While in Barbados, it is worth taking a day out to Tour Barbados to see the island’s natural beauty and the dramatic change in scenery between the west and east coasts.

You may wish to go on an organized tour in a 4×4, which will take you places that a typical vehicle couldn’t go, or you may like to hire a car and drive yourself along the 100 miles of coastline.

Either way, you will have a fantastic day on the Barbados tour.

South Coast

Starting from the airport, you can visit the British Airways Concorde G-BOAE, or Alpha Echo, now housed in a state-of-the-art exhibition center adjacent to the Grantley Adams International Airport. Learn about flight’s intriguing pre-history: discover how supersonic aviation was conceived, and get exclusive insight into the history of aviation in Barbados, which dates back to 1913. Once you’ve walked up the red-carpeted stairs and into the aircraft, relax into the seats and watch a short video showing what it was like to fly aboard this legendary plane.

After this tour, take the ABC highway heading westward, and at the Henry Forde roundabout, go straight and follow the winding road till you reach Oistins fishing town (max. 5 minutes).

Once at Oistins, you will be on the south coast, and you can drive along the coastline heading towards Bridgetown, where you will see Bajan Roots & Rhythms, a spectacular dinner show held on Wednesday and Friday evenings, where you will hear a live steel band and be entertained with colorful dancing giving the history and heritage of Barbados.

Also, on the south coast main road – Highway 7, just on St Lawrence Gap, you will find the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, where Green Monkeys and tropical birds are abundant.

On your left, you will see Worthing Beach or Sandy Beach, as it is better known. It is beautiful to swim here as the reef causes a calm pond.

On your right, you will see the Roti Den – a roti is a local favorite in Barbados; initially, it came from east India and has now been adopted as a local dish. It is a wrap filled with curried chicken or beef. They are delicious and worth a try.

Further along the south coast main road, you will see Zafran, an Indian restaurant. Indian restaurants are limited in Barbados, but if you feel the urge for a curry, here is your best bet.

Moving along, you will next see Abbeville, which used to be called Bert’s Bar, which is a great place to catch some sporting action; they also do a fantastic pizza.

Following on, you will see Patisserie Flindt, which makes excellent pastries, sandwiches, and salads; visiting here is always a treat! Next door, you have Bubba’s Sports Bar, which is fully air-conditioned and has a large restaurant serving all types of food.

As you drive around the island, you will see numerous Chefette restaurants; it is the Barbadian equivalent of McDonald’s. Barbados is one of the only places McDonald’s failed and closed down! Chefette sells various tasty burgers, chicken, pizza, and takeaway foods. While on the island, try something from Chefette, and you will realize that they have managed to make fast food delicious.

On your left is Accra Beach, a lovely white sandy bay with plenty of room for peace.

If you fancy trying your hand at surfing, stop at Dread or Dead, a surf shop on the right-hand side of the road. They rent surfboards and bicycles and have a vast range of surfing attire. They also give lessons, and there is a bar to relax and plan your surfing adventure.

As you continue along this south coast road, you will next come to the historic Garrison area, where you will find George Washington House. Barbados was the only foreign country that George Washington visited, so to commemorate his visit in 1751, the house he stayed in was refurbished.

Drill Hall Beach is on your left, which is excellent for surfing.

Moving into Bridgetown, go over the bridge and follow the one-way system that takes you behind Broad Street. You will see Cheapside Market, the former railway terminal on your right.

Keep straight on this road, and you will come to the harbor at the end of the way, with the Pelican Art & Crafts facility on your right. Here you will find some boutiques specializing in locally made leather, pottery, and clothing; it is an ideal stop to get those holiday gifts.

Turning just before the harbor, you will see the Cigar Company; they welcome visitors and are proud of the Royal Barbados Cigar and Sam Lord’s Cigar.

As you come to the end of this road, you will reach the Elsie Payne roundabout and see the Harbour Master tall ship and the Atlantis Submarine, both of which make excellent excursions.

At the traffic lights, look to your right where you will see Kensington Oval, where the ICC Cricket World Cup finals were held in the West Indies in 2007.

Turning left at the traffic lights will bring you onto Spring Garden Highway, and on your left, you will see the working flour mill of Bajan Pride.

When you reach the end of the highway, you will find yourself at the Frank Worrell roundabout; go straight over here to Walmer Lodge; this starts your tour of the west coast.

West Coast

Here you will see some of the most expensive properties in the world, which are home to many of the rich and famous. There is a lot of property development in the area, with condos springing up. The beauty of the west coast is that next to a multi-million-dollar property, you will see traditional Chattel houses. Many of the occupants of these tiny wooden houses have been offered millions by developers; however, as generations of the same family have lived and died in these houses, the occupants will not take any offer to move out.

On your left, you will see the Mandalay Bay development, where apartments sell for USD 4 million.

Also, on your left, you will see Needlepoint, a monument erected to honor those who lost their lives in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban civilian airliner as it took off from Barbados, killing all 73 people aboard. The monument was unveiled during the 1998 visit of Cuban President Fidel Castro to Barbados.

The beach on your left here is Payne’s Bay, which is not only a bustling fishing complex but also home to turtles. Swimming with the turtles is a very tranquil experience.

Moving further up the west coast, you will find Sandy Lane hotel on your left. This is one of the most beautiful hotels on the island. Drop in for afternoon tea and see how the other half lives.

The next stop is Holetown, the first settlement in Barbados. Holetown is lively with many restaurants and shops; well worth a stop here to browse around.

Continuing up the gold coast, you will pass the beautiful bays of Alleyne’s, Reads, Gibbs and Mullins until you reach Speightstown.

Stop here to appreciate this fishing town’s history and get a good lunch from the Fisherman’s Pub in the city’s center. There are shops to look around, and here you can get a feel for everyday life in Barbados.

When you leave Speightstown and continue heading north, you will come to Port St Charles, a superior development of prestigious properties with moorings for yachts.

North Coast

At this point, you can stick to Highway 1C, or you may like to go off the beaten track and head into St. Lucy. The roads here are more minor, and it is pretty easy to get lost. However, the locals are amiable and will happily point you in the right direction. You may even have someone offer to show you around the highlights of this beautiful parish. If you allow a guide to show you, they usually expect a payment of around $20 BDS. If you decide to try to navigate yourself around these country roads, then head up Highway 1C until you reach a roundabout and St. Lucy’s Church. From here, go straight over and follow the signs for the Animal Flower Cave.

Once you reach The Animal Flower Cave, you are at the island’s most northern point.

Heading down, it is easiest to go back to St Lucy’s Church and take the Charles Duncan O’Neal Highway. Now you are really in the heart of the sugar cane fields, where you will see some areas are still cropped by hand.

At the bottom of the highway, veer left and headed towards the signposts for St Nicholas Abbey, which has recently been sold for a reported USD 7 million. There is a rum distillery here that you can take a tour of, and you have to stop here to appreciate the stunning beauty surrounding it and the dramatic view of the East Coast.

East Coast

In this area, you will find the Cherry Tree Hill Reserve, which is all part of the St Nicholas Abbey estate. Here there is a reforestation project of mahogany trees. The view from here on the east coast is astounding, and you cannot believe what is in front of your eyes.

Continuing on this road, you will come to the Morgan Lewis Mill, the last working mill in Barbados. It was lovingly restored in 1996. Also, you will find ATV quad Bikes if you are feeling adventurous!

As you continue your descent into the picturesque east coast, you will pass many of our own Black-Bellied Sheep, a breed cultivated and unique to Barbados. You may be forgiven for thinking that these are goats; they are generally brown with a black belly.

You are now entering the parish of St. Andrew, home to the only mountain in Barbados – Mount Hillaby.

Here you will find Barclays Park, which was donated to the island by Barclays Bank to celebrate the island’s independence from the UK in 1966. This is a beautiful spot for picnics and bathing in the many rock pools that form at low tide.

The Flower Forest Botanical Gardens of Barbados is a perfect place to retreat from the world’s hustle and relax for a few hours. The heart of the garden is one of the most romantic, serene places in Barbados.

As you continue your descent, you are now in the parish of St. Joseph, where you will find Cattlewash, aptly named as it is where farmers used to bathe their cattle to rid them of parasites.

Keeping on this road will bring you to Bathsheba, home of the infamous Soup Bowl, famous worldwide for surfers, as it provides excellent year-round waves.

Bathsheba is a quaint little town with many bars and restaurants to sit back and enjoy the entertainment of many professional surfers.

Coming out of Bathsheba, you will pass Andromeda Gardens, where you can see the bearded fig trees. If you carry on down the coast road until you reach St Margaret’s Church, stop here for an excellent photo opportunity overlooking St Martins Bay.

You are now entering the parish of St. John and will come to Bath, a lovely area for a picnic and a shaded beach. This is a favorite stop for tourists and guided tours.

Head inland now towards Codrington College, and follow the signs for Thicket. From there, you will drive through the delightful area called Three Houses, where there is a freshwater stream for cooling off.

Now follow the signs for Ragged Point Lighthouse, and continue down the east coast, where you will pass Bottom Bay, Harrismith, Sam Lords Castle, Crane Beach, and Foul Bay. All of these beaches and bays are stunning to look at and well worth stopping at for a photo or two.

From Foul Bay, you will reach Grantley Adams International airport; going past the airport and following the road to the bottom will bring you into the fishing town of Oistins. Carry along the central south coast road, and you will find yourself back where you started at Bajan Roots & Rhythms.

Stopping at all the suggested places should take about 5 hours round trip.