Barbados
Barbados is an island in the eastern Caribbean known for calm west-coast beaches, a south coast with restaurants and rum shops, and Atlantic surf at Bathsheba on the east.
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles, in the eastern Caribbean, and English is the everyday language. Its capital, Bridgetown, sits on the southwest coast. The Garrison Historic Area in Bridgetown is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its military buildings show the island's colonial past. The island is small, so most places are a short drive or bus ride apart, and one base can cover both sides of it.
The west and south coasts have sheltered water and beaches with restaurants and rum shops nearby. The east coast faces the open Atlantic, where Bathsheba is known for surf and rough water, so swimming conditions change from one side of the island to the other. December to May brings the drier weather. June to November is hurricane season, so check forecasts before you book. A week gives you time to see both coasts.
Five things to know before Barbados
- Fill in the online immigration and customs form
Barbados asks all arrivals to complete the immigration and customs form online before they arrive, on the government portal. Check the portal for timing and what to show on arrival. Official form
- Choose your coast before you book
The west coast is calm for swimming, the south coast has more bars and cheaper rooms, and the east coast at Bathsheba is for surf and views, not swimming.
- Ride the buses with small change
Government blue buses, private yellow buses and white ZR vans all charge the same flat fare. They cover most of the island from Bridgetown and Speightstown. Getting around
- Pay in either currency, but check the change
Most businesses take both Barbados and US dollars. Ask which currency a price is in, since both use the $ sign, and expect change in Barbados dollars.
- Book around hurricane season
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with most storms from August to October. Buy insurance when you book and check how it handles storm cancellations. Travel insurance
Barbados travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Visa-free stays and the online immigration and customs form.
Read the guideTravel insuranceMedical, evacuation and storm cover to check for Barbados.
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData plans, roaming charges and coverage between islands.
Read the guideMoney and costsBarbados and US dollars, service charges and daily costs.
Read the guideGetting aroundBlue buses, yellow buses, ZR vans and driving on the left.
Read the guide
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- BBD 100
- Food
- BBD 90
- Transport
- BBD 7
- Sights
- Free
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- BBD 300
- Food
- BBD 180
- Transport
- BBD 50
- Sights
- BBD 100
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- BBD 600
- Food
- BBD 300
- Transport
- BBD 150
- Sights
- BBD 250
When to go
- Rainy days
- Best
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Dry, peak seasonJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, peak season
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Dry, breezyFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, breezy
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Dry, sunnyMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Dry, quieterAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, quieter
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Warm, quietMayRain
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- JuneRain17 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Hurricane seasonJuneRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hurricane season
- JulyRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Hot, showersJulyRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, showers
- AugustRain22 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Crop Over endsAugustRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 164 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Crop Over ends
- SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Hurricane peakSeptemberRain
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 150 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hurricane peak
- OctoberRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Storm risk, rainOctoberRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 177 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Storm risk, rain
- NovemberRain21 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Season endsNovemberRain
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 143 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Season ends
- DecemberRain16 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Busy holidaysDecemberRain
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy holidays
Average daily high and low in Bridgetown, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Barbados
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
29
- Feels like
- 34°
- Humidity
- 79%
- Wind
- 31 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Holetown
04:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today30°24°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue30°25°77%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 77%.
- Wed31°25°18%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Thu31°24°48%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 48%.
- Fri31°25°55%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Sat32°25°29%Saturday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 29%.
- Sun32°25°25%Sunday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 25%.
Updated 01:37 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 2 BBD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Barbados FAQ
Do I need a visa for Barbados?
Not with a UK or Canadian passport. Immigration decides how long you can stay on arrival, up to 180 days for Canadians. Complete the online immigration and customs form before you land and carry a return or onward ticket.
Which coast is best in Barbados?
The west coast for calm water and upscale stays, the south coast for nightlife and better-value rooms, and the east coast for surf and scenery. Currents make the east coast unsafe for most swimmers.
When is hurricane season in Barbados?
June 1 to November 30, with the highest risk from August to October. Barbados sits east of most storm tracks, but it is not immune. December to April is driest.
When is Crop Over?
Crop Over is the summer festival that builds through July and ends with Grand Kadooment Day on the first Monday of August. Book rooms early for that week.
Is it easy to get around Barbados without a car?
Yes. Buses and ZR vans run along both main coasts at a flat fare. Taxis are unmetered, so agree the fare first.