The City i Bridgetown

Formerly called “The Town of Saint Michael”, Bridgetown has kept its colonial charm and delights its visitors with cultural sights and recreational options alike. Bajans (as Barbadians are called) refer to it as “Town” and take pride in its fame as the birthplace of rum. As a former British colony (independent since 1966), sugar, rum and molasses belonged to the island’s export goods and play an important role in Bajan cuisine to-date. Bridgetown itself spreads out along the island’s south-western coast and is Barbados’ nightlife and dining hotspot. Try the famous fried flying fish, cou cou, fish cakes and other Bajan specialities – and do not forget the rum. With its 110,000 inhabitants, Bridgetown is home to nearly a third of the Bajan population and a popular destination for Caribbean cruises. You will find several marvellous beaches with endless possibilities – swimming, snorkelling, even shipwreck-diving. Plus, the island’s centre offers lush forests and fascinating flora and fauna. Since Barbados is only 432 square kilometres in size, you can explore the whole island while staying in Bridgetown – in your own rental car or by bus. Everything is reachable within 1 to 1,5 hours. Crop Over Festival – celebrated annually at the beginning of August – is a spectacle worth attending. In its 200-year-old tradition, colourful bands parade through the streets like a carnival. It is then when the open-minded, friendly Bajan culture can be witnessed and celebrated.