A week in Antigua gives you enough time to dip into the island’s highlights without feeling like you’re rushing from place to place. You’ll get calm turquoise beaches, dramatic cliffs, local eats, and a few “I can’t believe this is real life” moments. Here’s how I’d spend 7 days in paradise, my perfect Antigua one week itinerary.
If you’re visiting by cruise, don’t miss my Things to Do in Antigua Cruise Stop guide—it’s perfect for day-trippers.
Ease in on one of Antigua’s most famous beaches. Dickenson Bay is wide, sandy, and calm—perfect for a post-flight reset.
Getting there: 15 minutes from V.C. Bird International Airport, north of St. John’s.
Parking: Public access point just north of Sandals with a small free lot (limited), or street parking.
Do: Swim, paddleboard, or just collapse on the sand.
Eat nearby: Ana’s on the Beach (stylish Caribbean dining) or Chippy Antigua (fish & chips, casual and quick).
Start strong with my favorite beach, then hop to one of the island’s most dramatic landmarks.
Long Bay Beach:
25 minutes from St. John’s. Look for the bright mural on the left when you turn in—yes, I stopped for a photo.
Free dirt lot steps from the sand.
Calm, clear water and rentable chairs.
Eat: Mama Pasta, right on the beach, serving seafood and pasta.
Devil’s Bridge:
5-minute drive from Long Bay.
Free parking lot right at the site.
Rugged limestone arch with waves pounding underneath. DO NOT walk on the arch (waves are unpredictable).
Plan 20–30 minutes for photos and exploring.
You’ll also want to bookmark my Best Beaches in Antigua for quick access to the island’s prettiest shores.
A massive, crescent-shaped bay with two personalities: one wild, one calm.
Half Moon Bay:
40 minutes from St. John’s. Free paved lot by the entrance.
One side is surf-worthy, the other is calm for snorkeling.
Walk the rocky edge to find golden clay—smear it on, bake in the sun, rinse off, and voilà: free spa day.
Eat: Beach Bum Bar & Café. Service is on “Caribbean time,” but the food’s solid. Burger + sweet potato fries = yes. Brad’s chicken wrap = gone in 60 seconds.
For restaurant ideas, head over to my Best Lunch in Antigua list—it’s full of casual local favorites.
Valley Road is beach-hopping central. Three stops, one easy drive.
Darkwood Beach: Sea on one side, lagoon on the other. Park roadside or in small gravel lots. Grab a snack at Darkwood Beach Bar or splurge at nearby Sheer Rocks (tapas with sunset views).
Ffryes Beach: Swing set in the sand = required photo stop. Park along Valley Road or next to Dennis Cocktail Bar (also your lunch option—grilled lobster here is the move).
Turner’s Beach: Wide, calm, and with a clear view of Montserrat. Free parking lot right across the road. Stop at Turner’s Beach Bar & Restaurant for fresh snapper or conch fritters.
This day blends beaches with a little adventure.
Galleon Beach: About 30 minutes from St. John’s. Park near the beach entrance or Shirley Heights trailhead. Calm, clear water perfect for snorkeling (turtles hang out here).
Pillars of Hercules: Walk to the far end of Galleon, follow the rocky trail (wear real shoes), and within minutes the cliff face turns into those iconic limestone columns.
English Harbour: Explore Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua’s historic naval base.
Eat: Catherine’s Café (French-Caribbean chic right on the sand) or Cloggy’s (Mediterranean with marina views).
Time for a little shopping, a little culture, and one of the best sunset spots.
Downtown St. John’s: Walk Heritage Quay for duty-free shops, Redcliffe Quay for local crafts, and the public market for fruit and spices. Park in one of the paid lots near the cruise port.
Jolly Harbour: About 20 minutes away. Park in the marina plaza lot. Stroll the waterfront, grab a coffee, and do some yacht-spotting. This is where we found Antigua’s elusive black pineapple (sweetest in the world).
Eat: Al Porto (wood-fired pizza on the water) or Miracles of the Caribbean (hearty local fare). Stay for sunset—it’s ridiculously pretty here.
End your week with Antigua’s most iconic view.
Shirley Heights Lookout: 25 minutes from St. John’s. Parking lot right at the lookout. During the day, it’s peaceful with sweeping views over English Harbour. On Sunday evenings, it turns into a party with live steel drum bands, barbecue, and dancing.
Eat: Stay for the BBQ—jerk chicken and ribs with that view is the perfect send-off.
Seven days in Antigua gives you the best of both worlds—lazy mornings, adventurous afternoons, and evenings that end with sunsets (or steel drums). You’ll leave sun-kissed, full, and probably plotting your return for days 8 through 365.
If someone told me I’d spend five hours at SkyPark, I would not have believed them. And yet. 😅
Gatlinburg SkyPark sits above the strip and it’s one of those places that looks like a quick stop on paper and turns into most of your afternoon. The SkyBridge alone is worth it — longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, and yes, you will look down.
✨ SkyBridge (longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America)
✨ SkyLift ride up with views of the Smokies
✨ Walking trails with mountain views in every direction
✨ Way less crowded than downtown
Fair warning: if heights genuinely freak you out, the bridge might not be your thing. The rest of the park is still 100% worth it. Full guide with tickets, tips, and what to skip linked in bio. 🔗
I walked into Goo Goo Cluster in downtown Gatlinburg thinking I’d spend five minutes and leave with a small piece of candy. I was wrong on both counts. 😅
You build your own chocolate cluster at a kiosk: caramel, sea salt, pretzels, cocoa pebbles, you name it, and then watch them make it right in front of you. The whole thing takes about 15 minutes and costs $15.
The caveat? This is not a snack. This is a full-size brick of chocolate that I was still eating two days later.
If you’re already walking the Gatlinburg strip, this is an easy yes. Especially if you have absolutely no self-control around caramel. (Asking for a friend.) Full experience breakdown linked in bio. 🔗
Your Knoxville Airport survival guide, from someone who’s flown through TYS 100+ times is now up on my blog🛫
Parking, TSA wait times, where to grab food before your flight, rental cars, all of it, from someone who actually knows this airport. No guessing, no googling at the last minute.
TYS is small, easy to navigate, and honestly one of the less stressful airports I’ve been through. You just need to know a few things going in.
Full guide linked in bio. 🔗
Hundreds of motorcycles. Tweed suits. Tennessee roads.🏍️
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is a global charity event, classic and vintage bikes, dressed-up riders, raising money for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. The bikes are stunning. The outfits are even better.
Full guide linked in bio. 🔗 | @gentlemansride
Went in for Italian. Left thinking about pasta for three days straight.🍝
Osteria Stella in Knoxville is THE date night spot, pink door, moody lighting, and a radiatori con broccoli pesto that I would genuinely go back for alone. The lasagna comes out as its own perfect slice with crispy edges all around. The focaccia with garlic confit disappeared before anyone admitted to eating it.
Make a reservation. Order the pasta. Thank me later.
Full review linked in bio. 🔗
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