Bridgetown Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados)

Bridgetown contains most of the historical tourist attractions in Barbados. Visitors can stop by the cathedral and heritage buildings for a sampling of the architecture produced in colonial days. Sugarcane plantation houses are also in the area.

Offering a weekly extravaganza of traditional steel-band music, folk dancing and fine dining, the 1627 and All That Show is another notable attraction for tourists holidaying in Bridgetown, as is Queen's Park and its beautiful Georgian-style building.

Tyrol Cot Heritage Village

Address: Wildey House, Wildey, Bridgetown, Barbados
Tel: +1 246 424 2074
This tourist attraction is located on the Wildey House estate, where it is something of a recreation of old-world Barbados, complete with stables, slave quarters and a carriage house. The chattel houses are especially interesting, as they were designed to be mobile. Since the original farmers didn't own the land that they worked, they had to be able to move their dwelling to a new estate at a moment's notice.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

St. Michael's Cathedral

Address: St. Michael's Row, Bridgetown, Barbados
Tel: +1 246 427 0790
The first cathedral to stand here was built in the mid-1600s. St. Michael's came along a little over a century later, after a hurricane destroyed the original in 1780. Another hurricane inflicted further damage in 1831, creating the need for much restoration work. The catacombs under the cathedral are original, while the vaulted ceilings in the sanctuary are very impressive.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 16:00
Admission: free

1627 and All That Show

Address: St. Ann's Garrison, Bridgetown, Barbados
Tel: +1 246 428 1627
This weekly cultural programme is housed in the Barbados Museum and is a dinner event which includes a tour of the museum. The main show explores the history of the city since the first English settlers arrived in 1627 and is usually well attended.
Open hours: Thursday - 18:30 to 22:00
Admission: charge

Nidhe Israel Synagogue

Address: Weymouth, Bridgetown, Barbados
Tel: +1 246 432 0840
In addition to being among Bridgetown's most historical buildings, the Nidhe Israel Synagogue is one of the oldest synagogues in the entire hemisphere. It was built 1654, but was destroyed by the hurricane of 1831. The building as it stands today was restored in the 1980s. Be sure to stop by the cemetery, where many of the headstones are in Hebrew.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Queen's Park

Address: Constitution Road, Bridgetown, Barbados
Tel: +1 246 427 2345
In the old days, Queen's Park housed the residence of an important general in the West Indies. It was redesigned as a public park in the early 20th century and is now a popular place for locals and tourists to come for walks and picnics, offering a host of recreational attractions and activities. The general's former residence now functions as a popular art gallery, theatre and museum. Take a moment to admire the massive, several centuries old baobab tree, which is believed to have originated from Africa many years ago, arriving on a slave ship.
Open hours: daily - 06:00 to 20:00
Admission: free