Bridgetown (Barbados)

Bridgetown is the capital and biggest city of Barbados. Formerly Town of Saint Michael, Greater Bridgetown area is situated within parish of Saint Michael. Locally referred to as "The City", the most common reference to Bridgetown is simply "Town". The city covers a total area of approx 40 km2 (15 ml2) and has a population of around 110,000 inhabitants (2014 census).

• Port Bridgetown is located along Carlisle Bay (on the island's southwestern coast). Parts of the metro area (aka ABC Highway) borders with the parishes St James and Christ Church.
• Grantley Adams International Airport, is located 16 km (9.9 ml) southeast of Bridgetown city centre, and offers daily flights to major cities in the Caribbean, United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. 
• At its current location, the town was established in 1628 by English settlers. The prior settlement was at St James Town. Bridgetown City is a popular West Indies travel vacation destination, and serves as major financial and convention centre, as well as a major cruise port of call in Southern Caribbean. In 2011, Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison were designated "UNESCO World Heritage Site".
• The cruise port serves the entire Barbados Island (Caribbean Sea). It is managed by the port authority company "Bridgetown Cruise Terminals Inc". Its largest shareholders (investors) are the country's Government (through the state-owned company "Barbados Port Inc", with 30% share) and the private companies "Goddard Enterprises Ltd" (20%) and "Cave Shepherd & Co Ltd" (20%). The remaining 30% of the cruise terminal's shares are held by the general public (subscribed at the initial building stage of port's development).
• Barbados is included in many Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries, also visiting Leeward Islands (Guadeloupe, St Martin, St Barts, Nevis, St Kitts), Greater Antilles, Windward Islands (Martinique, St Vincent, St Lucia, Dominica), Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba.
• Bridgetown Barbados also serves as turnaround (departure) port for cruise liners in the fleets of Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, P&O UK (fly-cruise deals from Southampton England during the winter season).
• In 2017, the cruise port handled a toyal of 818,752 passengers, or 12,9% increase over 2016 (725,020 passengers). Of all these cruise ship tourists, 137,541 stayed overnight (compared to 130,924 in 2016). The port's main source markets are the UK (33,5% share / 222,322 passengers), followed by USA (28,4% / 188,970 passengers) and Canada (12,8% / 85,209 passengers)..

Highlights: Windward Island, Bridgetown, Beaches

Bridgetown cruise terminal

Bridgetown tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Barbados Garrison: World Heritage Site of UNESCO. It dates from 1780 when it was established to be the Imperial Forces’ military headquarter. Now it is a home to the Barbados Defence Force. You can tour George Washington House, St. Ann’s Fort, the Barbados National Armoury and the Savannah park.
• Parliament Buildings: or the “Public Buildings”. They were constructed in the period 1870-1874 of coral limestone in neo-gothic style. They house the Barbados Parliament. The Senate and House of Assembly are housed in the east wing. The Parliament Museum and the National Gallery are housed in the west wing. There also is the clock tower.
• National Heroes Square: formerly Trafalgar Square, it is located between the Parliament buildings and the Constitution River Inner Basin. There you will see three sculptures. The first is a a memorial to the Barbadians that were killed during the two World Wars. The Lord Horatio Nelson bronze statue marks the center of the city. The clamshell-shaped fountain is the third one.it is a memorial of the Bridgetown first piped water.
• St. Michael’s Cathedral: located two blocks away from the National Heroes Square, direction East. It dates from 1789 and replaced the 1665 wooden building. The church is made of coral stone and got its cathedral status when Bishop William Harte Coleridge arrived in 1825.
• Nidhe Israel Synagogue: UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the oldest Western Hemisphere synagogues dates from 1654.
• Queen’s Park: located beside St. Michael’s Row, east of downtown.
• Barbados Museum: the St. Ann’s Garrison British military prison houses the museum. You will find great variety of exhibitions.
• Beaches: visit the beautiful Gold Coats beaches. Great for watersports is Payne’s bay. The Brighton Beach, Brandon’s Beach and Paradise Beach are located in the Fresh Water Bay, next to Payne’s bay.