Barbados is one of the world’s most beautiful places to visit. It’s no wonder tourists flock to this eastern Caribbean island to see its pristine and breathtaking beaches. The island has world-class luxury resorts, like Sandals Royal Barbados, which attract visitors worldwide. Barbados is surrounded by turquoise-colored water, scenery that will take your breath away, and sand that falls through your fingers like soft sugar.
The tropical island has over 70 miles of pristine coastline, and each beach is unique and spectacular. The west coast is calm and peaceful, while the beaches on the Atlantic and north side have more of the wilder, untouched beauty. The southern coast is famous for watersports.
There is something for everyone in Barbados.
If you are planning a holiday to Barbados, but you’re finding it hard to prioritize which beaches to visit (and there are 80 sun-kissed beaches), then I’ve got you covered with this guide to the best beaches in Barbados.
My Bottom Line Up Front: The Best Beach in Barbados
Of all these breathtakingly beautiful beaches, my absolute favorite beach in Barbados is Miami Beach, on the island’s south coast. This beach has the best of both worlds, and there’s something for everyone.
You can take a walk on the wilder side, frolic in the calm waters with your children, or get your adrenaline going with some incredible watersports. The beach has a lifeguard (so mom and dad can relax), excellent ablution facilities, and snack shacks close by. This beach has it all.
My Selection Criteria for the Best Beaches in Barbados
With over 80 gorgeous beaches available in Barbados, it’s hard to resist visiting them all (after all, there are only so many hours in a day). To fully appreciate your visit to this fantastic tropical island, you must have a game plan.
So, I made sure that my selection of the best beaches in Barbados:
- Were relatively close to popular hotels or accommodation (more time on the beach and less time traveling)
- Had decent sanitary facilities and showers (to wash off that beach sand)
- Included family-friendly beaches as well as more private beaches
- Showed off the island’s natural beauty
- Catered to every holiday maker’s needs (beach activities, peace and quiet, or being served cocktails on the beach)
- Were safe and had lifeguards on duty or medical centers close by
13 Best Beaches in Barbados
Are you ready to soak up some of that gorgeous Caribbean sun and dip your toes into the crystal-clear waters of Barbados?
Great, let’s jump into my list of the best beaches in Barbados for a holiday you won’t forget.
Best Family-Friendly Beaches
I can’t imagine going away as a family to a more stunning place than this beautiful island. Holidays are where memories are made. So make some special memories with the special people in your life.
Here are the best family-friendly beaches in Barbados:
Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach is a family-friendly beach located on the southwestern coast near Bridgetown in Barbados. This beach, with its gently rolling waves and soft, warm sand, is perfect for little ones and families.
Enjoy a relaxing swim in the clear ocean; if you’re more adventurous, you can go diving. Snorkeling is also a fun option for children, and there is plenty of beautiful ocean life in the area.
If you are an early riser (6 a.m.), you can watch the racehorses enjoy a playful swim in the sea (this is a moment not to be missed).
All this fun is sure to make you hungry. Why not head over to Cuz’s Fish Stand, a popular seafood restaurant close by? This is the perfect beach if you want to relax, enjoy a casual stroll along the shoreline, and spend time with your family in the gentle water.
Crane Beach
Another famous beach to take your family to is the popular Crane Beach. This epic beach is situated on the southeast coast of Barbados, around 6 minutes from the Grantley Adams International Airport.
Cliffs and subtropical vegetation surround the clear waters. The waters boast a coral reef that creates a safe and fun environment for your children to swim in. This beach’s most iconic element is its soft pink beach sand.
The sand gets its gorgeous hue of pink from the pieces of coral and shell bits mixed with the white sand. The waves at this beach are perfect for boogie boarding. If you’re more of an adrenaline junkie, you can jump off the cliffs into the clear water below.
Sea turtles are also known to swim up close to the shore, which is a beautiful sight for parents and children.
Browne’s Beach
Is there a more perfect beach for families than Browne’s Beach? I think not. This is one of the most extensive beaches in Barbados and is located just outside Bridgetown. This beach is a paradise for children (and gives parents peace of mind) with its calm waters.
There is a lifeguard on duty, which adds to the security element. You will find plenty of fun on this massive beach, like diving, swimming, and snorkeling. Expect to see sea life like starfish, seahorses, and tropical fish on your casual snorkel along the shoreline.
Even more exciting is the fact that there are several shipwrecks close to the shore on the seafloor that you can go and explore. If you are keen on a good time, I advise going on the Catamaran Turtle Snorkel, which includes lunch and an open bar. Swim with green sea turtles, and you may be lucky enough to spot the southern stingrays.
Best Budget-Friendly Beaches
Going on holiday can be expensive, and the thought of expensive outings and activities can put a damper on your holiday vibe. That’s why I decided to look for beaches that were budget-friendly and kinder to your pocket.
Here’s the best budget-friendly beach in Barbados:
Bottom Bay Beach
This budget-friendly beach, situated on the southeast coast of Barbados, is one of Barbados’s hidden gems. The crystal clear ocean is surrounded by tall palm trees and colossal coral cliffs. The beach is pretty remote and doesn’t see a lot of visitors.
If you want a relaxing picnic with scenic views, this is the beach for you.
A word of warning: the waves in this bay are known to get very big, and the sea can be rough. Because of the location of this beach, there are no lifeguards on duty. This is not a beach for children.
If you surf well, these big waves will be your playground. The clear waters also give you a front-row seat to watching turtles and whales swimming close to the shore.
Best Luxurious Beaches
Some of us enjoy the finer things in life, and why not? If you can afford it, you deserve to spoil yourself with a trip to a luxurious beach.
Here are 3 of the best luxurious beaches in Barbados:
Paynes Bay Beach
Situated along the west coast of Barbados, fondly known as the Platinum Coast, Paynes Bay Beach is one of the most iconic (and luxurious) beaches on this tropical island. If you want to experience what a swim in the ocean should feel like, this beach is for you.
The water is a clear turquoise blue that laps against the shore softly. The ocean here is very calm, and there are no strong currents.
This beach has all the facilities you need to make your outing as comfortable as possible. It has excellent ablution facilities, safe parking, and restaurants for cocktails and other refreshments.
The beach is home to all sorts of wildlife, the most popular being the Hawksbill turtle. If you are into watersports, kayaking, sailing, and jet skis are available. There is also an excellent fish market where you can purchase fresh fish from the sea.
Drill Hall Beach
Drill Hall Beach certainly has the best seat in the house regarding location. The beach is on the Savannah hotel’s doorstep (you step out of your hotel room and onto the beach #itsthelife).
This luxurious beach is located 1.5 miles from the city of Bridgetown and has a postcard-perfect look. The beach sand is a beautiful shade of pink, and you can see right into the cool water. It’s important to note that this beach isn’t too great for swimming, as the shallow reef causes unpredictable waves.
But this is a fantastic spot to lounge in a chair, relax, and watch some exciting water sports activities.
Sandy Lane Beach
Another luxurious beach to visit is Sandy Lane Beach. This beach is also located on the Platinum Coast of Barbados and is within walking distance away from the Paynes Bay beach. It’s notoriously known as a playground for celebrities such as Rihanna (a local from the island) and Simon Cowell.
Walk on soft, golden sand and float on a lilo in the clear blue water. The gentle waves will lull you into a state of absolute relaxation. You will see the beach’s signature pink umbrellas, and you might be lucky enough to see a celebrity lounging in the sun.
You should go snorkeling as the marine life is amazing. (Plus, it’s a great way to cool down.)
Best Beaches for Surfing and Watersports
If you love to chase big waves, I’ve got a few beaches guaranteed to give you an epic surfing experience:
Bathsheba Bay Beach
Bathsheba Bay Beach, home to the Soup Bowl (a famous wave that continually rolls), is located on the east side of Barbados. This beach has some impressive surfing waves, and its barrel-roll-like waves attract surfers from all corners of the world.
Besides the epic waves, the beach is surrounded by stunning rock formations set against the soft white sand. Unlike the other beaches in Barbados, Bathsheba has a rugged beauty with lush vegetation and a foamy sea.
It’s rated one of the top surfing spots in the Caribbean. If you aren’t into surfing, you can always take a scenic stroll along the beach, get some good meditation, or visit the little town and try out some local fruit. Don’t forget your camera, as this beach has plenty of photo-worthy spots.
Silver Sands Beach
Another great beach for surfing is Silver Sands Beach. This beach has it all if you love water sports and chilling out with the fam. Located on the south side of the island, Silver Sands beach has the perfect balance of family, adventure, and relaxation.
Pack a picnic basket and enjoy this beach’s gorgeous view. The kids can play on the playground or build sandcastles in the soft golden sand. Another great feature about this beach is the Wi-Fi, so you can answer those emails while having the ocean as a backdrop for your office (not that you should be working).
The waves at this beach are perfect for surfing, kitesurfing, and windsurfing.
Dover Beach
Dover Beach, another impressive watersports spot, is situated in the St. Lawrence Gap on the island’s south coast. What’s great about this beach is that all the sports equipment you need is there.
Enjoy a leisurely sail along the island in a sailboat or churn up some water with a water scooter (which, let me tell you, is so much fun). There are several charters and rentals to choose from. Even though this beach isn’t known for choppy seas or strong currents, you have peace of mind as there are lifeguards posted on the beach.
You may not be in the mood for watersports, so this beach has you covered. Rent an umbrella and a beach chair, enjoy a cocktail, lie back, and relax while listening to the sound of the waves. Why not work on your tan while the others get their sport on?
Best Wild Beaches
Take a walk (or swim) on the wild side with the best wild beaches in Barbados:
Gibbs Beach
If you’re looking for a beach that isn’t crowded or commercialized, then Gibbs Beach should be on your list. Gibbs Beach is one of Barbados’s best wilder beaches, situated along the west coast. This beach is a stone’s throw away from a quaint village called Speightstown. The sandy beach is relatively narrow and lined with a lush green forest that hides it from the roads (#paradise).
The waters are crystal clear, and the sand is a brilliant shade of white. The beach is spectacular at sunset and is a photo opportunity. The tranquil, wild beauty is perfect for any mood, and a stroll along the coast is well worth the view.
If you get hungry, you can walk to the village, sample some fantastic island-style cuisine, and mingle with the locals.
Archer’s Bay Beach
Another great beach to visit if you would like to take a walk on the wild side is Archer’s Bay beach. This hidden gem is situated on the island’s north coast and is a breath of fresh (sea) air.
The beach is pretty secluded, and not many tourists (or locals) visit this spot, as it’s somewhat hidden from the busy tourist destinations. Once you arrive at the beach, you will be blown away by this island paradise’s untouched, wild beauty.
When the tide is low, you will find a picture-perfect cove that is the perfect spot for photos and a romantic picnic. Just a heads up: because the beach is quite secluded, there are no lifeguards or ablutions on the beach.
This is a wild beach, and the untouched surroundings add to its beauty.
Miami Beach
Miami Beach (no, not the American Miami), located on the island’s south coast, just outside of Oistins (a fishing community), is what I like to call the best of both worlds. You have deeper, turquoise water on the westside with soft white beach sand. This beach boasts a wilder, untouched look.
This is perfect for couples or people who want a quiet place to relax, away from the hustle and bustle of popular tourist destinations.
On the east side, we have a gorgeous recreation area with picnic spots underneath some lovely almond trees. There are benches, and a beautiful little swimming spot protected by a breakwater. It’s the perfect beach for little ones to swim safely, boogie board, and catch some sun. A lifeguard at this beach allows parents to relax a little more.
Best Beaches in Barbados FAQs
Question: Which part of Barbados has the best beaches?
Answer: Barbados is home to 80 beaches. Bathsheba Beach, on the east coast of this tropical island, is by far the best beach. The beaches on the east coast have scenic landscapes with world-renowned surfing spots. On the south coast, Miami Beach wins the best Barbados beach awards for its wild, untouched scenery, recreation area, and safe swimming opportunities.
Question: Where is the bluest water in Barbados?
Answer: The bluest water in Barbados is found at Accra Beach (also known as Rockley Beach). It’s the perfect beach for swimmers as the water is shallow, warm, and clear blue against the beach’s white sand.
Question: What’s the best month to go to Barbados?
Answer: You can visit Barbados any time of the year. The best time to go to Barbados is during their dry season, between mid-December and mid-April. The temperature is around 86℉, and there will be less rainfall.
My Final Thoughts on the Best Beaches in Barbados
You can never fully take in the absolute beauty of this island paradise. There is so much to see and do (and, unfortunately, so little time). Putting together this guide certainly helped me prioritize the beaches.
I ensured that every beach I chose catered to every holidaymaker’s needs, from family picnics to romantic walks along hidden coves and cliff diving into the clear waters below.
If this article made you want to go and get your vitamin-sea on, and you would like to see some more awesome holiday options and getaways, then check out the guide to the best beaches in Jamaica and the best all-inclusive resorts in Cabo, Mexico.
