FIRST TIME IN ANTIGUA?
Everything you need to know before you go.
Planning your first trip to Antigua? From the best time to visit and getting around to beaches, money, what to pack and how to spend your days, here’s what we think you should know before you arrive.
There is a moment on the approach into Antigua when the island appears beneath you: green hills, little bays, boats scattered across impossibly blue water and beaches seemingly everywhere.
That gives you a fairly good idea of what is coming.
But Antigua is more than somewhere to fly into, check into a resort and stay beside the pool for a week.
The island is small enough to explore, relaxed enough not to over-plan, and varied enough that two days can feel completely different.
So, for your first visit, our biggest piece of advice is simple:
Get out and discover it.
Here is the Treehouse guide to doing Antigua properly:
First things first: where is Antigua?
Antigua is one half of the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, sitting among the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean.
Antigua itself is only around 108 square miles, which is one of its great advantages. You can wake up on one side of the island, have lunch somewhere completely different and be watching the sunset from another coast that evening. Most journeys across the island can be made in roughly 45 minutes or less.
Its smaller sister island, Barbuda, lies around 27 miles northeast and is famous for its extraordinary pink-sand coastline and frigate bird sanctuary.
Don't make the mistake of thinking Antigua and Barbuda are interchangeable, though.
They are two related but very different experiences.
Arriving in Antigua
If you're flying in, you'll arrive at V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU) in the north of Antigua.
There are direct flights from the UK, United States, Canada and other Caribbean islands, as well as connections from elsewhere.
Visitors should travel with a valid passport and may also need evidence of onward or return travel and accommodation. Visa requirements depend on nationality, so check the current rules before travelling.
One useful thing to know before you arrive is that Antigua now uses the digital ArriveAntigua system for travellers entering and leaving through V.C. Bird International Airport, replacing the old paper arrival and departure forms.
Complete your ArriveAntigua form
Do it before you travel rather than remembering when you've just landed and want to get to the beach!
If you are coming in on a cruise - then you are in luck as Treehouse is located just 10 minutes away from the port. In fact, if you look out as you arrive into the port - you are very likely to see us on your way in (and out!)
What currency does Antigua use?
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, usually written EC$ or XCD.
US dollars are also widely accepted by businesses around the island.
Our advice?
You don't need to arrive carrying huge amounts of cash, but having some EC dollars or small US-dollar notes is useful for taxis, tips, small vendors and places where paying by card isn't convenient.
Cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and established businesses.
One thing worth checking when you see a price is whether it is being quoted in EC$ or US$. That's a very easy first-timer mistake to make.
Do you need a car in Antigua?
Not necessarily.
But if you genuinely want to explore the island, we'd recommend one for at least part of your stay.
Taxis are readily available, particularly around the airport, St John's and the main hotel areas, and fares to many major destinations are fixed. Local buses are inexpensive and an interesting way to experience everyday Antigua, although they are less convenient for visitors trying to explore multiple beaches and attractions.
With a rental car, Antigua suddenly opens up.
You can have breakfast in the north, wander around English Harbour, find a quiet beach in the afternoon and head somewhere else for sunset without organising four different transfers.
One important thing: we drive on the left.
Visitors renting a car need their valid home driving licence and a temporary Antiguan driving permit. The Tourism Authority currently lists the permit at EC$50 or US$20.
And don't worry too much if Google Maps occasionally appears convinced you've driven into a field.
Antigua has its own relationship with roads.
Take your time. After all, you’re on holiday and there is no rush!
Please forgive the potholes!
About those 365 beaches...
You've probably already heard the line:
Antigua has 365 beaches. One for every day of the year.
It has become part of the island's identity…
Whether you're counting them or not, the important part is this:
There are a lot of beaches.
And they aren't all the same.
You have long sweeps of sand and calm Caribbean water, little coves, beaches surrounded by resorts, beaches popular with locals, watersports beaches and places where you can sometimes find yourself almost alone.
For a first visit, we'd make time to see several rather than finding one and declaring the job finished.
Fort James Beach gives you a long stretch of sand close to St John's, with the historic fort sitting above it.
Dickenson Bay is one of the island's best-known beaches, with hotels, restaurants and watersports nearby.
Pigeon Point is a favourite around English Harbour and Falmouth.
Half Moon Bay shows you a completely different, wilder side of Antigua.
And then there are dozens of smaller places you'll discover simply by exploring.
Our rule is:
Never judge Antigua by one beach.
Don't spend your entire holiday at the beach
We realise that's a slightly strange thing for a beach club to tell you.
But it's true.
One of the pleasures of Antigua is mixing lazy days with days when you actually go somewhere.
At least once, head south towards English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard.
Nelson's Dockyard forms part of Antigua's UNESCO-listed heritage area and remains one of the island's most important historic places. Nearby viewpoints also give you some of the most recognisable views in Antigua.
Then there's Shirley Heights.
Go for the view.
Stay for the atmosphere.
And if you're there for one of the famous Sunday gatherings, expect music, food, drinks and considerably more people as the afternoon turns into evening.
You should experience it at least once. Most people will think you didnt really do Antigua if you didnt go to Shirley’s!
Eat somewhere outside your hotel
This one matters.
Even if you're staying all-inclusive.
Leave.
Antiguan food is part of understanding Antigua.
Try local fish and seafood. Have jerk chicken. Find some ducana and saltfish. Try fungi. Order something you've never heard of. Stop somewhere because it smells good rather than because you've read 400 reviews.
And allow yourself a long Caribbean lunch where nobody is particularly interested in rushing you away from the table.
The island's food scene now stretches from roadside grills and local favourites to beach restaurants, marina dining and more ambitious contemporary restaurants. In May every year, as a way of extending the tourist season Antigua's tourism authority has increasingly promoted food and culinary experiences as a major part of the destination itself.
Which brings us, admittedly with some bias, to...
Spend a day at Fort James
Fort James is one of those parts of Antigua that can sometimes be overlooked by visitors racing between their hotel and the better-known attractions in the south.
We think that's a mistake.
The beach sits just outside St John's, beneath historic Fort James, with a huge sweep of sand and Caribbean Sea stretching out in front of you.
And this is where you'll find us.
Treehouse Beach Club
Come for brunch
Swim.
Find some shade.
Order Dunch.
Have something cold.
Read a book.
Let the kids play.
Do absolutely nothing for a while.
Then notice that somehow it has become sunset.
That's pretty much the idea behind Treehouse.
Eat. Drink. Play. Rest.
On Saturdays, you can take that philosophy considerably further.
Under the Leaves starts from 9am, moving from breakfast and beach time into sundowners before DJs, steel pan, entertainment and live bands carry the day into the night.
Stay for an hour.
Or stay until 3am.
Same beach. Different energy.
What is the weather like?
Antigua is warm throughout the year, which is why there isn't really a bad month to want to be beside the sea. Honestly, we are yet to find another place in the world with better or more consistent weather…
Broadly, November through April is the traditional high season, when many visitors from Europe and North America arrive looking for winter sunshine.
The summer and autumn months tend to be quieter, warmer and can offer better value. The water is also a lot clearer!
The Caribbean hurricane season officially overlaps with part of this period, so if you're travelling during the summer or autumn, keep an eye on forecasts and make sure you have appropriate travel insurance.
But don't automatically dismiss the quieter months. Major hurricanes on average affect Antigua once every 30 years!
We stay open all year round - so you can visit us anytime!
For some visitors, fewer crowds and a slower island can be part of the attraction.
What should you pack for Antigua?
Less than you think.
Light clothing, swimwear, sandals or flip-flops, something slightly smarter for dinner, sun protection and a hat will cover most days.
Bring trainers or suitable shoes if you're planning hikes or more adventurous excursions.
A reusable water bottle is useful.
And pack reef-conscious sunscreen rather than deciding after your first afternoon that Caribbean sunshine couldn't possibly be that strong.
It can.
Is Antigua good for families?
Very.
The combination of relatively short driving distances, beaches, warm water and outdoor activities makes Antigua particularly easy with children.
But we'd resist trying to entertain them every minute.
Some of the best family days here are incredibly simple:
Breakfast.
Beach.
Swim.
Lunch.
More beach.
Ice cream.
Sunset.
Done.
Antigua works particularly well when you stop treating every day as an itinerary.
In Antigua, you tend to wake up early and if you spend the whole day outside in the sunshine, eating and drinking - you’ll want to sleep early. And repeat!
Should you visit Barbuda?
If you have enough time, yes.
Barbuda isn't simply another Antigua excursion. It feels different.
It's quieter, much less developed and home to extraordinary natural landscapes, including its famous pink-sand coastline and frigate bird sanctuary.
There are more donkeys than people in Barbuda. There is deer too!
You can reach Barbuda by ferry or air. The ferry journey is roughly 90 minutes, while flights are much quicker. A helicopter journey is less than 15 minutes.
If you're only in Antigua for three or four days, we'd probably concentrate on Antigua.
If you're staying for a week or longer, Barbuda deserves serious consideration.
How long should you stay in Antigua?
You can have a brilliant long weekend here.
But for your first proper holiday, we'd suggest seven days or more.
That gives you enough time to have days when you do absolutely nothing without feeling that you're wasting your holiday.
And that, perhaps, is the secret to Antigua.
Don't turn it into a checklist.
See Nelson's Dockyard.
Watch the view from Shirley Heights.
Explore St John's.
Take a boat out.
Eat somewhere local.
Visit several beaches.
Spend a Saturday under the leaves with us.
But leave some empty space in the diary too.
Because Antigua is at its best when you stop trying quite so hard to see Antigua.
The Treehouse First-Timer's Antigua List
Before you leave, we'd try to tick off just ten things:
Swim at more than one beach.
Explore Nelson's Dockyard and English Harbour.
See Antigua from Shirley Heights.
Eat proper Antiguan food.
Spend a day on the water.
Explore somewhere you hadn't planned to visit.
Watch at least one Caribbean sunset with a drink in your hand.
Spend a lazy day at Fort James Beach.
Join us for Under the Leaves on Saturday.
Leave something undone so you have an excuse to come back.
Welcome to Antigua.
There are plenty of guides telling you everything you must do here.
We'd rather give you one piece of advice:
Slow down.
Come for the beaches, but explore beyond them.
Talk to people. Eat locally. Get on the water. Take the wrong turning occasionally. Watch the sunset. Stay longer than you planned.
That's Antigua, the island way.
And when you're ready for a beach day, you'll find us beneath the trees at Fort James.
Treehouse Beach Club
Fort James Beach, Antigua
EAT. DRINK. PLAY. REST.