Comparison · Barbados vs Saint Lucia · Barbados / Saint Lucia
Barbados vs Saint Lucia
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The original uploader was ROxBo at English Wikipedia ., Public domain
Quick answer
Choose Barbados for Rum and Oistins Fish Fry; choose Saint Lucia for The Pitons and Honeymoons. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 174 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 174 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Barbados
- December–April
- Best time for Saint Lucia
- January–April
Side by side
| Barbados | Saint Lucia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Barbados | Saint Lucia |
| Known for | Rum, Oistins Fish Fry and Crop Over festival | The Pitons, Honeymoons and Sulphur Springs |
| Best time to visit | December–April | January–April |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $220–$380 | $200–$400 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | May, 31°C (88°F) | April, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 29°C (84°F) | January, 29°C (84°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 3 |
| Beaches | Carlisle Bay | Reduit Beach |
| Airports | BGI | UVF, SLU |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Barbados for…
Rum and Oistins Fish Fry. Barbados is a coral island about 34 km long, the most easterly in the Caribbean chain. Its calm, turquoise west coast — the 'Platinum Coast' around Holetown and Speightstown — has the upscale hotels and villas, while the livelier south coast around St…
Choose Saint Lucia for…
The Pitons and Honeymoons. Saint Lucia is a mountainous volcanic island in the Windward Islands, about 40 km long, best known for the Pitons — two forested volcanic spires rising from the sea near Soufrière, at the centre of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The calm Caribbean west coast…
Top sights compared
| # | Barbados | Saint Lucia |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison | The Pitons |
| 2 | Carlisle Bay | Gros Piton hike |
| 3 | Harrison's Cave | Sulphur Springs |
| 4 | Oistins Fish Fry | Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens |
| 5 | Bathsheba and the Soup Bowl | Tet Paul Nature Trail |
Food compared
| Barbados | Saint Lucia |
|---|---|
| Flying fish and cou-cou | Green fig and saltfish |
| Macaroni pie | Bouyon |
| Fish cakes and bakes | Accra |
| Cutters | Bakes and saltfish |
Which is cheaper?
Barbados and Saint Lucia cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $220–$380 in Barbados and $200–$400 in Saint Lucia (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Barbados on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Barbados and Saint Lucia are about 174 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 7 days in Barbados and 7 in Saint Lucia.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Barbados or Saint Lucia cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $220–$380 in Barbados and $200–$400 in Saint Lucia (estimates).
+Is Barbados or Saint Lucia better for a first trip?
Pick Barbados for Rum and Oistins Fish Fry, or Saint Lucia for The Pitons and Honeymoons.
+How far is Barbados from Saint Lucia?
About 174 km in a straight line.