 Barbados is made up of 11 districts or parishes, as they are officially known, within which there are many small villages and towns. Visitors with their own transportation will find a variety of interesting sights tucked away which range from interesting landmarks and monuments to picturesque tropical gardens. Bridgetown, as the island’s capital city is perhaps the place at which most visitors being their sightseeing tours.
 Accra Beach
This is a highly popular beach with both visitors and locals and is widely regarded as being one of Barbados’ most stunning beaches. The whole family can enjoy water sports in the calm crystal sea before chilling out on the pristine beach. Facilities include public changing rooms, snorkeling equipment and beach umbrellas. Vendors can be found all along the beach selling tasty snacks and souvenirs.
 Andromeda Botanic Gardens
These gardens are six acres of tropical plants located in the Parish of St Joseph and overlooking the scenic east coast of Barbados. They began in 1954 as a private plant collection the Andromeda Botanic Gardens but now boast one of the most extensive collections of tropical plants in Barbados. The garden was first open to the public in the 1970s and has remained a public park ever since.
 Bridgetown
Bridgetown is the island’s capital city is home to approximately 96,578 permanent residents and is the focal point for most of its industrial, commercial, cultural and social activity. Visitors can view fine examples of historic architecture such as the Parliament Buildings and other remnants from early colonial days. National Heroes Square, sitting just opposite the Parliament Buildings, was previously known as Trafalgar Square and is home to an early 19th century Lord Nelson statue. The harbour is a scenic area, around which visitors can watch fisherman go about their business and the wealthy come and go in catamarans. After a self-guided walking tour of the city’s sights, visitors can go and enjoy its impressive shopping facilities.
 Holetown
The somewhat unattractively named Holetown was officially the first settlement on the island of Barbados and was originally named Jamestown after King James I of England. The Holetown Monument, popular with sightseers, is located in the centre of the town and was erected in commemoration of the first English landing there in 1625. Other places of interest in the town include St James Church which dates back to the 17th century, the Sir Frank Hutson Sugar Machinery Museum and Harrison’s Cave.
 St Andrew
The St Andrew district is made up of 11 distinct small towns and villages with Barclays Park, Cherry Tree Hill and White Hill comprising some of the more significant. While making their way around the district, visitors will find a variety of opportunities during which to get the camera out; Chalky Mount Potteries for example, is an authentic old fashioned pottery centre in which it’s possible to see craftsman engaged in their work. The Morgan Lewis Windmill is also a favourite with sightseers and is an ideal place at which to get some good holiday snaps.
 St Joseph
The St Joseph district is located on the eastern side of the island and is often dubbed the Scotland district on account of the similarity of its landscape to that of bonny Scotland in the UK. Visitors who enjoy natural attractions will appreciate the districts two notable botanic gardens; those being Flower Forest and Andromeda Gardens. At the former there are collections of heliconia and begonias while the latter location offers similar and more besides including palms, ferns, orchids, hibiscus, bougainvillea and cacti.
 St Michael
St Michael is the district in which Bridgetown, the country’s capital city, is located and covers a large area within which there are a number of places of interest from a visitor perspective. The Barbados Historical Museum offers an insight into the island’s fascinating history with a variety of artefacts on display, some dating back to early colonial times. Others places to add to a sightseeing list would include the Bussa Emancipation Statue, Garrison Savannah, Kensington Oval and the Sharon Moravian Church.
Top Things to Do
 Attend the Bajan Roots and Rhythms Show
The Bajan Roots and Rhythms Show is a popular dinner show that offers visitors a true taste of traditional West Indian culture. Settle down at your table and enjoy the fantastic Caribbean cuisine while enjoying the live steel drum band and the fantastic brightly attired dancers. Visitors are invariably collected from their hotels and taken back again after the show’s conclusion.
 Enjoy a Barbados seafood dinner
Seafood is exceptionally popular in Barbados and a holiday would not be complete without having sampled some of the local delicacies on offer. Hot fish cakes can be found on many a restaurant menu and are a must-try while the red snapper and the dolphin fish (no relation to the porpoise variety), also feature heavily and are popular with locals and visitors alike.
 Swimming with turtles
Down at Malibu Beach, local boat owners provide the opportunity for visitors to take a short boat ride to a location where large numbers of turtles of the protected leatherback species gather. The same locals who operate the trips also regularly feed the turtles at this location, ensuring that they always maintain a significant presence.
 Take a cruise on the Jolly Roger
The Tall Ship Cruise Company offers visitors the chance to climb aboard an authentic pirate ship and step back 300 years to a time when fearsome pirates plundered and pillaged in the seas of the Caribbean. Staff are kitted out in traditional pirate costume to enhance the experience and visitors are treated to a trip which provides food, drinking, dancing, pirate games and even the chance to walk the plank in true pirate style.
 Take the Mount Gay Rum distillery tour
Mount Gay Rum has been distilled in Barbados for several centuries and is an integral part of the island’s history and a popular drink with locals across the island. Tours lasting 45 minutes begin every half-hour throughout the day and take visitors around the plant to show them the various processes involved in the production of this famous drink. A gift shop awaits at the end of the tour, at which visitors can buy bottles of Mount Gay and a variety of souvenirs.
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