Antigua holidays are built around the sea: reef-protected bays, a beach for (almost) every day of the year, and a sailing heritage centred on English Harbour. With non-stop flights from London and some of the Caribbean’s best small luxury hotels, it is one of the easiest islands to love on a first visit, and one of the most rewarding to return to.
This guide covers the best time to visit Antigua month by month, where to stay (with a comparison of the island’s leading resorts), the beaches worth knowing, Barbuda, things to do and how to get there from the UK. For our hand-picked trips, see our Antigua and Barbuda holidays page.
The quick answer
- Best time to visit: December to April, the dry season. February and March are the most reliable months.
- Avoid if you can: September and October, the wettest months and the peak of hurricane season.
- Big events: Antigua Sailing Week (21–25 April 2027) and Carnival (late July to early August).
- Where to stay: the west coast for sunsets and calm bays; the south for English Harbour; a private island for real seclusion.
- Getting there: about eight and a half to nine hours from London, with British Airways from Gatwick and Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow.
- Add Barbuda for empty pink-tinged beaches and the frigate bird sanctuary.
Best time to visit Antigua
Antigua is warm all year. Daytime highs move only a few degrees, from around 28°C in winter to around 31°C in late summer, and the sea stays between roughly 26°C and 29°C. What changes is the rain, the humidity and the hurricane risk, and that is what decides the best time to go.
Long-term records from the airport weather station show an average of about 1,050mm of rain a year. February is the driest month, averaging around 45mm, and October the wettest, at around 140mm.
December to April: the dry season
This is the classic time for Antigua holidays, and the best answer to “when should we go?” for most of our clients. The trade winds keep the heat comfortable, humidity is lower and the sea is at its clearest. It is also the busiest and most sought-after season, so the best rooms at the smaller hotels go early, especially over Christmas, New Year, February half-term and Easter.
May to July: the shoulder months
Temperatures climb and showers become a little more frequent, but May and June can be lovely: quieter beaches, calm seas and long, hot days. The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on 1 June, although the early months are usually the least active. July brings the start of Carnival and the summer school holidays.
August to November: hot, humid and hurricane season
August is the hottest month, and September to November is the wettest stretch of the year. The hurricane season runs until 30 November, with the highest risk from August to October. Many days are still sunny, but this is when storms are most likely and some hotels close for their annual refurbishment, so we usually steer clients towards other months. If these are your only dates, book flexible arrangements and take out travel insurance as soon as you book.
Antigua weather month by month
| Month | Weather | Rain | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dry, sunny, highs around 28°C | Low | Winter sun, beach weeks, sailing |
| February | Driest month on average, highs around 28°C | Lowest | The most reliable weather of the year |
| March | Dry and breezy, highs around 28°C | Low | Easter breaks, snorkelling, hiking |
| April | Warm and mostly dry, highs around 29°C | Low | Antigua Sailing Week, late-season value |
| May | Warmer, a few more showers, highs around 29°C | Moderate | Quieter beaches before summer |
| June | Hot, highs around 31°C; hurricane season begins | Moderate | Calm seas, long hot days |
| July | Hot and humid, highs around 31°C | Moderate | Carnival from late July, school holidays |
| August | Hottest month, highs around 31°C | Moderate to high | Carnival’s final days, warmest sea |
| September | Hot, humid, more frequent showers | High | Peak hurricane risk; some hotels close |
| October | Wettest month on average | Highest | Peak hurricane risk; the quietest time of year |
| November | Showers easing, highs around 29°C | High | Early-season quiet before the winter rush |
| December | Drier and breezy, highs around 28°C | Low | Christmas and New Year sun (book early) |
Temperatures are rounded average daytime highs. Rain is relative to Antigua’s own year, based on 1981–2010 averages at V.C. Bird International Airport.
So, what is the best month to visit Antigua?
For guaranteed beach weather, February or March. They are among the driest months of the year, the heat is gentle and the island is in full swing. April runs them close: the weather holds, the crowds thin after Easter and the harbours fill for Sailing Week. For a quieter, warmer trip, May and June are our favourite shoulder months.
Antigua Sailing Week and Carnival
Antigua Sailing Week is one of the Caribbean’s best-known regattas, centred on Falmouth and English Harbour at the end of April. The 2027 edition runs from 21 to 25 April, and future dates are already set: 19–23 April 2028 and 18–22 April 2029. Expect a lively harbour scene, parties ashore and accommodation around English Harbour booked well in advance.
Antigua Carnival is the island’s big summer festival, with soca, steel pan, calypso and costumed bands. It begins in late July and ends with J’ouvert and the Parade of Bands on the first Monday and Tuesday of August, which are public holidays. Exact dates for 2027 have not yet been confirmed, so ask us before you book if you want to be there for the parades.
Where to stay in Antigua
Antigua is small, and most hotels are within about 45 minutes of the airport, so you can stay in one place and explore the rest by day. The coast you choose shapes the holiday more than anything else.
| Area | Best for | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| North-west coast | Families, easy access | Long sandy beaches near St John’s, calm water and short airport transfers |
| West coast | Couples, sunsets | Jolly Harbour marina, quieter bays and the island’s prettiest sunsets |
| English Harbour and the south | Sailors, food lovers | Nelson’s Dockyard, harbourside restaurants and Shirley Heights |
| Private islands | Seclusion, special occasions | A short boat ride to beaches you share with very few others |
| Barbuda | Seclusion, nature | Miles of empty pink-tinged sand and the frigate bird sanctuary |
The best luxury resorts in Antigua, compared
These are the hotels we recommend most often. All are currently operating, and we have checked the details below against each hotel’s own website.
| Resort | Area | Style | Best for | Adults-only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jumby Bay Island | Private island off Antigua, under 10 minutes by boat | Fully inclusive; cottages, villas and private estates on a 300-acre island | Families, total privacy | No |
| Hermitage Bay | West coast (Jennings) | 32 villas, each with a private pool or hot tub; all-inclusive or B&B | Couples, honeymoons | Yes (teens over 14 welcome) |
| Galley Bay Resort & Spa | West coast, near St John’s | All-inclusive beachfront rooms, suites and Gauguin cottages | Couples who want an easy all-inclusive | Yes |
| Carlisle Bay | South-west coast (Old Road) | 87 suites on a horseshoe bay; Leading Hotels of the World member | Families and couples | No |
| Curtain Bluff | South coast (Old Road) | Relais & Châteaux; all meals and nearly all activities included | Families, tennis, return guests | No |
| Blue Waters | North-west coast (Soldier’s Bay) | Family-owned, 85 rooms, suites and villas; all-inclusive options | Families, short airport transfer | No |
Jumby Bay Island (Oetker Collection) is Antigua’s most exclusive address: a 300-acre private island reached by the resort’s own boat in under ten minutes. Stays are fully inclusive, there are white-sand beaches and three pools, and the Jumby Explorers Kids Club makes it as good for families as it is for couples.
Hermitage Bay has its bay to itself on the west coast. Its 32 villas are spread between the hillside and the shore, and every one has a private pool or hot tub. It is adults-only (teenagers over 14 are welcome), with a choice of all-inclusive or bed and breakfast, and it is about 35 minutes from the airport.
Galley Bay Resort & Spa is an adults-only, all-inclusive beach resort close to St John’s, with rooms right on the sand and Gauguin cottages set between the beach and a lagoon. It suits couples who want everything taken care of.
Carlisle Bay sits on a horseshoe bay on the south-west coast, backed by rainforest. Its 87 suites all look out to the ocean or gardens, it is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, and children are genuinely welcome, with a Cool Kids Club to keep them busy.
Curtain Bluff, a Relais & Châteaux hotel, is set on a rocky promontory on the south coast with the sea on both sides. Meals and nearly all activities are included, tennis is a highlight and the Cee Bee Kids Camp makes it a family favourite. It closes seasonally, so check dates for late-summer and autumn trips.
Blue Waters is a family-owned resort on its own bay on the north-west coast, with 85 rooms, suites and villas set in 17 acres of gardens and all-inclusive options. Its short transfer from the airport is a real plus with young children.
If a private plunge pool is high on your list, see our guide to the best swim-up room hotels, and for current savings at many of these hotels, browse our Caribbean holiday offers.
The best beaches in Antigua
Antigua’s claim of 365 beaches is part of the fun, but you only need a handful. The west and north-west coasts face the Caribbean Sea and are usually calm; the east coast faces the Atlantic and is wilder and windier.
| Beach | Coast | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Dickenson Bay | North-west | A long, lively strip of sand with calm water, beach bars and watersports. |
| Darkwood and Ffryes | West | Two sunset beaches south of Jolly Harbour, with soft sand and gentle water. |
| Valley Church Bay | West | Pale sand and very clear, shallow water: one of the best for swimming. |
| Pigeon Point | South (English Harbour) | A short walk from Nelson’s Dockyard; good for a swim between sightseeing and lunch. |
| Half Moon Bay | East | A wide crescent on the Atlantic side; wilder water, so check the sea before swimming. |
| Long Bay | East | Protected by a reef, with shallow water that suits young children. |
All beaches in Antigua are public, even those in front of resorts, so you can walk or boat between them freely.
Barbuda
Antigua’s sister island is flat, quiet and very different in feel: long beaches of white and pink-tinged sand, mangroves, caves and a frigate bird sanctuary where the males inflate their red throat pouches during the breeding season. There is very little development, which is exactly the appeal.
Most visitors come for the day. The ferry from Antigua takes about 90 minutes each way and can be a lively crossing when the sea is up, so a private boat or a helicopter transfer (around 10 to 15 minutes) is worth considering. We can arrange either, along with a local guide for the bird sanctuary and the beaches.
Things to do in Antigua
- Nelson’s Dockyard: the restored Georgian naval dockyard in English Harbour, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with restaurants, a museum and superyachts at the quay.
- Shirley Heights on a Sunday: the island’s best view over English and Falmouth Harbours, with a steel band, a barbecue and a party at sunset.
- Beach-hopping by boat: a catamaran day to the reefs and islets off the north and west coasts is one of the best ways to see the island.
- Devil’s Bridge: a natural limestone arch on the wild east coast, where Atlantic waves blow through the rock.
- St John’s: the colourful capital, with its twin-towered cathedral, craft shops and the Saturday market.
- Sailing: from a sunset cruise to a crewed yacht for the day, Antigua is one of the Caribbean’s great sailing islands.
Getting there from the UK
Comparing islands? Our Barbados holiday guide covers the west and south coasts, turtles in Carlisle Bay and the best things to do.
Antigua is one of the easiest Caribbean islands to reach from Britain. British Airways flies non-stop from London Gatwick, and Virgin Atlantic flies from London Heathrow; some Virgin services include a short touchdown in Barbados, so check the routing when you book. The flight takes around eight and a half to nine hours, and the island is four hours behind the UK in winter (five in summer).
UK passport holders don’t need a visa for a holiday. Check the FCDO travel advice for Antigua and Barbuda before you go. If you would like to see more of the region, Antigua is also a regular port of call on many of the best Caribbean cruises from the UK.
Money and practicalities
Thinking of a second island? Grenada, further south in the Windward Islands, has rainforest, spice estates and Grand Anse beach. See our Grenada holiday guide.
The Eastern Caribbean dollar is the local currency, and US dollars are widely accepted. Cards work in hotels and most restaurants; keep small notes for beach bars and tips.
Food and drink
Try fungee and pepperpot, the national dish, fresh lobster and conch, and Antigua black pineapple, famously sweet. English Harbour and Falmouth have some of the island’s best restaurants, and a rum punch at sunset is compulsory.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Antigua?
February and March are the best months for most people: they are among the driest of the year, with daytime highs of around 28°C and a steady trade wind. April is just as good and brings Antigua Sailing Week, which runs from 21 to 25 April in 2027.
When is hurricane season in Antigua?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with the highest risk from August to October. Most summer days are simply hot and sunny, but if you travel in these months, take out travel insurance when you book.
Which Antigua resorts are adults-only?
Galley Bay is all-inclusive and adults-only. Hermitage Bay describes itself as adults-only, although it welcomes teenagers over 14. Jumby Bay, Carlisle Bay, Curtain Bluff and Blue Waters all welcome children and have their own kids’ clubs or family facilities.
How long is the flight to Antigua from the UK?
Around eight and a half to nine hours. British Airways flies non-stop from London Gatwick, and Virgin Atlantic flies from London Heathrow; some Virgin services touch down briefly in Barbados on the way.
Is it worth visiting Barbuda?
Yes, if you love empty beaches and wildlife. Barbuda has long pink-tinged sand beaches and a frigate bird sanctuary. The ferry from Antigua takes about 90 minutes and can be a lively crossing, or you can arrange a short helicopter transfer.
Does Antigua really have 365 beaches?
That is the island’s famous claim. Whether or not you count them all, there are dozens of excellent beaches, and you are never far from calm, clear water on the west and north-west coasts.
Plan your trip with us
Our Travel Designers know Antigua’s hotels and coasts first-hand. Tell us when you want to travel and who is coming, and we will match the month, the coast and the hotel to you.
Keep planning
- Antigua and Barbuda holidays
- Caribbean holiday offers
- North America and Caribbean holidays
- Best Caribbean cruises from the UK
- Barbados holidays
- St Kitts and Nevis holidays
Updated 1 November 2026. Climate figures are long-term averages; event dates come from the organisers. Hotel details were checked on each hotel’s own website.
