Things to Do in Antigua & Barbuda

About Antigua & Barbuda

The local tourism line is that Antigua has "a beach for every day of the year," and the count is more or less accurate — the coastline twists into a dizzying number of small coves, each with its own claim. In practical terms, Dickenson Bay, Half Moon Bay, and Darkwood Beach get most of the votes, but the real magic is that you can always find a stretch with nobody on it. What separates Antigua from its neighbours is Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbour, the only working Georgian-era naval dockyard left in the world, now a UNESCO site and the heart of the Caribbean sailing scene. Shirley Heights, just above it, hosts a Sunday-evening barbecue and steel-pan session at sunset that is one of the best evenings out in the Caribbean. Barbuda, 30 miles north, has Pink Sand Beach and virtually no development.

Don't Miss

• Nelson's Dockyard

  The only working Georgian-era naval dockyard left in the world, a UNESCO site.

• Shirley Heights

  Hilltop lookout above English Harbour with Sunday-evening BBQ and steel pan.

• Pink Sand Beach, Barbuda

  An 11-mile stretch genuinely pink from crushed coral.

• Half Moon Bay

  Wild horseshoe-shaped bay on the east coast, one of Antigua's best beaches.

• Stingray City Antigua

  A shallow sandbar where you can wade with southern stingrays.

Frequently Asked Questions