Highlights
Nelson's Dockyard
A restored Georgian naval dockyard at English Harbour, used by the Royal Navy from the 18th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its stone warehouses and officers' quarters still serve yachts today.
Shirley Heights
A restored military lookout above English Harbour with one of the best views on the island, over the dockyard and Falmouth Harbour. It is a popular sunset spot, with regular evening gatherings and steel-pan music.
Half Moon Bay
A wide crescent of pale sand on the Atlantic side of the island, protected in part by a reef. It is quieter than the west-coast beaches, with good swimming on calm days.
St John's
The capital, with brightly painted waterfront shops, a busy Saturday market and St John's Cathedral, whose twin towers have long been a landmark above the town.
Devil's Bridge
A natural limestone arch on the wild eastern coast, carved by Atlantic waves that blow spray through blowholes in the rock. It is a short drive from the village of Willikies.
Barbuda's beaches and frigatebirds
Barbuda has long stretches of pink-tinged sand and very few visitors. Boat trips across Codrington Lagoon visit the Frigate Bird Sanctuary, where magnificent frigatebirds nest in the mangroves.
Betty's Hope
The ruins of an early sugar plantation in the island's interior, with restored windmill towers. A small museum explains the sugar economy and the enslaved people who worked it.
Interesting facts about Antigua and Barbuda
- Antigua is often said to have 365 beaches, one for every day of the year.
- Nelson's Dockyard is described as the only continuously working Georgian dockyard in the world.
- Antigua and Barbuda became independent from Britain in 1981 and remains a Commonwealth realm.
- Cricketer Sir Viv Richards was born in Antigua, and the national cricket stadium is named after him.
- Codrington Lagoon on Barbuda hosts one of the largest frigatebird colonies in the Caribbean.
Best time to visit
The dry season from December to April brings steady trade winds, low humidity and the most visitors. Antigua Sailing Week, usually held in late April or early May, fills English Harbour with racing yachts. The summer months are hotter and quieter, and Carnival takes place in late July and early August. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the greatest risk in August, September and October.
Practical information
| Capital | St John's |
|---|---|
| Currency | Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD); US dollars widely accepted |
| Languages | English |
| Plugs | Type A, B |
| Voltage | 230 V, 60 Hz (some hotels also supply 110 V) |
| Emergency | 911 or 999 |
| Driving | On the left |
| Tipping | A service charge is often added in restaurants and hotels; if not, around 10 to 15 per cent is usual. Tip taxi drivers and guides for good service. |
Getting around
Antigua has a network of minibuses, mostly leaving from two bus stations in St John's, which are cheap but run less in the evenings and on Sundays. Taxis have set fares between common destinations; agree the price before you set off. Renting a car makes it easy to reach the beaches and the east coast; driving is on the left and a temporary local permit is required. Barbuda is reached by ferry or short flight from Antigua.
Staying connected in Antigua and Barbuda
Mobile coverage with 4G is good across most of Antigua, including the main beaches and English Harbour. Barbuda has coverage around Codrington but it is thinner elsewhere on the island and out on the lagoon. Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and common in restaurants and marinas. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land so you have maps and messaging from the airport.
See Antigua and Barbuda eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Antigua and Barbuda
- Google Maps: Driving directions around Antigua and offline maps for Barbuda, where signal is weaker.
- WhatsApp: The usual way to contact taxi drivers, boat-trip operators and guesthouses.
- Windy: Wind and sea forecasts, widely used by sailors and anyone planning a boat trip.
- XE Currency: Convert between Eastern Caribbean and US dollars.