Caribbean · UN member
Barbados: Travel Guide & Requirements
Barbados is a country in Caribbean with its capital in Bridgetown. It has a population of 282,623 (#179 in the world) and covers 430 km². The official language is English. The currency is the Barbadian dollar (BBD, $).
Where is Barbados? Map of Barbados
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela.
- Region
- Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 13.1667° N, 59.5333° W
- Neighbours
- none (no land borders)
- Coastline
- 97 km
- Barbados
- Capital
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Barbados
- Passport
The Immigration Department says your passport must be valid for the duration of your trip.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 180 need no visa, 18 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Barbados entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
The Immigration Department lists a return ticket to your country of residence, with a passport valid for the trip, the intended address and evidence of personal support, under 'Things to Know' for visitors to Barbados.
- Proof of funds
The Immigration Department lists evidence of personal support, with a return ticket and the intended address, under 'Things to Know' for visitors to Barbados.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK government advises checking that you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation; it says Queen Elizabeth Hospital can cope with many types of treatment, but serious cas…
- Vaccinations
WHO's list shows Barbados requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged one year and over arriving from countries at risk of yellow fever transmission, and notes that the list of countries this applie…
- Arrival card
The Immigration Department says travellers must complete the online Immigration and Customs Form, which becomes available 72 hours before arrival, and present the receipts, saved to a mobile device or printed, to Immigr…
- Customs allowance
No official requirement.
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Barbados
- Safety: Yes — Barbados is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Barbados Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: December to April — when daytime highs in Bridgetown are around 27–28°C.
- Money: the Barbadian dollar (BBD) — 1 US dollar is about 2.0000 BBD.
- Plugs: type A and B, 115 V, 50 Hz — low-voltage country: devices made only for 220–240 V need a voltage converter. Phone and laptop chargers (100–240 V) only need a plug adapter.
- Emergency numbers: Police 211, Ambulance 511, Fire 311.
- Language: English is official.
- Driving: on the left — speed limits are 80 km/h in built-up areas and 60 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC-4 in Bridgetown.
- Capital: Bridgetown. About 282,623 people live in Barbados.
- Outdoors: 1 national park.
Key facts
Barbados at a glance
Languages spoken: English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)
Geography & history
About Barbados
Barbados was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Enslaved Africans worked the sugar plantations established on the island, which initially dominated the Caribbean sugar industry. By 1720, Barbados was no longer a dominant force within the sugar industry, having been surpassed by the Leeward Islands and Jamaica. Slavery was abolished in 1834. The Barbadian economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance. …
Read the full history
Barbados was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Enslaved Africans worked the sugar plantations established on the island, which initially dominated the Caribbean sugar industry. By 1720, Barbados was no longer a dominant force within the sugar industry, having been surpassed by the Leeward Islands and Jamaica. Slavery was abolished in 1834. The Barbadian economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance. Barbados became a republic in 2021, with the former Governor-General Sandra MASON elected as the first president.
Location
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Climate
tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain
relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Highest point
Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, natural gas
Natural hazards
infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
National symbols
Neptune's trident, pelican, red bird of paradise flower (also known as "Pride of Barbados")
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Barbados
The default speed limits in Barbados are 80 km/h in built-up areas and 60 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.8‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 8080 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWHO data (2017)
- 6060 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWith a trailer: 30 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the leftOvertake on the right
- Alcohol limit0.8‰ blood alcohol (0.08% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)10.0 per 100,000 peopleClose to the world median (12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0) and WHO. Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Barbados safe to visit?
Yes — Barbados is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Barbados Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Removal of information about flight disruptions ('Warnings and insurance' page).
Updated 23 Jan 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Barbados
The best time to visit Barbados is December to April, when daytime highs in Bridgetown are around 27–28°C. May to August and November are also a good time to go. September is the warmest month (29°C by day), February the coldest (26°C at night), and October the wettest with about 132 mm of rain.
- Jan27°C26°C
- Feb27°C26°C
- Mar27°C26°C
- Apr28°C26°C
- May28°C27°C
- Jun28°C27°C
- Jul28°C27°C
- Aug29°C28°C
- Sep29°C28°C
- Oct29°C28°C
- Nov28°C27°C
- Dec28°C27°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Barbados
Plugs & sockets
115 V, 50 Hz · Low-voltage country: devices made only for 220–240 V need a voltage converter. Phone and laptop chargers (100–240 V) only need a plug adapter.
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
1 national park in Barbados
Largest: Queen's Park, Bridgetown
Currency · 26 October 2026
Barbadian dollar exchange rates today
Barbados uses the Barbadian dollar (BBD, $). One US dollar buys 2.0000 BBD; over the last 30 days the BBD has gained 0.0% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in BBD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Barbados ranks
How Barbados compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Barbados
2 airports and airfields — 1 large, 0 medium and 0 small, plus 1 heliports. 1 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
No land borders
Barbados has no land borders with other countries. Coastline: 97 km.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Bridgetown (89,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Export partners
USA 22%, Jamaica 17%, Trinidad & Tobago 8%, Canada 6%, Guyana 6% (2023)
Top exports
liquor, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, margarine, baked goods (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Barbados
Next public holiday
Independence Day — Monday, 30 November 2026. Then Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Barbadian or Bajan passport
Ranked #47: 105 countries visa-free, 31 with visa on arrival, 7 with an eTA and 30 with an eVisa.
Barbadian or Bajan passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Barbados's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Barbados
Dial +1-246 before the local number. Internet domain .bb.
Climate footprint
1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 4.83 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Barbados: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Barbados
Caribbean retirement permits and income rules island by island
A comparison of eight Caribbean retirement destinations sets out the permits and income thresholds facing foreign retirees, from the Dominican Republ…
Travellers to Dominica have 12 city links, with direct US flights from New York and Miami
Dominica Douglas Charles Airport (DOM) offers connections to 12 destinations, with the busiest routes to Antigua, Bridgetown and San Juan. Flights fr…
Guinea-Bissau Travellers Holding Nigerian Passports Get 24 Visa-Free Entries
Nigerian passport holders can enter 24 destinations without arranging a visa in advance, according to the IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, which ranks…
Frequently asked questions about Barbados
What do I need to travel to Barbados?
How long must my passport be valid for Barbados?
Where is Barbados?
What is Barbados known for?
What is the capital of Barbados?
What language is spoken in Barbados?
What currency does Barbados use?
What is the calling code of Barbados?
Does Barbados have land borders?
How strong is the Barbadian or Bajan passport?
What is the speed limit in Barbados?
Is Barbados safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Barbados?
What plug type does Barbados use?
How many airports does Barbados have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.