Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is classic Caribbean beach country, famous for claiming a different white-sand cove for every day of the year. English Harbour's restored Nelson's Dockyard gives the island a genuine slice of 18th-century naval history amid the yacht masts, and Barbuda's Frigate Bird Sanctuary offers one of the region's great wildlife spectacles. The pace here is unapologetically slow: sailing, snorkeling reefs, and long lunches by the water are the main order of business.

Why go thereBeaches Islands Diving & snorkelling Nightlife & music Culture & heritage Food Adventure sports Wellness & spa

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Fungee and pepperpot

Cornmeal and okra dumpling with a vegetable and salt meat stew, the national dish.

Ducana

Grated sweet potato and coconut steamed in banana leaf, eaten with saltfish.

Saltfish

Salt cod stewed with onion, tomato and pepper, served with ducana at breakfast.

Food & drink to try

Fungee and pepperpot

Cornmeal and okra dumpling with a vegetable and salt meat stew, the national dish.

Ducana

Grated sweet potato and coconut steamed in banana leaf, eaten with saltfish.

Saltfish

Salt cod stewed with onion, tomato and pepper, served with ducana at breakfast.

Goat water

Goat stewed with cloves, rum and breadfruit into a thick brown soup.

Seasoned rice

Rice cooked with pigeon peas, salt meat and herbs in one pot.

Conch water

Conch simmered with dumplings and root vegetables into a restorative broth.

Antigua black pineapple

A small, exceptionally sweet pineapple grown only on the island's south-west.

Antiguan bread pudding

Stale bread soaked in spiced milk and rum, baked dense and cut cold.

Ginger beer

Fresh ginger steeped and fermented briefly, sharp enough to catch the throat.

Antiguan rum

Column-still rum distilled since the sugar years, drunk with lime and coconut water.

Practical info

Drives on the left

Entry & health

Set your passport

police.gov.ag mpsl.gov.ag nagico.com

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

Restaurants and hotels commonly add a 10% service charge to the bill; if it's not included, tipping 10-15% is customary, while an extra 5-10% on top of an included charge is appreciated but not required. Taxi drivers generally expect a small tip (round up the fare), and porters/bellhops are typically tipped a couple of EC/US dollars per bag.

Check your bill for the 10% service charge before tipping again on top of it
Camouflage-patterned clothing is illegal for civilians (including tourists) to wear in public across many Caribbean islands, including Antigua and Barbuda — leave it at home
Swimwear should be reserved for the beach or pool; cover up with a shirt or wrap when in town, restaurants, or shops
Sundays are quiet, especially outside resort areas, as many locals attend church and some businesses close or reduce hours
Antiguans are generally warm and formal in greetings — a friendly 'good morning/afternoon' before starting a conversation or transaction is customary and appreciated
Respect local customs around Carnival (July-August) — it's a major cultural event, so expect road closures, loud music, and crowds during festivities

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Antigua & Barbuda — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA