50 Fun Things To Do In Antigua and Barbuda

The Caribbean has a wide variety of destinations for travellers to visit, but Antigua and Barbuda stand out for many reasons. Comprised of two separate islands (one being Antigua the other Barbuda) the country offers a variety of amazing travel experiences for everyone, no matter what type of travel you’ll be doing. Here are 50 things that you can experience in Antigua and Barbuda – arranged in alphabetical order:

1. Betty’s Hope Sugar Plantation. Located on Antigua this site of the former largest sugar plantation in the country is now the home of an open-air museum, with two restored stone windmills.

2. Birdwatching. The country is home to a variety of unique bird species that you can enjoy by taking a boat to the secluded Frigate Bird Sanctuary in Barbuda.

3. Cades Reef. This is a coral reef that has been designated as an underwater park. It offers a great place for scuba divers to explore.

4. Carnival. Antigua and Barbuda is a Caribbean country and has many celebrations during Carnival Week including a parade and a variety of pageants.

5. Casino. Try your luck at a variety of slot and table games at the country’s largest casino, Kings Casino, in Antigua.

6. Caving. There are two caves in Barbuda, one at Two Foot Bay and the other at Castle Hill for visitors to explore. The caves at Two Foot Bay contain ancient drawings from the original inhabitants of the country, the Arawaks.

7. Christian Valley Agricultural Station. This historic landmark in Antigua was once the home of a colonial sugar estate. Today Christian Valley Agricultural Station is the home of a large fruit orchard including guava, breadfruit and soursops.

8. Clarence House. Head over to beautiful English Bay on Antigua to view the historic Clarence House that served as the residence of the Commissioner of the Royal Navy’s Dockyard from 1806-1856.

9. Cricket. Antigua and Barbuda loves cricket, and you can watch a national or even an international cricket match at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

10. Dow’s Hill Interpretation Centre. This museum located in English Harbor has multimedia exhibits detailing the history of Antigua and Barbuda.

11. Drink. There are a variety of places you can enjoy a cocktail, or other drink in Antigua and Barbuda including the Dogwatch Tavern in Jolly Harbour, C & C Wine Bar along Redcliffe Quay, and Hemmingway’s Caribbean Café in St. John’s.

12. Eat. The country has a large variety of great dining options including the authentic French restaurant Le Bistro Restaurant, the family friendly The Crow’s Nest, and Millers by the Bay which has local seafood and reggae
music.

13. Eco Tours. Paddles Kayak and Snorkel Eco Adventure offers guests an ecotour where you can experience kayaking, snorkelling and much more.

14. Get Married. For any couple looking to get married Antigua and Barbuda is perfect for a destination wedding. A variety of hotels and resorts in the country offer wedding and honeymoon packages including The Inn at English Harbour, Blue Waters Antigua, and Sandals Antigua Resort and Spa.

15. Green Castle Hill. This hill located 3 miles south of St. John’s contains giant megaliths. Debate ranges whether these structures were naturally forming or placed there by prehistoric people.

16. Golf. The Cedar Valley Golf Club and Jolly Harbour Golf Club on Antigua offer 18 holes of golfing – membership rates apply.

17. Fort James. Located in St. John’s this 18th century bastion was built to keep out intruders from the country. Some of the walls and canons of Fort James are still together. Fort James also offers a great view of the city.

18. Fishing. There are some great opportunities for the novice and expert fishing enthusiast, including a variety of deep sea fishing charters on Antigua and Barbuda.

19. Harmony Hall Art Gallery. Located in the Brown’s Bay Harmony Hall Art Gallery hosts a variety of local art exhibitions each year including the annual Antigua Artist’s Exhibition, and Craft Fair.

20. Helicopter Tour. Get off the ground and see an amazing bird’s eye view of Antigua and Barbuda by taking a helicopter tour with Caribbean Helicopters.

21. Heritage Quay. Do some duty free shopping, grab a bite to eat or take a gamble at a casino in this new development in downtown St. John’s.

22. Hiking. Head inland and experience the beauty of hiking through the jungles of the country. Some of the best hiking trails in the country include; Lookout Trail and Carpenters Rock Trail.

23. Horseback riding. There are a variety of horseback riding excursions that you can enjoy in Antigua and Barbuda.

24. Photography. It is hard to go to such scenic place and not to click pictures, but even for the seasoned professionals, Antigua & Barbuda offers perfect setting for almost any idea.

25. Indian Town National Park. This easternmost side of Antigua is where the indigenous people of the West Indies were before the arrival of the Europeans. The park also contains a natural limestone arch known as Devil’s Bridge.

26. Jetskiing and tubing. You can get an adrenaline rush by going, jetskiing, and tubing at Dickenson Bay.

27. Kitesurfing. If you’re looking for more of an adrenaline rush than surfing can give Antigua and Barbuda have several resorts where you can learn and try out kitesurfing.

28. Market at St. John’s. The capital city bustles with sights, sounds, smells and tastes of a Caribbean market every Friday and Saturday morning. Enjoy fresh fruit and browse through local artisan crafts.

29. Mountain Biking. The country’s jungles and mountainous terrain (highest point is Mount Obama at 402 meters above sea level) are perfect for mountain bikers.

30. Museum of Antigua and Barbuda. See the history and culture of the country come to life in this former courthouse building from the 1750’s. The museum is located in the capital city of St. John’s on Antigua.

31. Nelson Dockyard Museum. Located in the Nelson Dockyard National Park this museum contains a variety of archaeological treasures from around the island.

32. Nelson Dockyard National Park. In English Bay Nelson’s Dockyard was once the home of the British Navy. Today Nelson’s Dockyard has been converted into a national park with a museum, shops, restaurants and hotels.

33. Parasailing. Seasports at Dickenson Bay offers you the chance to try parasailing where you can soar over the beautiful blue waters of Antigua and Barbuda.

34. Relax on the beach. Antigua and Barbuda has over 365 beaches, so the only hard decision you will have is choosing which pink or white sand beaches to enjoy.

35. Rent a car or a scooter. This will allow you to experience the hidden treasures located on the inland of the country like those found on the picturesque Fig Tree Drive in Antigua.

36. Sailing. With its trade winds and great harbours the coast of Antigua is the perfect place to go sailing. Antigua hosts a Sailing Week, a world famous regatta held every April/May.

37. Scuba Diving. You can see beautiful ocean life scuba diving off the crystal blue waters of Antigua and Barbuda.

38. Sea View Farm Village. Sea View Farm Village has been producing Antiguan folk pottery since the late 1800’s. Pottery can be found at a variety of vendors around the country.

39. Shirley Heights. Once a military complex complete with a guard house, kitchen, canteen, and hospital Shirley Heights is now an important historical attraction on the southern tip of Antigua.

40. Shipwrecks. The wreck of The Andes, a ship that sunk of the coast of Antigua in 1905, is just one of the shipwrecks that scuba divers can explore.

41. Sleep. Antigua and Barbuda offer visitors a variety of accommodations for every type of travel, from modest budget lodges and hostels, to villas and world-class hotels.

42. Snorkelling. If you want to see the beauty of the ocean, without scuba diving, there are plenty of great places to go snorkelling in Antigua and Barbuda.

43. Spa. There are a variety of spas for people to visit on Antigua and Barbuda, including the spa at the Sandals Grande Resort, which has been named the world’s most romantic resort, and the eco-luxury Verandah Resort and Spa.

44. St. John’s Cathedral. See one of the oldest buildings in St. John’s as well as the tallest at the historic St. John’s Cathedral.

45. Surfing. Half Moon Bay Beach, along the east side of the island of Antigua is known as the best surfing spot in the country.

46. Swim with the Stingrays. Stingray City in Antigua offers the opportunities for everyone, even non-swimmers, to experience these amazing sea creatures up close.

47. Tennis. Antigua Tennis Week occurs for a week in May bringing together some of the best tennis players from around the world.

48. The Lookout. Located in Shirley Heights, The Lookout offers impressive views 150 meters over English Harbor, and is home to the Shirley Heights Lookout Restaurant.

49. Yachting. You can charter a yacht and explore the waters of Antigua from Horizon Yacht Charters in Jolly Harbour Marina.

50. Ziplining. Zip Line Canopy Tour offers visitors the chance to get an exhilarating bird’s eye view of the Antigua rainforest.

No matter what you choose to see and do in Antigua and Barbuda you’ll be guaranteed to have a wonderful time in the Caribbean’s sunniest island.

 

Alouise Dittrick is a writer from Edmonton, Alberta. She loves travel, and has a particular fondness for road trips, quirky attractions, and solo travel. She writes about her travels on her blog www.travelerahoy.com