This Tropical Island Has 365 Beaches—One for Every Day of the Year

Antigua is the most beautiful Caribbean island. The island is just over one hundred square miles and has 365 different beaches.

Antigua vacationers are usually more interested in privacy than on nearby islands. (Ahem, St. Barts). Andrew Hedley is director of business development for Tamarind Hills Resort & Villas. This island property understands what travelers want these days: seclusion and relaxation.

Barbuda is Antigua’s sister-island, and all eyes are on it as they await the opening of the Robert De Niro Nobu Beach Inn early in 2026. Rosewood will be following a couple years later. As several Antigua’s award winning boutique properties and private islands resorts undergo top-to bottom refurbishments and improvements it is a great time to escape to Antigua.

Best Hotels & Resorts

Jumby Bay Island, Oetker Collection

The Caribbean is home to many exclusive properties, but few are as famous or as exclusive as Jumby Bay IslandA private island resort located just a few minutes by boat off the coast Antigua. The tropical island is a beach-covered paradise with a variety of cottages, villas and estates. It’s perfect for family celebrations as well as romantic getaways. By bike, you can explore the island’s tranquility and discover new dining options, sports courts, sailing schools, and spas. It was selected by Travel + Leisure One of the most popular readers is the best resorts in the Caribbean Last year.

Curtain Bluff

Antigua’s most popular all-inclusive resort, the Antigua Beach Resort has been around for a long time. Curtain Bluff The hotel is better than ever following a multimillion dollar renovation. It was even featured on T+L’s coveted 2024 It List. The property has upgraded all 72 rooms and suits, as well as adding a new expansive wellness center, complete with an infinity pool, a yoga pavilion and an expanded gym. Although beachfront rooms remain popular, the view from rooms located on a bluff over the sea is more memorable.

Tamarind Hills Resort Villas

Ffryes beach is a white sandy beach with cliffs that are clinging to them. Tamarind Hills Resort and Villas This collection includes studios, private residences and suites. The property is spacious and offers privacy for multi-generational getaways, group trips or romantic getaways.

Hermitage Bay

The newly renovated boutique adults-only resort, which has been on T+L’s list of best places to stay at the Caribbean for the past few years, is a special place. Hermitage Bay Feels sleeker and more sexier. An intimate spa, a new beach club and island-fresh seasonal dining round out the guest experience. The property’s hillside and oceanfront Villas with their expansive outdoor spaces, plunge pools, or direct beachfront access are what make it one of the best. honeymoon spots in the Caribbean.

Royalton CHIC Antigua

The newest resort on the island, Royalton CHIC Antigua A playground for adults only, perched high above the beautiful Dickinson Bay Beach.

The Autograph Collection, an all-inclusive resort affiliated with Marriott, features seven restaurants, 5 bars, a wellness center, a spa and plenty of water sports on and off the beach. The overwater Pescari Restaurant and the collection of overwater villas with butler service are among its most impressive features.

What to do?

Explore Nelson’s Dockyard.

English Harbour on Antigua is one the Caribbean’s most beautiful natural anchorages, attracting generations of sailors. The colonial port is still in use today Nelson’s Dockyard It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with two boutiques hotels, a local museum, craft shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as a marina with everything from stately sloops, to gaudy superyachts. T+L’s locals curated list of the top under-the-radar spots in the Caribbean.

Party at Shirley Heights

Shirley Heights is a restored military battery located high on the hillside of Nelson’s Dockyard. It is a historic landmark and a breathtaking lookout that offers sweeping views over the island, including sailboat-dotted harbors. Hedley describes the Shirley Heights Steel Pan Orchestra as “great entertainment” and “a wonderful place to view one of Caribbean’s most beautiful sunsets”.

Enjoy a beach-hopping adventure.

Antigua’s west coast is a great place to explore. Rent a vehicle and spend the day exploring Antigua’s west coastline, including Jolly Beach. Ffryes Beach is also a must-see. Little Ffryes Beach has been named as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Also, check out the quieter and more windswept beaches on the eastern side of the island. Half Moon Bay, for example, is beautiful with bare sands, but the currents make swimming more difficult. There’s also a beach bar, which serves local food and beer.

Set sail

A Caribbean vacation is not complete without a trip on the water. Spend the day with Barefoot Antigua Sail to the most beautiful seaside spots in the island. The bay and inlets of the island’s western coast are popular for snorkeling and swimming. Cruises can also be taken on calmer weather days to circumnavigate. Be sure to visit Deep Bay to see the shipwreck in shallow water. AndesEven with a snorkel.

Visit Barbuda.

Barbuda is Antigua’s sister island. It’s not just about the cotton candy colored beaches. “For an ‘off-island’ adventure, a tour of Barbuda inclusive of the Frigate Bird Sanctuary—the only sanctuary of its kind in the Western Hemisphere—is highly recommended,” The following is a list of words that begin with the word “you” Rob Sherman, managing director at Curtain Bluff. Nobu Barbuda’s beach club, located on the white sandy beaches of Princess Diana Beach, is another must-see stop for islanders. Plan to return in 2026 when 17 bungalows and world-class restaurants will be available. Nobu Beach Inn Are set to debut.

Best Restaurants

Sheer Rocks

The wind blows past the pool. Cocobay Resort Discover the beauty of the waterfront Sheer RocksA cliffside bar and restaurant so spectacular that it was included in T+L’s top 100 restaurants. most beautiful places in the Caribbean. This hidden spot, which is out of the way, is perfect for watching the sunset over the ocean. It’s even better when you add a Caribbean-inspired tapas menu and seafood specials, as well as craft cocktails, to end the day.

Catherine’s Cafe

Pigeon Point Beach is a quiet, shady area with palm trees. Catherine’s Cafe This is not your typical beachside restaurant. Sherman says that the restaurant is a “must-visit” and has a French-inspired cuisine, which uses fresh ingredients from island farmers and fishermen. Everything from leafy salads to grilled fish sandwiches served on authentic baguettes make for a perfectly light seaside lunch, though the real highlight is the fresh seafood tower, shared with a bottle of rosé or refreshing cocktails.

Papa Zouk

St. John’s is known for its nautical decor, which is heavily influenced by local flavors. Papa ZoukYou’ll find as many locals there as tourists. Island-style conch fritters and saltfish are essential before ordering fresh fish or grilled lobster. It’s best to wash it down with the extensive rum selection of the restaurant. With “over 250 different bottles, this is the largest collection on the island,” Frederic Vidal says.

The Hut, Little Jumby

Jumby Bay Island has a certain exclusivity that even locals appreciate. The Hut, Little JumbyIt is a waterfront eatery, beach club, and a crowning touch to the neighboring Little Jumby Island. You can take a boat from the resort or mainland to Little Jumby Island for some of the best seafood dishes in the area. They also serve craft cocktails and the usual beach food like sandwiches, fries, burgers and beers. There are beach cabanas, which include sun loungers, and larger and more comfortable beach huts. Plan to stay all day long and into the evening for live music, and festive parties.

Explore the Areas Around You

St. John’s

St. John’s is the capital of Antigua. Many visitors bypass it on their way to a beach. However, there are a few colorful buildings in the area, including a fort dating back to colonial times and a small museum. History buffs will enjoy exploring the heart of Antigua. You should avoid the city of St. John’s and its nearby beaches such as Dickinson Bay during cruise ship port times. This area will be crowded with people.

West Side

Antigua’s jagged coastline is interrupted by small inlets, bays and peninsulas that conceal each of the island’s 365 beaches. The west coast of Antigua has the most resorts, restaurants, and shops. The majority of visitors spend the bulk of their vacation here, whether it’s beach hopping, drinking cocktails poolside, or bar crawling.

East Side

On the island’s eastern, less developed side, the Atlantic Ocean foams and churns. It shoots sky high from blowholes in Devil’s Bridge National Park, giving visitors an incredible view of Antigua’s natural beauty. While most beaches on the eastern side of Antigua aren’t suitable for swimming, some are worth visiting. Stingray City attracts tourists who wish to swim among hundreds of rays, which glide through waist-deep crystal waters near the coastline.

The Best Times to Visit

Between December and April, Antigua is the best place to go for sunny skies and bright blue waters. While this is the season when Antigua gets a lot of visitors, and prices go up at restaurants and resorts, it is still the best time to visit for sailing and beach excursions.

Are you looking for a place with good weather and few visitors? You are not alone. Travelers are discovering that the Caribbean is actually really nice during the summer. Therefore, the high and the low seasons for travel have become less defined. In May and June prices are lower, as the island is less crowded and enjoys better weather. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, when temperatures are warmer and more humid. Many hotels and restaurants close between mid-August until mid-October, when tropical storms tend to occur.

Antigua hosts a nearly two-week carnival that celebrates the ending of slavery. Although it isn’t the biggest or most famous carnivals in the CaribbeanAntigua’s Carnival is the perfect anchor for culturally-minded travelers. The carnival features live performances, music, dancing, parades, delicious local food, and much more.

How to get there

Antigua’s V. C. Bird International Airport is not the largest airport in the Caribbean but it has a surprising number of international flights, including from North America. Miami, Atlanta Charlotte Newark New York City JFK, Toronto, and Charlotte all offer direct flights. There are also longer but less regular flights from London Heathrow Gatwick and Frankfurt. Sherman cautions: “Flights are usually reduced in summer because of demand. I would recommend booking early.”

How to Get Around

The easiest way to discover Antigua is by taxi. They are readily available everywhere. The fares are quite high, and most travelers will want to travel beyond the confines of their resort.

Rent a car at the airport or reserve a vehicle in advance to be delivered at your hotel. A local driver’s licence is needed to drive in Antigua. Don’t worry though, as rental companies will take care of the paperwork for you and charge a $20 surcharge.