Walking in Antigua is best planned by effort. The flat routes are in town and around the harbour, the steeper ones climb above English Harbour, and the long days are ranger-led in the south-west hills. The sun is strong from mid-morning, so start early, carry water and wear a hat. Prices are in US dollars where operators quote them, and the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) is pegged at EC$2.70 to US$1.

Sightseeing in Antigua splits neatly into three areas. English Harbour in the south holds the naval heritage, St. John’s in the north-west has the museum and cathedral, and the east and centre hold a sea arch and a former sugar estate. Prices are in US dollars where sites quote them, and the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) is pegged at EC$2.70 to US$1. English Harbour: allow a full day Nelson’s Dockyard National Park is the centrepiece.

A romantic stay in Antigua works best when each part of the day has one plan. This page follows a day from morning to night and then covers where to sleep. The warmest, driest weeks fall between mid-December and mid-April. Resorts usually quote in US dollars, and the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) is pegged at EC$2.70 to US$1. Morning: a beach with no crowd Rendezvous Bay, on the south coast, has no development at all.

Antigua does not offer packaged touring routes that run for several days. The main island covers about 281 square kilometres, and distances are short. A longer visit is built from a base, a few day outings and, if you like, one night on another island. This page sorts those building blocks by length of stay. Prices are in US dollars where operators quote them, and the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) is pegged at EC$2.

What suits a family in Antigua depends mostly on how old the children are and how well they swim. The ideas below are grouped that way. Prices are in US dollars where operators quote them, and the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) is fixed at EC$2.70 to US$1. Small children Antigua Donkey Sanctuary. The Antigua and Barbuda Humane Society keeps about 150 donkeys at Bethesda. Entry is free and donations are welcome.

Antigua is small, so the real choice for a day out is how you leave it. A ferry takes you to Barbuda, a short flight does the same job faster, and small boats reach the islets and reefs off the coast. Montserrat needs separate planning. Prices are in US dollars where operators quote them, and the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) trades at EC$2.70 to US$1. By ferry: Barbuda Sea Bridge Ferries, formerly Barbuda Express, makes the crossing in about 90 minutes each way, with one-way adult fares from about US$65.

Most guided attractions in Antigua can be booked in two ways: through a reseller, or by contacting the operator. Resellers show the price and the start time in one place. Operators can answer questions about pick-up, children and weather. Prices below are advertised figures in US dollars, so check them when you book. Local prices use the Eastern Caribbean dollar, which is fixed at EC$2.70 to US$1. Short outings of 2 to 3 hours Rainforest zip lines.

Opening days shape an Antigua week more than anything else. Several of the best activities run only on set days, so it pays to place those first and use the gaps for beach time. Most operators quote in US dollars. The Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) is pegged at EC$2.70 to US$1, and US dollars are taken widely across the island. Sunday: the Shirley Heights party The lookout above English Harbour keeps its longest hours on Sunday, from 9am to 9:30pm.