Caribbean · North America

Barbados

Discover Barbados - the birthplace of rum, home of Rihanna, where cricket is religion and the Atlantic coast meets Caribbean calm on one small coral island.

Where Is Barbados?

Barbados is a country in the Caribbean, North America. Its capital is Bridgetown.

Where Barbados isCaribbean · Capital Bridgetown

Capital Bridgetown
Population 283K
Area 430 km²

Barbados is the Caribbean island that has always done things a little differently. The easternmost island in the chain, it sits out in the Atlantic rather than tucked into the Caribbean Sea, which gives it a wilder east coast of crashing waves and a calm west coast of turquoise calm. It is the birthplace of rum - Mount Gay Distillery has been producing it since 1703, making it the oldest commercial rum brand in the world. And it is the only Caribbean island that was continuously British from settlement to independence, giving it a cricket culture so deep that producing Sir Garfield Sobers feels almost inevitable.

Bajans, as Barbadians call themselves, have a reputation for being the most welcoming people in the Caribbean, which is saying something. The island is just 34 kilometers long and 23 wide, but it packs in over 280,000 people, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the Americas. Bridgetown's UNESCO-listed historic center, the Friday night fish fry at Oistins, the surf breaks at Bathsheba, and the platinum coast beaches have made Barbados a destination for everyone from backpackers to billionaires. And yes, Rihanna is from here - she is a national hero, literally, appointed by the government in 2021.

At a glance

Language

English (& Bajan Creole)

Currency

Barbadian Dollar (BBD)

Calling Code

+1-246

Drives On

Left

Internet

.bb

Timezone

AST (UTC-4)

Script

Latin

Government

Parliamentary Republic

Independence

1966

By population

Largest cities in Barbados

Bridgetown

Capital city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the oldest town in Barbados with a bustling harbor, colonial architecture, and the famous Careenage waterfront

110,000

Speightstown

Historic port town on the north coast, once called Little Bristol, with charming colonial buildings and a quieter alternative to the south coast

3,500

Oistins

Fishing town on the south coast famous for its legendary Friday night fish fry, where locals and visitors feast on fresh catch under the stars

2,500

Holetown

Site of the first English settlement in 1627 on the west coast, now a charming town with upscale dining and the famous Lime Grove shopping center

1,800

People

Famous people from Barbados

Rihanna
Music
Global pop superstar and billionaire entrepreneur from Bridgetown, appointed a National Hero of Barbados in 2021 as the country became a republic
Sir Garfield Sobers
Sport
Widely considered the greatest all-round cricketer who ever lived, he hit six sixes in one over and dominated world cricket for two decades
Errol Barrow
Politics
Father of Barbadian independence who led the country to sovereignty in 1966 and shaped its modern democratic institutions
Kamau Brathwaite
Literature
Nobel Prize-nominated poet and historian who pioneered the concept of nation language and transformed Caribbean literary expression

Food

Traditional cuisine of Barbados

Cou-Cou and Flying Fish: National dish of cornmeal and okra cooked into a smooth mound served with flying fish in a rich tomato-based Bajan sauce
Macaroni Pie: Barbadian baked macaroni and cheese that is more like a firm pie than pasta, a beloved side dish at every Bajan Sunday lunch
Pudding and Souse: Saturday tradition of steamed sweet potato pudding served with pickled pork in a tangy lime and cucumber sauce
Fish Cakes: Crispy fried balls of seasoned saltfish mixed with herbs and flour, the ultimate Bajan street snack sold from roadside vendors
Rum Punch: Barbados claims to be the birthplace of rum, and Bajan rum punch is a precise art - one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak

Nature

Nature and landmarks in Barbados

Harrison's CaveLandmark: Spectacular crystallized limestone cavern with flowing streams, cascading waterfalls, and cathedral-like chambers deep underground
BathshebaCoast: Dramatic Atlantic coast with massive boulder formations rising from the surf, a world-class surfing destination and hauntingly beautiful landscape
Animal Flower CaveLandmark: Sea cave at the northernmost tip of Barbados with natural rock pools, sea anemones, and stunning views of the Atlantic through cave openings
Welchman Hall GullyForest: Collapsed cave system transformed into a lush tropical forest trail with green monkeys, breadfruit trees, and towering palms

Sport

Sports in Barbados

Cricket: Barbados has produced more world-class cricketers per capita than any country, including Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Frank Worrell
Surfing: The Soup Bowl at Bathsheba hosts international surfing competitions, with powerful Atlantic swells making it the best surf break in the Caribbean
Horse Racing: The Garrison Savannah racecourse has hosted horse racing since 1845, making it one of the oldest tracks in the western hemisphere

Facts

Did you know?

Barbados is the birthplace of rum - Mount Gay Distillery has been in operation since 1703, the oldest commercial rum producer in the world
The island's name comes from the Portuguese word barbados meaning bearded ones, likely referring to the island's bearded fig trees
Barbados became a republic in November 2021, replacing Queen Elizabeth II with a Barbadian president while remaining in the Commonwealth
Rihanna was declared a National Hero of Barbados at the republic ceremony, standing alongside independence leader Errol Barrow
Flying fish are so central to Barbadian culture that the country is nicknamed the Land of the Flying Fish
Barbados has one of the oldest parliamentary democracies in the world, with its House of Assembly established in 1639

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