From the airport to the city centre Barbados

Barbados' only airport, Grantley Adams International, is 13.6 km east of Bridgetown. To reach your destination, cabs and hotel shuttles (check in advance whether the service is free or for a fee) are often available.

Official cabs can be identified by the letter "Z" on their license plates. At the airport exit, a cab dispatch is clearly visible. Specify your destination to the employee, who will direct you to the next available cab. He'll also tell you the cost of the journey.

There are twobus routes: " To City ", to the west and the capital, and " Out of City ", to the east. The most convenient is route 27, which runs along the entire south and west coast to Speightstown, passing through Oistins, Bridgetown and Holetown. Other lines exist (the 19 and 12A to Bridgetown, the 26 to Oistins, the 54C to Speightstown). Line 26 from Oistins stops at the airport before continuing east to St. Philip's parish.

Arrival by boat Barbados

If you arrive in Barbados aboard a cruise ship, it will anchor at the Bridgetown cruise terminal, a twenty-minute walk from the town center. All facilities are available, including a tourist office. For those arriving in Barbados via their own boat, the Bridgetown mooring point is The Careenage, the historic harbor. Other marinas can be found in Port Ferdinand and Port St. Charles, on the northwest coast.

Public transport Barbados

Bus routes cover every corner of Barbados on a more or less regular basis. They are very practical and economical (some stop at points of tourist interest), and also provide an opportunity to meet Barbadians.

They can be divided into three categories: government buses (BTB), mini-buses and ZR. The fare is the same for all, 3.50 BBD, but make sure you have the exact amount for the BTB buses. Change (or a token purchased at the bus station) is placed in a box next to the driver, which is inaccessible to him and cannot be returned. Bus stops are easily identifiable (white disc surrounded by a red circle). " To City " indicates the direction to Bridgetown, " Out of City " indicates a line leaving Bridgetown.

Barbados Transportation Board (BTB)government buses : large blue buses with yellow lines, running on main routes. Government buses have two terminals in Bridgetown (Fairchild Street and Princess Alice Highway) as well as in Oistins and Speightstown.

Mini-buses: yellow with blue lines, privately owned.

ZR (or Route cab): pronounced "zedar", these white minivans with burgundy lines run on the busiest roads. They don't have a fixed timetable, leave when full and can pick you up wherever you disembark outside the bus stops.

Bike, scooters & co Barbados

There are a few bike rental companies and electric bikes, but they're not the most popular way to get around.

With a driver Barbados

Official cabs can be identified by the letter "Z" on their license plates. A trip from the airport to Bridgetown costs around 74 BBD. It's 39 BBD to Oistins and 144 BBD to Speightstown.

Alternatively, you can order a driver using the PickUP app, the local VTC service. Download the app (beware, you'll need to register via WhatsApp if you don't have a Barbadian mobile number) and, as with any app of its kind, set your pick-up and destination address. You'll get an idea of the fare, and can even register a credit card to pay for your ride instead of cash.

If you don't drive, or if you're short of time, you can also hire a driver by the day. Some offer well-defined tours, most are open to tailor-made tours.

By car Barbados

There are many car rental companies in Barbados. The most convenient, but perhaps not the cheapest, is to rent your vehicle at the airport.

There are a few important points to bear in mind:

As a former British colony,driving is on the left.

Speed limits are in km/h: 40 km/h in urban areas, 60 km/h in rural areas and 80 km/h on national roads.

Theminimum age for car rental is 21, with 2 to 5 years' driving experience.

Don't forget your driving license - you'll need it to obtain a local permit. You can also request one in advance via https://portal.bra.gov.bb/VisitorPermit.

Accessibility Barbados

While government buses have reserved spaces for the elderly, pregnant women and strollers, accessibility remains the black spot of tourism in Barbados. A handful of the BTB's new buses are accessible to people with reduced mobility (although you'll have to stumble across them); on the other hand, there are cabs and tour companies equipped to welcome travellers with disabilities, which can be found on the tourist office website: https://urlr.me/Dy89P.