Your Ultimate Guide To Barbados

Bridgetown

Established in 1628, Bridgetown is the capital city of the island of Barbados and a commercial centre and hub of activity, having gained this official recognition after the abolition of slavery in 1838. It is accessible by foot, car or public transportation and the Barbados Port of Authority, in which cruise ships dock, sits just on the outskirts so passengers can make their way into the hustle and bustle of Bridgetown.

Some of the many attractions found in Bridgetown include:-

• Barbados Port of Authority
• Bridgetown Fish Market
• Broad Street
• Caribbean Cigar Company
• Chamberlain Bridge

The city of Bridgetown adds its own blend of uniqueness to cement Barbados as a special destination for travelers from across the globe. In the centre of town is the Careenage River, which facilitates pleasure boats and yachts travelling and docking for the convenience of its passengers right in the heart of the town. In years gone by that passage way would have been used to accommodate small island boats for commercial purposes; however that is a thing of the past.

Branches of all the major financial institutions can be found in the capital and they offer basic banking services through to foreign exchange transactions and commercial lending. For those persons for whom retail therapy is a source of comfort, the city of Bridgetown in Barbados offers a wide variety of shopping options. The upmarket retail and jewellery stores tend to be located on the main street called Broad St. Stores like Cave Shepherd, Sunglass Hut, Diamonds International, Columbian Emeralds, Harrisons, Little Switzerland can be found along that long stretch of road. There are also a number of smaller malls on the same main street which house specialist boutiques and smaller and more indigenous jewellery stores. One can simply step in and out, browse or buy to one.

If you have time and are feeling more adventurous, there are also other smaller stores on Swan Street and there are numerous side streets, where items are available for sale: boutiques, pharmacies, souvenir shops, variety shops… you name it.

A number of the larger stores offer duty-free shopping to those persons visiting who are able to provide legitimate identification (e.g. passport, driver's license) and evidence of a departure date out of Barbados.

A visit to the city would be incomplete without taking the time to view the historical and educational attractions such as Queen's Park, The Parliament Buildings, The Jewish Synagogue, and Independence Square. Indeed, many of these are a photographer's dream, in terms of the opportunity they provide for picture-taking while in Barbados.

00-12