Bridgetown

Understand

thumb | 300px | The river bridge at Bridgetown The first English colony on the island was established in 1625 at St James Town seven miles north. The settlement here, from 1628, was initially called Indian Bridge for the structure found crossing the swamp at the river estuary. The colonists set about draining the swamp and found themselves with a better harbour, cultivation land and inland routes than St James Town, so the centre of island affairs shifted here. In 1667 Sir Tobias Bridge arrived as military commander, and it was thought a real smart idea to name the place Bridgetown.

At the centre it has remained, but only for a brief spell 1958-1967 was Bridgetown incorporated as a city. For the rest of its history it has simply been a constituency within the government of Barbados, though with the parliament, political base and big money concentrated here, many islanders might suspect that Bridgetown governs Barbados not the other way round.

Get in

Barbados Airport () is usually shown on departure boards as Bridgetown but it's 8 miles west in Southern Barbados. Most tourists are bussed straight to their beach hotels and don't arrive via the city.

Cruise ships dock at Bridgetown Harbour a mile north of the centre. A swarm of touts, taxis and minibuses await them but the harbour is walking distance to the centre.

Bridgetown is the hub for the island's cheap and convenient buses. Buses from the south coast and airport arrive at Fairchild Bus Terminal, next to O'Neal Bridge south bank of the river. Buses from the west coast arrive at Cheapside or Princess Alice bus terminals, on the north bank half a mile west of O'Neal Bridge. Almost all bus lines terminate in the city, but there are through services between Oistins to the southeast and Speightstown to the north.

Get around

The city centre sights are easy walks. The harbour and Mount Gay rum distillery to the north, and the Garrison Savannah area to the south, are only a mile or so out: but the sun is hot and the roads are busy with poor sidewalks, so take a bus for B$3.50.

Do

Stade's West Indies Rum Distillery, which makes Malibu liqueur, is a mile north on North Brighton Rd. thumb | 300px | 1760 pot still at Mount Gay The Shallow Draught is a small boat harbour just north of the cruise liner terminal and south of Mount Gay Distillery. Many boat trips sail from here, for sight-seeing, snorkelling, fishing, partying and so on - operators offer a mix of trips to capture the widest market and adapt to the seasons. Others sail from the Careenage, south or north bank of the river outlet. (Limited parking, so enquire about hotel pick-ups or take a cab.) Operators include Atlantis (below), Tiami, Silver Moon, Cat and the Fiddle, Seaduced, Calabaza, Jolly Roger (below), Eclipse Fishing, Small Cats, Therapy Charters, IOU Charters, Legacy Fishing and Billfisher III. Scuba diving: the island's scuba shacks are mostly based near sheltered Bridgetown, but will pick up from hotels along the south coast out to Oistins and the west coast up to Speightstown, and from the cruise ship terminal. There's a selection of reefs and wrecks around these coasts, so the programme varies with sea conditions. They all offer basic and specialty training courses, equipment hire, and packages for trained divers. In 2026 typical prices are US$90 for a one-tank dive, $160 for two, with cheaper multi-dive packages. Diving is by small to medium boats, mostly two-tank dives, but from nearby sites they can drop off after a single dive. It's best to call ahead because when a cruise s…

Buy

thumb | 300px | "The 3 W's" commemorated at the cricket ground Street vendors sell beads, shells and the like on the Careenage next to Independence Arch. Savingsplus Supermarket is on St Michael Row, open M-Sa 7AM-7PM. Jordan's Supermarket is on Baxter Rd, open M-Sa 8:30-AM-7PM, Su 9AM-2PM. Cave Shepherd is a general store at 10 Broad St, open M-Sa 8:30AM-5:30PM. Swan Street, a pedestrian mall, has stores selling cheap clothes.

Eat

Mustors is on McGregor St, open 10:30AM-3:30PM. Shanti's Rum & Roti is at 1 Tudor St, open M-Th 10AM-6PM, F Sa 10AM-7:30PM. Tim's on Broad St is open M-Sa 6AM-4PM. Chefette is fast food on Harbour Rd near the bus station, open daily 11AM-10PM. Lobster Alive on Bay St is open daily noon-9PM. Café à la Mer on Bay St is open daily 8AM-8PM. Chattel Kitchen Bar House is at 2 Beckles Rd, corner with Bay St, open M 8AM-5PM, Tu-Sa 8AM-midnight. Coffy’s on Bay St is open M-Sa 11AM-9PM. Sage Bistro on Upper Bay St is open Tu-Su 8AM-4PM. Indian Grill on Upper Bay St is open M-Sa 11AM-4PM. Cuz's Fish Stand is on Aquatic Gap next to the Radisson, open Su-F 11:30AM-5:30PM, Sa 9AM-4PM.

Drink

City Bar is on Suttle St. Freedom Park Lounge is on Jordan Lane. Savvy on the Bay is on Bay St. Famous Bird Bar is south end of Bay St.

Sleep

thumb | 300px | George Washington stayed here for £15 / month Not much accommodation in Bridgetown, most visitors stay in the beach-strip hotels to the south or along the west coast.

Go next

All the island public transport converges on Bridgetown, so you can reach anywhere on the island, though services are infrequent on the less-populated east coast. Leaving Barbados means a trip to the airport, unless you've come by cruise ship or your own boat.