Bridgetown

Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, mixes British colonial architecture with easygoing Caribbean energy. The port is a short walk along the boardwalk from the centre, where pastel-coloured buildings line Broad Street and the Parliament Buildings face the harbour. Duty-free shops near the terminal sell rum, jewellery and local hot sauces, and the tourist information centre just inside the gate can help sort out transport. The Garrison Savannah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a ten-minute taxi ride south and includes the George Washington House, where the future president stayed in 1751. Closer to the port, Independence Square and Heroes Square anchor the old town. Rum distillery tours at Mount Gay or St. Nicholas Abbey are popular half-day trips. Oistins fish fry on Friday nights draws locals and visitors for grilled mahi-mahi and Banks beer on paper plates right by the water.