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Holetown & the West Coast
Calm Caribbean beaches, the site of the first English settlement and the old port of Speightstown
Calm Caribbean beaches, the site of the first English settlement and the old port of Speightstown
A sheltered beach south of Holetown with clear, calm water. Boat trips stop offshore so visitors can swim with green and hawksbill turtles.
Do not touch or feed the turtles.
Photo: Barry Haynes, CC BY-SA 4.0
The first English settlement on Barbados, founded in 1627. A monument marks the landing, and the Holetown Festival in February celebrates it with music and street events.
Photo: Randy Storey, CC BY 2.0
One of the oldest church sites on the island, first built of wood in the 1620s and later rebuilt in stone. Its churchyard runs down towards the sea at Discovery Bay.
Photo: Barry Haynes, CC BY-SA 4.0
The island’s second town was once a busy sugar port. It has old balconied buildings, a fish market, a jetty and Arlington House Museum.
Photo: colinpayson, CC BY 2.0
Catamaran cruises along the coast combine snorkelling over shipwrecks and reefs with stops to swim with turtles. Folkestone Marine Reserve, near Holetown, has an offshore reef and an underwater trail.
Photo: Postdlf, CC BY-SA 3.0
The west coast has some of the island’s most expensive restaurants, but also beach bars and rum shops serving flying fish cutters and fish cakes.
On Friday nights, the Fish Fry at Oistins on the south coast is worth the drive; Speightstown has simple local lunch spots.
Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) is about 40–60 minutes by taxi, depending on traffic. Buses and ZR vans run along Highway 1 between Bridgetown, Holetown and Speightstown.
Taxis are easy to find in Holetown; agree the fare first. Visitors must complete the online immigration and customs form at travelform.gov.bb before arrival. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, the EU and many other countries do not need a visa for a tourist stay. Departure tax is usually included in your ticket. Check current rules before you travel.
The Barbados dollar (BBD) is pegged at 2 to 1 US dollar, and US dollars are widely accepted. VAT and a service charge are often added to restaurant bills. The west coast is the most expensive part of the island.
Prices are highest from mid-December to April.
Beaches, turtles and old towns.
Swim at Holetown’s beaches, see the landing monument and St James Parish Church, and have dinner on First Street.
Take a catamaran cruise with snorkelling over wrecks and swimming with turtles.
Visit Speightstown and its museum, then relax on a quiet beach in St Peter.
The west coast is calmer than the Atlantic-facing east; the east coast is for viewing, not swimming.
Do not touch or feed the turtles.
The Holetown Festival takes place in February.
Driving is on the left; roads are narrow and busy around Holetown.
Quick answers for planning time in Holetown & the West Coast.
Most turtle trips stop off the west coast, especially around Paynes Bay and Carlisle Bay.
English settlers landed here in 1627, making it the first English settlement on Barbados. The Holetown Festival in February marks the anniversary.
The west coast is calmer and more upmarket; the south coast is livelier and generally cheaper.
Buses and ZR vans run frequently along Highway 1, and taxis are easy to find in Holetown.
December to May is the dry season, when the sea is usually calm.
English is the official language; Bajan dialect is widely spoken.
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Planning a wider trip? Our Barbados travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.