Barbados Holidays

It might be home to the most famous names, but Jamaica isn’t the only Caribbean Island in love with reggae music. Since 2004, the Barbados Reggae Festival has celebrated the offbeat rhythm with concerts, parties, and dances during the last week of each April. Expect local and international stars playing at a series of events in multiple venues over one long weekend in Bridgetown. A big hit with locals, the Barbados Reggae Festival is also welcoming to visitors. Speak with your hotel concierge about finding tickets during your stay.

A holiday to Barbados offers a wide range of fun things to do. You can spend your days recharging on sun-drenched beaches, exploring fascinating cultural sites, and trying your hand at thrilling watersports.

Some of the best beaches in Barbados include Silver Sands, Miami Beach and Accra, where long stretches of sugary sand are lapped by irresistibly warm waters. Both locals and tourists can be seen kitesurfing, swimming, body-boarding and snorkelling. Join in with the fun, or simply recline on your sun lounger with a cocktail in hand.

Barbados is generally accepted as the birthplace of rum. So, for a true slice of Bajan heritage, sampling the nation’s favourite spirit is a must. Rum is celebrated in every corner of the island and forms an important part of everyday life in Barbados. Make sure you join a tour that takes you from barrel to bottle, providing insight into its history, distilling process and importance to the country.

On your trip to Barbados, you’ll notice how cultures collide, overlap and intermingle at every juncture. A British colony for more than 300 years, the island has a distinctly British feel, such as the country’s obsession with cricket – played most famously Kensington Oval – and the enjoyment of afternoon tea. You’ll also notice Georgian architecture peppered across the island. But there’s a strong West African culture, too, displayed vividly in the flavour-filled cuisine, reggae music and carnival-like festivities.

The annual summer Crop Over Festival traces back to the 18th-century. Reminiscent of Rio Carnival in Brazil, this spectacular event is a kaleidoscope of colour, dancing and celebrations. It marks the culmination of another successful sugar cane harvest and has come to form an important part of Barbadian culture.

If you’re keen to learn about Bajan history, a visit to St Nicholas Abbey is a great way to spend an afternoon. It’s one of only three 17th-century Jacobean-era mansions in the western hemisphere.

From fresh fruit markets to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the capital city of Barbados is brimming with life. Bridgetown is the country’s cultural and business centre, as well as playing host to a range of festivals and celebrations.

On the outskirts of the capital, Carlisle Bay is one of the most beautiful and serene beaches in Barbados. You can spend a day swimming with sea turtles, before retreating up the beach to enjoy a classic rum cocktail. Or, if the heat gets too much, escape the sun with a visit to the Mount Gay Visitor Centre. Famous for its rum, this place offers guided tours of the distillery and a glass of their sweet-tasting punch. You can learn all about the history of the facility and sample their premium rums.

Meanwhile, keen divers should visit SS Stavronikita. This sunken old Greek freighter is one of the most popular dive sites in the whole of the Caribbean, so it’s well worth exploring this underwater world on your holiday to Barbados.

The best time to go on holiday to Barbados is from December to early April. During these months, the weather is dry and temperatures are around 30°C, providing the ideal conditions for relaxing on the beach and taking part in a wide range of watersports. As you might expect, though, this is also when the island is at its busiest, as there’s an influx of tourists from Europe and America, all looking to enjoy a week or two of winter sun.

If you’re looking for a mix of affordable accommodation and good weather, consider visiting Barbados in the shoulder season instead. In May, June and November, average daytime temperatures are still in the high twenties, but the beaches are much quieter.

July to October is hurricane season in Barbados, so this is best avoided if you want reliable sunshine. On the other hand, this is the best time to visit if you’re a keen surfer – so it depends what your plans are.

Visa: British passport holders don’t need a visa to visit Barbados

Language: English and Bajan Creole

Currency: Barbadian dollar (BBD)

Time difference: GMT -4 hours

Flight duration from London: A direct flight takes eight hours and 30 minutes

Capital city: Bridgetown