Barbados vs St Lucia: which one’s for you?

Ask anyone to name their perfect Caribbean escape and two destinations often pop up: Barbados or St Lucia. They’re both quintessentially Caribbean islands, with turquoise waters, palm trees swaying over powdery white beaches and year-round sunshine. 

But dig a little deeper and you’ll find distinct differences. Barbados has a sociable yet sleek vibe: beach bars thrum with Calypso tunes, rum shop owners embrace visitors like old friends and the service is top-notch. St Lucia is the enigmatic neighbour. The landscape here is dramatic and tropical. Rainforest spills out onto volcanic coves and the twin Pitons photobomb every sunset pic. Trek through the jungle and return to immerse yourself in the plunge pool on your private spa deck at sunset. If you’re contemplating Barbados vs St Lucia, here’s how each island measures up.

Getting there & getting around

Direct flights from the UK land at Bridgetown in Barbados. The island is flat and easy to navigate: there are plenty of taxis and buses and self-driving is a breeze.

St Lucia is also reached by non-stop flights from the UK. Transfers take longer, but you’re rewarded with gorgeous views. Hire a driver and start your holiday from the car while you soak up the scenery.

Vibe & scenery

Barbados exudes style. From golden beaches and colonial towns to the championship golf course, everything is immaculate. Dress in your finest beach bar garb and dance barefoot in the sand to a sunset reggae band. Then retire to a glamorous hotel for cocktails by the sparkling pool.

St Lucia is magical and mysterious – like it’s holding a secret it wants to tell you. Find its hidden surprises by trekking rainforest trails, meditating in quiet bays and exploring its volcanic peaks. Accommodation is discrete: boutique hideaways cling to hillsides, with spa decks cantilevered over jungle where fireflies play at dusk.

What are the best beaches in Barbados or St Lucia?

If you love a long stroll along a sandy beach, Barbados is your place. With seemingly never-ending blonde sandy stretches and calm lapping water, you can walk and swim for miles. The west coast, known as the Platinum Coast, is the best spot for a sunset stroll or catamaran cruise.

St Lucia’s cosy coves come in varied shapes, sizes and colours due to darker volcanic sands on some beaches, such as Anse Chastanet. Secluded Anse Cochon is hidden away by emerald cliffs and offers mind-blowing snorkelling, while Sugar Beach sits photogenically between the two Piton peaks.

Stylish stays

Trying to figure out where to stay in Barbados or St Lucia? Here are our top picks:

Barbados in brief: big-name luxury, upscale dining and refined service.

Waves Resort & Spa, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort; Best for wellness by the sea

Set right on the beach, Barbados’ first all-inclusive wellness hotel is a chic haven catering to families and couples with its adult-only zones.

Sandals Royal Barbados – Best for foodies

Can’t decide between a Barbados or St Lucia honeymoon? This couples-only hotel showers you with first-class service and luxury touches like a glass-fronted infinity pool.

Sandy Lane – Best for the A-list lifestyle

A legendary pink palace, dripping in old-school glamour with flawless service. A haven for golfers who can enjoy the world-class golf courses.

The spirit of St Lucia: boutique sanctuaries with Piton vistas, rainforest spas and private plunge pools.

Ladera Resort – Best for jaw-dropping views

With the Pitons as close neighbours, this is the only resort in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This eco-conscious hotel has open-wall suites, Piton-facing plunge pools and pure privacy.

Rabot Hotel by Hotel Chocolat – Best for chocoholics

A unique stay on a sustainable cocoa plantation. Chocolate is infused into everything from your spa rituals to your cacao-roasted steak dinner.

StolenTime – Best for honeymooners

Adults-only and set on a two-mile-long beach with daybeds under the palm trees, this spa hotel focuses on wellness. The pace is slow and the emphasis is on reconnection.

Things to see and do

Barbados

Join the revelry at the outdoor Friday night fish fry at Oistins. Take a tour and taste the rum at Mount Gay Distillery. Explore historic Bridgetown. Find zen in the Andromeda Botanic Gardens. Relax on a catamaran cruise or take a surf lesson.

St Lucia

Hike Gros Piton or admire it from afar. Bathe in hot sulphur springs. Make your own chocolate. Visit Pigeon Island National Park. Zipline through the rainforest or hike to a waterfall. Enjoy natural mud baths or spa days with a view.

Food & drink

Barbados is the Caribbean’s culinary king and a magnet for foodies. Go glam or local – flying fish, macaroni pie, pepper sauce and sticky rum-glazed ribs all feature heavily. Beach bars double up as dancefloors after dark.

St Lucia’s farm-to-table and sea-to-fork scene is smaller but tasty. Expect Creole kitchens, green figs and saltfish, cocoa-rubbed mahi-mahi and cassava bread.

Best time to visit

Both islands are best from December to April. Barbados buzzes over Christmas and New Year. St Lucia stays lush year-round. May to October brings warmth, some rain and lower rates.

See more

Combine islands. Fly from Barbados to the Grenadines or pair St Lucia with Antigua. Barbados to St Lucia? It's a hop – the flight’s under an hour.

So, which will it be?

Choose Barbados for chilled beach days, catamaran cruises, buzz, service and epic food.

Pick St Lucia for rainforest retreats, spa days, romance and unhurried luxury.

Or do both – two islands, one quick flight. Rum or rainforest? You decide.

This feature was updated on 6th June 2025. The information within this feature is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication.