Antigua and Barbuda travel guide
Antigua and Barbuda is a two-island nation in the eastern Caribbean, with a coastline of sheltered bays and white beaches and a long naval and sailing history. Antigua is the livelier main island; Barbuda, to the north, is flat, sparsely populated and wilder. It suits beach lovers, sailors and anyone interested in Georgian-era history.
Places worth the trip
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 Antigua and Barbuda
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.
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.
Practical details
- Capital
- St John's
- Currency
- Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD); US dollars widely accepted
- Languages
- English
- Plug types
- A, B
- Voltage
- 230 V, 60 Hz (some hotels also supply 110 V)
- Emergency
- 911 or 999
- Driving side
- 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.
Staying online 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.
Antigua and Barbuda eSIM plans
1 GB
1GB eSIM Data for 7 Days for Antigua and Barbuda
Ilimitados
Unlimited eSIM Data for 1 Day for Antigua and Barbuda
2 GB
2GB eSIM Data for 15 Days for Antigua and Barbuda
3 GB
3GB eSIM Data for 30 Days for Antigua and Barbuda
Useful apps
- 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.
Antigua and Barbuda travel FAQs
Yes, if you want empty beaches and birdlife. It is very quiet, with limited facilities, so many visitors go on a day trip by ferry or plane from Antigua.
Yes. Modern phones work on the local networks, and coverage on Antigua is good. A travel eSIM gives you local mobile data without roaming charges on your home plan.
The Eastern Caribbean dollar is the local currency, but US dollars are widely accepted, often at a fixed rate. Cards work in hotels and most restaurants.
The west and north-west coasts have calm, sheltered beaches ideal for swimming, while the Atlantic east coast is wilder, with beaches such as Half Moon Bay.