Shopping in Barbados

From duty free bargains and designer brands,arts and crafts and souvenirs, Barbados offers the complete shopping experience for any shopaholic.

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For more advice, check out our souvenirs guide as well as our tips on things to buy and take home.

South Coast Shopping in Barbados

A great place to start on the south coast is in the nation’s capital of Bridgetown. This is one of the main shopping districts on the island, with a wide variety of options all in one place. From local to international fare, banking facilities, crystal and jewellery, duty free, pharmacies, shoe stores, and so much more, a trip to Bridgetown is a ‘must’ on any shoppers list.

Broad Street, in the heart of town, is home to one of the Cave Shepherd outlets stocking a generous selection of duty free items and designer brands.

Also along Broad Street are recommended quality jewelers and watch retailers:

• Colombian Emeralds International
• The Royal Shop
• Diamonds International
• Little Switzerland

Outside of town, there are still numerous places to shop along this lively stretch of coastline including:

• The Royal Shop boutique store at Accra Beach Hotel
• Sheraton Centre Mall
• Pelican Village Craft Centre
• Hastings Farmers Market
• Quayside Centre
• St. Lawrence Gap
• Oistins

Moving towards the south east of the island is The Crane Village, which is fast becoming a serious shopping destination in Barbados.

The uniquely designed 55 000 square-foot Village is open to both locals and visitors, offering a variety of shopping, dining and entertainment options. There are also loads of opportunities for duty free goods in the 3 000 square-foot ‘Duty Free Emporium’.

Every Wednesday afternoon, The Crane Village also transforms into an open-air market (Village Fair) featuring local arts and crafts, jewellery, and traditional delicacies.

On the south coast of Barbados, you will find a number of shopping centres to choose from. For a full description see our South Coast Guide to shopping in Barbados.

West Coast Barbados Shopping

The best place to start on the west coast (or ‘gold’ coast as it is also known) is in Holetown, home to some of the best high-end shopping on the island.

Here, you will find an array of duty free and boutique options, as well as all the leading international designer brands; sure to satisfy those shoppers with luxury in mind.

Holetown is also home to some of the top recommended jewelers in Barbados including Colombian Emeralds International, Diamonds International and Little Switzerland.

But, don’t be fooled. The west coast shopping experience is not all ‘glitz and glamour’. In fact, there are also plenty of ‘grassroots’ options on the west coast like markets and quaint chattel houses selling local arts and crafts, souvenirs, and fresh produce.

Notable west coast shopping destinations include

• Limegrove Lifestyle Centre
• West Mall Shopping Centre
• The Chattel Village
• Sunset Mall
• Holder’s Farmers’ Market
• Speightstown

Speightstown is the second largest town in Barbados, with its own array of shops and malls, boutiques and gift shops, souvenirs, banking facilities, and eateries to enjoy.

Airport Shopping

The Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) in Barbados offers a range of options (especially duty free) for travelers in both its Arrivals Terminal and Departure Lounge.

GAIA is home to outlets of both Colombian Emeralds International and Diamonds International as well as one of the Best of Barbados Gift Shops.

In fact, there are a variety of fashions, crafts, and souvenir stores within GAIA with some great gift options and tax free bargains to be had.

There is also a Cave Shepherd store in the Arrivals Terminal for arriving passengers to purchase some duty free items.

For a full description of just what’s on offer at GAIA, check out our Airport Guide to shopping in Barbados.

Cruise Terminal Shopping

The Bridgetown Cruise Terminal has a variety of shopping options (mainly duty free) for anyone who takes a cruise to Barbados.

Among the more notable retailers are Diamonds International, Little Switzerland and Best of Barbados Gift Shops.

You will also find outlets like Cave Shepherd offering perfumes, fine linen, arts and crafts, exclusive resort wear, liquor, cigars and cigarettes, as well as pushcart vendors mainly selling local handicrafts.

There’s banking facilities and even a Post Office in the Cruise Terminal, alongside Customs, Immigration, Port Health, and Plant and Animal Quarantine.

For more information, see our Cruise Terminal Guide to shopping in Barbados.

Did You Know?

Every traveler likes to take home a traditional memento from the country they have visited. For authentic Bajan souvenirs, one of the places to visit is Best of Barbados Gift Shops.

Best of Barbados is a family-owned business who have been making and designing top quality local gifts and handicrafts on the island for over 40 years. Here, you’ll find a large variety of Bajan-made souvenirs, ranging from prints and designs by the company’s founder (artist Jill Walker) and her family, to jewellery, art, paintings, cookbooks, beach bags, towels, T-shirts, music and DVDs.

You’ll find their stores in five locations – The Chattel Village in Holetown, Quayside Centre in Rockley, Southern Palms Hotel in St. Lawrence Gap, Bridgetown Cruise Terminal, and in the Departure Lounge at the Grantley Adams International Airport for last minute shopping needs.

Author: Brett Callaghan