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.
I walked down to the beach and immediately noticed how calm the water was. 🐚
It sits in a small cove, so there’s really no waves pushing in. You just walk right in without thinking about it. I grabbed my snorkel (they actually rent them for free at the resort, which I didn’t expect) and went out near the pier and stayed way longer than I planned, because the water was that clear.
Honest caveat: if you need a lot of energy and activity at a beach, this probably isn’t it. It’s quiet, it’s calm, and you’re mostly just... sitting there. Which for me was exactly the point.☀️
Full Baoase review linked in bio. 🔗
#curaçao #travel #luxuryresort #privatebeach #visitcuraçao
Dinner at Baoase in Curaçao isn’t just a restaurant, you’re walking into a full resort setting where everything feels intentional. The table is right by the water, the food is French-inspired with tropical and Asian flavors woven in, and the whole thing moves slowly in the best way. We sat there for hours and didn’t want it to end.
✨ Culinary Beach Restaurant, oceanside tables, candlelit ambiance
✨ French-inspired menu with tropical and Asian influences
✨ Service that’s attentive without being over the top
✨ The kind of dinner you’re still thinking about days later
Fair warning: this isn’t a casual grab-a-table kind of spot. You’re making a reservation, thinking through your outfit, and blocking off the whole evening and it’s worth every bit of that.
If you’re celebrating something or just want one dinner that feels a little extra, this is where to do it. Full Baoase resort review linked in bio. 🔗
Curaçao has the beaches everyone talks about, and then it has these. The spots that made this trip actually feel like mine weren’t on any resort map. I found them by renting a car, asking locals, and just following what looked good.
✨ Playa Lagun: a calm little cove where the water does all the work
✨ Playa Kalki: rocky entry, but the snorkeling right off shore is worth it
✨ Playa Jeremi: no rentals, no crowds, no setup. Just the beach
✨ Fort Nassau: watched the sun go down over Willemstad and stayed for dinner
✨ Hofi Cas Cora: breakfast on an actual farm and the freshest food of the whole trip
✨ Willemstad Street Party: I had no idea Thursday nights turned into that. Just followed the music.
✨ Playa Forti: cliff jumping and amazing food, talk about dinner and a show!
Honest caveat: if you need everything planned and structured, a few of these will feel a little too unpolished. But if you like the kind of trip where the best parts are the ones you stumble into, this is exactly that.
All 7 spots with full details are linked in bio. ☀️
#curaçao #hiddengems #travel #travelguide #whattodoincuracao
Here’s the thing about Curaçao that nobody talks about enough there’s really no bad time to go. 🌤️ Outside the hurricane belt. Mid-80s nearly every day of the year. Colorful buildings no matter what month it is.
But there IS a difference between going in peak season vs. shoulder season, and it shows up in your wallet, your beach chair availability, and how long you’re waiting for a table at dinner.
Full breakdown of every season, what to expect, and when I’d personally go linked in bio.
I wasn’t expecting much. I just needed dinner. 🍽️ Kome ended up being one of the best meals of the entire trip.
Wood-fired everything. A menu that actually makes you read it twice. A vibe in Pietermaai that feels nothing like a tourist restaurant and everything like somewhere locals actually go. I didn’t rush. I didn’t check my phone. I just ate, start to finish, and enjoyed every single second of it.
If you’re in Curaçao and you only have one nice dinner make it this one.
#curaçao #travelling #travelvlog #musttryrestaurant #visitcuracao
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