Hastings and Rockley
Boardwalk, near townAccra Beach and the boardwalk, close to Bridgetown.
Area guide
Things to do in South Coast
Barbados's liveliest coast: beaches from Hastings to Silver Sands, the bars of St Lawrence Gap, Friday nights at the Oistins fish fry, kitesurfing, and most of the island's affordable places to stay.
Fri
Oistins fish fry
3–5
Days as a base
Beaches, bars and Oistins
The south coast, in the parish of Christ Church, runs from the edge of Bridgetown to the island's southern tip, and it is where most independent travellers stay. A string of small resort areas sits along the main road: Hastings, Rockley, Worthing, St Lawrence Gap and Maxwell, each with beaches, guesthouses, rum shops and restaurants, all linked by frequent buses.
The beaches are softer and livelier than the west coast's. Accra Beach in Rockley is popular with locals, Dover Beach is the base for watersports, and Miami Beach in the south is a favourite for a quiet swim. Further east, Silver Sands is one of the best places in the Caribbean for kitesurfing and windsurfing, thanks to steady trade winds.
St Lawrence Gap is the island's nightlife strip, and on Friday nights the whole island seems to come to Oistins, a fishing town where stalls grill the day's catch beside the beach. The airport is only a few minutes away. Give the south coast three to five days, as a base for the rest of the island.
Where to base yourself
Hastings and Rockley for the boardwalk and quick buses to town, St Lawrence Gap for nightlife, or Maxwell and Oistins for a quieter stay.
St Lawrence Gap
NightlifeThe bar and restaurant strip, with Dover Beach.
Maxwell and Oistins
Quieter, fish fryQuieter beaches near the Friday fish fry.
Silver Sands
KitesurfingThe windy southern tip.
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do on the South Coast
Eat at the Oistins fish fry on Friday night, when stalls grill fresh fish, music plays and locals and visitors dance on the sand. A plate costs about €13 to €22. Walk the Richard Haynes Boardwalk between Hastings and Rockley, and swim at Accra Beach.
Try watersports at Dover Beach, and kitesurf or windsurf at Silver Sands, where schools offer lessons. Swim at Miami Beach near Oistins, with calm water on one side of the point.
Visit the South Point Lighthouse, the oldest on the island, and continue east to Crane Beach, with pink-tinged sand under cliffs. Take the bus into Bridgetown for the old town, or to the west coast to snorkel with turtles.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
All beaches in Barbados are public, so every south coast beach is free, from Accra to Miami Beach and Silver Sands.
The Richard Haynes Boardwalk costs nothing to walk, and watching the kitesurfers at Silver Sands is free. Oistins is free to wander on a Friday; you only pay for the food.
Sunsets from the beaches in Hastings and Worthing are free too.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Oistins is the best value proper meal on the island: grilled or fried flying fish, marlin, tuna and swordfish, with macaroni pie, rice and peas and salad, landed that day. Fridays are busiest, but stalls open on other nights too.
Rum shops and snackettes sell cutters and fishcakes cheaply, and Worthing and St Lawrence Gap have restaurants for every budget.
Banks is the local beer, and rum is cheapest by the bottle. A service charge of 10 per cent is often added to restaurant bills.
Nightlife
Going out
St Lawrence Gap is the island's main nightlife strip: a short, walkable road of bars, clubs and restaurants, busy from Thursday. Oistins on Friday is the better night, with music and dancing by the beach and a mostly local crowd.
Rum shops are the everyday option; buy a bottle for the table with mixers and ice.
Use licensed taxis or the late ZR vans to get home, and take care on unlit roads.
Getting around
Getting around
Blue government buses, yellow minibuses and white ZR vans all charge a flat fare of BBD$3.50 (about €1.50) to anywhere on the island. Government buses take exact cash only, with no change given. Buses and ZRs run constantly along the south coast road to Bridgetown, and to Oistins and the airport.
Grantley Adams International Airport is around 10 to 20 minutes away. Taxis are unmetered, with set rates, so agree the fare first.
For the west and east coasts, change buses in Bridgetown, or hire a car for a day. Driving is on the left, and a temporary permit comes with the rental.
Costs
What the South Coast costs
The south coast has most of the island's affordable places to stay, with guesthouses and small apartments from around €35 to €70 a night, and more in the dry season.
Oistins plates cost about €13 to €22, cutters €4 to €8, and restaurant mains €22 to €40. Buses cost about €1.50 a trip.
The Barbados dollar is fixed at two to one with the US dollar, and US dollars are widely accepted.
Safety
Safety and scams
The south coast is generally safe. Petty theft from beaches and unlocked rooms is the main problem, so lock up and do not leave bags on the sand while you swim.
In St Lawrence Gap at night, watch your drinks and belongings, and use licensed taxis. Beach vendors can be persistent; a polite no is enough.
Some beaches have rip currents and few lifeguards, so check conditions. In an emergency, call 211 for the police or 511 for an ambulance.
Worth the trip
The rest of the island by bus.
Bridgetown
The UNESCO-listed old town.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Fish fries, Crop Over and festivals.
Every Friday
Oistins fish fry
Oistins
Grilled fish, music and dancing on the sand.
Easter weekend
Oistins Fish Festival
Oistins
A celebration of the fishing community.
June to August
Crop Over
Across the island
The island's carnival, ending with Grand Kadooment.
When to go
December to April is the dry season, with steady winds for kitesurfing and the busiest prices. Crop Over runs from June to August. September and October are the wettest and quietest months.
Jan
Dry, breezy, peak season
Feb
Driest month, Holetown Festival
Mar
Dry and warm
Apr
Excellent, quieter at the end
May
Good value
Jun
Rains begin, Crop Over starts
Jul
Crop Over building
Aug
Grand Kadooment
Sep
Wettest, peak hurricane risk
Oct
Quiet and cheap
Nov
Independence, 30 November
Dec
Dry season returns
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Warm all year, with the east coast windier.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on south coast prices.
Treat these as a guide. Watersports and boat trips cost extra.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
South Coast questions
The ones we get asked most.
Where is the best place to stay in Barbados on a budget?
The south coast, which has most of the island's guesthouses and affordable apartments.
When is the Oistins fish fry?
Every Friday night is the big one, though stalls open on other nights too.
Is St Lawrence Gap good for nightlife?
Yes. It is the island's main strip of bars and clubs, busy from Thursday.
Where can I kitesurf in Barbados?
At Silver Sands on the south coast, with schools offering lessons.
How far is the south coast from the airport?
Around 10 to 20 minutes by taxi or bus.
Is the south coast safe?
Generally yes. Watch your belongings on the beach and use licensed taxis at night.
Why is it called Christ Church?
Christ Church is the parish that covers most of the south coast.
Also trending this week
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare places to stay across Barbados: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.