Best time to visit Barbados

December to April. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.

December to April

Most sources name the dry season, mid-December to April, for the sunniest, driest weather. It is also the busiest stretch. May is called a good middle ground by one source.

“The best time to visit Barbados for most travelers is the dry season from mid December to April” tropicdrive.com
“The dry season is the best time to visit Barbados for guaranteed sunshine, between December and April.” cntravellerme.com
“The best time to visit is between January and March when sunshine and temperatures are at there best and rainfall is lowest.” firstchoice.co.uk

6 of the 9 travel guides we read name these months.

Barbados month by month

Average high and low in Barbados, and days with rain

Best timeJanuary84°F / 74°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Plenty of sunshine, around 26°C and little rain; part of the peak season.Coolest month of the year, with an average high of 29 C.The Barbados Jazz Festival is among the January events.
Best timeFebruary85°F / 73°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…The driest month, with 9 mm of rain and 27 sunny days.Holetown Festival takes place in mid-February with carnivals, street fairs and steel band concerts.Still high season, so the island can be busy.
Best timeMarch86°F / 74°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Continued sunshine and highs around 27°C; peak season winds down slightly.Crowds are slightly thinner than earlier months, with sailing, surfing and the Oistins fish fry.The end of March starts sea turtle nesting season.
Best timeApril86°F / 76°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Transition month as high season winds down; a few more clouds and occasional showers.Fewer crowds than winter, around 28°C and calm, clear water.Easter celebrations are lively, including the Oistins Fish Festival.
May87°F / 77°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Start of the quieter season with fewer tourists and occasional brief showers.Shoulder season begins; the weather is still warm and relatively dry.Arguably the best month to go, with low chance of rain and about nine rainy days.
June87°F / 77°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Start of the wet season, but showers are short and followed by sunshine.Crop Over festivities begin in late June.
July87°F / 77°F · 15 rainy daysChecking fares…Crop Over runs from early July to early August.More frequent rain and higher humidity; Grand Kadooment Day is the culmination of Crop Over.Crop Over and Grand Kadooment
August88°F / 77°F · 16 rainy daysChecking fares…Hottest month, with an average high of 31 C.Grand Kadooment, the Crop Over closing day, is on the first Monday of August and is a national holiday.August and September are the wettest months and sit in the hurricane season peak.
September88°F / 77°F · 13 rainy daysChecking fares…Wettest month in one dataset, with 60 mm of rain over 5 days.September and October are statistically the most common months for storms.
October87°F / 77°F · 15 rainy daysChecking fares…Hurricane risk is highest from July to October; Barbados is on the southern edge of the belt.Off-season months May, June and September to November are quiet, with events like golf, motorsports and the Food and Rum festival.
November87°F / 76°F · 14 rainy daysChecking fares…Wet season ends; rain comes in short bursts and the island stays warm.One writer visited in November for winter sun and a few tropical rainstorms.
Best timeDecember85°F / 75°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Dry season begins in mid-December; Christmas and New Year are the highest-demand period.Reserve early for Christmas and New Year.

Weather: Barbados averages (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

Every date to Bridgetown from your city

Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.

What's on in Barbados

Festivals and seasons through the year

Crop Over and Grand KadoomentBridgetownEvery July to August

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Mid-December to AprilThe dry season is the busiest stretch: sunny days, calm west coast, full hotels.
December to FebruaryHoliday and New Year travel is the highest-demand period.
Early July to early AugustCrop Over brings a lively island and busier roads.

Quietest

May, June and September to NovemberLeisure travel is at its lowest, with no sold-out activities.
June to NovemberThe wet season is greener and quieter.
June to OctoberFewer tourists and a laid-back atmosphere.

Watch for

June to NovemberHurricane season; the peak is August to October, but direct hits are rare, roughly once in 25 years.
Hurricane oddsBarbados is struck by a hurricane once every 25 years on average.
Wet seasonRain arrives in short, heavy bursts rather than all day.
Crop Over weeksTraffic is slow in Bridgetown and parking is tight.
Off-seasonSome activities may briefly close for maintenance.

Questions people ask

What is the hottest month to go to Barbados?: August, with an average daily high of 31 C and a low of 26 C.
What is the cheapest month to go to Barbados?: The wet season, June to November, is described as the best value, with many hotels offering reduced rates.

Best time to visit Barbados

December to April

Barbados month by month

Every date to Bridgetown from your city

What's on in Barbados

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

More about Barbados

Best time to visit other places

Best time to visit Barbados

December to April

Barbados month by month

Every date to Bridgetown from your city

What's on in Barbados

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

More about Barbados

Best time to visit other places