By air
Grantley Adams International (BGI), ~40 min by road
North America · Barbados
Holetown, Barbados
Calm west-coast bays where Barbados began
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to May — dry with calm seas
Don't miss
St James Parish Church
Folkestone Marine Park
Paynes Bay
The Holetown Monument
Things to do
Snorkelling with turtles
Paddleboarding
Sunset swims
The Holetown Festival in February
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: CaribDigita · Public domain
What to pack
Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, snorkel gear
A quieter corner
Speightstown, an old port town a short drive north
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Holetown?
December to May — dry with calm seas. What to pack: Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, snorkel gear.
How do I get to Holetown?
Fly into Grantley Adams International (BGI), ~40 min by road.
What is there to do in Holetown?
Snorkelling with turtles, paddleboarding, sunset swims, the Holetown Festival in February. A quieter find: Speightstown, an old port town a short drive north.
What should I eat in Holetown?
Grilled fish, flying fish cutters, macaroni pie, fresh coconut water.
About Holetown
- Coastal
Where it is
Holetown is a town on the calm west coast of Barbados in St James parish, along a stretch of shore lined with sheltered bays and beaches.
History
The first English settlers to Barbados landed here in 1627 and named their settlement Jamestown, after King James I. It was the island's first town before Bridgetown grew to overshadow it, and the Holetown Festival each February marks the landing.
People
Holetown's residents speak English and Bajan Creole, and the town mixes old fishing families, villas along the shore and a lively strip of shops and bars.
Known for
- The first English settlement on Barbados
- Calm turquoise bays
- Snorkelling with turtles
- The Holetown Festival
Did you know?
St James Parish Church in Holetown stands on one of the oldest church sites in Barbados, dating back to the first years of English settlement.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.