Historic Bridgetown

Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, together with its historic Garrison, forms a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its outstanding example of British colonial architecture and town planning in the Caribbean. Founded in the seventeenth century, the town preserves a distinctive blend of Georgian and Jacobean-style buildings, the neo-Gothic Parliament Buildings around National Heroes Square, the working careenage harbour lined with boats, and one of the oldest synagogues in the western hemisphere. The nearby Garrison, once a major British military base, surrounds a historic savannah and racetrack.

What you actually see

• The Parliament Buildings - the neo-Gothic seat around Heroes Square.
• The careenage - the historic inner harbour and waterfront.
• The Garrison - the old military base, savannah and museum.
• The Nidhe Israel Synagogue - one of the hemisphere's oldest.

When to go

December to April, the dry season, for the most pleasant weather; the town is busiest when cruise ships are in port, so exploring the historic sites early avoids the crowds. Horse racing at the Garrison Savannah and the vibrant Friday-night fish fry at nearby Oistins add local colour.

Honest expectations

Bridgetown is a working Caribbean capital and cruise hub rather than a pristine showpiece, so it is busy and commercial around the port, with its historic gems scattered among ordinary city bustle; a guide or self-guided heritage walk helps to appreciate them. As an authentic, UNESCO-listed slice of British-Caribbean colonial history, with its Georgian architecture, harbour and Garrison, though, it is a rewarding cultural counterpoint to the beaches.

Nearby

The Garrison, the beaches of the west coast and Oistins are close by.