As someone who grew up in the Canadian Maritimes, I love the beach and it’s one of my favourite places on Earth. Give me warm sun, with a salty breeze, and a beach chair to sit in with an icy cocktail in my hand, and I’m happy as a clam. So, planning my visit to Antigua and Barbuda had me already mentally there.
My first-year roommate in university was from Antigua, and she spoke lovingly about her home, making it impossible not to love from a far, picturing turquoise waters, bustling markets, and the kind of warmth I feel right down to my bones. Seeing the sea was a part of her daily routine. Honestly, the way she described it made my hometown feel like it needed a PR team.
Once I landed in St.Johns, Antigua and arrived at the Hodges Bay Resort and Spa, I understood that Antigua and Barbuda isn’t a checklist destination, where you’re meant to sprint from one activity to the next and come home needing a vacation from your vacation. They make life slow down. You start taking your time. You stop checking the clock. You remember that resting is allowed.
So, if you’re planning a trip in 2026 and want to actually enjoy yourself while you’re there, consider this your permission slip – and your self-care travel guide. Whether you’re travelling solo, with friends or are the designated itinerary planner of the group, here are seven fun, memorable things to do for yourself in Antigua and Barbuda.
What to do in Antigua and Barbuda
- Take the stress away with a beach day
- Connect with sea life
- Wander without agenda
- Indulge your sweet side
- Get into the present with art
- Slow sip drinks
- Widen your senses
The travel essentials our editors swear by.
1. Have a beach day (or seven… or 365)
Let’s start with the obvious: you’re in Antigua and Barbuda. You’re going to the beach. That’s not optional, that’s self-care.
What is optional is how you execute. Go full “I’m going to read a book and ignore all responsibilities” mode. Or “I brought snorkel gear, and now I’m basically Jacques Cousteau.” Either way, you’re winning.
Here’s the thing that made me laugh out loud when I heard it: Antigua is famous for having 365 beaches. And if you have time for a sabbatical, that’s a beach for every day of the year, which is honestly such a travel flex. Like, imagine living somewhere that casually has a new beach for you every single day if you feel like switching things up.
My advice: Pick one day to do nothing on the beach, no rushing, no “should we go somewhere else?” Just you, the sea, vitamin D and mental peace.
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2. Face your fears (gently) at Stingray City
Heading into Stingray City, I was excited and nervous. The second someone said “stingrays,” my brain went, This is how people end up in those nature documentary cautionary tales. But then I remembered something important: sometimes the best travel memories come from the moments that make you a little uncomfortable at first.
So, I jumped in the crystal-clear water with the rest of the tour-goers, decked out in snorkels and life vests, while trying to act brave.
And yes, the instructors mentioned that stingrays can sometimes “suck” on your hand (that’s how they eat the fish from your hand when you’re feeding them in the water). But know that hey don’t have teeth. Instead, they suck with a vacuum-like force to slurp the food right out of your palm or between your knuckles. It’s less “bite” and more “unexpectedDyson.” You can’t help but laugh watching others react to it. It’s pure entertainment, like a real-time reality show.
The stingrays are shockingly graceful, and the whole experience feels surreal in the best way. I thought to myself, am I seriously standing in crystal-clear water with a literal stingray right beside me?
Get the photo, like I did. You’ll want proof later.
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3. Wander the markets and shops, and buy something small but meaningful
You know that feeling when you travel, and you want a souvenir… but not the kind that ends up collecting dust on a shelf until you eventually “declutter” it into a donation bag? Same.
Antigua and Barbuda are so good for this because the shopping experience feels local, creative and personal. The markets and little boutiques are full of pieces made by artists and local businesses, which means you’re far more likely to walk out with something you’ll genuinely want to keep (instead of something that screams that it came from airport gift shop.
Two areas in Antigua that stood out for me were Bay Gardens, which has the cutest little shops and an equally cute coffee stand for all your matcha or iced latte needs (because browsing is simply better with one), and Nelson’s Dockyard, a historic site that’s as beautiful as it is interesting. Nelson’s Dockyard is the kind of place where you can wander through preserved buildings, look at docked yachts, and pop in and out of boutiques.
And then there’s Redcliffe Quay, a shopping district in St. Johns, is where I found my favourite little souvenir: a conch shell tree ornament that I immediately convinced myself was essential for my Christmas tree back home. I also grabbed a holiday ornament for my mom, because I’m incapable of travelling somewhere beautiful without bringing her something.
This is one of those “do it for future you” moments: pick something small, something handmade, something that reminds you of sunshine when you’re back home in your winter coat.
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4. Learn about chocolate making at Antigua House of Chocolate
If you love chocolate, it’s an absolute must-visit. And if you’re more salty than, sweet, Antigua House of Chocolate is still a must. I found it to be impressive and educational in a very delicious way.
It’s an activity that is both a treat and a fun-fact factory. You get to try the dried cocoa beans, learn the full process from bean to bar, and see chocolate made in real time. It’s interactive, and you’ll leave with a whole new appreciation for how much work goes into the thing you usually inhale in 30 seconds.
Sweet Jesus?! Do I have to cut out sugar completely?
5. Visit an art gallery (and plan around Art Week)
Antigua and Barbuda have so much creative energy, and I felt it immediately. In fact, I saw it the second I got off the plane. The airport housed exhibits, featuring incredible pieces from kids partaking in an art contest. The welcome made me pause and look around. I thought, this place has soul. It’s like meditation without the chants. The images just pull you in.
It’s worth planning your trip around Antigua & Barbuda Art Week, which brings together local tours, concerts and celebrations of local talent.
I saw art at the galleries around Redcliffe Quay, where you can wander in and out of spaces at your own pace with a coffee in hand. My personal favourite was Rotten Hill Studios, which felt less like a gallery and more like stepping into someone’s creative studio. Incense drifted through the air, wild chickens wandered the property, and little Buddhas sat tucked into corners. I felt calm in this quietly magical place. It was giving pure artist energy: canvases everywhere, trays of paint, brushes scattered like someone had just stepped away mid-idea. It wasn’t polished in a “look but don’t touch” way. It was beautifully lived-in, and the art was still in motion.
There’s something about seeing local art in the place where it’s created. It’s not just something to check off your list. It’s part of the trip, and if you’re doing this vacation for yourself. Build in at least one moment that makes you feel inspired, and not just entertained.
6. Enjoy a cold beer (preferably while doing absolutely nothing else)
There’s a particular kind of joy that comes from drinking a cold beer somewhere warm while wearing sandals, and you have nowhere to be.
Antigua has its own local brewery, Long Bay Brewing, so you will find it at the resorts across the island. Even if you don’t do a formal tour, you can still make it your unofficial vacation drink. It’s one of those little “I’m here” moments, especially when you’re watching the sun start to dip, and everything slows down.
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7. Try local cuisine (and don’t be shy about repeating your favourites)
When on vacation, always eat well. Do not rush. No “we’ll just grab something quick,” no “whatever’s closest.” Have a meal that turns into a night out, where you’re still talking about it days later.
If you’re a seafood lover, you have to go to Papa Zouk. It’s part restaurant, part rum institution, and it’s famous for having one of the most impressive rum selections you’ll find anywhere in the Caribbean. It offers hundreds of bottles, and the place is widely considered the largest, most diverse rum collection on the island.
And here’s your friendly warning: the rum punch is strong. Like, strong-strong. Like, “I’m fine” to “why is my laugh echoing?” in about 10 minutes. Proceed accordingly, and maybe don’t schedule anything too ambitious afterward or the next morning. You are on vacay, after all.
If you want something a little more beachy and breezy, Salt Plage is another great option. It allows you to linger, order something fresh, take your time, and let dinner stretch into one of those slow vacation evenings where you forget what day it is (the dream).
The best part about eating in Antigua and Barbuda is that it never feels like just a meal. It’s part of the whole experience. And if you’re doing this trip for yourself, know that a great dinner absolutely counts as a plan.