Is Barbados Worth Visiting? 7 Reasons I Love It (and 4 Things to Consider)

Are you planning a trip to the Caribbean and asking the question, is Barbados worth visiting? With dreamy, tropical waters, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture, my short answer is yes!

While I am biased to my birthplace, I also grew up in the States and I will share some areas that Barbados may fall short in certain categories. I still think this small island nation is worth visiting, but there are some things to consider. After all, having healthy expectations is always good no matter where you choose to go!

Let’s set out to answer, is Barbados worth visiting and I’ll review some things to consider if you’re still on the fence.

You may also like:

• Is Barbados Safe? Insights from Locals
• 7 Days in Barbados | Relaxation, Adventure & Culture
• Barbados vs Hawaii | Which Should You Choose?

4 | Incredible Food & Drink

One of the best ways to experience Barbados is through its food. The island’s national dish is flying fish and cou-cou. My favorite Bajan dish is simply a fish cutter with either flying fish or mahi! I crave it and the salt bread is not available here so it can’t be truly replicated.

If you love tropical fruits, you’ll find everything from Barbados cherries and mango to juicy pineapple and soursop, often served fresh or in delicious local desserts. I have wonderful memories of enjoying Barbados cherries that my Grannie made into a cherry ice!

Rum lovers, Barbados is definitely worth visiting! Barbados is the birthplace of rum, and visiting one of its famous distilleries like Mount Gay or Foursquare is a great way to taste history. You can take a tour, learn about the rum-making process, and sample some of the island’s finest pours.

I’ve noticed people mention roti a lot when visiting. However, it’s not one of the Bajan dishes as it’s actually a Trinidadian dish. My mum is from Trinidad and I can vouch for the fact it’s 10 of 10! So even though it’s not Bajan, it’s definitely something worth getting while in Barbados. If you’re not familiar, it’s basically a flatbread with a curry filling. I usually get chicken and potato, or channa (chick peas) and potato, but there are more options!

Whether you’re a foodie or just hungry after a day of exploring, Barbados has something to satisfy every craving. Casual spots, Friday night at Oistins fish fry or upscale dining with ocean views!

Book the Discover Rum Barbados Tour or
Original Bajan Walking Food Tour

5 | Outdoor Activities & Adventure

Spending your day lounging on the beach is always welcome on a tropical island, but Barbados has more to offer than just the idyllic beaches! If you love snorkeling or diving, there are colorful coral reefs and shipwrecks to explore. I’ve enjoyed snorkeling with the sea turtles on a catamaran tour, but I definitely want to snorkel or dive the reef on my next visit!

The east coast is where all the advanced surfers go, and I enjoyed beginner surf lessons in Barbados on the south coast! There is also a beach on the south coast with great conditions for wind and kite surfing. And if you want to rent a jet ski or go parasailing, the west is the coast for you.

Not into water sports? No problem! You can go on a hike or bike tour, or visit the Barbados Wildlife Reserve to see local critters up close. Enjoy Hunte’s Gardens or explore Animal Flower Cave.

Barbados mixes relaxation with adventure perfectly — whatever your pace, you’ll find something to fill 7 days in Barbados.

Book the Barbados Island Tour with Lunch and Wildlife Sanctuary or Hunte’s Garden and St Nicholas Abbey small group Barbados tour

6 | Accommodations at Every Price Point

While Barbados isn’t a cheap destination, it’s still possible to visit without blowing your budget. There are accommodations at every price point and home rentals in various sizes. Regardless of your budget, there is an accommodation option for you, which isn’t always the case when it comes to Caribbean islands!

If you time your visit well, you can also get better deals by avoiding peak season. Whether you’re a family, a couple, or even a solo traveller there is a hotel, resort or home rental for you!

7 | Friendly, Welcoming People

Generally speaking, Bajans are chill and kind! They aren’t in a rush, and will be happy to help if called upon.

There’s a video that has circulated for years of a sweet Barbadian man giving directions (I found it and posted it below). He offers help in the truest of Bajan ways mentioning landmarks and more details than one could remember to ensure they reach their desired destination successfully.

Of course, generalizations aren’t true of everyone and anyone can just be having a bad day, but for the most part you will find Bajans to be welcoming and kind! When asking, is Barbados worth visiting, the people are a wonderful reason to venture outside of the resorts!

Possible Downsides (and How to Handle Them)

Service

Americans are used to a level of service that is not replicated in rest of the world. While this doesn’t bother me, it can be a disappointment, especially if you are paying a lot of money at a resort. I do have my annoyances about the tipping in the States, but the service industry here is still among the best.

I’m not saying you won’t encounter excellent service, but generally speaking it won’t be at the level at which Americans are accustomed. If you are from the States, go with healthy expectations and know you’re on island time now! Grab a rum punch or some coconut water and stay relaxed.

Cost

Yes, Barbados can be pricey, but the same is true for most Caribbean islands. However, there are ways to save money on your island getaway to Barbados. With accommodations at every price point, you can find one in your budget.

Food isn’t cheap, but there are ways around that as well! One option is to enjoy seafood while on the island! A good fish sandwich in the States is hard to find and the one I found and LOVE costs me $18 USD! In Barbados, I’ll pay half of that for a delicious fish cutter from Cuz!

Generally speaking though, Barbados isn’t a cheap destination.

Densely Populated

Barbados is one of the most densely populated places on earth. While this small island, 14 miles by 21 miles, has some less developed areas, it’s still packed with people. Combine high season tourists and it can feel very crowded!

If you’re wanting to escape the crowds, Barbados may not be the island to choose. It’s better if you want to enjoy paradise and also get exposed to a new culture.

Hurricane Season

Similar to Florida and the rest of the Caribbean, you have to consider hurricane season. While Barbados does get hit on occasion, it’s far enough south and the eastern most island in the Caribbean that it’s often skipped over! Of course, if you plan to visit between June and November, it’s important to check the weather before leaving on your trip.

So is Barbados worth visiting during hurricane season? Yes, because I don’t think it matters too much as long as you keep your eyes on the weather before your trip.

Visiting in September and October is the only true off season in Barbados, so there’s usually better deals. Of course, some restaurants take off during this time, and some hotels will do renovations, so keep that in mind.

Summer months are low season and again, hurricanes are rare. Unlike in September and October, everything should be open!