Entry Requirements
Visa requirements for Antigua and Barbuda depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.
Check if you need a visa for Antigua and BarbudaEmergency Numbers
- General
- 911
Currency
- Name
- Eastern Caribbean Dollar
- Code
- XCD
- Symbol
- $
USD widely accepted. ATMs in St John's and English Harbour. Cards accepted at hotels and marinas. Pegged to USD at EC$2.70:1.
Power Outlets
- Outlet types
- Type A, Type B
- Voltage
- 230V
- Frequency
- 60Hz
Time Zone
AST (UTC−4) — no daylight saving
Best Time to Visit
December–May is the dry season — perfect for the beaches (Dickenson Bay, Half Moon Bay), English Harbour's historic Georgian dockyard (Nelson's Dockyard, a UNESCO site), and sailing. Antigua Sailing Week (April/May) is one of the most prestigious regattas in the Caribbean. Barbuda — just 48km away — has pink-sand beaches and a frigate bird sanctuary.
Tipping Customs
| Venue | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 10–15% | Service charge often included |
| Taxis | 10% | — |
Dress Code
- Casual beach wear at resorts and beaches
- Smart casual for English Harbour restaurants
Social Etiquette
- Antiguans are warm, cricket-obsessed, and very proud of their beaches — the famous claim is 365 beaches, one for every day of the year
- English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour (on the south coast) are the sailing capital of the Caribbean — the protected harbour was used by Nelson in the 1780s
- Barbuda was devastated by Hurricane Irma in 2017 (95% of structures destroyed) — recovery is ongoing and visiting helps the local economy
- Cricket is a deep cultural institution — Antigua's Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is a place of pilgrimage
Local Laws
Laws change. Verify current rules with your country's official travel advisory before departure.
- LGBTQ+ same-sex activity was decriminalised in 2022 — a significant recent change
- Cannabis remains illegal
Common Phrases
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (Antiguan Creole/English) | Wha' happening! / Aright! | wha HAP-en-ing — the standard greeting |
| Thank you (local) | Thank you / Tanks | TANKS |
| No problem (local) | No problem, man | Universal Caribbean reassurance |
| Beautiful (local) | Wicked / Dread | 'Wicked' and 'Dread' are used positively in Antiguan slang — 'that's wicked' means excellent |
| Local beer | Wadadli | wah-DAH-dee — the local beer brand; Wadadli is the Arawak name for Antigua |
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