Barbados is the perfect destination for families and the island is packed with activities for kids of all ages. If you want to make memories you and your loved ones will never forget, read on to discover the best things to do in Barbados with kids and families.
Contents
Fun Things To Do In Barbados With Kids and Families
| Activity | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Island Safari Tour Barbados | 4×4 island jeep tour, adventure, nature |
| Boatyard Beach Club | Beach club day pass, includes snorkel tour, beach |
| Barbados Magic Lounge | Best magic show in Barbados, evening entertainment |
| Snorkeling and Relaxing at Carlisle Bay | Spend the day at Carlisle Bay, water activities, beach |
| Harrisons Cave Tour | Guided cave tour, educational, nature |
| Folkestone Marine Park | Calm beach, museum, aquarium, and playground, educational |
| Peg Farm and Nature Reserve | Bio farm with free-range animals and cafe, educational, nature |
| Atlantis Submarine | Underwater submarine tour, educational, marine life |
| Glass Bottom Boat | Glass bottom boat and snorkel trip, water activities, marine life |
| St. Nicholas Abbey and Train Ride | Tour of a historic home and train ride, historical, educational |
| Surfing Lessons | Learn to surf with an instructor, adventure, water activities |
| Barbados Wildlife Reserve | Wildlife and monkeys, educational, nature |
| Wildlife at Welchman Hall Gully | Wildlife, educational, nature |
| Hunte’s Flower Garden | Wildlife and flowers, educational, nature |
| Catamaran Cruise | Cruise the coast, snorkeling included, water activities |
| Harbour Lights Beach Extravaganza | Evening dinner and show, live music |
| Animal Flower Cave | Sea cave with tidepools, adventure, marine life, educational |
| Pebbles Beach | Calm beach, water activities, swimming |
| Oistins Fish Fry | Evening outdoor market, food, live music |
#1 Safari Tour Barbados With Kids
With Island Safari Barbados, the whole family can enjoy an off-the-beaten-track adventure around the island to some of the most scenic locations only accessible in 4 x 4 vehicles. This tour allows you to explore the east coast of the island in areas such as hiking in Joe’s River Forest, Bathsheba, Edgecliff, and the blowholes at Little Bay.
Some tours include a stop for lunch at the Sugar Cane Club Hotel. The company also has a catamaran combination tour that allows you to explore the island by land and sea, including a buffet lunch. This tour is suitable for families with children age 5 and up.
#2 Boatyard Beach Club
The Boatyard Beach Club is located on the edge of Bridgetown on the beautiful beach of Carlisle Bay. It offers great beach facilities like umbrellas and sun loungers, as well as an onsite restaurant, restroom facilities, lockers, and fun water activities.
Guests can purchase a day pass on arrival which gives them access to the club facilities and amenities, including the ocean trampoline, slide, rope swing, diving platform on the pier, boat tours, and even free snorkeling with sea turtles. Food and drinks are also available for purchase from the club’s restaurant.
#3 Barbados Magic Lounge
Watch close-up magic tricks with Hans Grane at the thrilling Barbados Magic Lounge. There are shows several nights per week and the theater is located in the top floor of Castaways Restaurant in St. Lawrence Gap. Kids and adults alike will love watching the magic unfold, and you can also book a table for dinner at Castaways before or after the show. A lovely evening activity for families!
Buy your tickets in advance since shows fill up fast.
#4 Carlisle Bay
If you do not want to pay for a day pass at Boatyard, you can still enjoy the beautiful scenery of Carlisle Bay since the beach is spacious with many access points. Carlisle Bay has soft sand and calm water, making this ideal for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
If you are a more experienced diver, the bay has many shipwrecks where you can see a wide array of sea life. The bay also has shops and stalls where you can rent water sports equipment like kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkels.
#5 Tiki Bar and Rockley Beach
A bit further down the south coast, you’ll find Rockley Beach and Tiki Beach Bar. Tiki Beach Bar is a great place to set up camp for the day and there’s a sheltered area at the edge of the beach with gentle waves for children.
Tiki Beach Bar has umbrellas and beach chairs for rent — and you can also get your chair for free when you spend $30 BBD at the restaurant. There are bathrooms and outdoor showers, as well as a tasty food selection and kids menu. Great for a relaxing family day at the beach.
#6 Harrison’s Cave Tour
Often referred to as one of the “seven wonders of Barbados”, Harrison’s Cave is the perfect way to explore the interior of the island. Kids will love seeing the stalactites and stalagmites that grow from the ceiling and floor as well as underground streams and waterfalls housed with the cave’s limestone walls.
Your tour guide will take you around the cave by tram, allowing you to get off at certain points and explore. The tour also includes a brief presentation on how the island was formed and the cave’s history.
#7 Folkestone Marine Park & Visitor Centre
Folkestone Marine Park is a beach and recreation area located near a reef created by the sinking of a Greek ship, the Stravonika, where expert divers can still explore. This site is the perfect place for kids because it has a garden, a sandy beach area, a museum with an aquarium, as well as a picnic area and a playground.
The museum offers an educational experience where children and adults alike can learn about marine species. Enjoy seeing colorful fish and coral up close in the aquarium area.
The park also has a small boardwalk along the shore as well as a tennis and basketball court. Due to its calm waters, the beach at the park is the perfect place to go kayaking and paddleboarding. When done exploring the park, you can head to the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre to eat, shop or watch a movie.
#8 Peg Farm and Nature Reserve
PEG Farm is an organic, free-range farm that focuses on holistic methods. At the farm, you can go on eco-tours to explore all aspects of the farm such as their forest with many native plants. This perfect for kids as they will get the chance to see farm animals such as cows, chickens, and pigs. Day passes are available and children under three are free.
The farm also includes a café where you can grab a bite to eat. You can also fully surround yourself with nature and views of the east coast at their campsite.
#9 Atlantis Submarine
The Atlantis Submarine is perfect for kids and less experienced swimmers who will enjoy seeing the beautiful marine landscape from inside a submarine. Based out of Bridgetown, you’ll enjoy about 40 minutes underwater while your guide talks you through shipwrecks and reefs filled with different kinds of marine life.
They also have night dives to allow you to see the sea life that only comes out at night. This activity is family friendly but they do have a 3ft height requirement for children.
#10 Glass Bottom Boat
If you have younger kids or you do not want to go on the submarine, do not worry. Take a ride on a glass bottom boat and experience the world of the ocean. Guides will take you to view shipwrecks and reefs from the safety of a boat.
For those who do want to go in the water, some tours will also include a stop to go snorkeling. If you choose to stay on the boat, you will still be able to see the turtles when they swim below the boat. This Barbados glass-bottom boat tour includes a cruise aboard the Tranquility boat with snorkeling, followed by time to relax on the beach.
#11 St. Nicholas Abbey & Train Ride
Located to the east of the island you’ll find St. Nicholas Abbey, a historic plantation house with a functioning distillery and a locomotive ride through the surrounding landscape. The house is the last of its style in the region and the experience gives you a look at the history of the island.
Board the Heritage Train for a hillside tour through the vegetation and a look at the Atlantic Ocean. Kids will love learning about how to turn the train around on its tracks at the end of the ride! St. Nicholas Abbey is located near Cherry Tree Hill which is a great spot to take in the views of the east coast and get a family photo.
#12 Surfing Lessons
Barbados is a great place to surf for the whole family! The island has plenty of surf spots for beginners as well as experienced surfers. On the south coast, it’s common to see children and adults alike catching their first waves in Freights Bay.
There are plenty of highly-reviewed surf schools located on the island where the whole family can learn to surf together. Check out this post to book a family surf lesson with a Barbados surf school.
#13 Barbados Wildlife Reserve
Located in the lush, green forest in the north, the Barbados Wildlife Reserve will allow you to discover free-roaming tortoises, deer, peacocks, mara, parrots and best of all, green monkeys. The best monkeys are best seen during feeding times.
The admission fee includes both the reserve and the signal station next door where kids can climb the tower and see the views of the north of the island. After that, head over to the National Park where you can see the ruins of Farley Hill House and have a picnic on the grounds. There is even a playground for children.
#14 Wildlife at Welchman Hall Gully
Welchman Hall Gully is located on the site of a collapsed cave and some of the stalactites and stalagmites can still be seen. When you visit, you’ll follow a paved path and explore the forest that has flourished. The grounds are filled with native plants and animals like green monkeys, lizards, and birds. The gully has many nutmeg plants so be sure to take in the aromas.
#15 Hunte’s Gardens Barbados
If you want to see more nature, head to Hunte’s Flower Garden. Here you will have a peaceful time strolling the grounds filled with colorful flower displays. The garden is also home to many birds and animals that freely roam and there’s a café where you can enjoy many refreshments.
#16 Family-Friendly Catamaran Cruise
A catamaran cruise is a great way to enjoy the west coast, swim with turtles, and explore shipwrecks. Tours on these boats usually last around five hours and include snorkeling gear, life vests, a Bajan buffet lunch, and other refreshments. For families, Calypso Cruises has been highly recommended due to their small group policy and friendly, accommodating staff.
Another memorable option is a trip on the Jolly Roger. It’s operated by Black Pearl Tours and they offer trips on their full-size pirate ship, complete with a plank! Take a lunchtime cruise and enjoy the rope swings, plank walk, and buffet, or an evening cruise to enjoy a show with limbo dancers, stilt-walkers, and fire-eaters. The tour includes swimming stops to see the turtles and feed fish.
#17 Harbour Lights Beach Extravaganza & Dinner Show
If you’re looking for family-friendly evening entertainment in Barbados, check out the Harbour Lights Beach Extravaganza and dinner show! The whole family will enjoy live music, entertainment, and a bottomless buffet of local favorites (with drinks included for the adults).
In the reviews, many guests mention that their children had a great time dancing to music and watching the lively festivities. Harbour Lights is located in Bridgetown and you can pre-book tickets and transportation here.
#18 Animal Flower Cave
Located in the most northern part of the island, Animal Flower Cave is a must-see attraction in Barbados for families. The cave gets its name from the sea anemones living in its tidal pools. Kids will enjoy seeing the anemones close while exploring this expansive sea cave.
The cave has serene natural pools that kids can play in and it opens up to views of the ocean from within the cliff. There is also a restaurant located above the cave with beautiful panoramic views.
#19 Pebble’s Beach (and the swimming racehorses)
On the south of the island near Bridgetown, you can visit Pebbles Beach, a peaceful shore perfect for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, and playing on the beach. There are snack stands and shops where you can rent beach equipment just steps from the shore, as well as umbrellas and beach chairs available by the day.
But Pebble’s Beach is best known for the swimming horses. From about 5:30 am until 7:00 am most mornings, you can see racehorses from the nearby racetrack swimming in the sea for water therapy.
For more fun with horses, stop by the museum and George Washington House located by the Garrison where children can watch the horses practicing after their swim in the ocean.
#19 Oistins Fish Fry
The seaside town of Oistins has a popular fish market and every Friday night, locals and tourists flock here to eat fresh-grilled fish, listen to music, and take in the cheerful atmosphere. With delicious food and lots of activities going on, it’s a great option for a family evening out.
Even though the market gets very busy as the night goes on, families can head over earlier in the evening to beat the crowds. You can also visit on any night other than Friday for fewer crowds and shorter lines. If staying with a nearby hotel, they may arrange transport to the market.
Final Thoughts: Best Things To Do In Barbados With Kids
There are tons of wonderful activities to do in Barbados as a family. Looking for even more things to do in Barbados with kids? Be sure to ask your hotel or accommodation host for more recommendations specific to your area.
- 37 Fun Things To Do In Barbados
- 6 Best Barbados Shore Excursions
- 10 Amazing Sunset Spots in Barbados
Need a place to stay as a family? This guide covers some of the best kid-friendly all-inclusive resorts in Barbados.
