Grantley Adams International Airport

Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) is the only international airport in Barbados and handles every passenger flight to the island. It is often called Barbados Airport or Bridgetown Airport, and was known as Seawell Airport until 1976. It stands at Seawell in Christ Church, near the southern tip of the island, about 13 km (8 miles) southeast of Bridgetown.

Barbados airport is about 13 km (8 miles) southeast of Bridgetown along the ABC Highway (Highway 7). The south coast is closer: St. Lawrence Gap is about 8 km away and Oistins is a short drive west. The west coast hotels around Holetown are about 28 km (17 miles) away, and traffic around Bridgetown can slow the trip at busy times.

Yes. Every arriving passenger must complete the Barbados immigration and customs form online at travelform.gov.bb before arrival. It combines the immigration card and the customs declaration, can be submitted up to 72 hours before travel, and the government asks for it at least 24 hours ahead. Departing passengers do not need to fill in the arrival section.

Visitors from the US, Canada, the UK and many other countries do not need a visa for a holiday, and immigration officers set your permitted stay on arrival. You need a passport valid for your whole stay and an onward or return ticket. Visa rules depend on nationality, so check yours with the Barbados Immigration Department before booking.

Grantley Adams has separate arrivals and departures buildings side by side, shared by every airline. All passengers land through the Arrivals Terminal, with immigration, customs and five baggage carousels, and leave through the Departures Terminal, with check-in, security and the gates. The former Concorde hangar is used as a departures terminal for sea-air cruise passengers.

American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue and United fly from US cities, Air Canada and WestJet from Toronto, and British Airways and Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow. TUI, Condor, KLM and Norse Atlantic add mainly winter flights from Europe, while Caribbean Airlines, interCaribbean, LIAT 2020 and Winair connect Barbados with the other Caribbean islands.

Taxis wait at the stand just outside the arrivals hall. Barbados taxis have no meters: fares are set by the government and charged for the whole car rather than per person, so confirm the fare with the driver before you leave. Taxis have license plates starting with the letter Z.

Yes. Public buses stop directly in front of the terminal, with routes to Oistins on the south coast and to Bridgetown, where you can change for the west coast. Fares are flat whatever the distance and drivers need exact change. Buses suit light travelers; with suitcases most visitors take a taxi or a pre-booked car.

Yes. Local rental companies meet customers at the airport or deliver cars to hotels. You need your home driving license and a Barbados visitor's driving permit, issued by the rental company or the police desk at the airport. Barbados drives on the left, and many roads away from the highways are narrow and winding.

Yes. The Airline Executive Lounge is in the Departures Terminal past security, next to Gate 12, reached by stairs or elevator, and is open to eligible airline passengers. A second lounge run by Caribbean Aircraft Handling is on the mezzanine of the departures area before security. Check with your airline whether your ticket includes access.

Barbados uses the Barbados dollar, tied to the US dollar at two Barbados dollars to one US dollar. US dollars and major cards are widely accepted across the island, and GAIA lists ATMs among its terminal services. Duty-free prices at the airport are quoted in Barbados dollars.

Barbados is on Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-4, all year and does not use daylight saving time. That puts it one hour ahead of New York in winter and level with it in summer, and four hours behind London in winter and five in summer. Set your watch on landing so pickups and onward plans line up.

Yes. Cruise ships dock at the Bridgetown Port cruise terminal on the west side of Bridgetown, reached from the airport by taxi or pre-booked car along the ABC Highway. Passengers on sea-air packages flying home from a cruise may be checked in at the former Concorde hangar, which reopened as a sea-air departures terminal in November 2024.