The cheapest way to get around Barbados is by ZR buses, minibuses and vans. A single journey costs 3,50 bbd, regardless of the distance.

Along the south and west coasts, public transport is often sufficient. If you also want to explore the interior, the east coast and more remote beaches, the most practical option is to hire a car.

• A beach holiday without a car: choose accommodation near the main coastal road. The St Lawrence and Dover Beach areas are particularly convenient
• Trips around the island: compare car hire prices in Barbados
• Single journeys or late-night returns: use a taxi, Uber Taxi or the pickUP Barbados app

We cover transport after arrival separately in the section ‘Transport from Bridgetown Airport’.

Travelling around Barbados by car

Travelling by car in Barbados is the most practical form of transport, but, particularly on the west and south coasts, you’ll encounter a lack of parking spaces and heavy traffic. However, if you want to venture beyond the main beaches, we definitely recommend hiring a car.

In Barbados, they drive on the left.

Book a car in Barbados

Most of the major international car hire companies operate on the island, alongside several regional Caribbean ones.

How much does it cost to hire a car in Barbados? What is the quality of the roads like? What are the traffic regulations, and how do you fill up with petrol at a petrol station? Read the detailed sectionon Car hire in Barbados.

Public transport

A cheaper alternative to a car are the Transport Board’s state-run buses, private minibuses and fixed-route vans, known as ZRs.

The public transport network covers both towns and small villages. It is easiest to travel along the south and west coasts, whilst inland services are less frequent and trips require more planning.

Transport Board buses have timetables. Minibuses and ZRs do not have fixed departure times.

Want to get by without a hire car? Choose a hotel on a busy coastal route and check its location on a map before booking. We compare the different areas in the chapter ‘Where to stay in Barbados’.

Choose a beachfront hotel in Barbados

Ticket prices and fare payment

A single journey by bus, minibus or ZR costs 3,50 bbd. You pay the same amount for a single stop as you do for a journey across the island.

Type of transport	Fare	How to pay in cash
Bus Transport Board	3,50 bbd	Place the exact amount in the box by the driver when boarding
Yellow minibus	3,50 bbd	To the conductor or driver; change can be given
White ZR van	3,50 bbd	To the conductor or driver; change can be given

When changing to another vehicle, you’ll need to pay the fare again. It’s easiest to have small change in Barbadian dollars ready.

For a standard journey, you do not buy a ticket in advance; you pay directly on board. Paper tickets are not usually issued on minibuses or ZR services.

Can you pay by card on buses?

The Transport Board is gradually rolling out the TransPay cashless system, which uses a travel card and payments via an app.

However, do not rely on simply tapping your bank card just yet. Cashless payment is not available across the entire network, and cash is still recommended for travelling on buses, minibuses and ZR services.

Up-to-date information is published Transport Board.

Stops: how to tell which direction is the right one

Stops are marked with a sign saying ‘TO CITY’ or ‘OUT OF CITY’. The word ‘City’ refers to the capital, Bridgetown, which is the destination for most routes.

• TO CITY – towards Bridgetown
• OUT OF CITY – heading out of Bridgetown

You will usually not find a timetable or a list of routes at the stops. You can flag down an approaching bus, minibus or ZR by waving.

Press the button before getting off:

• On ZR buses and minibuses, there is usually a small white button by the windows, on the side of the vehicle or on the ceiling.
• On more modern buses, use the red ‘STOP’ button.

ZRs – shared taxis

The most common form of transport is small white vans with a burgundy stripe, which the locals refer to simply as ‘ZR’ (Zed-r). This name comes from the special number plates fitted to all shared taxi vans: they always begin with the letters ZR.

ZRs run on a fixed route and are always marked with a route number, which you’ll find in a black circle on both the front and rear of the bonnet.

There is no timetable for these minibuses. They always leave Bridgetown as soon as they are fully occupied. In the opposite direction, from the other terminus, they always depart at the same intervals as they arrived from Bridgetown (so, on the way into town, they do not usually wait until the van is full).

• List and routes of ZR services on the website ta.gov.bb/RouteTaxis

The busiest shared taxi routes run along Highway 7 from Bridgetown along the south coast via Hastings, Rockley, Worthing, St Lawrence to Oistins (routes 3D and 11), with services on this route running on average once every 5 minutes during the day.

If you’re boarding partway along the route, it’s likely that a fully occupied ZR won’t stop for you at all. However, you usually only need to wait a maximum of 10–15 minutes; you’ll always be able to get a seat in one of the vans.

The fare3,50 bbd is paid either to the conductor travelling on board (usually wearing a yellow T-shirt) or directly to the bus driverupon alighting. You do not have to pay the exact amount, although this is preferred.

Shared taxis (ZRs) run from Bridgetown from two bus stations:

• Constitution River Terminal (located on google.com/maps) – the southern half of the island
• Cheapside Terminal (located at google.com/maps) – the northern half of the island

Minibuses

The second most common form of transport is minibuses, which reach every corner of Barbados.

They are larger than ZR vans and resemble traditional buses more closely. They are usually painted yellow with blue stripes and, in Bridgetown, depart from the same bus stations as shared taxis:

• Constitution River Terminal (located at google.com/maps) – the southern half of the island
• Cheapside Terminal (located at google.com/maps) – the northern half of the island

Although minibuses are formally assigned route numbers and follow precisely defined routes, in practice the route number is not usually clearly displayed. Instead, there is a large sign in the window showing the destination.

Like ZRs, minibuses do not have a timetable and set off as soon as they are full. However, they do not usually wait until they are completely full, as is the case with vans. On average, minibuses run 1–2 times an hour on each route, though less frequent services to the island’s interior only run a few times a day.

• A list of minibus routes is available on the website: ta.gov.bb/Routes/Minibus

You won’t find the timetables in advance; you’ll need to ask at the bus station or the locals.

The fare 3,50 bbd is paid either to the conductor travelling on board (usually wearing a yellow T-shirt) or directly to the bus driverupon alighting. You do not have to pay the exact amount, although this is preferred.

Buses

Barbados also has a traditional bus service, comprising both modern, air-conditioned buses (blue and yellow) and older, non-air-conditioned models (usually plain white or with a yellow stripe).

Traditional buses depart from different stations in Bridgetown to those used by minibuses or vans:

• Fairchild Street Terminal, also known as Granville Bus Terminal (located at google.com/maps) – the southern half of the island
• Princess Alice Terminal (located at google.com/maps) – the northern half of the island

Buses are the only form of transport that has fixed departure times from the terminals. These are usually adhered to, although delays of 5 to 10 minutes are not uncommon.

Bus services do not run as frequently as minibuses or vans, but travelling by bus is significantly more comfortable and predictable precisely because of the timetable. However, times are only given for departures from the terminus. You’ll have to work out the rest yourself.

• List and routes of bus services on the website: transportboard.com/route-finder

The disadvantage of buses is that you must pay the exact fare of 3,50 bbd. You pay by putting the money into the box next to the driver when you board. The driver has no way of giving you change. So if you don’t have the exact amount, you’ll either need to get change beforehand or put a higher fare into the box. Alternatively, you could opt for a minibus or shared taxi, which usually follow the same routes as the buses.

Taxis in Barbados: fares, Uber and pickUP

You’ll find plenty of traditional taxis in Bridgetown and along the main holiday resorts. Licensed taxis are a common and safe means of transport, but they do not have meters.

Confirm the fare before getting in, including whether the driver quotes it in BBD or USD.

How much does a taxi cost in Barbados?

Fares for standard taxis are regulated. To give you an idea, here are a few routes from the official price list:

Route	Price in BBD	Fare in USD
Bridgetown city centre / harbour → St Lawrence / Dover	40 bbd	20 usd
Bridgetown city centre / harbour → Oistins	53 bbd	26,50 usd
Bridgetown city centre / harbour → Holetown / Sandy Lane	62 bbd	31 usd

The full price list can be found on the government website gisbarbados.gov.bb – taxi fares.

If you hail a taxi on the street, you’ll need to pay in cash. Drivers accept both Barbadian and US dollars; the exchange rate is 2 bbd = 1 usd.

Does Uber operate in Barbados?

Yes, Uber Taxi operates in Barbados, allowing you to book a licensed local taxi. You’ll see the fare in the app.

You cannot pay in cash for Uber Taxi in Barbados. Payment is made via the app, for example using a saved card.

Another option is the local app pickUP Barbados. It also works with licensed taxi drivers and allows payment by card or cash.

If you plan to take several longer taxi journeys during your stay, compare the cost with that of hiring a car for the same number of days. Hiring a car makes the most sense if you’re making multiple stops or going on trips off the main coastal routes.