Antigua Holidays

There are 365 beaches on the island of Antigua so that’s one for each day of the year! You probably won’t be on holiday for a year (if only!) but why not set yourself a fun challenge and see how many you can visit during your stay? Antigua’s beaches are all public, so there’s no excuse not to try them out! Antigua holidays offer unrivalled sand, sea and sailing with relaxed Caribbean vibes and great bars and restaurants. Truly picturesque, the island is one of the prettiest in the Caribbean with Dickenson Bay, Galley Bay and Hawksbill proving some of the more developed tourist beaches, while Darkwood Beach and Doigs Beach are quieter. Pigeon Point is a good one to relax on after a visit to Nelson’s Dockyard.

Sailing is big in Antigua and holidaymakers can enjoy life on the open waves by learning to sail. For almost 50 years, every April, Antigua is host to its world famous Sailing Week and Yacht Regatta. Hundreds of yachts and boats from around the world descend upon the island and take part in five days of racing around its perimeter and it's certainly a spectacle to be witnessed. If you’re on holiday during the regatta and sailing week you’re in for a treat of carnival atmosphere.

Just 27 miles north of Antigua is Barbuda, a gloriously unspoilt island renowned locally for its coral-fringed shores, tranquil waters and its deserted pink-sand beaches. Day trips to the island are very popular among holidaymakers and ferries run between the islands. Once there you can enjoy the vast stretch of pristine beach or visit the bird sanctuary at the Codrington Lagoon National Park.

Sunday nights in Antigua are all about Shirley Heights, so a visit to this place during your holiday is a certainty. From 4pm the sound of the steel drums ring through the air as customers enjoy sizzling barbecues, cocktails and dancing as the sun sets. When night falls the party really kicks off with more live bands, more dancing and more cocktails!

If you fancy some action and excitement and can peel yourself off your sunbed, then you should definitely enjoy an awesome zip line experience 300ft above the lush rainforest. There are a series of 13 zip lines in the rain forest, which gives a bird’s eye view of the flora and fauna and at the same time you can listen to a number of bird species. Marvel at the lush rainforest interior of the island from above and follow the aerial walkways through the trees before you test your inner Indiana Jones across the suspension bridge - a memorable and fun day out for children.

Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour is the only continuously working Georgian dockyard in the world and is also a National Park due to its historical importance – Lord Admiral Nelson called this place home during his time in Antigua. A visit to the Dockyard Museum along with a wander around the quaint shops and restaurants housed inside fully restored 18th-century buildings is a must.

There is so much to see in Antigua, which will make you wonder how to fit it all in? Take an Island Safari tour that’s how! Choose from open-air Jeeps, 4x4s, kayaks or catamarans and more and get a guided tour around the islands. Excursions usually include lunch and beach-stops along the way.

Antigua’s main duty-free shopping areas are in the capital St. Johns and this is the place where you'll find Redcliffe Quay and Heritage Quay, both adjacent to the cruise ship piers and surrounded by bars and restaurants. The abundance of boutiques, jewellers, craft shops, markets and souvenir shops will keep you and your wallet busy for hours - but just think of those duty free savings! There is also a mall close-by offering more of Antigua’s finest, which is just up the road.