Antigua
Nelson's old dockyard in a southern inlet, the lookout of Shirley Heights above it, yachts crowding Falmouth next door, and a three-kilometre runway forty minutes across the island.
- Arrival
- V.C. Bird International · ANU
- To the harbour
- About 40 minutes to English Harbour by car
- Private jets
- Signature private terminal at ANU
- Best time
- December to July
The city
The navy's harbour.
English Harbour, on the south coast, sheltered the Royal Navy's dockyard in Nelson's day, and the yard still stands, with the Admiral's Inn among its old buildings. Falmouth Harbour lies beside it, and in winter the marinas fill with yachts; berths are booked well ahead.
Antigua stays at around 28 to 31 °C through the year. February to April is the most settled time. The rain and the risk of storms climb from August and stay high until November.
- Nelson's Dockyard The old yard of Nelson's fleet, its buildings open to walk through, inscribed by UNESCO in 2016 with the forts around it.
- Shirley Heights A military lookout of the 1780s high over English Harbour, with live music and dinner every Sunday and some of the island's finest views at sunset.
- Codrington Lagoon, Barbuda The largest frigatebird colony in the western hemisphere, a short flight north and then by small boat.
Arriving
Across the island from Osbourn.
V.C. Bird International lies at Osbourn, eight kilometres north-east of St John's, with a runway of just over three kilometres. English Harbour is on the opposite coast, about forty minutes by road.
- San Juan 1 h 00
- Punta Cana 1 h 15
- Miami 3 h 05
- Palm Beach 3 h 10
- London 8 h 45 long-range jet
When to go
December to July.
Afternoons stay between 28 and 31 °C and the sea between 26 and 29 °C. December to July is the drier stretch, February the driest month at under 40 mm. From August to November rainfall passes 110 mm a month and storms are most likely.
- 28° J 67 26°
- 28° F 37 26°
- 29° M 40 26°
- 29° A 57 27°
- 30° M 91 27°
- 30° J 70 28°
- 31° J 79 28°
- 31° A 124 28°
- 31° S 140 29°
- 30° O 134 29°
- 30° N 113 28°
- 29° D 88 27°
On the calendar
Dates to plan around.
Dates as published by the organisers. Runways, hotels and slots fill early around these weeks: the sooner we know, the more choice you have.
-
4–9 Dec 2026
Yachting
Antigua Charter Yacht Show
Annual show of charter motor yachts, sailing yachts and multihulls for brokers and captains, marking 65 years since yachts first gathered in English Harbour.
Nelson's Dockyard
In 5 weeks
-
22 Feb 2027
Sailing
RORC Caribbean 600
Royal Ocean Racing Club offshore race of about 600 miles starting and finishing in Antigua and rounding 11 Caribbean islands; 18th edition.
Fort Charlotte
In 4 months
-
14–19 Apr 2027
Sailing
Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta
Annual regatta for classic and traditional yachts, racing off Antigua from Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour.
Nelson's Dockyard
In 5 months
-
21–25 Apr 2027
Sailing
Antigua Sailing Week
Annual keelboat regatta in Antigua, run from the English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour area.
English Harbour
In 6 months
Where to stay
Coves, a private island and a bluff.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
- Jumby Bay Island Three hundred car-free acres a short boat ride offshore, with three beaches behind the reef where hawksbill turtles come to nest.
- Hermitage Bay Wooden cottages on the sand and up the hillside of one sheltered cove, all-inclusive, with an organic garden fed by compost from its own kitchen.
- Curtain Bluff Opened in the 1960s on a sandy point, with a calm bay beach on one side of the bluff and surf on the other.
Where to dine
Dinner along the south coast.
No MICHELIN Guide covers Antigua. These tables are rated by AAA and Frommer’s, with the evening restaurant of Curtain Bluff.
- Le Bistro AAA Three Diamond French $$$ Hodges Bay, north coast, about 25 km by road
- Sheer Rocks Frommer’s Mediterranean, small plates $$$ Ffryes Bay, about 15 km west
- Tamarind Signature restaurant, Curtain Bluff Five-course set menu Curtain Bluff, Old Road, about 10 km west
Elsewhere in Antigua and Barbuda
More reasons to come.
Flying to Antigua?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.