Antigua & Barbuda’s Top Attractions & Things to Do

Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!

Nelson’s Dockyard, Shirley Heights, Stingray City & So Much More!

Antigua & Barbuda are a beautiful Caribbean nation in the Leeward Islands just north of Guadeloupe and east of St. Kitts & Nevis. Antigua is famous for it’s 365 white sand beaches, excellent cuisine and rich sailing history. When visiting the Caribbean, it’s always fun to get off the resort and explore what the island really has to offer. In Antigua, that means taking-in great tropical views from historic sites and enjoying nature from both land and sea. Of course, there’s also time to fit in a round of golf as well as a visit to Stingray City. For your next vacation to Antigua and Barbuda, may we suggest you…

Visit Antigua’s Best Attractions (on land)

Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!

Nelson’s Dockyard is probably Antigua’s most popular historical site and a must-see for the history buff. Reminiscent of its 18th-century origins, the humble English Harbour outpost includes a marina, hotel, shops and restaurants. Being around all the ships and history of the area should give you a nice relaxing vibe.

Shirley Heights provides spectacular views of English Harbour, Falmouth Harbour and the Caribbean Sea! Once the site of a military lookout and gun battery, this location is now home to the where you can take the most iconic pictures of Antigua.

Devil’s Bridge is an interesting limestone rock formation on the coast of Antigua. Relentless sea waves crashing against small rocky cliffs has over time created a natural bridge, where sections of the under-pinning rock have eroded away. See the blowholes in action at high tide.

Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!

Betty’s Hope is a historical site on the grounds of a 17th-century sugar plantation.  The main feature is the remains of a couple of wind-powered stone mills.  One can imagine life back in the day…

St. John’s Cathedral is an impressive church, both inside and out. The large stone & brick structure seen today has replaced the wood building originally constructed in the 17th century.  Just down the street in the town’s oldest building is the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda, with exhibits that outline the history of the islands.

Guarding the mouth of the large bay at St. John’s stands the remains of a pair of military outposts.  Fort James on the northern side of the bay is located next to a long beach and still has stone walls and some cannons. Fort Barrington on the southern coastline is located on a small hilltop with great views of St. John’s and the surrounding bays and beaches. Simply gorgeous!

A couple of other Antigua attractions to consider stopping at includes: Cades Bay Agricultural Station, the home of Antigua’s famous ‘Black Pineapple’; and the Humane Society’s Donkey Sanctuary, always fun for kids of all ages.

For more information on Antigua’s attractions along with a list of tour operators who will show you around, click on our Antigua & Barbuda Land Excursions page

Swim with the Stingrays

Active Caribbean Travel visits Antigua's Stingray City - Come swim with the Stingrays!

Meanwhile, in the water, Stingray City is a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience where you can swim and snorkel with southern stingrays in their natural environment. It’s an exhilarating feeling standing in waist-deep water with the large otherworldly fish swimming around your legs. Of course, you won’t forget what it’s like to hold one of the gentle creatures – Their soft, fur-like wings in your hands!

For a more colourful review of visiting the island’s stingrays, check out our personal Stingray City Antigua Experience blog

 

Check out Antigua from Sea

Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!

The multi-hued blue waters around Antigua is absolutely breathtaking and being on the sea provides a unique perspective of the island.  Appreciate the mainland’s jagged shoreline with its inlets, points and white beaches as well as mangrove forests and multiple off-shore islands.  It’s also the best way to see Antigua’s famous coral and limestone rock formations known as the Pillars of Hercules as well as the coral archway known as Hell’s Gate, up close and personal.  While most of the island is flat limestone, Antigua’s hilly south-west with its volcanic features will really stand out when viewing from the sea.

For a relaxing and enjoyable cruise around Antigua and Barbuda, there are plenty of sailboats available to show you around. To really engage and feel the energy of the sailing scene, time your visit to coincide with the annual ‘Antigua Sailing Week’ which attracts dozens of yachts and hundreds of visitors from around the world to Nelson’s Dockyard for the Caribbean’s top Regatta.

If motoring around the islands in a fast boat is more your thing, there are several motorboat / tour operators that can fill your need for speed. Don’t worry, they’ll slow down for you to enjoy all the attractions…

When sight-seeing from either a sailboat or motorboat, there’ll be opportunities for snorkeling or swimming over a reef / perhaps even a stop at an uninhabited offshore island for a stroll. Of course, watching the sun set from the sea with that someone special is also a unique and wonderful experience.

Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!

For more information on Antigua’s ocean excursions along with a list of boat / tour operators who will get you on the water, click on our Antigua Sailing and Antigua Boating pages

Golf in a Tropical Setting

There are a couple of gorgeous Antigua golf courses to choose from. The Cedar Valley Golf Club is conveniently located near the capital, St. John’s. This 18-hole / par 70 golf course that plays to 6,157 yards is set within tropical trees and has great views of the ocean.  Set on the quieter west side of Antigua in a slightly hilly parkland is the Jolly Harbour Golf Club, an 18-hole / par 71 championship golf course plays to 5,587 yards.

For more information on Antigua’s golf courses, click on our Antigua Golf page

Enjoy Nature in Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua is home to four National Parks that were established to preserve the island’s cultural and environmental heritage.

Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!
  • Green Castle Hill National Park and it’s ‘megalith’ rock formations are only accessible on foot
  • Devil’s Bridge (Formerly Indian Town Point) National Park is a limestone rock formation featuring blowholes at high tide
  • Fort Barrington National Park features the remains of a 17th-century hilltop garrison
  • Nelson’s Dockyard National Park encompasses the Dockyard area as well as Shirley Heights, Fort Berkeley, Fort George and a number of hiking trails.

Outside of the parks, there are a few locations known to be great for bird watching.  They include Antigua’s off-shore islands, specifically Great Bird Island and Long Island as well as Barbuda’s bird sanctuary, which is home to the largest Frigate Bird colony in the Caribbean.

For more information on Antigua’s natural attractions along with a list of tour operators who will show you around, click on our Antigua & Barbuda Land Excursions and Antigua Hiking pages

Join the Festivities

Antigua’s annual Carnival, billed as “the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival”, includes costumed parades and music including steel-bands and calypso.  Of course there’s always plenty of food fairs and partying throughout the festival…

The annual Antigua & Barbuda International Kite Festival is held at Devil’s Bridge National Park. Watch hundreds of kites flying and dancing in the wind along Antigua’s rocky east coast.

For a full listing of Antigua’s Carnival, Festivals and Events, check out our Antigua & Barbuda Events Calendar page


Want to see more? Check out our Memories of Antigua video on YouTube!

For a more complete review of Antigua & Barbuda Attractions and things-to-do, along with a list of local Tour Operators who can help you get the most out of your day, check out our Things To Do in Antigua page.


If you’re looking for something more active that will raise your pulse rate a bit higher, check out our recommended Antigua & Barbuda Adventures blog

For an overview of the beautiful and diverse islands, click on our Antigua & Barbuda Vacations page

Why Grenada is our #1 Caribbean vacation destination right now

Visit Grenada to escape a long COVID winter

If you’re thinking about escaping the cold and grey winter for a warm and sunny Caribbean vacation the next month or so, I’m sure you’re not alone.  But let’s be honest, we’re probably all just a bit hesitant to travel anywhere right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both from a personal health concern, as well as having to deal with the associated restrictions imposed on the travel industry right now.

Visit Grenada to escape a long COVID winter

For me, it’s a mental tug-of-war…  Should I travel or not?  I really want to spend time outdoors feeling the warmth of the Caribbean sun, but I don’t want to get sick and be a risk to others. Well, one thing is for sure – If I’m going to get on an airplane during this pandemic, the destination better be worth it 😉!

Things to do in Grenada

Thinking about the Caribbean, one island stands out to me right now – Grenada! The Spice Island has always attracted me with its uncrowded natural beauty and a long list of fun and exciting things to do.  Yes, Grenada has dozens of wonderful sandy beaches, however I’m looking to experience another tropical hike to one of the island’s many waterfalls, and snorkel the warm Caribbean sea where I can see a unique underwater sculpture park. I would also like to visit Grenada’s historical sites, chocolate factories and a rum distillery or two!

I’ve done my research of the Caribbean, and from a Covid-19 perspective, there are a number of things about Grenada which makes it very attractive right now.  First of all, the island has one of the lowest numbers of Covid-19 cases (*1) in the Caribbean and secondly, Grenada is doing a great job in outlining their travel guidelines in a clear and easy to understand way. They even have a cool Grenadian name for it – Pure Safe Travel.  I’m impressed with how professional everything appears to be managed. It’s also nice that there are direct flights to Grenada from Toronto (my home airport) right now. [UPDATE Feb. 5 2021 – Canada has essentially banned travel to the Caribbean for a while, however Grenada will be my first choice once we can travel again].

One of my favourite aspects about an early 2021 Grenada vacation is that tourists are allowed to enjoy what the island has to offer, once we successfully pass an on-island PCR test after an initial 4-day hotel quarantine.  I love to explore Caribbean islands, enjoying tourist attractions and experiencing local adventures – The last thing I want is to be stuck at the hotel for the whole vacation.  Staying safe in Grenada is made easy with the Ministry of Health’s approved “Pure Safe Accommodations” list – We’re talking over 50 places to stay on the island, including hotels, villas, cottages, resorts, lodges, and even apartments.

The Grenada Authorities has also provided a list of “Pure Safe Attractions” and another list of “Pure Safe Tourism Services”.  Visitors can experience everything from a chocolate factory/store, rum distillery, spice/flower gardens and estates as well as nature/forest reserves.  There are also national parks with waterfalls along with historic Fort Frederick.  For the more adventurous (like me), there’s snorkeling & diving, kayaking, stand-up-paddle-boarding, water-skiing, wakeboarding/tubing, sailing, and boating as well as golfing to be enjoyed.

Things to do in Grenada

Of course, just like the rules you probably have at home, every visitor to Grenada is expected to comply with local COVID-19 related regulations when in public places – This includes wearing a facemask, practicing physical distancing along with plenty of hand washing/sanitizing.  Here are some of the things visitors to Grenada can expect with the current COVID-19 regulations.

  • Obtain a Pure Safe Travel Certificate in order to visit Grenada
  • Provide results of a negative COVID-19 PCR test 3 days before travel to the island
  • Show proof of a 7-day (or more) reservation at an approved Pure Safe Accommodation
  • Download Grenada’s contact tracing app and register prior to travel (Currently only available for Samsung users / iPhone users are currently exempt from this requirement)
  • Undergo a health screening on arrival (symptom review, temperature checks, and testing if deemed necessary)
  • Undergo an on-island PCR test on day 4 of your visit. This allows you to enjoy more of what the island has to offer (Day 1 starts the day after your arrival in Grenada)

For more detailed information about Grenada’s COVID-19 requirements, please carefully review the instructions found at the Grenada Ministry of Health’s official website:

https://www.gov.gd/

This website also includes the links you’ll need to fulfill all travel requirements to enter Grenada.


For a more detailed look at ‘Pure Grenada’, along with fun ideas for things to do on the islands, take a look at our Grenada Vacations page

For more of what the Caribbean has to offer, check out our Caribbean Excursions page…

If you’re looking for the best Caribbean island to experience your favourite outdoor activity, check out our Caribbean Adventures page.

ACT Staff

(*1) Reference:  Worldometers’ COVID-19 data. As of January 9th 2021, Grenada is one of the 2 or 3 major Caribbean islands with the fewest number of COVID-19 cases and is one of the safest countries globally as well.

  • #197 of 220 countries worldwide – For quantity of active cases
  • #161 of 220 countries worldwide – For quantity of active cases relative to population