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Antigua and Barbuda✨ 10 best things to do in Antigua and Barbuda

Things to do in Antigua and Barbuda

1. Beach-hop the 365Locals claim there is a beach for every day of the year, from busy Dickenson Bay to empty coves on the east coast.
2. Explore Nelson's DockyardWander the restored Georgian stone warehouses and boatyards where the Royal Navy once careened its warships.
3. Sunday at Shirley HeightsWatch the sun sink over English Harbour while a steel band and reggae DJs fire up the hilltop party.
4. Swim with stingraysWade into the shallow sandbar of Stingray City and let gentle southern rays glide around your legs.
5. Day trip to BarbudaHop across by ferry or small plane to walk miles of blush-pink sand with hardly another soul in sight.
6. Visit the frigate bird colonyTake a boat through Codrington Lagoon to one of the largest magnificent frigatebird colonies in the region.
7. Sail or snorkel Cades ReefJoin a catamaran along the south coast to snorkel a long barrier reef full of parrotfish and sea fans.
8. Hike to Devil's BridgeSee Atlantic breakers explode through a natural limestone arch on the island's wild eastern tip.
9. Browse St John's marketsShop for local hot sauces, fresh fruit and crafts around the Saturday market and the colourful Heritage Quay.
10. Eat fungee and pepperpotTry the national dish, a cornmeal mash served with a rich vegetable-and-meat stew, at a local cookshop.

Antigua and Barbuda🗺️ Where to visit in Antigua and Barbuda

Where to go in Antigua and Barbuda

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  English HarbourSouth coast · history & sailingHome to Nelson's Dockyard, superyachts and lively bars, it is the heart of Antigua's sailing scene.
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  Shirley HeightsSouth coast · viewpointAn old military lookout with a postcard view over English and Falmouth harbours.
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  St John'sCapital · cultureThe colourful capital has a twin-towered cathedral, a small national museum and busy waterfront markets.
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  Dickenson BayNorthwest coast · beachesA long, calm stretch of white sand lined with beach bars and watersports.
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  Half Moon BayEast coast · beachesA sweeping crescent of pale sand with clear water protected by an offshore reef.
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  BarbudaSister island · wildlife & beachesFlat, quiet and wild, with pink-sand beaches, caves and the famous frigate bird sanctuary.
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  Fig Tree DriveSouthwest interior · rainforestA winding road through the island's greenest hills, past banana groves and fruit stalls.
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  Devil's BridgeEast coast · natural landmarkA dramatic sea arch where Atlantic waves blast through blowholes in the rock.

Antigua and Barbuda🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Antigua and Barbuda

Best time to visit Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda are among the drier islands of the eastern Caribbean, warm all year with highs around 28-31°C. Both islands are low-lying and breezy, with the southwest hills of Antigua catching a little more rain.

Typical daytime highs and rain in St John's (approximate averages).

Antigua and Barbuda🎉 Festivals & events in Antigua and Barbuda

• Late April–May
  Antigua Sailing WeekOne of the Caribbean's top regattas, with racing by day and parties around English Harbour by night.
• Late July–early August
  Antigua CarnivalA ten-day celebration of emancipation with calypso contests, steelpan, costumed parades and the J'ouvert street party.
• 1 November
  Independence DayParades, national dress and cultural events mark the anniversary of independence in 1981.
• Whitsun weekend, May/June
  Caribana (Barbuda)Barbuda's own festival of music, horse racing and community celebration.
• December
  Antigua Charter Yacht ShowLuxury yachts gather in Falmouth and English Harbour to open the winter sailing season.

Antigua and Barbuda🧭 Antigua and Barbuda itinerary ideas

How many days in Antigua and Barbuda?

Antigua and Barbuda🎒 Backpacking Antigua and Barbuda – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $90–130 a day

• Local minibuses (with H or A on the number plate) leave from the two bus stations in St John's and are by far the cheapest way to get around, but they thin out in the evening and on Sundays.
• Antigua has few true hostels, so look for guesthouses, apartment rentals or rooms in villages such as English Harbour, Falmouth or around St John's.
• Eat where locals eat: roadside cookshops, Friday-night street barbecues and the market area serve filling plates of rice, stew and fish for far less than resort restaurants.
• Every beach in Antigua is legally public, so you can enjoy resort-front sand without staying at the resort.
• Buy groceries and drinks from supermarkets to cut costs, and travel outside the December to April peak for noticeably cheaper rooms.

Antigua and Barbuda🛡️ Safety & money in Antigua and Barbuda

Emergency: 911 or 999 police, fire & ambulance

Antigua and Barbuda🛬 Getting to Antigua and Barbuda

V. C. Bird International Airport near St John's receives direct flights from North America, the UK and other Caribbean islands. Barbuda is reached by a daily ferry or short flights from Antigua, and inter-island ferries and cruise ships also call at St John's.

✈️ Cheap flights to Antigua and Barbuda: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Antigua and Barbuda💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Antigua and Barbuda

• Antigua is often said to have 365 beaches, one for every day of the year.
• Nelson's Dockyard is the only continuously working Georgian dockyard in the world.
• Barbuda's Codrington Lagoon hosts one of the largest frigatebird breeding colonies in the Caribbean.
• Barbuda's pink sand gets its colour from crushed shells and tiny red marine organisms.
• The country also includes the uninhabited island of Redonda, a rocky outcrop with a quirky literary 'kingdom' legend.

Antigua and Barbuda❓ Antigua and Barbuda travel FAQ

Antigua and Barbuda travel questions