Things to Do in Oistins: 9 Activities Every Barbados Lover Needs to Try
If you can’t find something you enjoy from these nine things to do in Oistins, then we give up! Here you’ll find the most Bajan list of awesome activities you’re likely to see anywhere.
Whether you’re a golfer, shopper, beach bum or thrill-seeker. There’s something for everyone to enjoy in these things to do in Oistins.
A relatively well-known area of Barbados, Oistins is a quaint fishing town. But, despite its diminutive size, its location and range of local resources mean that the top activities here are some of the best things to do in Barbados.
But what are these terrific time-wasters?
Where is Oistins in Barbados?
Oistins is located down on the South Coast of Barbados in the parish of Christ Church. Christ Church is one of the largest parishes on the island and also plays host to local favourite areas like Hastings, St Lawrence Gap and the Grantley Adams International Airport.
However, in Oistins, you discover a chilled-out town boasting a gleaming coastline. That gorgeous shore also plays host to some of the best beaches in Barbados. Locations like Welches Beach and Miami Beach flank the famous old fish market. Rest a while on the sand here and watch the boats come in every day with the freshest catches.
But, aside from watching boats and checking out the awesome fish market, what else is there to do in Oistins? Let’s find out.
9 Best Things to Do in Oistins
The list of top activities in Oistins spans incredible beaches, iconic cuisine, glamorous shopping centres and even awesome golf courses. Let’s get into them all in more detail.
- Miami Beach
- Visit a Dollarwise Store
- Try a Chefette
- Christ Church Parish Church
- The famous Fish Fry Fridays
- Barbados Horticultural Society
- Barbados Golf Course
- Sheraton Mall
- Banks’ Beer Brewery Tour
1. Miami Beach
Whenever you see a photo or postcard of Barbados, it’s likely to have an incredible shot of a white sand, azure water beach on, right? Well, this is THAT beach.
One of the best beaches in Barbados, Miami (or Enterprise) Beach is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The powdery soft white sand beach stretches for a good distance into the sea, making it the perfect spot for a bit of swimming in the warm water. Watch out for the drop off though, when you walk out through waist-deep water then suddenly feel like you’ve fallen off the edge of the world.
If you head there over the weekend you’re likely to chance across a game of cricket on the beach. Barbadians love a beach and a game of cricket so when they get the opportunity to combine the two, you better believe they take it.
Having a gorgeous beach day is one of the best things to do for free in Barbados. Miami Beach is definitely one of the best things to do in Oistins.
2. Visit a Dollarwise Store
A great place for picking up a bargain or two, also really good if you’ve forgotten one of those holiday essentials. If you can’t find it in a Dollarwise store, it probably doesn’t exist.
Also known as a “three-dollar store” there’s approximately 12 Dollarwise shops dotted across the west coast of Barbados. Selling anything from sun cream to souvenirs to food and drinks and clothes. Anything you pick up here is bound to be affordable.
3. Eat At a Chefette
A little-known fact about Barbados is: there are no McDonald’s restaurants on the island. The global fast-food giant couldn’t make it work in the Caribbean for a number of reasons. One of which is rumoured to be hungry Caribbean’s didn’t think the food satisfied their appetite.
But where McDonald’s failed, Chefette has thrived. A fast-food restaurant chain boasting a list of venues across the island.
Now, there are plenty of incredible places to eat in Oistins, but the best thing about Chefette is you can get a large burger and chips meal for about £5.50. So, it’s a great option for a quick bite on your way to or from another incredible Oistins activity or when you don’t fancy getting all fancy for a restaurant.
4. Christ Church Parish Church
Away from the hustle and bustle of the Fish Fry festivities, the parish church is a different type of excursion.
A stunning chapel boasting incredible views of the island in its beautifully secluded setting. There’s been a church on this site since 1629, the current building is the latest of five churches here. A string of natural disasters demolished each of the previous builds.
In addition to being a stunning venue in a wonderful setting, Christ Church is also home to the mysterious Chase Vaults. One of the scariest places in the Caribbean. Legend has it that coffins in the sealed vault have been known to move around. Definitely worth checking out!
5. The Famous Fish Fry Friday
Everyone will tell you, you can’t go to Oistins without checking out the Fish Fry Friday. One of the main Barbados hotspots, it’s traditionally the place to be at the end of every week in this quaint fishing town.
The marketplace comes alive with the sound of reggae beats and BBQ’s sizzling. Smells of chargrilled chicken, fish and curried goat fill the air to create a truly intoxicating environment. The friendly locals are here every Friday listening to the tunes, dining on some of the freshest flavours around and, of course, enjoying a couple of well-earned beers or rums.
But it’s not just about music and food. You can also pick up a bargain or two from the souvenir shops. Everyone from potters to jewellers, crafters to clothing shops line the bustling market streets and you can browse the lot late into the evening.
6. Barbados Horticultural Society
Just up from the golf course is the Barbados Horticultural Society (BHS). Showcasing the stunning natural beauty of the island the BHS welcomes floral enthusiasts throughout the year. Time your visit right and you could be a guest at the annual flower show which takes place every year on the 25-26 January.
If you are something of a horticultural whizz, then you might also want to check out Dover Gardens. A 10-minute drive from the society here you can see mesmerising local flora and fauna including dazzling hummingbirds who’ll flit around the kaleidoscopic plant life.
7. Barbados Golf Course
Moving from the supernatural to the sublime, if you know anything about Barbados you’ll know they take their golf very seriously. And if you caught our guide to the best things to do in Holetown, you’ll know there are plenty of incredible courses throughout the island you’re never too far away from the green. Oistins is no different, in fact it’s home to one of the best courses in the country.
The Barbados Golf Course was redesigned in 2000 to the new eco-conscious specifications of renowned course architect Ron Kirby. Since then it has been approved by the PGA European Tour and hosted the Barbados Open on plenty of occasions.
If you’re no good at golf, it’s still worth a walk around for the sheer beauty of the scenery.
8. Sheraton Mall
Shoppers of the world rejoice. Right in the northwest corner of Oistins, just before you merge into Bridgetown, lies the Sheraton Mall.
With over 120 stores boasting everything from clothing to electronics to food to beauty and stationery and anything else you can think of. Perfect if you need a new pen because you’ve worn out the old one defeating all those crosswords around the pool.
9. Banks’ Beer Brewery Tour
Now for something we’re sure everyone will enjoy.
If you’ve spent time in the Caribbean before you’ll know that Banks’ is the tipple of choice among beer drinkers.
Take a curated journey around the brewery and learn all about the history of the brand and the brewing process in Barbados. Then, the moment over 18’s will have waited for, you get to try some fresh, ice-cold Banks straight from the source. A super-enjoyable day out for the gown-ups.
Where to Stay Near Oistins
With all these incredible activities, and its proximity to Bridgetown, it’s easy to see why many people who visit Barbados end up in Oistins at some point on their trip.
But now you know all about the amazing things to do in the area, where should you stay to make the most of your trip?
Top 5 Resorts in Christ Church, Barbados
If you want to make the most of your stay on the South Coast and benefit from easy access to vibrant locales like St Lawrence Gap and the Fish Fry, then we recommend these five stunning resort
Looking for somewhere more affordable? These 6 beachfront hotels offer alternative resort options for those who want to keep the costs down but the beaches of Barbados close.
Time Your Trip Right with Blue Bay Travel
There you have it, Oistins is clearly one of the best places to go in Barbados. Offering so much for couples of families to discover, you’re sure of a memorable escape here.
But when you spend money on creating your perfect trip to explore the best things to do in Oistins, you want to know that you’re going at the perfect time to experience them all.
Well, we can help with that too! Just click the button below to find out more about the best time to visit Barbados.
