BridgetownCapital
Barbados · Country profile
Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados, the colourful historic port on the western coast of the island that has been the hub of the Caribbean trade for four centuries and the seat of the government and the life of the nation. The town, with its harbour, its parliament buildings, its careenage and its painted buildings of the colonial era, is a world heritage site that combines the working waterfront with the elegance of the old Bridgetown, and the city spreads its markets, its churches and its busy commercial streets across the flat of the coast. The parliament of the island, among the oldest of the hemisphere, and the great synagogue of the town anchor the civic history, while the beaches, the hotels and the yacht marinas of the surrounding coast run the modern Caribbean life. Warm, friendly and proudly independent, Bridgetown is the small, personable capital of one of the most prosperous islands of the region.
About Bridgetown
Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados. The city's documented population is around 110,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Barbadian Dollar (BBD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1246. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Grantley Adams International Airport.
The Historic Port Capital of the Independence
Bridgetown is a small, walkable Caribbean capital that mixes the busy working port with the painted colonial heritage of the old town. The parliament, the careenage and the museum of the town anchor the historic circuit, while the markets and the streets run the friendly, easygoing life of the island. The surrounding coast, with its beaches, its hotels and its food, frames the holiday side of the stay. It is a genuine, living capital rather than a tourist set-piece, and its scale, its warmth and its history repay an easy hour of wandering before the beaches take over.
The Barbados Dollar, the Dry Season and the Beaches
The climate is tropical and warm all year, with the dry season of the winter and the early spring the most pleasant window and the hurricane season of the summer and the autumn a real factor of the planning. The historic town, the parliament and the museum are the essential circuit, and the beaches and the coast of the region fill the rest. The Barbadian dollar is the currency, the English is the language and the cards work widely, with the cash useful at the markets and the stalls. The island is safe and the town is easy to explore on foot, with the buses and the taxis covering the wider coastal spread.
The Parliament, the Careenage and the Garrison District
The parliament buildings of the town, among the oldest legislative houses of the western hemisphere, and the careenage, the inner harbour where the boats and the tourist schooners tie up in the heart of the city, anchor the historic circuit of the capital. The museum of the town, housed in the former military prison, tells the story of the island from the slavery to the independence, and the great synagogue of the jewish community, restored and reopened, one of the oldest of the Caribbean congregations. The garrison, the old military district at the edge of the town where the museum and the fort stand within the world heritage, and the swing bridge of the centre complete the visit, while the boardwalk of the coast runs the modern promenade life.
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- Country
- Barbados
- Population
- 110,000
- Coordinates
- 13.0746, -59.4925
- Capital
- Bridgetown
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- Barbadian Dollar (BBD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1246
- Country code
- BB
Entry requirements for Barbados
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Barbados for tourism.
Getting to Bridgetown
Airports we list for Bridgetown:
Frequently asked questions
Is Bridgetown the capital of Barbados?
Yes — Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados.
What currency do I need in Bridgetown?
The local currency is the Barbadian Dollar (BBD). Languages spoken in Barbados include English.
What is the dialling code for Barbados?
The international dialling code for Barbados is +1246.
Which airport should I fly into for Bridgetown?
Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) is the airport we list for Bridgetown.
Do I need a visa to visit Barbados?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Barbados visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Bridgetown? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.