where is the best area to stay in antigua?

Where is the best area to stay in Antigua?

By Carles Barcelo. Updated October 27, 2023

If your holiday destination of choice is Antigua, you’ll need to know the best area to stay on this scenic Caribbean island. As Antigua is only 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, it’s easy to reach all resorts and attractions by car wherever you choose to stay.

The capital Saint John’s is the main hub of the island - a cosmopolitan town with glorious sandy beaches, Duty-Free shopping and superb beaches, bars and restaurants. You can jump on a ferry and take a trip to neighbouring Barbuda or Montserrat from here, or rent a car to explore this small, perfectly formed island.

Alternatively, English Harbour Town and Jolly Harbour are bustling beach resorts with a wide range of activities, historic sites and good nightlife to suit families, couples and friends. If you seek a peaceful holiday, Dickenson Bay is an ideal choice for family holidays with crystalline waters, soft white sands and old sugar cane plantations nearby. If you seek an even quieter location, yet within easy reach of amenities and attractions, Falmouth or Saint Philip will suit you perfectly, both have access to beautiful beaches, historic sites, shops, family-friendly attractions, bars and restaurants.If you are interested in where to stay in Antigua, you may also be interested in where to stay in St Maarten, where to stay in St Lucia and where to stay in US Virgin Islands.

Best towns to stay in Antigua

Saint John’s

In the north of the island, nestled on the west coast is the capital of Antigua, Saint Johns. This lively town is just 15 minutes from the island’s airport, meaning no long transfer times to your hotel! It’s a bustling town, lined with pastel coloured buildings, featuring shopping malls, historic sites and museums. Most cruise shops dock around Heritage Quay, and it’s here you’ll find an abundance of Duty-Free shops.

You can browse jewellery, electronics, clothing and accessories, perfumes, wines and tobacco goods in the malls located near the port. Alternatively, if shopping isn’t your thing, you can delve into the islands’ history at Fort James, St John’s Cathedral or in the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda. Some of the best beaches on the island are also in this region, with secluded Hawksbill Bay and Runaway Beach nearby you will be spoilt for choice. If you seek a place to stay in Saint Johns, accommodations consist of low-rise apartments, mid-range and luxury hotels with spa facilities, All Inclusive and Couples Only options, and if you wish to island hop, it’s possible to reach neighbouring Barbuda in around 90 minutes via express ferry.

Hotels in Saint John´s

English Harbour Town

English Harbour town lies on the southern shores of Antigua around 35 minutes from the airport. It’s a pretty resort with historic sites such as Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, Pillars of Hercules and Shirley Heights - an observation post with amazing views from the colonial era.

There are many activities to enjoy including hiking, sailing and diving, or you can spend leisurely days sipping cocktails and enjoying delicious Caribbean cuisine in a waterfront bar or restaurant. Some of the island’s best beaches are near English Harbour Town too. You can top up your sun tan or snorkel at Galleon Beach, or romantics and families seeking solitude can drive to picturesque Rendezvous Bay or Carlisle Bay. English Harbour Town also has some of the best nightlife in Antigua with waterfront bars with live reggae music, DJ’s and dancing.

If you think English Harbour Town maybe your preferred area to stay, there are plenty of hotels to choose from. The town boasts a selection of apartments, reasonably priced guest houses and luxury resort hotels to suit all tastes and budgets.

Hotels in English Harbour Town

Jolly Harbour

Jolly Harbour is a charming resort on the west coast of Antigua around half an hour from the island’s main airport. With palm-lined white sand beaches, rolling emerald hills, a plethora of shops, water sports activities, bars and restaurants, it’s a great resort choice for families and couples.

There’s a golf course on your doorstep if you wish to improve your game, you can take a day trip to St Johns, or charter a boat and view the island from a different perspective. Hotels in Jolly Harbour are charming and characterful with a choice of inns, villas, apartments and hotels ranging from budget to 5-star luxury accommodations.

Hotels in Jolly Harbour

Dickenson Bay

Dickenson Bay is nestled on the north west coast of Antigua less than 20 minutes from the main airport. It’s quieter than St Johns and some of the southern resorts, preferring to focus on palm-fringed soft sandy beaches, calm waters and lazy days in the sun.

You can pop into Saint Johns for Duty-Free shopping at Heritage Quay or hire a car to explore northern beaches and sugar cane plantations of Antigua. Hotels in Dickenson Bay cater to all tastes and budgets with a choice of budget, mid-range, luxury aparthotels and resorts.

Hotels in Dickenson Bay

Falmouth

Falmouth sits on the southern shores of Antigua close to English Harbour Town and 30 minutes from the airport. This tranquil resort is a great place to stay for those who seek a quieter location, yet within a short drive to historic sites and the bustling town of English Harbour.

It’s a popular place for diving, snorkelling and fishing, and there are several hiking trails boasting superb vistas nearby. One of the island’s most beautiful beaches, Rendezvous Bay is 10 minutes by road, or less than an hours’ walk away. Hotels in Falmouth, Antigua are a selection of 2 to 5-star hotels and apartments which cater to every need and budget.

Hotels in Falmouth

Saint Philip

Saint Philip is nestled on the eastern shores of Antigua around 30 minutes from VC Bird International Airport. This is a quieter resort which families and couples will adore. There are plenty of attractions nearby including the old sugar mill ruins, Devil’s Bridge and Stingray City where tourists can swim with friendly rays. Accommodations in St Philip are a blend of apartments, holiday homes, villas and hotels catering to all requirements and pockets.

Hotels in Saint Philip