The best time to visit Barbados is a worthy topic: From long sunny afternoons on idyllic beaches to aimless strolls around the UNESCO Heritage Site capital, Bridgetown, there are umpteen reasons to visit this dazzling Caribbean island of Barbados. However, timing is everything, and the best time to visit Barbados depends on what you seek from a tropical island escape. Whenever you visit Barbados, there are plenty of things to do in Barbados, as well as to experience: toes-in-the-sand bliss; cooling off in the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea; popping on a snorkel and mask to see a technicolor world in the ocean. While choosing the right places to stay is key, there’s plenty to do besides downtime in the best hotels in Barbados, from sampling authentic Barbadian food and meeting locals in beach shacks to exploring Mount Gay, the world's longest-running rum distillery. Excited? This is the best time to visit Barbados.
A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK.
The dry season in Barbados runs from December to April. Temperatures range between 24°C and 31°C, and chances of clear, sunny days are very high.
The wet season in Barbados runs from July to November. The average rainfall in July is 216mm, making it the wettest month; in comparison, the average rainfall in February is just 42mm, making it the driest month, followed by March. However, sunny days are common during the wet season, when downpours and storms are short-lived.
The risk of hurricanes and tropical storms is highest between July and October. In recent years, notable storms have hit the Caribbean island throughout July and August. However, September and October are statistically the most common months for such storms.
The dry season is the best time to visit Barbados for guaranteed sunshine, between December and April. If money is no object, consider visiting the island over Christmas and New Year to experience a balmy festive season.
However, don’t let the term “wet season” put you off a low-season holiday. Downpours are often short, but prices are considerably lower than peak season and school holidays.
Condé Nast Traveller’s commerce editor, Sarah Bannerman, found everything she sought from an island escape on her visit: “We visited Barbados in November – in fact, any time I've been to the Caribbean, it's been either then, or in March. I love the ease of the direct, not-too-long-for-long-haul flight and the promise of winter sun. Temperatures sit between the late 20s to early 30s, and the sunsets are beautiful. Oddly, they happen quite early (around 6pm), but it means you can watch from your spot on the beach, cocktail in hand. Sure, there may be the odd tropical rainstorm, but that makes it all the more fun.”
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