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St.John's, the capital,should be the first place to visit in Antigua. Redcliffe Quay, Heritage Quay and the surroundings of downtown are a must when it comes to shopping. Around the cruise ship docks, up market articles like jewelry, brand designer clothes, perfumes and many more are available duty free, as well as lovely island souvenirs and T-shirts to take home.


The historic surroundings of Redcliffe Quay, a former warehouses site formerly the center of the sugar and coffee trade with Europe, makes for a nice shopping stroll, with its lovely gingerbread houses, and its rebuilt Georgian architecture surrounded by shady trees..We also suggest a visit to the food market in downtown St.John's. Stroll around, buy a few exotic looking fruits just to taste; you won't be able to do it at home.

For more about shopping, please visit our section "Shopping".

The West Coast

Leaving St.John's to the West, start with a little tour around Five Islands: Just turn around the Bay of St.John's. and you will reach a bucolic peninsula where hundreds of horses and thousands of goats are peacefully grazing on extensive grasslands, fringed by beautiful beaches such as Hawksbill and Galley Bay. Back to St.John's, follow Valley Road in direction south, trough several little villages, until you reach Jolly Harbour, one of Antigua's most renowned yachting center. Enjoy a drink on the marina and have a walk through these impressive and beautifully landscaped surroundings, or have a rest on the beach.

If you want pure nature, go on driving to the South; the road here is blessed with breathtaking views of gorgeous beaches, lagoons, and green peaks ending in amazing turquoise bays. Places like Johnson's Point, Crab Hill, Fryes and Darkwood Beach, Cades Bay and Curtain Bluff are just some of the mandatory places to stop and enjoy the dazzling nature of the country.

Everywhere along this part of the Coast, you will have a view of the volcanic island of Montserrat emerging from the sea. Around the southern part of the road, you will pass pineapple and fruit plantations surrounded by ponds, and discover abundant tropical vegetation, rich in banana, avocados and mango trees.
In Old Road, after Curtain Bluff, the road turns back to the North and inside of the country. This is Fig Tree Drive, the heart of Antigua's tropical forest. This winding and scenic road leading up the hill takes you through a thick and shady tropical forest. At the top of the hill, there is a nice, windy place for a rest, where you can enjoy home made tropical juices and buy fresh and elaborated local products. From there, you can drive back to St.John's trough the village of All Saints, crossing a calm and hilly landscape and see some charming old churches along the road.

South East and South Coast

Best is to leave St. John's on Factory Road heading East. Follow until Pares, and soon after, you can visit the 1674 built sugar plantation of Betty's Hope with its sugar mill that harbours a museum.
Following the same road until the Eastern Coast, you will reach a scenic and rough place on the shore, with the old legendary Devil's Bridge, a rock arch created by the strong Atlantic waves. At Betty's Hope turn south to Harmony Hall.

Harmony Hall is a garden restaurant with an adjacent art gallery, built around an old mill and located on a scenic bay and beach, with a stunning view to small offshore islands. Here, small boats can take you to Green Island for snorkeling.

Leaving Harmony Hall, drive southwards trough Freetown and take the eastern road to Half Moon Bay. This absolutely stunning and beautifully shaped beach, fringed by a reef, is ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

Don't leave Antigua without a visit to English Harbour.The huge marina of English Harbour is an attraction on its own, but the absolute star of our tour is Nelson's Dockyard. This internationally renowned historic dockyard was the naval base of Admiral Nelson about 2 centuries ago. Its perfectly preserved and rehabilitated buildings are the scenery for a voyage into the past, to the times of the big adventures on the sea. After a visit at the Historic Museum, take a moment to dream while having a drink between historic buildings and immaculate yachts in the Harbour.

In order to enjoy the full beauty of the site, first drive up the road to Cape Shirley at the outskirts of English Harbour. Passing old fortifications and quarters, the road ends at a ridge, plunging straight into the ocean. From here, the view to the East Coast, with the Mamora Reef and Willoughby Bay is absolutely stunning. And, if the weather is good, you may even see the island of Guadeloupe!

Another branch of the road takes you to Shirley Heights. On the way, you can admire the old installation of Fort Shirley, build by the governor of the Leeward Islands during Nelson's time, as well as the 1787 build Clarence House. If you manage to make it to Shirley Heights until just before sunset, this will be the culmination of your excursion.

At the top of the mountain, passing trough an old guard house now a restaurant, you will be amazed by the view: Nelson's Dockyard, English and Falmouth Harbour extend at your feet, as far as you can see, winding their way through hills and turquoise waters. And in front of you, Montserrat shines under the most perfect sunset. On Sundays - and sometimes on Thursdays too -, a barbecue party with live steel and calypso bands takes place on Shirley Heights. It starts before sunset and will put a highly enjoyable end to a fascinating day trip.

North West, North and North East

If you don't stay around Dickenson Bay, it is worth spending a day on the north western coast of Antigua: you may enjoy a few hours on the beach and tour the northern part of the island. Between St.John's and Dickenson Bay, several attractive beaches are lined with restaurants and beach bars, while peaceful ponds offer a home to numerous birds. The view of Dickenson Bay is most seducing when seen from the top of the hill, at the northern end. From there, drive through green hills toward Cedar Grove, to discover the beautifully landscaped Golf Club of the same name. Driving down to the northern coast, there are several great spots where you can see the western and northern Coast at the same time.

North East Coast

Already on the northern coast, watch some sailing or windsurfing competitions that constantly take place on the windy coast. Here you reach the Atlantic Coast, where wind and waves replace the gentle waters of the West Coast.




Following the coast to Hodges Bay, you will drive through lovely surroundings with some of Antigua's finest houses and enjoy some scenic views, like Jabberwock Beach. Long Island, with its exclusive luxury resort, is just in front. This is an area with mangroves and coral reefs, with several small islets surging out of the lower coastal waters. You will see many people practicing water sports along the shore. If you drive back to St. John's, follow the road signs to the airport and from there back to St. John's.