Bridgetown
Visit Barbados’ capital on Carlisle Bay for UNESCO-listed history, central landmarks, a working harbor and a beach close to the city.
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Bridgetown is the capital and largest city of Barbados, on the island’s southwestern coast beside Carlisle Bay. Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. Broad Street, the main shopping street, passes the Parliament Buildings. Nearby are National Heroes Square, Independence Arch and the Careenage, a canal used by pleasure craft and fishing boats. Sights include the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael and All Angels, Nidhe Israel Synagogue and George Washington House in the Garrison Historic Area. The Barbados Museum, Queen’s Park and Pelican Village and Craft Centre are also in or near the city.
Carlisle Bay Beach is close to the center, and Kensington Oval is in Bridgetown. The tropical savanna climate brings fairly constant temperatures, cooled by trade winds. The drier season runs from January through May; the wet season runs from June through December. The drier months are generally the more comfortable time to visit. Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados’s only airport, is about 16 km southeast of the city center and has daily flights to the UK, US, Canada and the Caribbean.
Bridgetown in five
- Use Fairchild Street terminal for buses east and southBuses for the east and south leave from Fairchild Street Bus Terminal, near Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
- Take northbound buses from Princess AliceBuses to Holetown and Speightstown leave from Princess Alice Bus Terminal, west of the center.
- Drive on the leftDrive on the left in Barbados. The speed limit is 60 km/h in built-up areas and generally 80 km/h on the ABC Highway outside them.
- Check your device voltageThe island supply is 115 volts AC at 50 cycles; most hotels also have 220-volt supply. Check your device before plugging it in.
- Dial seven digits for local callsBarbados uses country code +1 246 followed by seven digits. For local calls, dial only the seven digits.
Need to know
- Currency
- Barbadian dollar (BBD)
- Entry
- Entry rules depend on your passport; check with Barbados Immigration Read more
- Emergency
- 211 police, 311 fire, 511 ambulance
- Tipping
- Check whether a service charge is included; tipping is discretionary
- Time
- UTC−4, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryDrier season
- FebruaryDrier season
- MarchDrier season
- AprilDrier season
- MayDrier season
- JuneWet season
- JulyWet season
- AugustWet season
- SeptemberWet season
- OctoberWet season
- NovemberWet season
- DecemberWet season
Right now in Bridgetown
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 33°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 23 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Bridgetown
06:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today30°25°100%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue30°26°76%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Wed31°26°24%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 24%.
- Thu31°25°33%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Fri30°26°22%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Sat31°26°4%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sun31°26°4%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 4%.
Updated 05:39 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
Before you go to Bridgetown
Rules for Bridgetown, checked
- Check Barbados entry requirements for your passport with Barbados Immigration before you travel.Source
- Drive on the left; the speed limit is 60 km/h in built-up areas.
- Check your device voltage before plugging it in: hotel rooms may have 220-volt supply, while the island supply is 115 volts AC.
- Water transport is regulated by the Barbados Port Authority.
Plan around Bridgetown
Bus terminals, route taxis and travel around the island
Read the guideBarbados entry rulesCheck entry requirements for your passport
Read the guideWhere to stay in BarbadosChoose a base for a Bridgetown visit
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, cash and budgeting basics
Read the guidePhones and eSIMPlan mobile data for your trip
Read the guideBridgetown FAQ
How many days do you need in Bridgetown?
A day gives you time to see Broad Street, the Parliament Buildings, National Heroes Square and the Careenage. The Garrison Historic Area, Carlisle Bay Beach and the Barbados Museum are other places to visit.
Is Bridgetown worth visiting?
Bridgetown is a good choice for a visit focused on Barbados’s history. Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and city landmarks include the Parliament Buildings, the Careenage and Nidhe Israel Synagogue.
How do you get from Grantley Adams International Airport to Bridgetown?
The airport is about 16 km southeast of the city center. Check current transport options with the airport or Barbados transport authorities before you travel.
Which bus terminal should I use in Bridgetown?
Use Princess Alice Bus Terminal for buses north to places such as Holetown and Speightstown. Buses for the east and south leave from Fairchild Street Bus Terminal.
What is the best time to visit Bridgetown?
The drier season runs from January through May. The wet season runs from June through December, and trade winds cool the city throughout the year.
What is Bridgetown called by locals?
Locals often call Bridgetown “Town.” Broad Street, National Heroes Square and the Careenage are central landmarks.