Where is Barbados located?
This is a question I get whenever I mention my travels to this Caribbean island.
I flew from the UK and spent a week there. Now, despite being the birthplace of rum and Rihanna, many don’t know where Barbados is.
That is why I decided to create a guide about the location of Barbados, and tips on how to get there. Find them below.
FIND BEST FLIGHTS TO BARBADOS:
• Skyscanner (I use it to find cheap flights)
FIND CHEAP CRUISES TO BARBADOS AND CARIBBEAN:
• Expedia (best Caribbean cruise deals!)
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)
Barbados is one of the safest Caribbean islands and a former British colony.
It is the easternmost island in the Lesser Antilles and the Caribbean region. It is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, east of the Windward Islands of the West Indies.
Great. But still can’t really pinpoint where Barbados is?
Read on to learn more about Barbados location on a map, how long is the flight to Barbados and additional details you might find helpful about the location of this tropical island.
for Barbados TRAVEL TIPS:
• Where is Barbados located and How to Get there
• Is Barbados safe to visit? Everything you need to know
• Is it safe to swim in Barbados? All you need to know
• How to spend 7 days in Barbados Itinerary
for CAPTION IDEAS:
• 143 Beautiful Barbados Captions For Instagram
• 107 Palm tree captions for Instagram
• 77 Coconut captions for Instagram
• 77 Pineapple captions for Instagram
for more TRAVEL IDEAS:
• Barbados vs. Zanzibar: Which is better for your holiday?
Where is Barbados
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Barbados is the Easternmost Caribbean island in the Atlantic Ocean.
- The closest islands to Barbados are St. Lucia and St. Vincent and Grenadines.
- Barbados is located right outside the hurricane belt, making it an ideal Caribbean destination to visit throughout the year.
- You can visit Barbados with a cruise line and combine multiple islands into one Caribbean travel itinerary.
- Barbados is easily accessible from the East Coast of US, Canada, and the UK with direct (non-stop) flights available from major cities.
📌 No time to read? Pin it for later!
Where is Barbados located
You must first find the USA and Mexico when locating Barbados on a map.
From there, find the Caribbean in the Gulf of Mexico, and search for Venezuela in South America. Look for an island arch above Venezuela and the Atlantic Ocean on the East.
Barbados is the easternmost island. It is located in the western part of the North Atlantic,160 kilometers (100 mi) east of the Caribbean Sea.
It is located 13° North of the Equator, and 59° West of the Prime Meridian. It is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT -4) and there is no daylight saving time.
East Caribbean island Barbados covers 430 km² (166 mi²) of predominantly coral limestone karst landscape, with sandy shores, rugged cliffs, and lush tropical forests.
Barbados is one of the Caribbean islands outside the hurricane belt. This makes Barbados an ideal tropical holiday destination to visit throughout the year.
Have a look at the bottom map of where is Barbados located on the world map.
Barbados is a part of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies.
Lesser Antilles is an island archipelago between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. They form an arc from Puerto Rico to Venezuela in South America.
The closest island to Barbados is probably Saint Lucia with a close tie to the island chain of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In relative proximity to Barbados are also Martinique to the northwest, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela to the southwest, and Guyana to the southeast.
Barbados island has a lively atmosphere with a population of almost 300.000 people, reflecting a blend of African, British, and Caribbean influences in its culture and cuisine.
Barbados island general information
where is Barbados located
POPULATION
281.000 (2021)
GOVERNMENT TYPE
Republic
CURRENCY
Barbadian dollar (BBD)
LANGUAGE
Bajan, English
CAPITAL
Bridgetown
MAIN RELIGION
Christianity (75%)
COUNTRY CODE
+1 246
TIME ZONE
GMT -4
where is Barbados Island
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.
The main entry point is usually Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI).
On average there are over 30 daily flights from 16 countries and 8 US states. Direct flights to Barbados are available from the United States, Canada, South America, the United Kingdom, and other Caribbean islands.
Airlines flying directly to Bridgetown (BGI) include British Airways, American Airlines, Air Canada, TUI, interCaribbean Airways, and others.
I was getting to Barbados with British Airways from London.
The shortest distance from London to Barbados is 4201 mi ( 6760 km). An expected flight time from Gatwick to Barbados is around 8 hours and 55 min.
In addition to flights, cruise ships arrive daily on Barbados, to Bridgetown Harbour Cruise Pier. Port is a 10-15 minute walk away from the UNESCO World Heritage site capital Bridgetown.
During the best time to visit Barbados, many cruise lines will allow you to visit the island with a luxury line or begin or end your cruise in Barbados.
Cruise Lines that visit Barbados are Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Viking Cruises (Viking Ocean), Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O Cruise and others.
Cruise lines that offer cruises that begin in Barbados include Arvia from P&O Cruises (Arvia), Star Clippers, Emerald Cruises, and others.
How to get to Barbados from the US and Canada
Getting to Barbados from both the US and Canada is straightforward.
If you’re in the US, you can go on a cruise or catch a direct flight from cities like New York, Miami, or Atlanta.
Airlines to this Eastern Caribbean island Barbados from the US include American Airlines, JetBlue, and Delta.
Below you will find the distance and how long are the direct (non-stop) flights to Barbados (BGI) from:
• Miami (MIA): 4h (1620 mi/2607 km),
• New York (JFK): 5h 50min (2103 mi/3384 km),
• Atlanta (ATL): 5h 35min (2126 mi/3421 km),
• Boston (BOS): 5h 05min (2150 mi/3459 km).
Flying from the West Coast of the US to Barbados will mean at least 1 connecting flight.
The total travel time from San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), and Las Vegas (LAS) will be from 11h, due to the connections through airline hubs via Miami, New York, Toronto, or Atlanta, before catching a direct flight to Barbados.
From Canada, you can find direct flights from cities like Toronto and Montreal operated by airlines like Air Canada and WestJet.
Non-stop flights to Barbados take around 5h 30min from Montreal (YUL) (2387 mi/3842 km) and 5h 10min from Toronto (YYZ) (2427 mi/3906 km).
How to get to Barbados from the UK and Europe
I was flying to Barbados with British Airways from London Gatwick.
To get to Barbados from the UK, you can take a direct flight from major airports like London Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), or Manchester (MAN).
Airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and TUI Airways operate direct flights to Barbados from these UK airports.
Flight time to Barbados from London is around 8h 50min (4201 mi/6760 km), and 9h 15min from Manchester (MAN) (4186mi/6735km).
Before boarding my Barbados flight in Gatwick, I was flying BA from Zagreb (ZAG) to London Heathrow (LHR).
If you are from Europe, you might have to connect through a UK airport or another major hub like Amsterdam or Frankfurt. Airlines like KLM, Lufthansa, and Condor offer connecting flights to Barbados.
The flight duration from European cities can be longer due to the connecting flights.
My total travel time from Zagreb to Barbados was 29h 20min.
I landed at London Heathrow and had to change the airport to London Gatwick.
To travel between London airports I used National Express and booked my stay at Hampton by Hilton at London Gatwick Airport! The hotel is an amazing value, has a great location, is quiet, and has breakfast included!
How to get to Barbados from Australia
Getting to Barbados from Australia or New Zealand will include at least two stopovers.
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.
Barbados travel planning resources
Get ready to experience Barbados like never before!
I’m sharing a list of my trusted Barbados travel resources. From accommodations to tours, transport, WiFi, and more, I’ve got you covered.
Save both, time and money, by tapping into these expert recommendations.
Say goodbye to stress, and hello to savings and hassle-free Barbados holiday!
Don’t forget to pin the one you like more!
Where is Barbados located FAQs
Barbados is located in the Caribbean region, specifically in the West Indies, on the east of the Caribbean Sea.
It is positioned in the Lesser Antilles, a group of islands that form part of the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea. Geographically, Barbados is situated approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of the Windward Islands and about 160 kilometers (100 miles) east of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Barbados is only one island.
It is an independent island nation, a republic. Barbados is a former British colony and does not consist of multiple islands like some other Caribbean countries.
Barbados has one main international airport, which is Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI).
The airport is located in Seawell, Christ Church parish, on the southern coast of the island.
Barbados’ international airport, Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI), is located in Seawell, Christ Church parish, on the southern coast of the island.
It’s approximately 8mi (13 km) southeast of Bridgetown, the capital city of Barbados. The airport serves as the main gateway for travelers arriving by air to Barbados.
Several luxury cruise lines offer stops in Barbados as part of their Caribbean cruise itinerary.
Some of the popular cruise lines that visit Barbados include: Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Seabourn, Viking Cruises (Viking Ocean), Celebrity Cruises, P&O Cruise and others.
Yes, Barbados is safe destination for travelers.
The island has a low crime rate, and violent crime against tourists is rare. As in any destination, take common-sense precautions, don’t show your valuables and avoid poorly lit areas at night.
Barbados can be perceived as a moderately expensive destination.
Barbados is not a budget destination and caters to more affluent travelers. Prices for accommodation, dining, and activities may be higher than average, especially in tourist areas.
As of the latest census in 2021, the population of Barbados is estimated to be around 281,000 people.
Please note that population figures may vary slightly depending on the source and the time of data collection.
The currency of Barbados is the Barbadian dollar, abbreviated as BBD or represented by the symbol “$”.
It is commonly referred to as the “dollar” in everyday transactions on the island. The Barbadian dollar is divided into 100 cents. While the Barbadian dollar is the official currency, US dollars are widely accepted in many tourist areas and establishments across Barbados.
Final thoughts on where is Barbados and how to get there
Barbados is a tropical island between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is the Easternmost Caribbean island and part of the Lesser Antilles.
Despite its small size and remote location, Barbados attracts tourists from all around the world.
Its location outside of the hurricane belt makes Barbados an ideal destination with great weather throughout the year.
Traveling to Barbados is easily accessible from the East Coast of the US and Canada. You can get to Barbados on a luxury cruise line or with multiple direct flights from major cities, like New York, Toronto, and Miami.
As a former British colony, this Caribbean island is also easily accessible from the UK, with many direct flights from London and Manchester.
If coming to Barbados from the West Coast of the US, Australia, or Europe, add at least one stopover to your flight itinerary.
While Barbados offers a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure, have a look at why this Caribbean island is worth visiting, if Barbados is safe, things to do there (besides swimming with turtles), which are the best swimming beaches in Barbados, and how it compares to Zanzibar and Seychelles.
➤ What you should read next
• Is Barbados safe to visit? Everything you need to know
• Is it safe to swim in Barbados? All you need to know
• 101+ Beautiful Barbados Captions For Instagram
• Barbados vs. Zanzibar: Where to go on a holiday?
• 27 Pink Places around the World you should visit
📌 Like it? Pin it!
