Holetown
Restaurants, barsThe main west coast town, with beaches either side.
Town guide
Things to do in Holetown
Barbados's calm Caribbean coast: snorkelling with turtles, sunset beaches, the island's first English settlement, Speightstown's fish market and St Nicholas Abbey's rum in the north.
1627
First English settlement
2–4
Days on the west coast
Calm water and turtles
The west coast of Barbados, often called the Platinum Coast, faces the calm Caribbean Sea, with clear water, white sand and gentle sunsets. It is the island's most expensive area, lined with luxury hotels and villas, but its beaches are public and its buses cheap, so it is easy to enjoy on a budget.
Holetown, in the parish of St James, is where English settlers landed in 1625 and founded the island's first settlement two years later. Today it has restaurants, bars, shops and St James Parish Church, one of the oldest churches on the island. The Holetown Festival in February marks the anniversary. Offshore, turtles feed in the shallow water at Paynes Bay and around Folkestone Marine Park.
Further north, Speightstown is an older, quieter port town with a fish market and Arlington House Museum. Beyond it, the north of the island has St Nicholas Abbey, a 17th-century plantation house that still makes rum, the Animal Flower Cave and the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. Give the west coast two to four days.
Where to base yourself
Holetown for restaurants and bars, Speightstown for a quieter, local feel, or the beaches in between.
Paynes Bay
Turtles, beachA calm bay between Holetown and Bridgetown.
Speightstown
Quiet, localAn old port town with a fish market.
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Holetown
Snorkel with turtles at Paynes Bay or on a catamaran trip along the coast, and explore the reef and sunken wreck at Folkestone Marine Park. Spend afternoons on Mullins Beach or Sandy Lane Beach, and watch the sunset over the Caribbean.
In Holetown, visit St James Parish Church and the monument to the first settlers. In Speightstown, walk the waterfront and visit Arlington House Museum, in an 18th-century merchant's house, then watch the boats come in at the fish market.
Drive or take a bus north to St Nicholas Abbey for its Jacobean house, rum tasting and heritage railway, see the Animal Flower Cave at North Point, and look for green monkeys at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. Harrison's Cave and Welchman Hall Gully are inland, about 20 minutes away.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
All beaches in Barbados are public, even in front of the luxury hotels, so Paynes Bay, Sandy Lane Beach and Mullins Beach are free. Snorkelling from the beach with your own mask is free, and turtles often swim close to shore.
St James Parish Church and the Speightstown waterfront cost nothing.
West coast sunsets are free every evening.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Holetown has some of the best restaurants on the island, many of them expensive. For cheaper food, try the rum shops and snackettes for cutters and fishcakes, or the fish market in Speightstown.
On Friday nights, Oistins on the south coast is the island's big fish fry, about an hour away by bus.
A service charge of 10 per cent is often added to restaurant bills.
Nightlife
Going out
Holetown has a small strip of bars and restaurants on First and Second Street, busy in the evenings. Speightstown is quieter, with rum shops.
Catamaran sunset cruises are a popular evening out.
For clubs, St Lawrence Gap on the south coast is about an hour away. Use licensed taxis at night.
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 frequently along the west coast road from Bridgetown's Princess Alice terminal to Holetown and Speightstown.
The airport is about 40 minutes to an hour away by taxi. Taxis are unmetered, with set rates, so agree the fare first.
For St Nicholas Abbey and the north, a hire car or taxi is easiest. Driving is on the left.
Costs
What Holetown costs
The west coast is the most expensive part of Barbados. Budget stays are rare, with apartments and guesthouses from around €60 to €120 a night; Speightstown is cheaper than Holetown.
Catamaran trips with turtle snorkelling cost roughly €70 to €110. Restaurant mains in Holetown cost €25 to €45, while rum shop food is much cheaper. Buses cost about €1.50.
The Barbados dollar is fixed at two to one with the US dollar.
Safety
Safety and scams
The west coast is generally safe. Do not leave belongings on the beach while you swim, and lock up your room.
When snorkelling with turtles, do not touch or chase them, and watch for boats close to shore. Beach vendors can be persistent; a polite no is enough.
In an emergency, call 211 for the police or 511 for an ambulance.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Holetown Festival and Crop Over.
February
Holetown Festival
Holetown
A week of events marking the first English settlement.
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 and the busiest time, with the calmest seas. The Holetown Festival is in February. 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 west coast prices.
Treat these as a guide. Catamaran trips and car hire cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Holetown questions
The ones we get asked most.
Where can I swim with turtles in Barbados?
At Paynes Bay and along the west coast, from the beach or on catamaran trips.
Are the west coast beaches public?
Yes. All beaches in Barbados are public, even in front of the luxury hotels.
Is Holetown expensive?
Yes, it is the priciest part of Barbados. Speightstown and rum shops are cheaper.
How do I get to Holetown by bus?
From Bridgetown's Princess Alice terminal, around 30 minutes, for a flat fare of BBD$3.50.
What is St Nicholas Abbey?
A 17th-century plantation house in the north that makes its own rum, with a heritage railway.
When is the Holetown Festival?
In February, marking the anniversary of the first English settlement.
Is Speightstown worth visiting?
Yes, for a quieter, older town with a fish market and Arlington House Museum.
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