Barbados
Caribbean · BRB
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Barbados
Barbados is a strong pick for travelers who want an easy Caribbean beach trip with better dining, nightlife, and local character than a pure fly-and-flop resort stay. Most trips are strongest as a one-base island stay with beach time on both coasts, plus a little time for Bridgetown, Bathsheba, or Oistins rather than a packed sightseeing loop.
Popular For
Things To See
- Bridgetown
- Carlisle Bay
- Bathsheba
- Oistins
- Harrison's Cave
- Crane Beach
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- December through April is the easiest broad season for first visits.
- Barbados is compact enough that one hotel base usually works well.
- The west and south coasts feel different from the east coast, so a short island drive adds useful contrast even on a beach-led trip.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Barbados.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Barbados Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Barbados.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Bridgetown
- Population
- 267,800
- Area
- 430 km²
- Region
- Caribbean
Languages
- English
Currency
Barbadian dollar ($)
BBD
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
106.9
Price level index (US = 100)
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Bridgetown (13.10°N, 59.62°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
14/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 2/100
- Lived safety
- 37/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.811
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.005
- 10-year change
- +0.013
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 1.035
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.297
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1)
- 🏛️
Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison
Inscribed 2011
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 1.1%
- Forest cover
- 14.7%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 3
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 3
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
42/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
83/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There are no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Exercise normal precautions in Barbados. Barbados is generally a safe destination for travelers. Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations. Stay aware of your surroundings. Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching and pickpocketing. Review our travel guidance for Barbados to learn how to prepare for a safe trip. If you decide to travel to Barbados: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Use caution when walking or driving at night. Keep a low profile. Stay aware of your surroundings. Do not display signs of wealth, like expensive watches or jewelry. Do not answer your door at your hotel or residence unless you know who it is. Stay alert in tourist spots. Stay alert when visiting banks or ATMs. Review the Country Security Report for Barbados. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Barbados. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data