Things to Do in Antigua

One of the best historical sites Antigua has to offer, Nelson's Dockyard National Park has been at the center of Antigua's activity since the first settlers arrived there in 500 BC. Today, however, the centerpiece of the park is the actual dockyard itself, originally developed as a base for the British Navy in 1725. It is the only Georgian dockyard that still exists in the world. Named for Horatio Nelson, famed commander of the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, the dockyard is home to old navy ships and numerous historical artifacts.

Journey down to the far south of Antigua to see one of the island's oldest and most beautiful historic districts, English Harbour. This tiny (population of 759), but scenic settlement is a great place to wander around in and enjoy the old-fashioned buildings while learning about the nation's colonial roots.

Betty's Hope Sugar Plantation is the historic site of the first large sugar plantation on Antigua, built during the late 1600s by Sir Christopher Codrington who named it after his daughter. All that remains today are the ruins of a stillhouse and two large stone windmills, one of which has been restored, with working gears, crushing rollers and a sail all built to period specifications. The local government is developing the area as an open-air museum, and a small visitor’s center offers information about how sugar cane was processed here, and about the hardships of the African slaves who toiled in its production.

Antigua’s capital city is a multicolored port town around a protected bay on the northwest of the island. Nearly half of the city’s visitors arrive not by plane, but by boat because St. John’s is both a popular cruise ship port and a renowned sailing harbor—in fact every year, the island hosts Antigua Sailing Week, one of the top regattas and sailing events in the Caribbean. While here, you can explore sights like the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, which occupies the former 16th-century courthouse, and St. John's Cathedral, the baroque towers of which make it the centerpiece of the city. The most popular in-city pastime among visitors however is shopping. Heritage Quay, at the foot of the cruise ship dock, is a two-story complex of duty-free shops, tacky tourist bars and restaurants. For a more local experience, head to the Public Market on the west side of the city on Friday and Saturday mornings to find spices, batiks and local hand crafts.

Located in the Leeward Islands of the West Indies, Antigua is the main island in the grouping constituting the nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Its history and geography have made it internationally famous as a sailing and yachting destination.  

Don't be scared away by its rather ominous name. Devil's Bridge National Park is one of the most unique natural sites that you can see, not just in Antigua, but perhaps ever. Devil's Bridge is a natural arch carved by the sea out of the soft and hard limestone ledges of the cliffs. As enormous breakers from the Atlantic repeatedly assaulted the rocks throughout the years, they eventually eroded away a soft part of limestone to create a bridge-like arch.

Off the southwest tip of Antigua, Cades Reef is Antigua’s most popular diving and snorkeling spot. A section of the reef has been designated as an underwater park, and visitors can find more than a dozen dive sites throughout the inner and outer sections of the reef. One of the popular spots on Cades Reef is The Chimney, a dive site on the outer reef, where huge pillar corals create a staircase formation that descends from 40 to 80 feet deep. You can swim through a tunnel in the rock face where you can sometimes spot sleeping nurse sharks. On calm days, visibility at Cades Reef can be 100 feet, and the reef attracts all the usual Caribbean reef fish, including parrotfish, trumpet fish and barracuda.

Located in Antigua's capital city, the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda is the place to learn more about the nation's history and cultural legacy. The museum is housed in the Colonial Court House, built in 1747, making it the oldest building still in use in the city. Through its numerous engaging exhibits, the museum tells the story of the nation, from its geological birth to political independence.

With its blend of geology, ecology, history, and art, the museum offers something for everyone. Whether you want to check out a diorama of the island's volcanic origins, look at fish fossils, see native pottery, or learn about its British colonization, the museum's exhibits have answers to all burning questions about Antigua and Barbuda.

Finished in 1848, St John's Anglican Cathedral, an impressive freestone structure, serves as a reminder of Antigua's European roots. Built in the neo-baroque style, the cathedral seems out of place on the Caribbean island, with its iron fence, stained-glass windows and two lofty towers with cupolas on top.

One of the best places to go on the island if you want fantastic views of the shimmering Caribbean waters, Fort James sits in an ideal position overlooking St John's Harbor. Built by the British in 1706 to protect the harbor, the fort was intended to prevent the French from invading the island.

Home to the most famous view in all of Antigua, as well as the island's residential party place, no trip is complete without a visit to Shirley Heights. Overlooking English and Falmouth Harbours, the panoramic view from Shirley Heights takes in the neighboring islands of Guadalupe and Montserrat, the latter of which is home to an active volcano. While the views are spectacular any time of day, nothing can beat a night time visit where you can watch the sun set over the Caribbean.