It’s easy to see why Bridgetown is a popular cruise stop. The Careenage is an Instagram-worthy scene of bridges and a boardwalk running along a river dotted with sailboats and catamarans, while waterfront cafes offer sweeping views over the city’s Parliament Square. Moreover, across the water, bustling colonial-era streets are lined with pastel-colored duty-free malls and warehouses turned discount stores, and alleys lure pedestrians towards fruit carts or souvenir trinkets.
However, beyond this contemporary surface, downtown Bridgetown remains the heart of Barbados’ history. It was Britain’s most lucrative port for nearly three centuries through sugar cane plantation and slavery, thus its most prized and protected possession. The city’s original streetscape, designed in 1657, has barely changed since then – which earned Bridgetown an inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. Original street names remain, like Liverpool, Lancaster, and Swan – despite enduring at least 10 fires between 1668 and 1993, which destroyed a good part of the city’s early history and official records.
Explore the Careenage’s Past
It’s hard to imagine, but the city’s popular waterfront area, also known as Constitution River, was once a chaotic scene where mercantile ships unloaded and loaded goods between long-haul journeys. Boats were ‘careened’ to be cleaned, and women lined the docks with baskets of foods for sale. The Careenage was England’s first port of call on the Transatlantic Slave Trade crossing and became its most important and valuable harbor, even bigger than Amsterdam and Boston.
As you stroll the boardwalk, pause at the commemorative plaque honoring the ‘strength and resilience’ of those enslaved Africans transported across the Atlantic – on a direct path from West Africa to Barbados – and who ‘at or near this site,’ were sold as slaves. They were taken across the street from the Careenage to be auctioned off to plantation owners. The plaque also honors those who fought to abolish slavery on the island.
Continuing east leads to the Chamberlain Bridge – originally a wooden bridge when the British found it in the 1600s. It was rebuilt in 1872 as a swing bridge to allow the passage of ships and modernized in 2006. Stop along the railing and take in the panoramic views of Parliament Square before continuing a few steps west to Independence Park.
Taking a break in this verdant waterfront square is a favorite local pastime. The park features a nine-foot tall statue of Barbados’ Father of Independence, Errol Walton Barrow.
On the other side of the Chamberlain Bridge, you’ll find the controversial bronze statue of Admiral Nelson at Heroes’ Square – erected in 1813, it predates the one built in London. However, Heroes’ Square was once the site of ‘the Cage,’ a wood and wire prison where plantation owners inflicted brutal punishments on runaway slaves. Many Barbadians see this small plaza as a shrine commemorating the suffering of their ancestors, making the presence of Admiral Nelson’s statue quite controversial.
For a guided, vibrant historical tour of Bridgetown’s Careenage and surrounding streets, arrange for a two-hour walk with renowned Barbadian author and expert Morris Greenidge. His storytelling brings historical sights to life, making you feel as if you’ve plunged back three centuries.
When you’re ready to rest up, the historic Waterfront Café, overlooking the Careenage, serves up cou-cou and flying fish with refreshing Bajan lemonade.
‘Lime’ on Carlisle Bay
A five-minute walk from the downtown Careenage area leads to Carlisle Bay, Barbados’ most stunning body of water, lined with pristine white sand and an iridescent Caribbean sea.
This bay was historically the first body of water that slave ships crossed upon arrival from the Atlantic around 1645. Today, it is a protected marine park where you can go scuba diving to explore up to five shipwrecks here at shallow depths. Snorkeling right off the beach offers the chance to spot turtles (marked buoys ensure safety).
A favorite of locals and visitors from nearby hotels, crowds flock here to relax under colorful umbrellas, play soccer, or enjoy fish cutter sandwiches from Cuz’s Fish Shack.
See the Birthplace of Rum on Roebuck Street
Stand on the corner of Roebuck and Palmetto streets, and you can brag that you’ve witnessed where rum was first discovered. A vendor stands nearby with her fast food cart, as crowds shuffle under the hot sun. This spot, in the 17th century, was owned by Captain Rumball, who stumbled upon a barrel filled with sugar cane that fermented over time, leading to the creation of rum.
Over time, Roebuck Street became home to the highest concentration of rum bottlers and blenders in the world. Walk south of Palmetto Street to discover Old City Bar, a ramshackle, red-painted rum shop, perfect for a swig of rum with views of Parliament Square.
Go on a Bajan Walking Food Tour
History buffs and food lovers alike will cherish the leisurely ‘Original Bajan Walking Food Tour’ around downtown Bridgetown. Tour leader and historian Claudette Levi-Farnum shares insights about the island’s trajectory while you taste eight classic Bajan dishes. Highlights include barbecued pigtails, fish cakes, Bajan chicken soup, and flying fish from various local eateries.
Shop on Broad and Swan Streets
Strolling through Bridgetown’s busiest shopping streets feels like stepping back in time, despite the sounds of roadside vendors. Broad Street, the city’s main thoroughfare, features duty-free stores and local restaurants. Meanwhile, pedestrian-only Swan Street swarms with shoppers, street carts, and various shops.
A hidden treasure off Swan is Busby Alley, filled with stands selling affordable sunglasses and other souvenirs. Historically, this block was where freed Africans sold baked goods, as they were not allowed to sell ground provisions without a plantation license, even after emancipation.
Tour the Oldest Synagogue and Mikveh in the Americas
Sephardic Jews built the Nidhe Israel Synagogue in 1654, the oldest in the Americas. Despite suffering damage in the 1831 earthquake and subsequent rebuilding, it is part of Bridgetown’s UNESCO designation. The highlight is an adjacent 16th-century mikveh, the first built in the Americas.
Visit St. Mary’s Church
St. Mary’s Church, constructed in the 19th century, holds significance as the resting place of National Hero Samuel Jackman Prescod, who fought for the rights of free blacks. Across from the church, Jubilee Gardens offers shade for locals to relax.
Pay Tribute to Barbados’ Only National Heroine
Sarah Ann Gill is Barbados’ first and only female national hero, recognized for her defense of religious freedom. After her chapel was destroyed by a mob in 1823, she continued to hold meetings in her home. Gill’s advocacy ultimately led to the establishment of religious tolerance in all British possessions. You can pay your respects at the St. James Street Methodist Church cemetery.
