Antigua

Travel Dates: February 2025

What to do in Antigua

Shirley Heights Lookout – A restored military lookout, the panoramic views here are beautiful. However, access to the lookout costs $15 per person, though it also includes access to Nelson’s Dockyard.

After passing the ticket booth, turn left to reach the Dow’s Hill Interpretation Centre where you can watch a 15-minute video about the history of Antigua. The center also has a bathroom, a gift shop, and scenic sights. If you turn right after the gate and continue driving, you’ll come to a fork in the road. Take the right turn and drive all the way down to reach the Shirley Heights Lookout, which offers magnificent panoramic views. At the far right of the viewpoint, you’ll find a bathroom at the last shack. If you go straight at the fork instead of turning right, you’ll be treated to additional coastal vistas.

Nelson’s Dockyard – Nelson’s Dockyard is a cultural heritage site and marina, with tickets costing $15 per person. If you’ve already purchased tickets for Shirley Heights Lookout, they are included here as well. You can park in front of the marina entrance and take a stroll around the pier to admire the sailboats and yachts. The area also features several restaurants, bars, a hotel, a small museum, and a few souvenir shops to explore. We only visited Nelson’s Dockyard because the tickets were included; otherwise, you can skip this stop unless you’re interested in seeing boats up close.

Devil’s Bridge National Park – This natural rock arch, located along Antigua’s eastern coastline, is a free and worthwhile stop. You can park near the roped-off area and take a short walk toward the arch. Since the terrain is rocky, wearing sneakers is highly recommended for safety. Additionally, be cautious as the waves can crash onto the rocks, so avoid getting too close.

Half Moon Bay – Half Moon Bay is a free and relatively uncrowded beach, offering a more peaceful experience. There’s a small shack restaurant on the beach, and you can also rent umbrellas and chairs here. Since we were staying at an all-inclusive resort with beach access, it was not worth paying for umbrellas and chairs, so we didn’t stay long. Otherwise, there are no natural shaded areas at Half Moon Bay.

Where to stay in Antigua

Royalton Antigua, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort – We chose Royalton for its all-inclusive offerings at a great rate. The resort provides a variety of amenities including free parking, free water sports rentals for 30 minutes (kayaks and hydrobikes), and complimentary beach items like towels, umbrellas, and lounge chairs. There’s also an outdoor game area featuring a giant chess set, giant Connect 4, a foosball table, an air hockey table, and a basketball arcade machine.

For food, the buffet, sports bar, and café are open for longer hours without the need for a reservation. However, for dinner, the Caribbean restaurant, Italian restaurant, and steakhouse require advance bookings via the Royalton app. These specialty restaurants also do not open every night. We downloaded the app immediately after checking in and managed to book a table at the steakhouse two days later. While we couldn’t secure reservations for the first two days, we were able to walk in at the Caribbean restaurant after 7 p.m. and were seated without an issue. Overall, the food at the resort was decent, but the service at most of the restaurants (except the buffet) and the sports bar was slow, which was a downside.

A few other things to note: there’s a pool table at the sports bar, and welcome drinks are offered at the front of the property. Check-out is at noon, but you can still enjoy the resort’s amenities afterward, and you can book a 30-minute use of the hospitality room at the front desk, which includes a private shower and bathroom. One issue we encountered during our stay was the accommodation building only had two small elevators, which often led to long waits for the elevator.

What you need to know/Other tips for visiting Antigua

Driving – Driving in Antigua is on the left side of the road. The roads are not always well-paved, with potholes and speed bumps common throughout. For a more comfortable driving experience, it’s recommended to use a car with higher ground clearance. Additionally, the roads can be narrow at times, making it challenging to navigate with two-way traffic.

We rented a small SUV from Drive-a-Matic and had a good experience. They also picked us up and dropped us off at the airport.

Adapter – Antigua uses the same outlet as the U.S. so no adapter is needed.

Currency – USD is widely accepted, though East Caribbean dollar is their main currency.