This Gorgeous Caribbean Island Has Pink-sand Beaches and Luxury Resorts — and You Can Drive All the Way Around It in Under 4 Hours

Here's what you need to know before planning a trip to Barbados.

Home to the so-called "Platinum Coast," Barbados is nothing short of a paradise island, a destination with sand so white and powdery it seems to shine. However, the most easterly island in the Caribbean is more than just a destination for savoring a rum punch with toes in the sand.

"It's an island perfect for doing something different every day or doing nothing at all; Barbados really speaks to a range of different experiences," says Patricia Affonso-Dass, CEO of the Barbadian-owned Ocean Hotels Group behind the luxe properties O2 Beach Club & Spa, The Rockley Hotel, and Sea Breeze Beach House.

Everything from world-class surfing and hiking to wreck diving and a particularly impressive culinary scene will make getting outside of the confines of your resort the highlight of a trip to Barbados. Events like the increasingly buzzy Barbados Food and Rum Festival and the Crop Over Festival are worth traveling for, offering a taste of the local life that few visitors to the Caribbean get to see.

Barbados

• The Rockley Hotel: A new luxury boutique resort with a unique "Dine and Sign" program encourages guests to try the area's best local restaurants.

• Bajan Cuisine: Barbados is a culinary destination to be savored, with cuisine ranging from the ubiquitous fish cutter sandwich to innovative and eco-driven tasting menus.

• The Cliff: Spectacular oceanfront views and elevated local fare make this one of the island's most impressive fine dining destinations.

• The East Coast: The island's wild East Coast is a surf haven packed with untouched natural beauty.

• Crop Over Festival: Over a month's worth of colorful celebrations make this a cultural experience worth planning your trip around.

Best Hotels & Resorts

The Rockley Hotel

New boutique resort The Rockley Hotel from the family-owned Ocean Hotels Group reads like a love letter to Barbados. Located on the island's South Coast, it features thoughtful Caribbean design, artwork commissioned especially for the property from local artists, and a high-touch, personalized guest experience, including curated island tours. Its inventive "Dine and Sign" program encourages guests to get out to local restaurants in the lively St. Lawrence Gap, with the convenience of charging meals directly to their rooms.

O2 Beach Club & Spa

Contemporary luxury meets colorful Caribbean vibes at O2 Beach Club & Spa. Lounge poolside under vibrant pink and orange umbrellas or take in breathtaking blue ocean hues from the rooftop pool or the full-service Acqua Spa located on the 8th floor, home to the only hammam spa on the island.

The House by Elegant Hotels

The all-suite, adults-only The House by Elegant Hotels is our idea of the perfect secluded spot for a romantic getaway in Barbados. Personalized ambassador service and a complimentary massage come standard at what is among our top picks for the best all-inclusive resorts in Barbados.

The Crane Resort

One of the Caribbean's first hotels expertly weaves historic elegance with modern luxury to make it one of the most impressive spots in Barbados, even 150 years later. First opened in 1887, The Crane Resort sits perched cliffside on the southeastern coast, lifted above the powdery pink-sand Crane Beach, and features 318 suites, residences, and new oceanfront villas.

Coral Reef Club

The 88 rooms, cottages, and spacious suites at Coral Reef Club embody the classic Caribbean elegance of a historic family home. The lush and meticulously kept 12-acre property bursts with bougainvillea and frangipani, meeting the impossibly white sand of the island's Platinum Coast.

Best Things to Do

Sample Bajan cuisine.

Insiders frequently name Barbados among the culinary capitals of the Caribbean, home to long-held local favorites like fish cutters and elevated fine dining with Bajan master chefs. Locals name the Friday night Oistins Fish Fry a must for local bites, while Platinum Coast fine dining eateries highlight innovative local chefs.

Attend the Crop Over Festival.

Barbados is home to one of the most vibrant celebrations in the Caribbean, dating back to the 18th century and marking the end of the sugar cane harvest. Today, the Crop Over Festival is marked by over 100+ parties, parades, and experiences stretching for more than a month and culminating in the Grand Kadooment on the first Monday in August.

Hit the beach.

There are plenty of ways to do a beach day in Barbados. Beach club La Cabane is worth a visit for an easygoing afternoon, making Travel + Leisure's list of the best places to visit in the Caribbean for its delicious bites and a rum punch that tops the list of the island's best. More adventurous beachgoers should try snorkeling, diving, or taking a journey in the Atlantis Submarine past shipwrecks and colorful corals.

Try surfing.

Dedicated surfers will know that the churning swells on the eastern Atlantic side of Barbados make this a world-class destination for catching a wave. The island is also a perfect destination to try sports like wind foiling and kitesurfing. Small, affordable surf schools line many beaches and take advantage of more manageable waves even beginners can enjoy.

Explore Harrison's Cave.

Dramatic stalactites and stalagmites are just one reason the limestone caverns at Harrison's Caves are "well worth the hype," says Charita Jordan, director of hotel sales and marketing at The Crane Resort. A tram tour through the cave makes it accessible, transporting visitors through the extensive cave system and past subterranean waterfalls, while ziplining awaits at the adventure park.

Best Restaurants

The Cliff

One of the best fine dining restaurants on the island, The Cliff curates a creative seafood-centric menu combining Bajan favorites with Asian flare. With sunset views from a spacious patio suspended over the ocean, "it has been one of the top restaurants in Barbados for many years," affirms local expert Sophia Babb, general manager of the all-inclusive Marriott International properties in Barbados, including The House, Treasure Beach, and Tamarind.

Cuzz's Fish Stand

The long line of patrons at this simple, colorful shack hidden off of Pebbles Beach in Bridgetown might be the only thing that gives away that Cuzz's Fish Stand is "internationally renowned for having the best fish sandwich anywhere in Barbados," says Jordan. Every local expert interviewed for this guide named it among their must-visit spots to eat on the island.

Camelot at Cobblers Cove

The luxury Platinum Coast resort of Cobblers Cove is home to Camelot, one of the best places to eat in Barbados. The kitchen is headed by Jason Joseph, a leader of a new wave of chefs "creating a new Bajan cuisine," says Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon in a T+L guide to the island's thriving culinary scene.

Chicken Rita's

Over 30 years ago, Rita Callendar started selling fried chicken out of her garage on the South Coast of Barbados. Today, Chicken Rita's still has some of the most flavorful fried chicken and local bites on the island in a no-frills spot owned and operated by the founder's daughters.

Sea Shed Restaurant

Sea Shed Restaurant has a "low-key beach vibe and a large menu with local dishes that makes it one of the most popular restaurants in Barbados," says Babb. Its location directly on the white sands of Mullins Beach is unbeatable.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Barbados is between December and early April, when the skies and seas are the clearest and calmest. Visitors during these months will enjoy the ultimate beach weather, though crowds are larger during what is also the busiest season of the year for tourism.

Visit during the off-season, between May and November, for much more affordable rates at hotels and resorts. Though the island has historically been spared from most hurricanes due to its position in the Caribbean, storms can still occur during the Atlantic hurricane season from early June to the end of November. Even when there are no hurricanes, the island still experiences frequent rains during these months.

Visit in late July or early August to participate in some of the festivities of the Crop Over Festival. Celebrations culminate at the Grand Kadooment on the first Monday of every August.

October marks the multi-day Barbados Food and Rum Festival, an increasingly buzzy event with an impressive lineup of happenings scheduled around the island. November brings the Barbados Independence Surf Festival to the rugged East Coast as well as Independence Day celebrations culminating in a parade at the end of the month.

How to Get There

Despite being the most easterly island in the Caribbean, Barbados is relatively well-connected by flights from across the Americas and Europe. The island's only international airport, Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI), is located in Christ Church on the country's South Coast and is a relatively short drive to the most popular resort areas on the island's southern and western coasts.

Barbados has daily direct flights from many major cities on the East Coast of the United States. New daily flights introduced last fall from Delta's Atlanta hub make it even easier to access the island.

Places to Visit

Barbados is just a fraction of the size of Los Angeles, with a drive around the whole island taking just around four hours. However, each coast of the island offers a dramatically different feel.

West Coast

Calmer seas and clearer waters on the Caribbean side of the island have earned the West Coast of Barbados the moniker of "the Platinum Coast." This is only partly due to the white sands; upscale luxury resorts and plush private villas provide the rest of the shine. The West Coast is also home to the historic city of Holetown.

South Coast

Some of the newest and nicest resorts in Barbados are clustered on the island’s South Coast, where turquoise waters and white sands meet a flush of cool restaurants and beach clubs. Between the West Coast and South Coast sits Bridgetown, the island's capital, contributing to the livelier feel of this part of the island. Can't-miss spots are the pink-sand Crane Beach and bustling St. Lawrence Gap, or simply "The Gap," packed with restaurants and nightlife.

East Coast

Rock pools, soaring cliffs, and Atlantic Ocean waves make the East Coast of Barbados no place for swimming. However, this rugged coastline has nurtured an impressive surf culture and offers stunning vistas. "No visit to Barbados is complete without exploring the East Coast," says Affonso-Dass.

North Coast

Rocky and rugged, the North Coast is little developed but worth a visit. Particularly impressive are the Animal Flower Cave, home to dramatic rock pools with sea anemones and tube worms, and the cliffside restaurant with local fare and great views.

How to Get Around

Rental Cars and Taxis

“If you're visiting Barbados for at least four or five days, you'll definitely want to rent a car," says Affonso-Dass, “even if it's just for a part of your stay.” Numerous local and international car rental companies make it easy, and a strong network of roads crossing the island makes it quick and safe to explore on your own — just make sure to stay on the left side of the road. Taxis are also available almost anywhere.

Buses

Taking a local ZR minibus can feel a little hectic, but that's part of the adventure when traveling along the affordable fixed routes that crisscross the island. More formal bus routes also reach every part of the island and run on more predictable timetables.

Rideshare

There's no Uber or Lyft in Barbados; instead, download pickUP Barbados for a local rideshare experience that is an affordable alternative to taxis or a stress-free option for those who don't want to drive across the island themselves.

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