12 Incredible Things to do in Antigua
Drink rum punch, relax on a postcard-perfect white-sand beach, explore Devil’s Bridge, visit English Harbour, snorkel amongst vibrant coral reefs and so much more. These are just some of the amazing things to do in Antigua. Continue reading our Antigua guide for more!
For a small country, just 21 kilometres across at its widest point, Antigua packs a hell of a lot in!
Famed for its 365 beaches, you’d be forgiven for thinking Antigua was all about the sand and the ocean. However, there’s an awful lot more to it than that!
With an incredibly diverse landscape, you could be hiking in the rainforest in the morning and snorkelling amongst coral reefs in the afternoon, or learning about the country’s history in an old dockyard followed by kayaking around hidden coves. There are tons of activities in Antigua to give you a great insight into this beautiful island.
Whether you’re here for a week or a month, there’s no shortage of adventures or things to do in Antigua. So, grab yourself a rum punch and read on for my list of the best activities in Antigua and everything you need to know before visiting.
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Things to do in Antigua
Contents
Hit the Beaches
Home to 365 beaches, one for every day of the year, exploring the beaches definitely comes at the top of the list of things to do in Antigua.
Striking emerald waters lap at pristine white sand lined with swaying palm trees; nowhere does beaches quite like Antigua.
Whether it’s beaches lined with all-inclusive resorts sporting all the facilities, deserted bays, surfing spots, reefs for snorkelling, calm lagoons or natural rugged coastline, Antigua’s got you covered.
Admire the View at Shirley Heights
Shirley Heights is a close second when it comes to the best things to do in Antigua. Shirley Heights is a restored military lookout and gun battery with panoramic views across the island.
From the lookout, you’ll be rewarded with the best view in Antigua! Unfortunately, the day I went, it was pretty hazy but still amazing (the photo below is of Shirley Heights on a clear day). You could tell on a clear day you’d be able to see far into the horizon and it would be spectacular.
Boasting outstanding views over Falmouth and English Harbours, the surrounding mountains and some of Antigua’s best beaches, the best time to visit Shirley Heights is at sunset.
There are a few ways to get to Shirley Heights.
If you’re feeling adventurous, walking trails wind their way through the forest from Galleon Beach. Alternatively, you can walk up the road or there’s a car park next to the viewpoint for taxis and rental cars.
Our Top Tip: every Sunday from 4pm – 10pm there’s a party with drinks, a barbecue and local bands.
Go on a Boat Trip
One of the best activities in Antigua is a boat trip. There’s no better way to explore secluded beaches, offshore islands and historical sights.
Reach places you can’t get to on land, view sights from a different perspective and feel the salty sea air on your skin all while feeling a sense of freedom and adventure.
You’ll be led by an educational and passionate crew, eager to tell you all about their wonderful, colourful island, its history, marine life, the best places to visit in Antigua, must-sees and dos and provide local recommendations.
Try All the Watersports
Given there are 365 beaches scattered around the island, hands down one of the best things to do in Antigua is try watersports!
Explore hidden coves and islets on a kayak, enjoy a morning workout on a stand-up paddleboard on a sheltered lagoon, or just appreciate your beautiful surroundings from a pedal boat.
There’s no end to the watersports on offer here. If you’re feeling adventurous, try your hand at sailing or test out your nautical skills on a Hobie Cat sailboat!
Our Top Tip: if you stay in an all-inclusive hotel as I did, at St. James’s Club and Villas, all non-motorised water activities tend to be complimentary.
Enjoy the Delicious Food
I always find one of the best ways to get to know a country is through its cuisine.
I don’t tend to enjoy sticking to hotel restaurants; I prefer exploring local authentic eateries. However, due to Covid restrictions when I was in Antigua, restaurants outside of hotels were closed.
Saying this, St James’s Club has numerous restaurants on-site and did an amazing job offering authentic, Caribbean food that I didn’t feel I completely missed out. I also visited Sheer Rocks at Cocobay Resort for lunch where the food was incredibly fresh and delicious.
Colourful and full of flavour, Antigua will take you on a wonderful culinary journey.
A few absolute must-tries include jerk chicken; a spicy grilled meat dish, ducana; a sweet potato dumpling steamed in a banana leaf and saltfish; dried and salted cod usually sauteed with thyme, onions, hot peppers and tomatoes.
If in doubt, you can never go wrong with fresh seafood!
Drink Rum
Antigua’s national drink, there’s no way you can visit the island and not sample the rum!
The most popular way to drink rum is in a rum punch. These will vary but essentially it’s rum (dark, light or coconut) mixed with various fruit juices.
From cheap plastic cups, 3/4 rum and 1/4 fruit juice to swanky cocktails infused with spices, there’s no end to the ways in which you can enjoy a chilled rum punch in Antigua.
Go Snorkelling
Antigua has a wonderfully rich marine ecosystem so snorkelling must make it onto your list of things to do in Antigua.
Antigua and Barbuda are surrounded by coral barrier reefs so there are dozens of awesome snorkelling spots. Some, such as Galley Bay, Dickenson Bay and Pigeon Point are directly accessible by land, however, for the best snorkelling in Antigua, take a boat out to the reefs.
From vibrant coral reefs with an abundance of tropical marine life and shipwrecks now home to schools of fish to Stingray City where you can swim, feed and interact with these gentle creatures, Antigua is full of great snorkelling adventures!
Explore English Harbour
In the very south of the island lies English Harbour, one of the best places to visit in Antigua. English Harbour is a natural harbour and settlement named after the neighbouring harbour used as a naval ship dock during colonisation in the 18th century.
Today, English Harbour is a yachting centre and historical monument, also known for Nelson’s Dockyard (see below) and is a popular area to stay with numerous shops, bars and restaurants.
Visit Nelson's Dockyard
A cultural heritage site and marina in English Harbour, Nelson’s Dockyard is one of the top things to do in Antigua to learn more about the country’s history.
Nelson’s Dockyard started as a British naval base used to repair boats after their journey from Europe. It also served as a lookout for enemy ships for the English.
Today, Nelson’s Dockyard is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and houses a museum, hotel, restaurants and shop in the old staff houses and other old buildings that have been restored to their former glory.
The marina is still in working operation and you’ll see ships, superboats and watercraft making use of this harbour.
It also makes up part of Nelson’s Dockyard National Park where you’ll find Shirley Heights and numerous hiking trails.
Visit Devil's Bridge
Visiting Devil’s Bridge National Park should definitely make it on to your list of top things to do in Antigua!
The arched limestone bridge was formed over millennia and is one of the most magnificent places to visit in Antigua. The pounding Atlantic Ocean is often shot through several blowholes along the bridge and if you’re standing too close, be prepared to get soaked!
Devil’s Bridge is said to have got its name as being the place where enslaved Africans would go to commit suicide in an attempt to escape and it was believed that the devil must live under the bridge.
Rent a Car
Renting a car has made the list of top things to do in Antigua as it’s the best way to see the island.
Renting a car gives you the freedom and flexibility to do activities in Antigua at your own pace and stumble across gems you may not have seen or noticed on a group tour.
You drive on the left and outside of St John’s, there aren’t many cars on the road. The maximum speed limit is 40 mph, which, although may sound slow, the roads are windy and lined with potholes and speed bumps so you’ll rarely want to go above it anyway!
Lastly, be careful of animals. You’ll regularly see donkeys, cows and goats walking in the middle of the road!
Stay in a Luxurious Resort
I’m going to finish off this list of incredible things to do in Antigua with staying in a luxurious resort, because, well…why not?!
I stayed at St James’s Club and Villas which was a lovely 4* property, very chilled and perfect for families or friends. There are several bars and restaurants, multiple swimming pools, 2 beaches and an array of watersports on offer. It’s also a 10-minute drive from English Harbour if you want to get out in the evening.
If, however, you’re on a honeymoon or fancy a romantic getaway with your partner, I’d recommend Cocobay; a gorgeous 5* hotel regarded as one of the most romantic Antigua resorts. The resort consists of cosy cottages on a hillside overlooking white-sand beaches and endless miles of turquoise Caribbean Sea.
I had lunch at Sheer Rocks, located atop a rocky cliff at Cocobay for my friend’s birthday and we were blown away by how beautiful it was!
As well as having lunch, we paid for one of their pool packages and spent the afternoon in an infinity pool overlooking the striking turquoise ocean drinking delicious cocktails.
There are numerous luxury hotels in Antigua, so if you’re looking for that bit of ‘special something’ you’ll find it.
Everything Else You Need to Know
The best time to visit to Antigua
Antigua is a great year-round destination. Although it’s technically hurricane season in our summer, after speaking to locals, they’re rarely actually affected. Antigua is so small that hurricanes tend to pass by the island and miss it.
I visited at the tail end of hurricane season and on a couple of days there was a 15-20 minute torrential downpour and then the sun was back. It was actually quite fun being in the sea in the rain!
The peak season is November – April when the chance of rain is less but prices soar and the best places to visit in Antigua are crowded. I’d recommend visiting in September/October.
How long would you recommend spending in Antigua?
A week was perfect for me for the top things to do in Antigua. This was a very different type of holiday than I’m used to going on as you can see from our blog. Andy and I are usually up mountains or doing a lot of exploring, whereas this was lots of chill time.
A week gives you a few days to relax and also a few days for activities in Antigua. If you like your downtime, 10-14 days is ample and I’d recommend staying in a couple of different areas.
Getting around Antigua
Antigua is 281 square kilometres making it great for exploring as you can get anywhere in 45 minutes or less.
Renting a car is the most popular way of seeing the top places to visit in Antigua as this gives you the most freedom and flexibility. You’ll need a temporary driver’s license which can be obtained either through the car rental company, police stations or the Transport Board for 20 USD and is valid for 3 months.
Alternatively, taxis are a convenient and popular way of getting around Antigua although they’re fairly expensive. Fares tend to be fixed around the island and these can be obtained on arrival.
Antigua has a small but efficient bus network connecting the major towns and cities around the island. Jolly’s Transport Services provides buses around Antigua and Ivan Bus provides transport between Antigua and Barbuda.
Do I need a visa?
As a UK passport holder, you don’t need a visa for Antigua. On arrival, you’ll be granted entry for 90 days and if you want to stay longer, you’ll have to apply for an extension through the immigration department.
What currency do I need?
The currency used in Antigua is the Eastern Caribbean dollar which, at the time of writing, 1 USD is equivalent to 2.70 XCD. USD are widely accepted, however, you’ll usually be given change in XCD and at a less favourable rate.
What plug do I need?
You’ll need plug types A or B, the same as in the US.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my list of top things to do in Antigua. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or get in touch 🙂