles, you can also take a turn in the Andromeda Botanical Gardens in St Joseph, a six-acre garden with orchids, palms, bougainvillea, begonias and cacti. Farley Hill National Park is where most of the music festivals take place, and has terrific views over the east coast.
- Children
- Babysitters and nannies can easily be arranged through your hotel. Ocean Park, Christchurch (www.oceanparkbarbados.com) is a popular spot for children, where you can see marine life up close or play pirate-themed mini-golf.
- Activities
- Every water sport imaginable: waterskiing, scuba diving, fishing, parasailing, jet-skiing, snorkelling. For excellent surf lessons email Zed Surfing Adventures on zed@zedssurftravel.com. Take a helicopter ride over the island, or go horse riding on the beach (ask your hotel). Watch the cricket, or a polo match (December to May, ring Barbados Polo Club on +1 246 432 1802). Play golf at the Royal Westmoreland (www.royal-westmoreland.com) or Sandy Lane (www.sandylane.com). You can also have spa treatments at Sandy Lane, or call the lovely Kai Hope (+1 246 244 7509; karenza18@gmail.com), who will effect spa heaven in your own room.
Diary
January Barbados Jazz Festival (www.barbadosjazzfestival.com), attracting national and international artists. February Holetown Festival, with street processions, music concerts and antique fair. March Holders Season (www.holders.net), an elegant international performing arts festival. April The cricket/polo season starts. May Reggae on the Hill, a hugely popular annual party in Farley Hill National Park. July/August Historically the time for celebrating the sugar-cane harvest, and now a highlight of the festival season, Crop-Over lasts for three weeks, with lots of carnivalesque fun on the streets. September The polo season comes to a close.
