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Things to see and do in Barbados

Bridgetown

Barbados’s capital Bridgetown – named after a crude bridge constructed by early Indian settlers - is the best place to enjoy the island’s colonial history.

Visit National Heroes Square, which boasts a statue of Lord Nelson, which was erected in 1813, well before Nelson's Column was put up in London. Nearby are the neogothic Parliament Buildings, Bridgetown Synagogue (reputed to the oldest in the western hemisphere) and the pretty, pink pastel coloured facades of DaCosta’s Mall. When you tire of sightseeing, pop into one of the ubiquitous rum shops or head for a drink at the Waterfront area overlooking the marina.

Chalky Mount Potteries

Barbados's famous Chalky Mount potters are renowned for their high-quality inexpensive art. You can watch the local potters at work at the wheel fashioning centuries-old designs - a respected 300-year-old tradition.

Colonial architecture

The Jacobean St Nicholas Abbey is graced with ornate Persian arches and well-kept gardens. Although now in ruins, Farley Hill is still covered in hibiscus and poinsettias and is one of the island's most storied plantation houses. The George Washington House and Museum is a beautifully restored plantation house, where the former US president stayed on a brief visit to Barbados in 1751.

Meanwhile, Tyrol Cot, the grand former home of Sir Grantley Adams, the first premier of Barbados, is a stunning example of local architectural styles. Constructed in 1854, this architectural gem characterizes an interesting mixture of Palladian and tropical vernacular - beautifully restored by the Barbados National Trust.

Crane Beach

The baby-pink sands of cliff-flanked Crane Beach, an idyllic spot that is one of the most beautiful on the island, are perfect for a stroll. Moderate, foamy waves draw a body-surfing crowd and there are plenty of shaded spots to chill out until the magical sunsets arrive.

Cricket

Cricket is the national sporting obsession, with Barbados hosting the World Twenty20 finals in 2010 at the newly expanded Kensington Oval pitch near Bridgetown.

Choose from barefoot village friendlies to international and local club cups - where many of the great names of West Indian cricket are honoured, most notably Sir Garfield Sobers.

Discover ship wrecks in Carlisle Bay

The island has about 30 dive sites, mainly on the calmer west coast. While there are less pelagic fish off Barbados because of unregulated fishing, divers can enjoy a range of marine life including hawksbill turtles, sea horses, frog fish and giant sand eels.

Barbados has several excellent sites for wreck diving; Carlisle Bay, which has more than 200 reported wrecks, and the Stavronikita, a ship which rests in 37m (120ft) of water, less than 1.6 km (1 mile) from the shore at Folkestone Marine Park.

East Coast Road

Barbados's East Coast Road, hemmed by crashing Atlantic waves, is one of the island's most exciting drives. A rugged coastal route overlooks treacherous reefs while an inland road weaves through rolling sugarcane to quaint plantation towns topped by church steeples. One of the most popular destinations on the east coast is Bathsheba, where giant coral boulders, which have broken away from ancient coral reefs over thousands of years, offer striking photograph opportunities. Bathsheba is also the location for the legendary Soup Bowl surfing competition.

Fishing

Wahoo, dorado, barracuda, tuna and sailfish, together with mighty blue marlin and shark, all patrol Barbados's deep sea waters. There are plenty of game fishing tournaments and inshore competitions to join or just grab a rod and head to the jetty.

Get close to nature in Welchman Hall Gully's

You can also take a self-guided hike amid rare fruit and spice trees in Welchman Hall Gully's magnificent botanic garden (www.welchmanhallgullybarbados.com) or in Andromeda Gardens (http://andromeda.cavehill.uwi.edu). Another highlight is the Flower Forest (www.barbados.org/flowfrst.htm), a 20-hectare (50-acre) leafy garden rich in native plants.

The Barbados National Trust (www.hikebarbados.com) offers free guided hikes, which last around three hours and cover distances of 8 to 22km (5 to 14 miles). They are divided into three categories: stop'n'stare, where'n'there and grin'n'bear. Moonlit walks are also held.

Harrison’s Cave

With an abundance of stalactites, stalagmites, streams, lakes and waterfalls, Harrison’s Cave is a jaw-dropping spectacle. The caves, in the parish of St. Thomas, were first mentioned in historical documents in 1795 and then virtually forgotten for nearly 200 years, until being rediscovered in 1976.

In 1981, Harrison's Cave was opened to the public. Visitors can enjoy a scenic trail from the clifftop to the valley floor, before entering the caves on a 40-minute journey in an electric cart led by guides. Self-guides walks are also possible.

Horse riding

It's possible to gallop along the beach at sundown or simply trek along inland trails. Over two-dozen horse-riding events take place on the Garrison Savannah. Polo is also played to a high level by fiercely competitive Barbadian teams.

Morgan Lewis Mill

The aged and charming Morgan Lewis Mill is one of only two of the Caribbean's intact sugar mills, and a noteworthy example of a Dutch windmill from the days of the sugar cane planters. The mill includes an exhibit of the equipment used to produce sugar. Although the old plantation house has seen better days, its crumbling exteriors are very evocative and an important legacy of the island’s history.

Scuba diving

Barbados's rainbow of coral reefs offers a pristine watery home to seahorses, sponges and giant sand eels. Hidden caves and shipwrecks provide plenty of underwater nooks and crannies along a shoreline nested by Hawksbill Turtles.

Taste the oldest rum in the world

Mount Gay Rum (www.mountgay.com), on the island's west coast, can trace its heritage back to 1703, making it the world’s oldest rum producer. Made from the sugar cane that thrived across the island, Barbados was once the favoured tipple of English sailors.

Visitors can learn about the refining, aging, blending and bottling process on tastings and tours, which run hourly between Monday-Saturday.

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve's resplendent mahogany forest is the roaming territory of green monkeys, tortoises, deer, raccoons, pelicans and otters. A walk-through aviary allows a leafy stroll with peacocks, turkeys, toucans, parrots, flamingoes, pelicans, lovebirds and macaws.

Viewpoints

Lofty Mount Hillaby, the island's highest point at 343m (1,125ft), offers incredible panoramas across the east, west and northern coasts. Dramatic vistas also abound from St John's Parish Church over miles of jagged coastline and moss-covered family vaults dotted with tropical flora.

Watersports

The island's rugged south and west coasts boast world-class watersports where windsurfers, jet skiers, parasailers and water skiers enjoy perfect conditions. To ride the waves head to the Soup Bowl, South Point and Rockley Beach, Barbados's surfing mecca.

Whizz through the rainforest at Walkes Spring

Aerial Trek Zipline Adventures (www.aerialtrek.com) offers soft adventure thrills as you whizz through the rainforest at Jack-in-the-box Gully, Walkes Spring, in the centre of the island. The scenic ride began operations in 2007 and is proving popular. Advance bookings are recommended.

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