Barbados is an eastern Caribbean island and an independent British Commonwealth nation. It’s a favorite with couples, but there are also a lot of things to see and do in Barbados with kids.
Covering just 166 square miles, it’s the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands and part of the Lesser Antilles. From the boulder-strewn east coast to the idyllic turquoise beaches of the east, natural gardens, and underground caves, Barbados is a captivating Caribbean destination.
Bridgetown, the capital, is a cruise ship port with colonial buildings. Local traditions include afternoon high tea, horse racing, and cricket – the national sport.
Renting a car to explore the island is the best option.
INSIDER TIP: Ready to try a road trip abroad? It’s easy! This International Driver’s License covers 150 countries! Get it in 8 minutes!
I went with my kids and then again without the kiddos, and found it to be very accommodating for both scenarios.
Barbados at a Glance
- Currency: Barbados dollar (BD$)
- Language: Queen’s English with Bajan lilt
- Time: Atlantic Standard Time
- Water: Safe to drink
- Weather: 75-85 degrees year-round
Here are the 10 best things to do in Barbados with kids.
10 Bridgetown
Home to about half of the island’s population, the UNESCO-listed city is one of the best places to see in Barbados. Founded in 1628 by English settlers, the capital and largest city, Bridgetown is one of the best places to experience the island’s stunning ocean views, rich culture, and colonial architecture.
Places of interest in the colorful town include the lively Broad Street shopping area, Chamberlain Bridge, neo-Gothic Parliament buildings, and a handful of old churches.
Bridgetown is also a popular port of call for cruise ships on the Caribbean route.
9 Sunbury Plantation
Sunbury Plantation is the only 17th-century plantation house in Barbados entirely open to the public, inside and out. Built in 1660 by Matthew Chapman, one of the first settlers on the island. The house historically relied on the production of sugarcane as its main economic activity.
The 300+-year-old mansion features antique furnishings, a collection of horse-drawn carriages, landscaped gardens, and a courtyard restaurant.
8 Wild Coast
One of my favorite things to do in Barbados with kids was to spend an afternoon driving along the eastern Atlantic coast of the island. The roads are in good condition, but there are not a lot of signs, so be prepared to take a few wrong turns.
We found the locals very friendly and willing to put us on the right path. One of our most endearing and revisited Caribbean stories is recalling asking a Bajan young woman for directions. She said, “Drive ’til you get to da ting dat look like a zebra and take a right.” So we kept our eyes peeled for a zebra, and totally cracked up when we came to a black-and-white striped road-end sign!
On the Atlantic coast, you’ll find lots of deserted white sand and palm-lined beaches with sparkling aquamarine water. Take caution, especially with children because the Atlantic waves are much rougher than the tranquil east coast of Barbados, and the undertow was too strong to swim, even for me.
Located about halfway up the coast, be sure to look for the Instagrammable Mushroom Rock on Bathsheba Beach, one of the most picturesque spots on the island. Backed by craggy cliffs behind the golden beach, the rock is a striking sight.
7 Flower Forest
We enjoyed a refreshing morning hike at the scenic Flower Forest Botanical Gardens. A former sugar plantation, the 53 sprawling acres of walkways provided some great panoramic views, botanical splendor, and photo ops.
6 Harrison’s Cave
.jpg)
Berit from Redhill/Surrey, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In the heat of the afternoon, delve underground to cool off at the colossal Harrison’s Cave. Located in the central uplands of the island, this beautiful, crystallized limestone cavern, formed thousands of years ago, is a natural wonder.
Named as one of the Seven Wonders of Barbados, the cave is named after Thomas Harrison, who owned much of the land in the area in the early 1700s.
An electric tram scoots you through winding tunnels, providing places where you can get out to explore the subterranean passages and chambers and take photos of the hundreds of illuminated stalactites and stalagmites, streams, deep pools, and waterfalls.
5 Chattel Village
For shopping, we liked a quaint little shopping area in Holetown called Chattel Village. Each colorfully painted shop has its own distinct look of a chattel house. It was a fun place to spend a morning and have lunch and there were lots of souvenirs and local artist wares to buy. In a shop called Best of Barbados, I discovered the stunning works of local artist Jill Walker. I purchased her book of watercolor paintings of life in Barbados as well as some of her other pieces.
4 Horses on the Beach
Riding horses on the beach was probably the favorite activity for Barbados with kids…at least from their perspective. Our 1.5-hour horse-riding excursion offered a variety of panoramic hilltop views as well as a brisk jaunt along the beach, something that scared me a little, much to my kids’ delight.
3 Swim with Sea Turtles
Swimming in the wild with sea turtles is one of the most fun things to do in Barbados with kids. There are boats that go out to where the turtles usually hang out. Passengers have the option of viewing the turtles on board or getting into the water with them.
My teenage daughter and I opted to get in. At one point, she raised her head above the water and there was the head of a turtle, right in front of her. Surprised, she screamed through her snorkel, which made everyone watching from the boat deck laugh.
Note: remember to be respectful of their environment and don’t try to touch the turtles.
2 Gibbs Beach
We were fortunate enough to have accommodations directly across from beautiful Gibbs Beach. This gorgeous turquoise water beach is a great place for snorkeling with children with shallow water and a reef very close to shore. Adjacent Mullin’s Beach is also very nice and good for snorkeling, as is Payne’s Beach further south.
INSIDER TIP: Click here for the ONLY beach packing list you’ll ever need!
Note: be aware that camouflage clothing is prohibited. We were stopped when we arrived at the airport and had to change the camo cargo shorts of our young son before we could leave.
1 Bottom Bay
Despite the crashing waves and deadly riptide, my favorite Barbados beach is on the wild coast — spectacular, postcard-perfect Bottom Bay.
It’s just a short distance from the Crane Beach Hotel, where you can have a fantastic brunch then head out to explore Bottom Bay’s caves, or sit on the beach and enjoy the sounds, smells, and sights of this spectacular beach.
What to Eat in Barbados
- Flying Fish – the national dish of Barbados, usually enjoyed as a “cutter sandwich”
- Conch Fritters – the minced meat of a conch mixed into a seasoned fritter batter made of cornmeal, chopped onions, bell peppers, celery and jalapeños, creole seasoning then deep fried.
- Cou cou – corn meal and okra, similar to grits
- Fresh seafood – swordfish, marlin, mahi mahi, and lobster
Downside
Be aware that camouflage clothing is prohibited. We were stopped when we arrived at the airport and had to change the camo cargo shorts of our young son before we could leave.
Related:
20 Best Islands in the Caribbean. #1 Will Shock You.
22 Things to Do on a Carnival Southern Caribbean Cruise
Are the Beaches of Antigua the Prettiest in the Caribbean? They Just Might Be.
Click below to PIN so you can find Barbados with kids again:
This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer.
About the Author
Patti Morrow
is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
Leave a reply