Crane Beach, 7km northeast of the airport, is a hidden beach cove backed by cliffs and fronted by aqua-blue waters. An adventurous trail over rocks along the water provides access to the beach from the end of a small road about 700m east of the Crane Beach Hotel. Parking is competitive, only three vehicles fit at the trailhead, but the sands are simply wonderful. Bring a picnic and make a day of it.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
1.25 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…
7.39 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…
15.25 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…
11.65 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…
2.59 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…
10.18 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…
13.77 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…
9.95 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,…
Nearby Barbados attractions
1.25 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…
1.58 MILES
This abandoned Georgian mansion overlooking Long Bay was built by buccaneer Samuel Hall Lord in 1820. It's said he amassed a fortune by hanging lanterns…
1.6 MILES
Down below Sam Lord's Castle, this coconut-lined, windswept bay doesn't get many visitors. It's not a safe place for swimming, but is a good place for a…
2.59 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…
2.95 MILES
Built between 1660 and 1670, the handsome Sunbury Plantation House was painstakingly restored after a 1995 fire. The house has 60cm-thick walls built of…
5.95 MILES
This wonderful long and remote stretch of golden sand is usually totally empty. It is one of the few places on this coast where it's safe to swim, thanks…
6.88 MILES
Fronted by a sliver of sand, this little village is about as local as you get. It has a combined bar/restaurant, a shop and some picnic tables – that's it…
7.39 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…