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Barbados

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Overview

Barbados · Travel guide

Barbados is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. It is part of the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies and is the southernmost and easternmost island of the Caribbean region. It lies on the boundary of the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown. Inhabited by Kalinago people since the 13th century, and prior to that by other Indigenous peoples, the island was originally named Ichirouganaim. It was claimed for the Crown of Castile by Spanish navigators in the late 15th century, who named it Barbudos, and it first appeared on a Spanish map in 1511. The Portuguese Empire claimed the island between 1532 and 1536, but abandoned it in 1620; their only traces were the introduction of wild boars intended as a supply of meat whenever the island was visited. The indigenous population had mostly been sold into slavery, killed, or died…

Safety

Barbados

FCDO travel advice for Barbados. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

Official source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Facts & statistics

Barbados

Capital
Bridgetown
Language
English
Currency
Barbadian dollar
Time zone
UTC−04:00
Calling code
+1246
Internet domain
.bb
Driving side
left
Plug type
NEMA 1-15
Voltage
115

Source: Wikidata.

Events

Barbados

New Year's DayNew Year's Day2026-01-01
Errol Barrow DayErrol Barrow Day2026-01-21
Good FridayGood Friday2026-04-03
Easter MondayEaster Monday2026-04-06
National Heroes' DayNational Heroes' Day2026-04-28
Labour DayLabour Day2026-05-01
Whit MondayWhit Monday2026-05-25
Emancipation DayEmancipation Day2026-08-01
Kadooment DayKadooment Day2026-08-03
Independence DayIndependence Day2026-11-30

Source: Nager.Date.

CapitalBridgetown
Population286,641
CurrencyBBD
Languagesen-BB
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