A Beach for Every Day of the Year: Island Stories from Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua & Barbuda

Top 10 things to do when you visit

1. Views

   Sunset at Shirley Heights

   Watch the sun go down over English and Falmouth Harbours from the old lookout — best on a Sunday, with a steel band and barbecue.

2. History

   Nelson’s Dockyard

   Walk the restored Georgian naval dockyard in English Harbour, a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of boatyards, cafés and superyachts.

3. Beaches

   Go beach-hopping

   Antigua is said to have 365 beaches. Start with Half Moon Bay, Darkwood, Dickenson Bay and Ffryes, and keep counting.

4. Barbuda

   A day on Barbuda

   Cross to the sister island for miles of pink-tinged sand and the frigate bird colony in Codrington Lagoon.

5. Nature

   Devil’s Bridge

   See Atlantic waves crash through a natural limestone arch and blowholes on the wild east coast.

6. In the water

   Swim with stingrays

   Wade among friendly southern stingrays in the shallow, sandy water at Stingray City.

7. Wind

   Kitesurf at Jabberwock Beach

   Ride the trade winds on the north-east coast — a sheltered spot for first lessons, with more wind upwind.

8. Town

   Wander St. John’s

   Browse Redcliffe Quay and Heritage Quay, look up at St. John’s Cathedral and catch the Saturday market.

9. On the water

   Sail to the reefs and islands

   Spend a day sailing and snorkelling out to Cades Reef or Green Island — or come for Antigua Sailing Week.

10. Road trip

    Drive Fig Tree Drive

    Take the winding rainforest road past banana groves and fruit stands, then stop at the old sugar mills of Betty’s Hope.