Barbados holidays - where the rum's always flowing, the beaches are always ready to party, and the seafood's always straight-off-the-boat fresh.

Holidays to Barbados 2026 highlights

• The official birthplace of rum, so the punch is always 10/10

• Over 80 pristine white beaches to drop your towel on

• Legendary Friday night fish frys at Oistins that hit different

• Swim with friendly sea turtles before you’ve even had breakfast

Good to Know

• 🤩 Fun Fact: Both Rum, and the grapefruit, were invented in Barbados! That's breakfast sorted!

• 🏖️ Best Beach: Barbados has more than 80 beaches, all of them are great but our fav is Crane Beach. Pink-hued sand, turquoise waters and gentle waves - that's what we're talking about!

• 🍺 Price of a pint: Typically around 10 to 15 Barbadian Dollars - so between £4 and £6 depending on where you're bagging one.

Why we love Barbados holidays

• The beaches are perfection 🏖️ – Over 70 miles of white and pink-hued sand? Yes, please! Whether you're after family-friendly paddling spots or rugged surf beaches, Barbados has you sorted.

• Birthplace of rum 🍹 – Honestly, we should all be sending Barbados a thank you card for this one. Mojitos,  Rum and Ginger, The pirates of the Caribbean! All owe their existence to this island.

• Ridiculously good weather ☀️ – We're talking year-round sunshine with temps hovering around a toasty 28°C. Even in the "cooler" months (and we use that term loosely), you're still getting proper beach weather.

• Outside the hurricane belt 🌴 – While other Caribbean islands are sweating it during hurricane season, Barbados is chilling just south of all the drama.

• Water sports heaven 🤿 – Snorkelling with sea turtles? Surfing world-class waves? Diving shipwrecks? Windsurfing and kitesurfing till the sun goes down? Barbados has got the lot. Whether you're a total beginner or a water sports pro, the conditions here are absolutely brilliant.

What are the best beaches in Barbados?

You say Barbados holidays, we think beaches. It's just a reflex at this point, but type 'Barbados' on any search engine and we guarantee it'll pull up a load of white, sandy goodness. It's kind of what the place is known for! If you're ready to beach-hop like your life depends on it (we always are), give these sandy stretches a try:

• Carlisle Bay - think powdery-soft sands, a bay docked with boujee yachts and catamarans, and an underwater marine park with six shipwrecks and a load of colourful marine life. Total Finding Nemo vibes.

• Crane Beach - considered one of the most beaut beaches on the island, this Insta-worthy spot is a fave with honeymooners, and it's a prime spot for bodyboarding!

• Bottom Bay - not to be confused with Bikini Bottom from Spongebob (although it's just as colourful and cool), this wide beach is tucked away along the south coast and is a popular for picnicking and turtle-spotting

• Silver Sands - a blustery beach with little tide pools for the kiddos, and perfect conditions for the windsurfing and kitesurfing crowd

• Mullins Beach - ideal for quiet beach days, this stretch has cool, refreshing waters for all your swimming (and sealife-spotting) needs, along with some great shady spots under the palm trees, and handy facilities like toilets, showers and changing rooms

• Accra Beach - a fave with both tourists and locals, thanks to its tiki bars, craft kiosks, breezy boardwalk and best-of-both-worlds combo of exciting waves and calm swimming conditions

• Bathsheba Beach - windswept and wild, this rugged corner of coast is a bit different to the airbrushed beaches of the west. It's not recommended for swimming, but there are some natural coral pools that serve as mother nature's Jacuzzi if you fancy kicking back with a rum punch

• Brownes Beach - a half-mile stretch of creamy, white sand, watersports galore, shallow waters ideal for paddling kiddos, and beach bars dotted all along the shore

What are the top hotels to stay at on your holidays to Barbados?

Of course the beaches are the star of the show around these parts (as they should be), and we've handpicked some of the top hotels that'll have you going from bed to sand in a jiffy. And, if you want an all-inclusive holiday to Barbados, you can quite literally have it all. With tropical landscapes, refreshing pools and delish food cooked up right on site, get a load of these hotspots:

• Savannah Beach Club - located right near the beach (obvs), with two pools to dunk into, a kids' club for the youngsters and a delish sushi and noodle bar on site

• Coconut Court Beach - tropical by name, tropical by nature, this beachfront hotel has paddling pools for the kids, Caribbean cocktails for the adults, and activities for everyone

• The Club Barbados - Adult Only - a kid-free, beachfront paradise with pool games galore (who said adults can't have their fun?), a seafront restaurant and nightly entertainment

• Butterfly Beach Hotel - apart from totally winning the prettiest hotel name award (come on?!), this place is serving up a beachfront location, an adults-only pool and entertainment in the form of live music, karaoke nights and rum parties

• Sea Breeze Beach House - a boutique-style hotel overlooking the sea, with three pools to dunk into, a beachfront restaurant, tons of activities, and a café that serves rum-infused coffee

• Dover Beach Hotel - a family-owned hotel right by the beach, with a refreshing pool area, a poolside restaurant and an on-site spa for the ultimate pamper sesh

• Turtle Beach by Elegant Hotels - an all-suite hotel with pools for the whole fam, plenty of sports, a beachfront restaurant and an ice cream parlour for all your sweet cravings

• Time Out Hotel - a chilled hotel with cosy accommodation just a hop away from the beach

Barbados holidays 2026 travel guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Things to do in Barbados for families

If you want to earn major brownie points with the kiddos, Barbados is the answer. From pirate ships to turtle spotting, the island is packed with adventures that will have the little ones buzzing (and you relaxing) on your next family holiday.

• Brownes Beach - the waters are calm and crystal clear here - perfect for a paddle or a cheeky snorkelling sesh to spot the friendly sea turtles.

• Jolly Roger Pirate Ship - channel your inner Jack Sparrow on this swashbuckling cruise complete with rope swings, plank walking and zero stress.

• The Boatyard Club - a total winner for a full day out - think ocean trampolines, rope swings and a restaurant to keep the hunger pangs at bay.

• Harrison’s Cave - go underground on a tram tour to explore these epic crystallised limestone caverns.

❤️ Things to do in Barbados for couples

Forget the cliché rose petals on the bed; romance in Barbados is about barefoot beach strolls and sunsets that look like a filter. Whether you want to get active or just flop on a massage table, the vibes on your next couples' holiday will be completely unmatched.

• Animal Flower Cave - located at the island's northern tip, this spot offers dramatic ocean views that are 100% Insta-worthy.

• Sunset Catamaran Cruise - level up date night with a glass of bubbly in hand as you sail into the golden hour -pure magic.

• Rum Distillery Tours - tour the birthplace of rum and sample the goods - just remember to book a taxi back to the hotel!

• Couples Beach Massage - listen to the waves while getting pampered in a beachside hut - it doesn't get more relaxed than that.

🥳 Things to do in Barbados for groups

Whether it is a stag do, a hen party, or just the squad finally making it out of the group chat, Barbados delivers the goods. It is equal parts high-energy adventure and chilled-out bliss.

• Boozy Boat Trips - the ultimate crowd-pleaser - music, drinks, snorkelling stops and good times on the open sea.

• Jeep Safaris - buckle up for a wild ride exploring the rugged east coast, hidden caves and off-road trails - proper exciting stuff.

• Beach Days - sometimes simple is best - grab the Factor 50, a good book and a cooler of drinks for a day of pure chilling.

🍕 Things to do in Barbados for foodies

Prepare your belly because Bajan cuisine is absolutely top-tier. We are talking fresh seafood, spicy kicks and comfort food that will ruin you for all other meals.

• Flying Fish Cutter - you can't leave without trying this - it’s basically the Bajan answer to a fish finger sandwich, but better.

• Oistins Fish Fry - the place to be on a Friday night - freshly grilled catch, loud music and a buzzing atmosphere that is legendary.

• The Cliff - if you want to feel boujee, book a table here for fine dining perched right above the illuminated ocean waters.

• Macaroni Pie - forget what you know about pasta; this baked, cheesy Bajan staple is the ultimate comfort food side dish.

When to Visit Barbados ☀️

Barbados is basically the dream, sitting just outside the main hurricane belt which means less drama and more sunshine on your 2026 holidays. Whether you want to splash the cash or bag a bargain, here's the tea on when to fly:

• Peak Season (December to April) - the weather is lush with a capital L. We're talking temps of 30°C+ and barely a drop of rain - perfect for sun seekers, just expect the beaches to be buzzing.

• The Sweet Spot (May and June) - the best time to visit for lush temps of 31°C and fewer crowds.

• Value Season (July to November) - technically the wet season, but showers are usually short n' sweet (Sabrina Carpenter didn't ask us to write that) - if you don't mind a bit of humidity, you can snag some bargains.

• Festival Vibes (August) - it's hot, humid and buzzing with energy thanks to the legendary Crop Over festival - if you love a party and don't mind the odd shower, this is your month.

• Late Season (November) - the rain eases off just in time for the Food & Rum Festival, giving you warm 30°C days right before the festive buzz kicks in.

Must-Do Trips & Experiences 🗺️

If you wanna start planning your Barbadian activities, we've got loads more inspo in our "Things to Do" tab at the top of the page (seriously, check it out for the full rundown), but if you're after the absolute essentials – here are five bangers to get you started:

• 🐢 Swim with Sea Turtles – book a catamaran cruise and snorkel alongside hawksbill and green sea turtles in their natural habitat. They're dead friendly and totally unbothered by humans, so you can get proper close and make friends.

• 🏴‍☠️ Harrison's Cave – hop on a tram and cruise through this massive underground cave system filled with stalactites, stalagmites, crystal-clear streams and even a waterfall. It's cool (literally), gorge, and one of those "how is this even real?" moments.

• 🥃 Mount Gay Rum Distillery Tour – the world's oldest rum distillery (established 1703!) takes you through the whole rum-making process and ends with a tasting session. Learn the history, sample the goods, and pick up a bottle to take home.

• 🌊 Catamaran Cruise – cruise along the stunning west coast, spot shipwrecks, swim in turquoise waters, and sip rum punch while the crew blasts reggae tunes. It's the ultimate laidback Bajan experience.

• 🐠 Oistins Friday Night Fish Fry – every Friday night, this fishing town transforms into a massive street party with freshly grilled fish, local music, dancing, and an atmosphere that's absolutely buzzing. It's touristy, yes, but it's also where the locals go and if you're here you should experience it at least once.

Getting Around Barbados

Barbados is pretty easy to navigate, whether you want to live like a local or zoom around on your own terms. Here is how to get from the beach to the bar and back again:

• 🚌 Buses - for just $3.50 BBD (approx £1.10) you can hop on a government bus or a zippy ZR van - expect loud tunes, friendly locals and a ride that is 10/10 for atmosphere.

• 🛵 Scooters and Mopeds - cheaper than hiring a car and perfect for the coastal roads - strap on a helmet and find those hidden beaches at your own pace.

• 🚶 Walking - if you are in compact spots like Bridgetown or Holetown, save your cash and use your legs - it's the best way to stumble upon a random rum shack.

More places to visit:

• Antigua

• Bahamas

• Cuba

• Dominican Republic

• Jamaica

• St Lucia

• Tobago