Sandy Beach

Barbados

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This wonderful strip of white powdery sand was hit hard by the sewage failures of 2017/18 when it was closed to visitors after waste from nearby roads washed into the sea, making waters unsafe for swimming and the sands an unpleasant place to be. It has now been officially reopened and government scientists report that the brilliant turquoise waters are completely safe.

Crowds on the beach have yet to return to pre-crisis levels, which for sun lovers is good news as it used to be pretty crowded.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Shark Hole

    Shark Hole

    10.6 MILES

    Well off the beaten track, the pint-sized Shark Hole is one of those special places for which your selfie will not do justice. Down a short flight of…

  • Lifegard's paradise

    Miami Beach

    2.67 MILES

    A somewhat hidden gem that is the antithesis of its American namesake. Small, shady and intimate, it's well removed from the often frenetic south-coast…

  • April 22, 2019: Exterior of St. Nicholas Abbey, a sugar cane plantation heritage museum and rum distillery. 1382812700 architecture, barbados, building, distillery, garden, gardens, heritage, historic, historical, landmark, museum, plantation, railway, rum, st. nicholas abbey, sugar can, tourism, travel, vacation

    St Nicholas Abbey

    14.3 MILES

    St Nicholas Abbey is a Jacobean-style mansion that is one of the oldest plantation houses in the Caribbean and a must-see stop on any island itinerary…

  • Parliament Building, Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

    Parliament Buildings

    3.09 MILES

    On the north side of National Heroes Sq are two stone-block, neo-Gothic-style buildings constructed in 1871. The western building with the clock tower…

  • Bottom Bay

    Bottom Bay

    11.61 MILES

    On an island blessed with beautiful stretches of sand, Bottom Bay is up there with the best. With translucent turquoise waters framed by rocks and…

  • Rockley Beach

    Rockley Beach

    0.74 MILES

    The largest beach in the area, Rockley is a picture-perfect crescent of sand. Backed by shade trees, there’s moderate surf. The new boardwalk allows you…

  • Paynes Bay Beach

    Paynes Bay Beach

    7.76 MILES

    Fringed by a fine stretch of sand, gently curving Paynes Bay is endlessly popular and its calm waters make it one of the west coast’s best spots for…

  • Hunte's Gardens

    Hunte's Gardens

    9.08 MILES

    These gardens at the home of famed local horticulturalist Anthony Hunte already have a magical aura. Set mostly within the confines of a collapsed cave,…

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Nearby Barbados attractions

1. Rockley Beach

0.74 MILES

The largest beach in the area, Rockley is a picture-perfect crescent of sand. Backed by shade trees, there’s moderate surf. The new boardwalk allows you…

2. Barbados Museum

1.87 MILES

This excellent museum is housed in an early 19th-century military prison. It has engaging displays on all aspects of the island’s history, beginning with…

3. Garrison Savannah Area

1.92 MILES

About 2km south of central Bridgetown and inland from Carlisle Bay, the Garrison is part of the World Heritage area and was the home of the British…

4. George Washington House

2.04 MILES

Just west of the Barbados Museum is a place that can truly claim that the great man slept here. After decades of research and debate, it was finally shown…

5. Pebbles Beach

2.31 MILES

Running between two high-end hotels, this lovely stretch of sand is really just an extension of Brownes Beach. It has soft sands and calm waters and is…

6. Brownes Beach

2.45 MILES

A fine beach close to downtown Bridgetown (a 10-minute walk) that makes a good break before and after lunch and shopping. A long white crescent of sand…

7. Miami Beach

2.67 MILES

A somewhat hidden gem that is the antithesis of its American namesake. Small, shady and intimate, it's well removed from the often frenetic south-coast…

8. St Michael’s Cathedral

3.03 MILES

The island’s Anglican cathedral was originally completed in 1665 to accommodate 3000 worshippers, but came tumbling down in a hurricane a century later…