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How to get to Barbados from US, UK, Europe and beyond (+ MAP)

Wondering how to get to Barbados? I’ve visited this stunning Caribbean island in February, and reaching it is much easier than you might think.

This guide outlines the best ways to travel to Barbados, so you can plan your trip to Rihanna’s homeland with ease, no matter where you’re coming from.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN BARBADOS:
Meridian Inn (I stayed here)
Southern Palms Beach Club (top location on Dover Beach)
South Gap Hotel (on the beach and close to Gap)
Sugar Bay Barbados (great location and close to Carlisle Bay)
OceanBlue Resort (I stayed here)

TOP EXPERIENCES and TOURS IN BARBADOS:
Turtle and shipwreck snorkeling (my favorite)
Catamaran cruise with lunch and snorkeling (top-selling tour)
Harrison Cave tour (I did this)
Barbados food tour (incredible food tour)
St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway (I did this)


Despite being the most eastern island in the Caribbean, Barbados is surprisingly easy to reach by plane or cruise ship.

I’ll outline how to get to Barbados from the US, UK, Europe, Canada, and beyond. Plus, I’ll share a few tips to make your travel planning seamless (spoiler: It’s totally worth it!).


Are you still not sure how to get to Barbados Caribbean?

Keep reading to find the best routes, flight durations, and other essential travel details to reach the birthplace of rum.

FRIENDLY REMINDER
Never leave for a trip without travel insurance. Unexpected issues can arise so I suggest using insurance that covers people from all over the world, while outside their home country. You can buy this travel insurance even if you are already abroad.


How to get to Barbados


plane in the sky over Barbados
Plane just before landing in Barbados | Anja On Adventure


KEY TAKEAWAYS

● The easiest way to reach Barbados is by plane, landing at Grantley Adams International Airport.

● You can also visit the island with a Cruise ship. Port is close to Bridgetown, offering easy access to the city.

● You can visit Barbados with a cruise line and combine multiple islands into one Caribbean travel itinerary.

● Direct flights connect Barbados to major cities in North America, the UK, and other parts of the Caribbean. For travelers from Europe, Asutralia, or other regions, expect to add at least one stopover to your journey.


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How to get to Barbados

Despite its remote location, Barbados is a popular destination that is easy to get to.

You can get to Barbados on a cruise ship or by plane.

Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI)
is the main entry point to Barbados, located about 16 km (10 mi) or a 20-minute drive from Bridgetown. The port for cruise ships is situated just 1.5 km (0.9 mi) from the capital.

greantly adams airport
Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados | Anja On Adventure


Direct flights to Barbados

Direct flights to Barbados are available from North America, South America, the United Kingdom, and various Caribbean islands. On average there are over 30 daily flights from 16 countries and 8 US states.

From the United States, you can fly directly from cities like Miami, New York, and Charlotte. Airlines such as American Airlines, JetBlue, and Delta provide regular service to Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI).

From Canada, Air Canada offers direct flights from Toronto and Montreal.

From United Kingdom, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate non-stop flights from London, while TUI offers seasonal routes from other UK cities.

Airlines flying directly to Bridgetown (BGI) include British Airways, American Airlines, Air Canada, TUI, interCaribbean Airways, and others.

At the time of writing, there are no direct flights from the European Union, Africa, Middle East, and Australia.


Cruises to Bridgetown, Barbados

In addition to flights, cruise ships arrive daily in Barbados at the Bridgetown Harbour Cruise Pier, the main cruise port in Barbados. It is located just a 10-15 minute walk from the UNESCO World Heritage site, Bridgetown. The port is a key gateway for travelers arriving by sea on a cruise to Barbados.

During the best time to visit Barbados, many cruise lines offer the chance to explore the island on a luxury voyage or even begin or end your journey here, with cruises leaving Barbados providing unique itineraries.

Cruise Lines that visit Barbados include Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Viking Cruises (Viking Ocean), Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O Cruise and others.

Some cruise lines, such as P&O Cruises (Arvia), Star Clippers, Emerald Cruises, also offer cruise deals from Barbados.

P&O Cruise ship Arvia entering Barbados
P&O Cruise Ship Arvia entering Barbados waters | Anja On Adventure


How to get to Barbados from the US and Canada

Getting from Canada and the United States to Barbados is straightforward, with many options for flights and cruises.

If you’re from the US, you can fly directly to the island from cities like New York, Miami, or Atlanta with American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue, and Delta Airlines. 

If you’re on the West Coast of the US, reaching Barbados will require at least one connecting flight. Travel times from cities like San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), or Las Vegas (LAS) starts at around 11 hours due to layovers in hubs like Miami, New York, Toronto, or Atlanta, before catching a direct flight to Barbados.

Alternatively, you can opt for a cruise to Barbados, including routes departing from Miami, which typically last 5-7 days.

For Canadian travelers, direct flights from Toronto and Montreal are available, operated by Air Canada and WestJet. Non-stop flights take approximately 5 hours from Toronto (2427 mi/3906 km) and 5,5 hours from Montreal (2387 mi/3842 km), making it a convenient and quick journey to this Eastern Caribbean paradise.

infographic showing minimum flight time from US and Canada
Minimum flight times from the US and Canada | Anja On Adventure


How to get to Barbados from the UK and Europe

Getting to Barbados from the UK is easy, with plenty of direct flights to Barbados available from major airports such as London Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), and Manchester (MAN).

Airlines like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and TUI Airways operate non-stop flights.

Flight time to Barbados from London is around 8h 50min (4201 mi/6760 km), and 9h 15min from Manchester (MAN) (4186mi/6735km).

If you’re traveling from Europe, as I was, many routes to Barbados require a connection through the UK or other major hubs like Amsterdam or Frankfurt, with airlines such as KLM, Lufthansa, and Condor offering connections.

Alternatively, you can visit Barbados from the UK on a cruise, with transatlantic 20-night Caribbean cruise from Southampton.

My room at Hampton by Hilton Hotel in London Gatwick Airport
My room at Hampton by Hilton Hotel at London Gatwick Airport | Anja On Adventure


How to get to Barbados from Middle East and Africa

If you’re traveling to Barbados from Africa or the Middle East, flights typically connect through major hubs in Europe or North America.

Since there are no direct flights to Barbados from these regions, so you will have to plan at least 1 stopover via connecting cities like London, Amsterdam, or Miami.

Flights from Middle East hubs like Dubai or Doha, often connect through Europe.

Consider airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, which offer codeshare options for smoother connections.

From African cities like Johannesburg, Nairobi, or Lagos, flight durations to Barbados, including layovers, can range from 16 to 24 hours depending on the routing.

My screen on a British Airways flight to Barbados showing the Distance and Time to the destination
My screen on a British Airways flight to Barbados showing the Distance and Time to the destination | Anja On Adventure


How to get to Barbados from Australia

Getting to Barbados from Australia or New Zealand will include at least one stopover.

You’ll first need to fly from major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane to a connecting hub in the US or the Middle East, such as Los Angeles, Dubai, or Doha. From there, you can catch a connecting flight to Barbados.

Consider airlines like Qatar Airways, Qantas, British Airways, and American Airlines, which offer codeshare options for smoother connections.

The total travel time can vary but it will generally be more than 24h depending on layovers and connections.

Airplane wing above the clouds
Somewhere above the North Atlantic Ocean on my flight to Barbados | Anja On Adventure


Tips for booking your flight to Barbados

I was flying to Barbados with British Airways from London Gatwick, starting my journey from Zagreb.

Before boarding my Barbados flight, I flew with BA from Zagreb (ZAG) to London Heathrow (LHR).

After landing at Heathrow, I traveled to Gatwick using National Express bus. It is a convenient and reliable option for traveling between London airports.

I stayed overnight at the Hampton by Hilton at London Gatwick Airport, which was an excellent choice. The hotel offered great value, a quiet atmosphere, and an included breakfast, just steps away from the terminal.

My total travel time from Zagreb to Barbados, including the airport transfer and layover, was 29h 20min.

When looking for the fastest route and the best ticket deals to Barbados, I always set up price alerts on Google Flights and Skyscanner. Both are great tools for comparing prices across multiple airlines, finding flexible travel dates and ensuring you get the most value for your money. 

I share my step-by-step process, of finding the best deals, in my email newsletter.


Final thoughts on where is Barbados and how to get there

The best way to reach Barbados is by air or cruise.

Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) in Bridgetown serves as the primary entry point for flights.

Barbados is well-connected with direct flights from cities like New York, Toronto, Miami, London, and Manchester. If you’re traveling from destinations like the West Coast of the US, Australia, or Europe, you’ll need at least one stopover in cities like Miami, London, or Amsterdam.

For those who prefer a more luxurious journey, Barbados is also a popular destination for cruise lines, with many ships docking at the Bridgetown Harbour Cruise Pier.

With its idyllic location outside the hurricane belt, Barbados offers great weather year-round and a perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. It is definitely a Caribbean island worth visiting.

Now that you know how to get to Barbados, it’s time to start planning your Caribbean holiday!

Check out my other Barbados guides and have a look at the perfect 1 week Barbados itinerary. The guides include tips on the best beaches, things to do in Barbados, where to stay, interesting facts, safety info, packing lists, best souvenirs to bring home and how it compares to other stunning destinations like Seychelles and Zanzibar.

➤ What you should read next

How to spend 7 days in Barbados itinerary
Is Barbados safe to visit? Everything you need to know
Is it safe to swim in Barbados? All you need to know
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Barbados vs. Zanzibar: Where to go on a holiday?

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About the author: Anja

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Anja is a travel blogger and the founder of Anja on Adventure travel blog. Originally from Slovenia, she was also living in Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, and Fiji. She loves traveling to tropical destinations, as well as beach destinations with endless summer. But you can also find her eating her way through Italy or Mexico, learning about ancient cultures in Easter Island, visiting bucket list places in Peru, or taking road trips through the USA. She is passionate about world cultures, travel, maps, and puzzles. For the past 15+ years she has been traveling the globe, as a solo traveler, and as a tour guide. Her goal is to visit every tropical destination in the World. Anja On Adventure is here to provide helpful travel guides and personalized itinerary ideas to travelers that she has gathered from first-hand experience.