Antigua
Antigua's claim of 365 beaches — one for every day of the year — holds up better than most marketing, from busy Dickenson Bay to the wild, pink-tinged sand of Half Moon Bay.
- Best forBeach lovers · Couples · Families
- In April28°C · 11 rainy days · sea 28°C
- Ideal stayA week
- Approx. flying time~7h 35m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyXCDEast Caribbean dollar
- LanguageEnglish
- Local time06:115h behind the UK
- PlugsType A / BBring an adapter
- Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
- Dialling code+1
Why go
A low, dry Caribbean island with an indented coastline that produces an improbable number of beaches, most of them white sand with calm water on the leeward side. The interior is scrubby hills rather than rainforest, so this is a coastal holiday: swimming, sailing and moving between bays. Georgian naval history sits in the south at English Harbour, which is still a working yachting centre.
A week suits it, and the island is small enough to see properly with a car for a couple of days. December to April is dry, breezy and busy, while September and October are humid and fall in hurricane season. Sailing week in spring fills every room on the island. Anyone wanting jungle, volcanoes or dramatic mountain scenery should look at the islands further south.
- Ideal stay
- A week
- The vibe
- Breezy, sandy, sailing flavoured
From our guides
Between swims there's Nelson's Dockyard, a working Georgian naval yard turned UNESCO site. Join the Sunday evening party at Shirley Heights for steel bands and the Caribbean's best sunset view. December to April is dry season; direct UK flights keep logistics painless.
Featured in Ten tropical islands that live up to the postcard
Things to do
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Half Moon Bay
A curving Atlantic beach on the east coast with pink tinged sand, surf at one end and calmer water at the other, and nothing built behind it.
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Nelson's Dockyard
A restored Georgian naval yard, still in use by yachts, and a UNESCO World Heritage site with the old officers' buildings ranged around the water.
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Shirley Heights
The clifftop lookout above English Harbour has the classic view over both harbours, plus a Sunday evening gathering of steel bands and barbecue.
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Dickenson Bay
The busiest beach in the north west is calm and shallow, with watersports and the widest choice of places to eat directly on the sand.
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Stingray City
A shallow sandbar off the east coast where southern stingrays are fed and swum with, visited on organised boat trips.
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Devil's Bridge
A natural limestone arch at Indian Town Point, carved out by Atlantic swell, with blowholes firing on a windy day.
Getting there
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Fly to
Osbourn (ANU)
The airport is on the doorstep.
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Then
To St John's
V.C. Bird International (ANU) takes direct UK flights and is ten minutes from St John's, twenty to Dickenson Bay and about forty to English Harbour in the south.
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On the ground
Getting around
Beaches are spread right around the island, so a hire car or regular taxis are how you reach the good ones. Nelson's Dockyard and Shirley Heights are a half-hour drive from the north-west resorts.
Public transport: Minibuses run from St John's along the main routes on weekdays, cheaply but not to a timetable, and barely at all on Sundays.
Flights
Los Angeles Antigua
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Roughly 7h 35m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 27°C in February to 29°C in August. Driest in April and May; wettest in September, with rain on about 20 days. The sea is warmest in September at around 30°C, coolest at 27°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
April28° · rain 11 days · sea 28°Warm with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
All-inclusive beach resorts, small owner-run hotels and a strong villa and apartment market. Sailing-oriented places cluster around the two southern harbours.
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Best base overall
Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay
The north-west, with the widest choice of hotels, calm water and beach bars within walking distance. Busiest strip on the island, and cruise days show.
Find stays in Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay -
Best for couples
English Harbour and Falmouth
The historic south, around Nelson's Dockyard, with yachts, good restaurants and Shirley Heights above. Small beaches, so you drive for the best sand.
Find stays in English Harbour and Falmouth -
Best with children
Jolly Harbour
West coast marina village with self-catering villas, a supermarket and a gentle beach. Purpose-built rather than characterful, and mosquitoes like the lagoons.
Find stays in Jolly Harbour -
Best value
St John's and Hodges Bay
In and around the capital, where guesthouses and apartments cost far less than the beach resorts. You are near the airport and a drive from the good beaches.
Find stays in St John's and Hodges Bay
Worth knowing before you book: December to April is dry season and priced accordingly, with Sailing Week in late April filling the south. Hire a car if you want to reach more than one beach.
Search everything else in St John's by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Driving
- Driving is on the left and roads off the main routes are potholed. A local permit is required and is issued with the hire car.
- Timing
- Trade winds blow hardest from December to April, which keeps the heat down and makes the Atlantic beaches breezy.
- Getting there
- Direct flights from the UK take around eight to nine hours, and the airport sits close to the north west resorts.
- Cash or card
- The East Caribbean dollar is the currency, though US dollars are widely accepted. Cards work in hotels but rarely at beach bars.
- Etiquette
- Beaches are public to the high water mark, though crossing hotel land can be restricted. Greeting someone before asking a question is expected.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Antigua?
Daytime highs run from about 27°C in February to 29°C in August. Driest in April and May; wettest in September, with rain on about 20 days. The sea is warmest in September at around 30°C, coolest at 27°C.
How long should I spend in Antigua?
Our suggestion: a week.
How do I get to Antigua?
V.C. Bird International (ANU) takes direct UK flights and is ten minutes from St John's, twenty to Dickenson Bay and about forty to English Harbour in the south.
Do I need a car in Antigua?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. Minibuses run from St John's along the main routes on weekdays, cheaply but not to a timetable, and barely at all on Sundays.
What currency and language are used in Antigua?
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD). Language: English. Plugs: type A and B.
Who is Antigua best for?
Best for beach lovers, couples and families. In a phrase: breezy, sandy, sailing flavoured.