A little more
Barbados.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Barbados: what to know before you go

Barbados is a coral island at the eastern edge of the Caribbean, with calm, sheltered beaches on the west coast and Atlantic surf on the east. It has a long British colonial history, a rum-making tradition going back centuries, and a lively food and music culture. It suits beach holidays, cricket fans and travellers who like a well-organised island.

Where to go

• Bridgetown and its Garrison. The capital's historic centre and the nearby military Garrison are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Parliament Buildings, old warehouses on the Careenage and the Garrison Savannah, a racecourse since the nineteenth century.
• Harrison's Cave. A large limestone cave in the centre of the island, explored on a tram tour past stalactites, stalagmites and underground streams and pools.
• Bathsheba. A village on the rugged east coast, where huge rocks sit in the surf.
• Carlisle Bay. A sheltered bay south of Bridgetown with clear water and several shallow shipwrecks, popular for snorkelling and swimming with turtles.

Best time to visit

The dry season from December to April is the most popular and expensive time, with sunny weather and lower humidity. May and June are quieter and still largely dry.

Staying online in Barbados

Mobile coverage is generally good across Barbados, with 4G in most areas and strongest in the west and south. Signal can weaken in some valleys in the interior and in parts of the rugged east coast. Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and common in cafés and restaurants. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land so maps and messaging work from the airport.