- Cou-cou and flying fish at a local rum shop.
- Bajan fish cakes from Cheapside Market.
- Oistins fish fry on Friday night: 15 minutes south.
Bridgetown City Guide
The Chamberlain Bridge over the Careenage, Bridgetown, Barbados. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Bridgetown is Barbados' capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site: the historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, with the Careenage marina, Parliament's neo-Gothic buildings, and the world's oldest rum still flowing at Mount Gay. It is compact, walkable and genuinely lived-in.
The essentials: the Parliament Buildings, the Nidhe Israel Synagogue (1654, the oldest in the western hemisphere), and the Mount Gay visitor centre. The Garrison Savannah hosts horse racing since 1845.
What to do in Bridgetown
The historic city
- 1
Parliament Buildings The neo-Gothic seat of the third-oldest parliament in the Commonwealth. - 2
Nidhe Israel Synagogue The 1654 synagogue and museum: Sephardic Barbados. - 3The Careenage The marina inlet: boardwalk bars and the Independence Arch.
- 4
Mount Gay Visitor Centre Rum since 1703: the tour and tasting.
Beyond the centre
- 1
Garrison Savannah Horse racing since 1845, plus the George Washington House. - 2
Carlisle Bay The city beach: calm water, the Boatyard beach club. - 3Cheapside Market The covered market: produce, fish, Bajan breakfast.
Bridgetown Hotel Guide
How to choose the best places to stay in Bridgetown. Verified properties below; for the full list, search live availability on Booking.com.
Mid-range
The Hilton Barbados Resort
On Carlisle Bay, 10 minutes' walk from the centre.
View on Booking.comWhere to eat
Getting there and around
Grantley Adams (BGI) is 25 minutes southeast. ZR vans run everywhere for a flat fare; the Bridgetown bus terminal is the hub. Taxis are unmetered: agree the price first.
Eating in Bridgetown
Fledge Food has a full guide to how Bridgetown eats: its defining dishes and how to order them, street food decoded, the markets, and the neighborhoods to eat in.