A practical guide for travelers from the US, UK and Canada: where to go, what to do, how to plan the perfect trip, and what you need to know if you’re thinking about moving or starting a business on the islands.
Antigua & Barbuda is a twin-island nation in the Eastern Caribbean, known for white- and pink-sand beaches, calm turquoise water, world-class sailing and some of the warmest people you’ll ever meet. Locals call Antigua “Wadadli.” Whether you’re coming for a week in the sun, a season of remote work, or a long-term move, this guide gives you the essentials in one place.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
| Location | Eastern Caribbean, Leeward Islands; two main islands, Antigua and Barbuda |
| Capital | St. John’s (on Antigua) |
| Language | English |
| Currency | Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), pegged at about 2.7 XCD to 1 USD; US dollars widely accepted (EntryBrief) |
| Time Zone | UTC−4 all year (1 hour ahead of New York in winter, same time in summer) |
| Driving | Left side of the road |
| Power | 230V / 60Hz, US-style A/B plugs, so US chargers usually work (EntryBrief) |
| Main Airport | V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU) |
| Weather | Warm all year, roughly 75–90°F; driest and busiest December–April; hurricane season June–November |
| Best time to visit | December–April for the best weather; May–June and November for lower prices; late July–early August for Carnival |
| Emergency | 911 or 999 |
Getting there from the US, UK and Canada
US, UK and Canadian passport holders do not need a visa for tourist or business visits of up to 180 days (EntryBrief UK, EntryBrief Canada). In January 2026 the Tourism Authority confirmed entry rules for US visitors had not changed (Travel Market Report).
What to bring
- A passport book (a US passport card won’t work for flights), valid for at least 6 months
- A return or onward ticket and proof of where you’re staying
- The ArriveAntigua online immigration and customs form, completed within 72 hours before your flight; you get a QR code to show on arrival. It replaced the old paper card (VC Bird Airport)
Flights (nonstop routes; most others connect through Miami, New York or London)
| From | Airlines with nonstop service | Approx. flight time |
| Miami | American Airlines (daily) | 3–3.5 hrs |
| New York (JFK/Newark) | American, JetBlue, United (Newark) | 4.5–5 hrs |
| Charlotte / Atlanta | American (Charlotte, seasonal), Delta (Atlanta) | 4–4.5 hrs |
| London (Gatwick / Heathrow) | British Airways, Virgin Atlantic | about 8.5 hrs |
| Toronto | Air Canada, WestJet (mostly winter) | about 5 hrs |
Source: Best Antigua flight guide, Alternative Airlines. Routes change by season, so link visitors to Google Flights rather than listing exact schedules.
Getting to Barbuda: the Barbuda Express ferry from St. John’s (about 90 minutes) or a short small-plane hop.
Getting around: taxis have government-set fares (agree the price first); rental cars need a temporary local driving permit, available from the rental company; local buses run from St. John’s on set routes.
Top Places to Visit
Historic and cultural
| Place | Description | Area |
| Nelson’s Dockyard | UNESCO World Heritage Site: a restored 18th-century Georgian naval dockyard with restaurants, shops and superyachts | English Harbour (south) |
| Shirley Heights Lookout | The island’s most famous view over English and Falmouth Harbours; Sunday-evening sunset party with steel band and reggae | English Harbour |
| St. John’s | The capital: colourful Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay, the Public Market, St. John’s Cathedral and the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda | North-West |
| Betty’s Hope | Ruins of the island’s first large sugar plantation, with a restored windmill; an honest look at the island’s history | East |
| Fort James | Old British fort guarding St. John’s harbour, next to a calm local beach | Near St. John’s |
Beaches
| Place | Description | Area |
| Half Moon Bay | Wide crescent of pink-white sand on the wild Atlantic side | East |
| Dickenson Bay | Lively resort beach with water sports and beach bars, close to St. John’s | North-West |
| Ffryes Beach and Darkwood Beach | Calm west-coast water and some of the best sunsets on the island | South-West |
| Valley Church Bay | Soft sand and shallow, glass-clear water | West |
| Pink Sand Beach / 11-Mile Beach | Miles of empty pink-tinted sand on Barbuda | Barbuda |
Nature and outdoors
| Place | Description | Area |
| Stingray City | Wade and swim with friendly southern stingrays in a shallow sandbar | East |
| Devil’s Bridge | Natural limestone arch where Atlantic waves blast through blowholes | East |
| Fig Tree Drive | Scenic rainforest road past banana trees, fruit stands and hillside villages | South-West |
| Mount Obama (Boggy Peak) | Hike to the island’s highest point (about 400 m) for 360° views | South-West |
| Frigate Bird Sanctuary | One of the largest frigate bird colonies in the world, reached by boat on Codrington Lagoon | Barbuda |
| Great Bird Island and Green Island | Small offshore islands for snorkeling and beach picnics by boat | East Coast |
Things To Do + Annual Events
Experiences
- Sail and snorkel: catamaran day trips around the island or out to Cades Reef
- Island-hop to Barbuda: day trip by ferry for pink sand and the frigate birds
- Sunday at Shirley Heights: sunset, steel pan, rum punch, then dancing
- Eat local: try fungie and pepperpot (the national dish), ducana and saltfish, and the Antigua Black pineapple; wash it down with Wadadli beer or a local rum
- Zipline and rainforest tours: canopy tours near Fig Tree Drive
- Kitesurf and windsurf: steady trade winds on the east and north coasts
- Hike: Mount Obama, the Pillars of Hercules trail at Galleon Beach, or Wallings Nature Reserve
- Shop and explore St. John’s: markets, local art and duty-free shopping at Heritage Quay
Events calendar (dates confirmed so far)
| Event | 2027 Dates | What it is |
| RORC Caribbean 600 | Feb 16–26 | 600-mile offshore yacht race starting in Antigua |
| Antigua Racing Cup | Mar 17–21 | New high-level regatta (Caribbean Sailing) |
| Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta | Apr 14–19 | Classic wooden yachts at Nelson’s Dockyard |
| Antigua Sailing Week | Apr 21–25 | The island’s best-known regatta and parties (Sailing Week) |
| Antigua Carnival (70th year) | About Jul 24 – Aug 3 (to be confirmed) | The Caribbean’s big summer festival: J’ouvert, calypso, soca, mas bands (Tourism Authority form) |
| Independence Day | Nov 1 | National holiday with parades and celebrations |
Sailing dates from the Caribbean Sailing calendar.
Sample Itinerary
3-day long weekend
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
| 1 | Land, check in, swim at Dickenson Bay | Walk St. John’s: Redcliffe Quay, the market, the cathedral | Sunset dinner on the west coast |
| 2 | Catamaran snorkel trip | Stingray City | Shirley Heights (if it’s a Sunday) or dinner in English Harbour |
| 3 | Nelson’s Dockyard and Fort Berkeley walk | Beach time at Galleon Beach or Pigeon Point | Fly home |
7-day full island experience
| Day | Plan |
| 1 | Arrive, settle in, sunset at Ffryes or Darkwood Beach |
| 2 | St. John’s city tour, Fort James, local lunch, evening at Dickenson Bay |
| 3 | Nelson’s Dockyard and Shirley Heights; Sunday party if timing works |
| 4 | Round-island catamaran cruise with snorkeling stops |
| 5 | Day trip to Barbuda: Frigate Bird Sanctuary and Pink Sand Beach |
| 6 | East side: Betty’s Hope, Devil’s Bridge, Half Moon Bay; Stingray City |
| 7 | Fig Tree Drive, Mount Obama hike or zipline, farewell dinner |
Add-on for people scouting a move or business: spend a day visiting neighbourhoods (Jolly Harbour, English Harbour, the north coast), the Antigua & Barbuda Investment Authority office, and a co-working space or local bank.
Live in Antigua & Barbuda
There are three realistic routes for people from the US, UK or Canada: long visits, a local job with a work permit, or citizenship by investment. Present these as three cards.
Important update: many websites still advertise Antigua’s two-year “Nomad Digital Residence” for remote workers. The government’s own portal (nomad.gov.ag) now says the program has ended, and no replacement has been announced (Stamped Nomad, checked Oct 2026). Leave it off the page, or mention it only as closed, so you don’t send people down a dead end.
| Route | Who it’s for | Key Facts |
| Extended visitor stay | Snowbirds, people scouting a move | Visa-free; first stay typically 3 months, extendable to 6 at Immigration. No local employment allowed (Rio Times) |
| Work permit | People with a job offer | The employer applies, after advertising the job locally first. You need the offer before you move (Rio Times) |
| Citizenship by Investment (CBI) | Investors and families wanting a second passport | From US$230,000 to the National Development Fund, or US$300,000 in approved real estate (5-year hold), or US$1.5M business investment. Plus government processing and due-diligence fees. Must spend 5 days in the country in the first 5 years (Rio Times, IMIN) |
CBI rules are changing. A new regional regulator for Eastern Caribbean CBI programs is coming in, and a July 2026 bill proposed raising the stay requirement from 5 to 30 days (Rio Times). Also, since January 1, 2026, the US has suspended most new visas for Antiguan nationals, citing the CBI program (NTL). An Antiguan passport therefore doesn’t help with US travel right now. Applications go only through government-licensed agents.
Taxes, in one line: Antigua has no personal income tax for residents, but US citizens are still taxed by the IRS on worldwide income (with the foreign earned income exclusion) (Rio Times). Tell readers to speak to a tax adviser.
Living basics to cover on the page: healthcare is limited for serious cases, so carry international health insurance with medical evacuation; imported goods and electricity are expensive; hurricane season runs June–November. The US State Department rates the country Level 1, “exercise normal precautions” (Rio Times).
Do business in Antigua & Barbuda
Foreigners can own 100% of a company in Antigua & Barbuda, and the government offers tax and duty breaks for investment in priority sectors (Biz Latin Hub).
Why Antigua for business (bullet cards)
- English-speaking, English common-law legal system, and part of CARICOM and the OECS regional markets
- Currency pegged to the US dollar, so prices are stable for US investors
- A Tourism Authority and an Investment Authority (ABIA) that actively court foreign investors
- A large Antiguan diaspora in New York, Toronto and London, a built-in customer and partner network
Opportunity sectors (ABIA’s concession list includes agriculture, fisheries and agri-business, business process outsourcing, creative industries and energy (Biz Latin Hub))
| Sector | Example Ideas |
| Tourism and hospitality | Boutique guesthouses, tours, transport, event and wedding services |
| Food and agriculture | Local farming, agro-processing, farm-to-table supply to hotels; the islands import most of their food |
| Marine and yachting | Yacht services, crew and provisioning around English and Falmouth Harbours |
| Technology and BPO | IT services, websites, CRM and network support for local businesses; remote-service centres |
| Renewable energy | Solar installation and energy efficiency, given high electricity costs |
| Creative industries | Media, fashion, music and Carnival-related products |
Incentives
- ABIA concessions: customs duty relief and tax breaks for registered investment projects that meet investment, job or sector targets (Biz Latin Hub)
- Small Business Development Act: exemptions or reductions on duties, property tax and income tax for up to 5 years (Biz Latin Hub)
How to register a business (steps)
- Search and reserve the company name at the Antigua & Barbuda Intellectual Property and Commerce Office (ABIPCO)
- Hire a local attorney to prepare the incorporation documents
- File with ABIPCO and receive the Certificate of Incorporation (iGuide)
- Set up a local registered office (a physical address; a PO box alone won’t do)
- Register with the Inland Revenue Department and Social Security, and get any trade licences
- If you qualify, apply to ABIA for concessions
Sole traders can register a simple business name with ABIPCO instead of a company (Deel). Note: to work in your own business on the island, you’ll still need the right immigration status (work permit or citizenship).
Practical tips, FAQ
Practical tips
- Fill in ArriveAntigua before your flight and save the QR code
- Carry some small US or EC bills for taxis, markets and tips; cards work at hotels and most restaurants
- Book catamaran trips and Barbuda day trips a few days ahead in high season
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen, bug spray and water shoes for rocky spots
- Get travel insurance, especially June–November (hurricane season)
FAQ (use an accordion)
- Do I need a visa? No, not for US, UK or Canadian passport holders visiting for up to 180 days.
- Can I use US dollars? Yes, widely, though change often comes back in EC dollars.
- Is it safe? The US rates it Level 1, the lowest advisory. Use normal precautions.
- When is the best time to go? December–April for weather; late July–early August for Carnival.
- Can I work remotely from Antigua long-term? The digital nomad visa has closed, so long stays are limited to visitor time, a work permit, or citizenship by investment.
- Can a foreigner own a business there? Yes, 100% foreign ownership is allowed.
Disclaimer:
Information is for general guidance and was checked in November 2026. Entry, residency and investment rules change; confirm with official government sources or a licensed adviser before you travel or invest. This page may contain affiliate links.
Official Links
- Visit Antigua & Barbuda (tourism authority): visitantiguabarbuda.com
- ArriveAntigua (arrival form): arriveantigua.com
- Citizenship by Investment Unit: cip.gov.ag
- Investment Authority (ABIA): investantiguabarbuda.org
- Company registry (ABIPCO): abipco.gov.ag
Sources
- VC Bird International Airport — Customs and Immigration
- Travel Market Report — Antigua statement on US travel (Jan 2026)
- EntryBrief — UK, US, Canada
- Rio Times — Moving to Antigua and Barbuda 2026
- Stamped Nomad — Nomad Digital Residence status
- IMIN — Antigua CBI cost 2026
- NTL International — Antigua CBI and US restrictions
- Best Antigua — Flights to Antigua
- Biz Latin Hub — Form a company and Advantages of doing business
- iGuide — Register your business in Antigua
- Antigua Sailing Week — future dates
- Caribbean Sailing — Antigua Racing Cup 2027
- Tourism Authority — Carnival 2027 interest form