Bridgetown Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Bridgetown
Bridgetown is the largest city on the island of Barbados. It was founded on the shores of Carlisle Bay, a cove on the southwest coast. The harbor is the natural location for ships to anchor, and Barbados is one of the first landfall points after crossing the Atlantic from Europe.
Originally, the island of Barbados was visited by various Amerindian tribes. Evidence has shown that permanent settlement may have begun between the 4th and 7th centuries AD.
For centuries, Barbados was mostly ignored by the European powers. It's uncertain when the first European contact occurred, but it was likely the Spanish. The Portuguese came sometime between 1532 and 1536, but they abandoned Barbados by 1620.
The British arrived in 1625 and found the island uninhabited. The remains of a primitive bridge over the Careenage were believed to have been built by the Taino Indians. As a result, the area was first called Indian Bridge by the English and later the Town of Saint Michaels. St. Michael's Cathedral was originally built in 1665, but the present structure replaced it in 1789.
Bridgetown was named for Sir Tobias Bridge, who fought with Oliver Cromwell during the Interregnum and later came to the island.
The plantation economy relied on slave labor until the Slave Abolition Act of 1833. The primary crop on the island was sugar cane, a crop introduced by Jewish immigrants from Brazil. Learn more about their contributions at the Nidhe Israel Synagogue Museum.
In 1966 Barbados became an independent state within the Commonwealth, and in 2021, Barbados became a republic. Visit National Heroes Square and the Parliament Buildings and Museum to learn more about the nation's history.
Bridgetown and the Garrison are listed UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is a major tourist destination and cruise ship port of call, known for the gorgeous Carlisle Bay Beaches and shopping on Broad and Swan Streets. So grab your sunblock and flip-flops, and let's explore this amazing city with a self-guided walking tour.
Originally, the island of Barbados was visited by various Amerindian tribes. Evidence has shown that permanent settlement may have begun between the 4th and 7th centuries AD.
For centuries, Barbados was mostly ignored by the European powers. It's uncertain when the first European contact occurred, but it was likely the Spanish. The Portuguese came sometime between 1532 and 1536, but they abandoned Barbados by 1620.
The British arrived in 1625 and found the island uninhabited. The remains of a primitive bridge over the Careenage were believed to have been built by the Taino Indians. As a result, the area was first called Indian Bridge by the English and later the Town of Saint Michaels. St. Michael's Cathedral was originally built in 1665, but the present structure replaced it in 1789.
Bridgetown was named for Sir Tobias Bridge, who fought with Oliver Cromwell during the Interregnum and later came to the island.
The plantation economy relied on slave labor until the Slave Abolition Act of 1833. The primary crop on the island was sugar cane, a crop introduced by Jewish immigrants from Brazil. Learn more about their contributions at the Nidhe Israel Synagogue Museum.
In 1966 Barbados became an independent state within the Commonwealth, and in 2021, Barbados became a republic. Visit National Heroes Square and the Parliament Buildings and Museum to learn more about the nation's history.
Bridgetown and the Garrison are listed UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is a major tourist destination and cruise ship port of call, known for the gorgeous Carlisle Bay Beaches and shopping on Broad and Swan Streets. So grab your sunblock and flip-flops, and let's explore this amazing city with a self-guided walking tour.
How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide. For US$14.99 per year (with a 3-day free trial), you get access to walking tours in 630+ cities worldwide for an entire year. In comparison, a guided tour often costs dozens of dollars per person for a single tour. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
Bridgetown Introduction Walking Tour Map
Guide Name: Bridgetown Introduction Walking Tour
Guide Location: Barbados » Bridgetown (See other walking tours in Bridgetown)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Guide Location: Barbados » Bridgetown (See other walking tours in Bridgetown)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Sights Featured in This Walk
Walking Tours in Bridgetown, Barbados
Create Your Own Walk in Bridgetown
Creating your own self-guided walk in Bridgetown is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Garrison Historic Area Walking Tour
St. Ann's Garrison, more commonly known simply as "The Garrison", is a small district in Barbados situated some 2 miles south of Heroes Square in the capital-city of Bridgetown.
This historic area is dominated by a horse racetrack, located on the 30 acre parade ground called the Garrison Savannah. Here, in the mid 18th century, wealthy prominent Barbadians and regiment troops... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
This historic area is dominated by a horse racetrack, located on the 30 acre parade ground called the Garrison Savannah. Here, in the mid 18th century, wealthy prominent Barbadians and regiment troops... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
The Most Popular Cities
/ view all