The Enchanting Parishes of Barbados: Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting Barbados

The Enchanting Parishes of Barbados: Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting Barbado

From the capital city of Bridgetown and its rich colonial history, to St. John’s magnificent Atlantic coastline, Barbados is a land of great diversity and adventure. Discover all the island has to offer on your journey through these 11 stunning parishes!There are 11 parishes in Barbados, similar in structure to states or provinces. This guide from North to South lists some of the most incredible places to stay in Barbados. Whether you’re looking for fun, crowded beaches, a family-friendly location, or something off the beaten path, Barbados has it all. For more detailed information about what to expect and plan for when you arrive, be sure to check out our Before You Land travel guide.

Visiting Barbados’ Northern Coast: A Low-Key Escape from the Hustle

St. Lucy Parish

St. Lucy Parish, located in the north of Barbados, is a breath of fresh air. It’s less developed than some of the settlements on the West Coast. It’s perfect for those who want to enjoy the basic pleasures of nature, such as rustling trees and amazing ocean views all around.

The majority of those who opt to stay in St. Lucy does so because of its remote appeal. In St. Lucy, you truly feel at one with nature and cut off from the hustle and bustle of busy life. You’ll find a side of Barbados that many new visitors never get to see.

Popular attractions in St. Lucy Parish

Tourists to St. Lucy should explore attractions such as the Animal Flower Cave, the only sea cave on the island of Barbados, reached by steps and through a hole in a cliff wall. German scientists have dated the coral floor in the cove to be 500,000 years old. Be sure to bring your swimsuit just in case you want to take a dip in one of its natural rock pools.

Other places to visit in this parish include Maycock’s Bay for surfing, the Fustic House Plantation, and St. Lucy’s Parish Church.

St. Peter Parish

Located in the northwestern part of Barbados is St. Peter Parish. The area is known for its sandy beaches, steep terrain, and incredible views. Speightstown is the parish’s largest town, and the second-largest in Barbados. It is also known to be the bustling commercial center in the region. Known as “Little Bristol,” Speightstown is a quaint beach town that’s well worth a visit, especially on weekends when markets are bustling. The name of this region stems from the once-close economic ties between Barbados and Bristol, Great Britain.

Popular attractions in St. Peter’s Parish

Aside from its beautiful beaches, brand-new jetty and architecture, visitors come to tour the St. Nicholas Abbey Rum Plantation, as well as the Arlington House Museum. Don’t miss out on the chance to observe Barbados’ wild inhabitants at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve! Monkeys have made this island their home, and you can see them playing in the trees.

Instagrammers love St. Peter for its picturesque sugarcane-covered hillsides, the busy marinas at Port St. Charles and Port Ferdinand, as well as the colonial ruins of Farley Hill National Park. Several events, including the Barbados Jazz Festival, take place in St. Peter throughout the year.

Visiting Barbados’ Western Coast: An Action-Packed Beach Getaway

This is the best place to go duty-free shopping, see historic sights, and go on a fishing trip. The west coast of Barbados is more upmarket, with a mix of high-end resorts, beachfront villas, condos, etc., which is why it’s now also called the “Platinum Coast.” Many people are drawn to the sandy beaches, including the well-known Sandy Lane beach.

Holetown, formerly known as Jamestown, was the site of the island’s first British settlement. It was given the name Jamestown after King James I of England. Things have changed a lot since then, as it is now home to a growing number of restaurants, pubs, and boutiques.

St. James Parish

St. James Parish can be found in the northwest of Barbados. This region is known for being a popular hangout spot for celebrities on the island, not to mention where you’ll find Rihanna’s mansion. However, there’s much more to it than celebrities, paparazzi and premium lodging.

The historic stone walls of St. James Parish Church are but one example. They first opened their doors to parishioners in the 1600s. Today, tours run frequently, and it’s quite possible that this is the perfect spot to begin learning about true Bajan (Barbadian) history. So visit St James today for a trip back in time, or a spontaneous rendezvous with Rihanna!

Popular attractions in St. James Parish

Be sure to visit the Sir Frank Hutson Museum, the Folkestone Marine Park, and the Portvale Sugar Factory, which is one of Barbados’ few remaining sugar factories. Areas such as Sandy Lane, Sugar Hill, Royal Westmoreland, and Porters are all worth stopping to explore.

St. Michael Parish

On the island’s west coast, you’ll find St. Michael Parish, which is home to Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados. St. Michael is home to Carlisle Bay, which features stunning beaches and an underwater dive park with many sunken boats and ships.

Popular attractions in St. Michael Parish

Some of the more notable attractions in St. Michael are the St. Ann’s Garrison, a Unesco World Heritage Site, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, George Washington House, and the Barbados Museum. Learn about Barbados’ historic past, while enjoying the incredible scenery of St. Michael, who said vacations can’t be educational?

There are also the Tyrol Cove Heritage Centre, Frank Collymore Hall (a theater), Cockspur Visitor Centre, Kensington Oval (a cricket field), Mount Gay Rum Distillery, Pelican Village (local arts and crafts), and Brighton Beach.

With a number of things to do and sights to see, St. Michael is certainly the place to be if you like being in the center of it all!

Central Barbados: A Look Back at the History of Barbados

St. Thomas Parish

St. Thomas was one of the first parishes to be created on the island of Barbados. In 1629, English settlers first arrived at Holetown in the parish of St. James, and with them the region began its colonial thumbprint.

Popular attractions in St. Thomas Parish

Don’t be fooled by the lack of coastline, the parish of St. Thomas has a lot to discover and explore. The aptly named Bagatelle Great House was a former sugar plantation. Nowadays, it hosts private events and boasts a variety of unique restaurants that remain open to visitors.

It’s here in St. Thomas that you can find Harrison’s Cave. This natural treasure is an enormous limestone cavern full of both stalagmites and stalactites. Rediscovered in 1970, it’s now a subterranean park and one of the biggest, popular tourist attractions on the island.

St. George Parish

Being an inland parish means people aren’t visiting St. George for its beaches. However, they do come for its breathtaking views, and on weekends, they come to the Brighton Farmers Market. Here you’ll find fresh fruits and vegetables, teas, coffee, pies, pottery, and plants, as well as local arts and crafts. It’s a great way to spend an early Saturday morning browsing, shopping and strolling.

Popular attractions in St. George Parish

If you fancy colonial architecture, St. George offers the Drax Hall Plantation. This is one of the earliest and largest sugar plantation properties in existence, dating back to the mid-17th century. Once owned by a wealthy family in Barbados, Drax Hall was erected by James and William Drax. Like many of the houses of the era, the Jacobean style was in vogue, with this structure sporting gable roofs and casement windows to match.

Be sure to check out the Francia Plantation House, Gun Hill Signal Station, and Orchid World on your next visit to St. George.

The Eastern Coast of Barbados: Reconnecting with Nature

St. Andrew Parish

St. Andrew’s Parish Church is another great place for colonial architecture. It also holds Barbados’ highest point, Mount Hillaby. Due to its hills and green valleys, British settlers named the parish in honor of its resemblance to Scotland.

Popular attractions in St. Andrew Parish

Grenade Hall Forest & Signal Station, Morgan Lewis Windmill, Mount Hillaby, St. Andrew’s Parish Church, and Turners Hall Woods are just a few of the many sights waiting to be explored in the parish of St. Andrew.

One of St. Andrew’s most spectacular views can be found atop Chalky Mount (particularly The Hole). The soils in this parish are mainly made of clay, which blends nicely with the surrounding terrain. The Chalky Mount Potteries, where local potters use clay from Chalky Mount’s parish to make unique items. It is a must-visit while you’re in the area, and take home a hand crafted item from the local potters as a souvenir or gift for someone special.

The forest covers nearly half of St. Andrew’s parish, including Turners Hall Woods, a dense tropical forest. Perfect for an early morning hike, where you just might see some exotic animals grazing.

The Spring Vale Eco-Heritage Museum is also worth a visit. It is situated on the grounds of a former 200-acre sugar plantation. It’s hoped that these tours will teach both locals and visitors alike about the traditional ways and lifestyles of years past.

St. Joseph Parish

If you enjoy touring botanical gardens, welcome to St. Joseph. The Flower Forest, a former sugar plantation, is a popular spot to relax – as are both the Andromeda Gardens and Hunte’s Gardens. While the region’s flora is undeniably its calling card, Bathsheba Beach is a destination in its own right, with perfect waves that are popular with experienced surfers.

St. John Parish

The St. John Anglican Church is one of several Anglican churches in the parish of St. John. The church is on the edge of Hackleton’s Cliff and has amazing views from Ragged Point in the east to Pico Tenerife in the north. This makes it one of the most romantic places in Barbados, perhaps the perfect spot to get down on one knee!

Popular attractions in St. John Parish

Many picturesque bays dot the east coast of St. John’s, including Consett Bay, Martin’s Bay, and Bath. These are all excellent picnic areas and great places for a swim.

While in St. John, Villa Nova is a must-see. Many great houses have been preserved or repaired over the years, and Villa Nova remains in good stead. It was built in 1834, at the same time slavery was abolished. It’s made of coral stone, laboriously shaped by teams of stonemasons. The Villa Nova House sits on 6 hectares (15 acres) of land and overlooks the stunning east coast. It has been a place of rest and retreat for both royalty and celebrities.

Barbados’ Southern Coast: For Sun, Surf and Sand

Christ Church Parish

Christ Church is located on the southern tip of Barbados. It’s home to the Grantley Adams International Airport and the St. Lawrence Gap, known locally as “The Gap,” which is the nightlife entertainment hub of the island.

It’s here in St. Lawrence Gap that you’ll find many of the best clubs, shops, restaurants, and bars in the country. So come visit, party like Rihanna, and get a true sense of local Bajan culture.

Popular attractions in Christ Church Parish

Be sure to visit the Harry Bayley Observatory on Observatory Road, which is usually open to everyone on Friday evenings. You will have the chance to view the clear night sky through a powerful telescope available onsite.

Fancy a day at the track? Christ Church hosts exhilarating horse races at Garrison Savannah. Want to practice your swing? Head to the Barbados Golf Club, Rockley Golf & Country Club, and after enjoy a cold beer at the popular Banks Beer Brewery. All this, along with the gorgeous beaches for swimming, surfing, and kite surfing, and the St. Lawrence Church (a landmark from the early 1800s), and you have one incredible place to visit.

The Concorde Experience/Museum next to the airport is also a must-do, where you get to learn about, see, and actually sit on the aircraft.

St. Philip Parish

St. Philip Parish is located in the southeastern area of Barbados, and is the perfect destination for someone wanting a quiet holiday on a stunning beach. Be sure to visit Sam Lord’s Castle, enjoy a dip at Shark Hole, and view Bottom Bay. Although the beach and sea views in this area are strikingly beautiful, the tides can be rough, and swimming is often ill-advised.

Popular attractions in St. Philip Parish

St. Philip is steeped in history, with a variety of historic plantation houses to visit and explore – their architecture dating back to the 1600s. Ragged Point boasts four lighthouses, and the nearby FourSquare Distillery has visitor tours daily. It’s also the place to be if you want to view one of the island’s major attractions—the Bushy Park Racing Circuit, where you can hop in and enjoy a true motorsport adrenaline rush.

Where To Stay in Barbados

Source: ZenBreak Hemingway House

Regardless of its small size, Barbados truly does offer something for everyone. Choosing the best vacation rental in Barbados is entirely up to the traveler and what they want to get out of their vacation. The most popular places to stay in Barbados are on the island’s south and west coasts. But the choices don’t stop there. You can choose between a rugged and relaxing north coast, the affluent west coast, the accessible center of the island, the rustic green, east coast, or the vibrant modern south coast. Each parish provides visitors with a unique experience.

However, if romance is on the horizon, and you don’t have a particular parish in mind for your getaway, we’ve got just what you need! Check out our carefully chosen list of beachfront vacation rentals so you and your partner can spend every day watching a beautiful sunset.

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15 WAYS TO ENJOY A MORE FULFILLING VACATION

By Spotzer Spotzer • September 25, 2025

With over 25 years experience in luxury travel industry, we have seen it all. To help you enjoy your next trip to the fullest, the ZenBreak’s team has compiled the best and worst travel experiences and extracted the lessons we learned from the past. Our recommendations applies to business trip, short weekend get away or long escape on the beach. If you like staying in luxury hotels or are planning to go backpacking for a while, any of the following will apply. BOOK AHEAD Yes, there are tons of flight comparison websites, and you’ve just spent the last hour looking for the best deal possible. However you’re not the only one searching and those internet cookies leave crumbs behind. Next time you go back online, the probabilities are that the price you loved today will be higher. Time flies! Book that trip before the price goes up or you might regret it. DON’T BE FLASHY Never underestimate the eyes of pickpockets. Wearing a fancy watch, or even an unnoticeable bracelet might not seem like something to think about when you travel. However, you never know who’s watching you. Being discreet is the best way to avoid embarrassing or unfortunate situations. Don’t show off and remain anonymous. KEEP A JOURNAL Met someone special? Had an interesting or unusual chat? Writing down how you were affected by certain experiences creates a better platform for reflection at a later date. Souvenirs may not always be photos, words carry your emotions much better sometimes. Remember that by writing what you experienced, you drastically increase the probability of remembering what you lived in the future. WRITE THINGS DOWN Just had directions explained to you in a strong hard-to-understand accent? Not sure you’ll remember the details of which way to go? Just write it down. Take that extra minute to recap and make sure you don’t miss the essentials. It may save you, valuable time later on. MORE TIME, FEWER PLACES Would you rather know a limited amount of information about many different places, or really experience and immerse yourself in a few areas? The world is huge and it’s just impossible to go everywhere. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you can only remember how clean or dirty airports or trains were. Try dedicating a full week to explore a large city. I was once forced to increase my stay in Bangkok from 2 days to 7 due to the SARS virus in Hong Kong. It turns out to be one of the best experiences I ever had. ALWAYS ASK HOW MUCH ($) You’ve just got in a cab, and you’re asking yourself if you’ve got enough cash? Don’t put yourself in a situation where you don’t know how much something costs, and don’t be afraid to ask for the price before committing. If it’s too much, feel free to find another option. This applies to taxi, but also to excursions, restaurants, bars and hotels. Many unscrupulous institutions will inflate their prices when a foreigner show up at their door. Be sure not to be the sucker they all remember. If you feel the pressure to commit, just walk out. LEARN SOME BASIC LANGUAGE Hallo! Ciao! Hej! Namaste! Bonjour! xin chào! It may not be the best, but at least you’re making an effort. It may sound rude only speaking your own language, show you are considerate and learn a few simple words on the way to a foreign country. There are no better ways to make friends. PUT YOUR MOBILE PHONE AWAY Why would you travel thousands of miles to stay hooked on your phone? Forget about social media and various apps during your stay and enjoy a little more of the world around you. Rediscover what it is to live disconnected. You may realize you don’t miss your phone at all! TRY THE STREET FOOD Restaurants are nice, but street food is the real deal. Nobody ever died from eating skewers or local specialties from street vendors. Cheap, fast and authentic, eating outside can only do you good. They will leave you with unbelievable memories. DON’T COMMUTE TOO MUCH Yes, you may feel like there is so much to do! And no, unfortunately your holidays won’t last forever. But is it really worth trying to reach every single town of a country you are only just discovering? Take the time to really explore the town you’re in, you can always come back for a future vacation. ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU! Politeness is universal and enjoyed by all. Don’t be rude, even with the insistent seller at the market, culture varies from one place to the other, what may seem like an aggressive sale pitch may just be the norm where you are. Show appreciation to locals, and earn their respect. This may lead to more chances to say thank you! REMEMBER TO CARRY WATER Don’t risk getting ill from tap water because you forgot to pack a bottle in your bag. A little flask is your best friend for hydration. Don’t forget to wash your hand regularly, or if no fresh water is available, to use alcohol-based hand sanitisers. LEAVE REVIEWS Try to leave a short review on commonly used platforms such as TripAdvisor or Google My Business. Do it, whether your experience was incredible, average or poor? Statistics show that those platforms are the number driver when you pick a service or a restaurant. If we don’t leave negative comments to avoid hurting someone, the owner may not find out that you were unsatisfied and the next traveller will not be informed of your experience. On the other end, if your experience really exceeded your expectations, don’t hesitate to mention the individual who provided outstanding service. They may get rewarded. SLOW DOWN, STOP AND OBSERVE Do you feel that you rush around too much in your everyday life? Take the time to look at all the interesting and different things around you. If you enjoy taking pictures, you are sure to find many things to shoot if you slow down a little. Discover the local day-to-day life, this is where the true beauty hides. GET UP EARLY The early bird catches the worm. Rising early gives you more time for exploring, miles traveled and a better overall experience. Early birds enjoy their time off even more! …and finally, to get the best vacation possible, nothing better than saving some money, enjoy the best price guaranteed on your vacation rental with ZenBeak.com

ACCEPT DOGS IN YOUR HOLIDAY HOME ANDINCREASE YOUR BOOKINGS.

By Spotzer Spotzer • September 25, 2025

Did you know that on Airbnb, ‘pet-friendly’ is the fourth most popular request when looking for an apartment or a villa? The top three in order are: Free parking A full kitchen Pool Being dog friendly ranks even higher than wifi. Accepting dogs in your vacation rental will increase your income. For many, dogs aren’t seen as pets but as family members. They are often our best friends, they bring joy wherever they go. No home feels quite right without your pet, so why not bring them with you? 48% of American families own a dog. The number of guests traveling with dogs is increasing every year. According to a TripAdvisor survey, 53% of pet owners take their furry friends on the road with them. However, less than 25% of vacation properties welcome pets with their owners.This ratio plays a big role in favour of those who open their holiday home to dogs. With so many potential customers looking for pet-friendly properties, offering this service is likely to increase your bookings and will allow you to increase your stay costs. Being pet-friendly when renting out your home or villa means that your potential clientele will increase greatly, resulting in a higher occupancy rate. After analyzing the statistics of our partners, such as Airbnb and Homeaway, we found that pet-friendly vacation rentals generated higher rental income and occupancy than those that did not accept dogs – between 10% and 20% more. Accepting dogs will generate repeat rentals from the customers. Paying someone to feed, walk and watch your dog every day can be very expensive for the owner, not to mention the anxiety and stress of separation for both parties. By providing dog-friendly accommodations, you allow patrons to create memories with the whole family, which is likely to generate a return for your visitors in the years to come. Man’s best friend will also allow you to increase the length of the stays of the travelers. When a traveler wants to relocate for a long time, it becomes essential for them to find a property that will accept their faithful companion. Asking their friends and families to keep Fido for a week or two, can work, but when the stay stretches over 3 weeks or more, family and friends become scarce and the cost of institutional care becomes prohibitive. Do not worry about the condition of your property. Worried about the damage that Fido could cause you to your rental property during his visit? Statistics show that tenants of short term rentals that accommodate dogs and those who refuse them show the same cleanliness score and the same house conditions when the visitors leave. Dog or no dog, you won’t tell a difference. You will increase the off-season rental occupation. Looking to fill slow rental periods? Opening your doors to pets will increase rentals during times of low traffic. We found that occupancy rates were much higher in dog-friendly houses during the slow season. Note that guests book more last-minute trips out of season. With a small window between the reservation and the stay, it can be difficult to find a place to keep the dog. Competition for dog-friendly homes is lower at this time of year, guests can both book the perfect accommodation and be accompanied by their dog. In conclusion Open your doors to pets, especially dogs. By accepting dogs in your holiday home, you will increase bookings throughout the year and you will also see increased returns from past clients. The risk of damage is far outweighed by the increase in income, which in addition will not prevent you from increasing cleaning costs when a client reserves with a pet, a practice widely accepted by dog owners. So, make the right decision and increase your income, say: Good boy Fido, good boy!