Eleven parishes
Barbados is organised into eleven parishes. Use them to get your bearings when you are choosing a beach, a stay, or a day out.
Barbados & Local Guides
Know the island. Make it your own.
A little local knowledge goes a long way. Get to know Barbados, find your bearings and keep the essentials close—from your first arrival to your next island day.
Meet Barbados
Island facts and local know-how.
Find your way
Arrival tips and getting around.
Keep it handy
Weather, money and useful numbers.
Arrival context
Where are you starting from?
Choose a starting point and BIM ONE will show the most useful notes for that part of your visit.
Discover now
Find your bearings around Barbados
Get to know Barbados with island facts, local tips and practical information for your day.
Good to know
- Check closing times before crossing the island late in the day.
- Save essential numbers and your return location before coverage becomes unreliable.
- Use public beach access points and respect nearby private property.
- Ask for the route number or destination before boarding an unfamiliar bus or route taxi.
Get to know the island
A little Barbados know-how.
A capital with history
Bridgetown is the capital and a useful starting point for heritage, shopping, transport and a closer look at island life.
Money on the island
The local currency is the Barbadian dollar (BBD), which is pegged at BBD $2 to USD $1. Keeping smaller notes can help at markets and smaller vendors.
Warm, tropical days
Plan for sun and heat year-round. Carry water, use sun protection and check the forecast before a long beach day or an inland adventure.
English and Bajan life
English is widely spoken, alongside the local Bajan dialect. Food, music, rum, cricket and neighbourhood life are all part of the experience.
More than the coastline
White-sand beaches sit alongside gullies, caves, rolling countryside and dramatic Atlantic-facing scenery on the east and north coasts.
Barbados Essentials
The information worth keeping close
Live weather, a resilient currency converter, official emergency contacts and airport arrival help.
Loading Barbados weather…
Currency converter
Barbados uses the Barbadian dollar. The official peg is BBD $2 = USD $1. Other currencies use daily reference rates.
Emergency and support numbers
Tap a number to call. Add +1 246 when calling a seven-digit Barbados number from an overseas SIM or plan.
Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI)
Currency
Barbadian dollar (BBD) · fixed at BBD $2 to USD $1
Country code
+1 246
Electricity
115 V · 50 Hz · Type A and B plugs
Road rules
Drive on the left · visitor permit required
Keep the essentials on your phone
Install BIM ONE for quicker access and an offline fallback for saved trip and emergency information.
On iPhone, use Share → Add to Home Screen for quick access.
Getting Around
Buses, route taxis, taxis and rental cars
Start with the official route tools, then confirm the last return and pickup details before setting out.
Transport Board buses
The standard fare is BDS $3.50 per trip. Carry the exact fare for the fare box because change is not provided.
Official Transport BoardRoute taxis and minibuses
Route taxis and minibuses run fixed public routes. Check the route number and destination before boarding, and ask where to change vehicles when a direct route is unavailable.
View all official routesTaxis and private drivers
Use licensed taxis or a confirmed driver. Agree on the fare, pickup point, waiting time and return arrangement before leaving.
Find taxis and transfersComing soon previewRental cars
Barbados drives on the left. Confirm insurance, deposit, delivery, fuel rules and the visitor permit before collecting a vehicle.
Find car rentalsRoute planning note: BIM ONE will expand this into parish and destination route guides. For now, the Transport Authority route portal is the authoritative starting point for Transport Board, minibus and route-taxi maps and schedules.
Cruise Passenger Guide
Docked in Bridgetown for the day?
Match the plan to your port window and protect the return-to-ship buffer.
Bridgetown Port
Confirm the terminal pickup point with your driver or operator. Keep the ship name, berth information and all-aboard time saved on your phone.
Up to 2 hours
- Pelican Village or nearby shopping
- Central Bridgetown heritage walk
- Short pre-arranged Carlisle Bay stop
Up to 4 hours
- Carlisle Bay swim and a Bridgetown lunch
- Rum experience with pre-arranged transport
- South-coast beach and boardwalk visit
Longer port window
A longer island route or catamaran experience may fit when it has confirmed port pickup, a clear duration and a return time comfortably ahead of all aboard.
Local Know-how
Small details that make Barbados easier
Useful context for everyday island travel—not another repeated directory feed.
Language
English is the official language. Bajan dialect can be quick and colourful, but visitors are understood across the island.
Driving
Traffic keeps to the left. Visitors driving a rental vehicle need the appropriate visitor permit; rental companies usually help arrange it.
Money
The Barbadian dollar is pegged at BBD $2 to USD $1. Carry small BBD notes for buses, markets and smaller vendors.
Power
Electricity is generally 115 V, 50 Hz with Type A and B plugs. Travellers from the UK and Europe usually need an adapter.
Sun & heat
UV can be strong year-round. Carry water, use sunscreen and take shade breaks rather than waiting until you feel overheated.
Tipping
Check whether service is already included. When it is not, a gratuity around 10% is commonly used for good restaurant service.
Tap water
Tap water is generally considered safe to drink. A refillable bottle is useful in the heat.
Beach visits
Use marked or clearly public access points, check sea conditions and treat east- and north-coast surf with extra caution.
Calling Barbados
The country code is +1 246. Numbers shown without the country code can be dialled locally while connected to a Barbados mobile network.
Ready to plan the island day?
Use the map, save places to My Trip, or move into the full Things to Do guide when the practical details are sorted.