By air
Grantley Adams International (BGI), ~15 km by road
North America · Barbados
Bridgetown, Barbados
A historic port capital beside Carlisle Bay
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to May — dry and sunny
Don't miss
The Parliament Buildings
Carlisle Bay
The Garrison Savannah
George Washington House
Things to do
Walking the historic centre
Swimming at Carlisle Bay
Snorkelling over shipwrecks
Horse racing at the Garrison
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: regani · Public domain
What to pack
Swimwear, sunscreen, light clothes
A quieter corner
The Nidhe Israel Synagogue, one of the oldest in the Americas
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Bridgetown?
December to May — dry and sunny. What to pack: Swimwear, sunscreen, light clothes.
How do I get to Bridgetown?
Fly into Grantley Adams International (BGI), ~15 km by road.
What is there to do in Bridgetown?
Walking the historic centre, swimming at Carlisle Bay, snorkelling over shipwrecks, horse racing at the Garrison. A quieter find: The Nidhe Israel Synagogue, one of the oldest in the Americas.
What should I eat in Bridgetown?
Flying fish and cou-cou, fish cakes, macaroni pie, pudding and souse.
About Bridgetown
- Coastal
Where it is
Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados, on the island's south-west coast beside Carlisle Bay, where the Constitution River runs into the sea.
History
English settlers founded Bridgetown in 1628, and it became one of the busiest ports in the English Caribbean. The parliament of Barbados first met in 1639, making it one of the oldest in the Commonwealth. Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2011.
People
Bridgetown's people speak English and Bajan Creole, and cricket, church and the summer Crop Over festival, with its calypso and soca, are central to city life.
Known for
- Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison
- Carlisle Bay and its shipwrecks
- Cricket at Kensington Oval
- The Crop Over festival
Did you know?
George Washington visited Barbados in 1751, staying near the Garrison, and it was the only journey he ever made outside mainland North America.
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