Bridgetown Beaches and Water Sports

(Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados)

No Caribbean island would be complete without a few sun-soaked beaches, and Bridgetown more than delivers in this department. The western coastline of Barbados has earned itself the name of the 'Platinum Coast' and runs northwards from Bridgetown, encompassing many beautiful tropical beaches and resorts along the way.

Brighton Beach is just minutes from the Bridgetown Port and stretches for approximately 3 km / 1.5 miles, being both quiet and secluded. Fringed by coral reefs excellent for snorkelling, Brighton Beach draws large crowds and many choose to enjoy lunch at the Weiser's Beach Bar, or join a game of volleyball. Next-door and separated by just a narrow strip of woodland, the aptly named Paradise Bay enjoys especially calm water and easy access, with facilities for jet skiing and fishing.


For scuba diving in Bridgetown, the Carlisle Bay Marine Park is an absolute must and comes with a series of six colonised shipwrecks, which are conveniently situated close to each other and attract a myriad of sea creatures, such as barracudas, moray eel, octopus, reef squid and seahorses.

General Information

Residing in the nearby parish of St. James and within easy reach of Bridgetown, the sandy beaches of Batts Rock, Folkstone, Holetown, Paynes Bay and Sandy Lane are perfect for sunseekers who also fancy a swim in the warm Caribbean Sea.

Head to the parish of St. Peter and the best beaches include the likes of Heywoods and Mullins Bay, both of which are good for snorkelling and come with a choice of water sports.

Those driving from Bridgetown to the South Coast will soon encounter a further selection of beaches, with favourites including Brownes Beach, Casuarina, Dover, Enterprise (Miami), Greaves End, Maxwell, Pebbles and Rockley, amongst others. Enterprise Beach is actually one of the busiest in Barbados and boasts excellent facilities.

Close to Sam Lord's Castle, Bottom Bay lies on the south-eastern coast of Barbados and is another popular beach worth looking out for, featuring lots of swaying palm trees and remaining virtually deserted during the week. Near to Bottom Bay, the stunning Crane Beach frequently has large waves and is a good choice for body surfing.

It should be noted that there are no nudist beaches in Barbados, and even topless sunbathing is not permitted. All beaches in Barbados are open to the public - including those sited directly outside hotels.