15 Fun and Unique Things to Do in Barbados

While this island may be tiny at 439 km² in size, there are so many fun and unique things to do in Barbados at and away from the beach. 

From snorkelling with shipwrecks to exploring caves and seeing the ocean in a submarine, Barbados has many unique and unusual natural attractions to enhance your island experience.

Unlike anywhere else, Barbados was one of my favourite countries I’ve visited and somewhere I’ve gone back to.

Let’s get right into what to do in Barbados that is lesser-known and fun to experience.

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You can spend a day or a week almost entirely crowd-free, and this guide will help you do so.

1. Swim with Turtles and Shipwrecks

Swimming with turtles and shipwrecks in Barbados is one of the most fun and unique things you can do on the island. Within Carlisle Bay, there are six shipwrecks, all at various depths between 12 m and 55 m.

You can snorkel on your own or you can join a snorkel tour on a catamaran to swim with the turtles. Remember not to touch the turtles! They are my favourite sea animal and it was incredible to swim with them. It’s a bucket-list moment for nature lovers! I saw five shipwrecks, a few turtles, and plenty of fish.

While tours are beginner-friendly if you want to take it to the next level, try a scuba dive in Carlisle Bay. I could see divers below us while snorkelling over the shipwrecks and did my diving along the south coast at another wreck.

🤿 Join the snorkel tour I did

2. Explore Animal Flower Cave

Located at the rugged northern tip of Barbados, Animal Flower Cave is a natural sea cave that opens up to dramatic ocean views. Within the cave is a natural rock pool that sits above sea level.

You can tour the cave with a local guide and enjoy a quick dip. On-site there is also a souvenir shop, more scenic viewpoints, and a cliffside restaurant serving Bajan-style lunch.

Animal Flower Cave is a unique place to visit in Barbados and makes for a fun experience, especially if you get the cave mostly to yourself. I love swimming here.

🤩 Enjoy transportation and lunch at Animal Flower Cave on this guided tour!

3. Go Beach Hopping Until Sunset

Barbados is home to some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Plus, all beaches are considered public and so many of them are crowd-free! So rather than staying at one beach all day, why not try something different and go beach hop to find your favourite?

Pack a picnic and spend a day exploring a few beaches of your choice along the West Coast: swimming, snorkelling, relaxing, and ending the day with a beautiful sunset. It’s a great option whether you are renting a car or taking the bus.

Heywoods Beach and Mullins Beach are great stops I enjoyed. There is nothing like that feeling of having a beach all or nearly all to yourself.

4. Relax at Shark Hole Beach

Shark Hole is a beautiful little spoon-shaped beach tucked away along the southeast coast of Barbados. Protected from the waves of the Atlantic by coral reefs, the waters of Shark Hole are calm.

While the name may sound scary, there are no sharks at Shark Hole Beach. This small hidden beach is only 40 ft wide and a popular choice with locals. Be careful and don’t swim outside the reef.

5. Visit Deebles Point

Deebles Point is a cliffside in east Barbados at the easternmost point of the island. At this peaceful and scenic spot, you can enjoy seeing waves crashing against the rocks and coastline views.

A unique place in Barbados, it is the easternmost part of the Caribbean. There isn’t any land east of here until you reach Africa.

There is a lighthouse, a viewing platform, and an art gallery at Deebles Point.

6. Explore Harrison’s Cave

Harrison’s Cave may be a popular attraction but exploring it is also one of the most unique things to do in Barbados. And for good reason. Riding an electric tram underground is a fun and easy adventure while enjoying stunning views of limestone formations, crystal-clear pools, and dripping stalactites.

It was my first time seeing an underground waterfall! The cooler temperatures in Harrison’s Cave are a great break from the heat. And if the cave isn’t enough adventure for you, add more fun by going ziplining in the same Adventure Park.

🤩 Explore Harrison’s Cave with transportation on this tour!

7. Go on an Island Tour

One of the best ways to see Barbados is to go on an island tour. You can rent a car for a day and drive around the island on your own or join a tour and not have to worry about the logistics.

You can see more of Barbados in less time. Being a small island, it’s possible to zoom through Barbados and visit all four coasts on the same day. My island tour brought me to the north and east coasts and I loved it.

Visit popular attractions like Harrison’s Cave or find hidden gems along the way on your road trip. You can rent a car from Grantley Adams International Airport.

🤩 Join the island tour I did

8. Ride the St. Nicholas Abbey Steam Train

Located in the hills of St.Peter, you can find St. Nicholas Abbey, a 400-acre estate that includes a sugar cane plantation, distillery, and heritage railway.

At the heritage railway, you can take a relaxing ride on a restored steam locomotive around the property through tropical scenery with lakeside and cliffside views. You won’t find anything else like it on the island, making it a unique adventure in Barbados.

And for those looking to try Bajan rum, St.Nicholas Abbey is known for their signature aged rum.

🚂 Ride this historic steam train with a skip-the-line ticket!

9. Watch the Sunset in Speightstown 

After a day of exploring, there is nothing like relaxing and watching the sunset along the west coast. And this laid-back town has beautiful and colourful sunsets and it’s quieter than Bridgetown. Find a nice spot along the beach or have dinner by the water and enjoy the view.

The sunset in Barbados is around 6 pm each day, year-round. I enjoyed the sunset near the pier seeing a gorgeous vibrant coloured sky. 

10. Friday Night at Oistins Fish Market

One of the most delicious and unique activities in Barbados happens every Friday in Oistins. Fridays bring locals and tourists to the Oistins Fish Market to enjoy delicious Bajan cuisine.

It’s a vibrant local gathering with fresh fish, live music and a fun social atmosphere. While it’s not quiet, it is authentic and a fun way to experience Bajan culture and food. The dining is informal and relaxed, and there is live music and dancing at Oistins Fish Market on weekends. 

The market is open during other days of the week, but the best time to visit Oistins Fish Market is a Friday night. Fewer vendors are open during weekdays.

I tried grilled marlin and swordfish, and it was delicious. I hadn’t tried marlin before, but I fell in love. I recommend Uncle George’s and Pat’s Place.

11. Attend a Rum Tour

Barbados is considered the birthplace of rum, so where better a place to attend a rum tour than where it was born?

There are four rum distilleries on the island: Mount Gay, Foursquare, Saint Nicholas Abbey, and West Indies. Mount Gay Rum Distillery has been making rum for over 300 years and is the oldest on the island.

One of the most fun things to do in Barbados for those who enjoy rum, you can learn the art of rum-making while sampling different blends. It’s an informative yet relaxed way to sip cocktails in the sunshine. The most popular rum tour is of Mount Gay Rum Distillery. 

🍹 Indulge on Bajan rum on this rum-tasting tour!

12. Walk Richard Haynes Boardwalk

The Richard Haynes Boardwalk is a 1.2 km boardwalk that connects two beaches, Sugar Bay and Rockley Beach. Overlooking the Caribbean Sea, this scenic oceanfront path stretches along the south coast, lined with palm trees, cafes, and little beach stops. It’s perfect for an easy sunset walk.

Richard Haynes Boardwalk is popular with turtles trying to lay their eggs, so they can often be spotted at night on the boardwalk.

13. Stand at North Point 

When you stand at North Point, you stand at the most northern point of Barbados. Offering dramatic sea cliffs and crashing waves from where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, it’s a great photo spot.

And to add some adventure, visit Animal Flower Cave at the same time. You can even see North Point from inside Animal Flower Cave, you can see it from within the cave.

A highlight of my trip was visiting the most northern part of an island, something I didn’t get to do during my time in Aruba. 

14. Eat Fish Cutter Sandwiches from Cuz’s Fish Stand 

When looking for unique things to do in Barbados, you can’t skip eating at Cuz’s Fish Stand. It’s a delicious, quick stop for a fresh fish sandwich on the beach. It’s casual and tasty, and one of my favourite things I ate on the island.

You will find them in a small shack in Carlisle Bay beside the Hilton resort. You’ll know you are close when you smell the aroma of freshly grilled fish. Cuz’s Fish Stand has the best fish cutters in Barbados. I ate here over and over again, especially as fuel after spending a day scuba diving.

15. Explore Bridgetown‘s History and Food

For a taste of Barbados’s history and food, you’ll want to head to Bridgetown.

Places like National Heroes Square and Independence Square are filled with history on the island.

And Wickham Lewis Boardwalk is a great place to take a stroll, watch the boats, and admire the colourful buildings surrounding the boardwalk. Level up your visit by joining a walking food tour in Bridgetown. It’s a fun activity in Barbados that’s away from the beach. I found some of my favourite food spots on my tour.

🚶🏻 Discover the most historical places in Bridgetown on this walking tour!

Final Thoughts on Unique Things to Do in Barbados

Barbados may be small, but there are still plenty of unique things to do around the island. You can experience everything from swimming with turtles to trying rum in its birthplace.

With one of the highest repeat visitor rates in the Caribbean, see what this amazing island is all about for yourself. It’s more than just beautiful beaches.

You can add all these activities to your Barbados itinerary or choose to visit a few of them.

Happy travelling!