10 Best Beaches in Antigua

Half-Moon Bay is a long stretch of pink and white sand and curacao-colored water named for its crescent shape and calm surf that's ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Just offshore, you'll find a living coral reef, and near the middle and south of the beach, you'll find slightly choppier surf, which is great for wakeboarding and bodysurfing. Half-Moon Bay is located on the southeastern coast of the island, about 40 minutes from the capital.

This beach is popular with visitors and locals alike, and the length of the beach makes it easy to find a quiet spot even on the busiest days. If you're into bird-watching, you can also catch sight of pelicans, ospreys, hawks, and other birds here.

Dickenson Bay offers the quintessential upscale Caribbean experience with long stretches of highly developed white sand, turquoise waters, resorts, restaurants, shops, and watersports with full amenities. This beach is at the heart of Antiqua's resort area, so it's easy to find pampering full-featured lodging here, and it's often considered amongst the best beaches in Antigua for socialites.

You can rent equipment for watersports as well as umbrellas and loungers. You can head for the shoreline, where you'll find every kind of restaurant from seafood fine dining to takeaway stands, food trucks, and cafes. The area's nightlife scene also finds a hub here with plenty of bars and clubs, or you can shop till you drop at tonnes of boutique stores.

Hawksbill Bay on the west of the island is on a peninsula that offers endless stretches of sand and sun that offers four different beaches along its shores. It tends to be a quiet and serene beach, less crowded than the others, with three of the beaches restricted to resort guests and requiring security entrance. The fourth beach, Eden Beach, is a clothing-optional beach that offers soft orange sands and a serene experience.

This gold sand beach offers outstanding scenic views of the Hawksbill Rock crags for which the beaches are named. It's also a good place to go snorkelling and get a view of the tropical sea life beneath the waters.

Ffryes Beach is an ideal place for families looking for a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle on a stretch of sun and sand shaded by sea grapes. This beach is popular amongst families who visit the region, and kids love to run and play in the sand here, but it doesn't tend to get overly crowded, so you and the entire family can relax here. If you're looking for authentic local cuisine, you can find great barbecue facilities and sit-down restaurants.

Ffryes is on the island's west coast. While it's a great place to go for swimming, eating, and relaxation, you'll need to go a bit south if you want to go snorkelling.

Fort James Beach is just 5 minutes from the St. John Cruise Port and offers a long stretch of white sand a few minutes from famous historic ruins. Because of its proximity to port, it's popular amongst visitors who visit the island as part of a cruise, but other than that it tends to be a rather quiet and serene beach that rarely gets crowded in comparison to 2 adjacent beaches, which makes it a solid option if you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Fort James Beach offers showers, lounger, and umbrella rentals, and changing facilities. Restaurants can be found at both ends of the beach to grab a meal.

Pigeon Point Beach is the place to go if you're a history buff, with neem trees flanking two natural harbours and the 18th century Nelson's Dockyard heritage site. Here you can visit a working dockyard that's been in use for hundreds of years and was once the home of Horatio Nelson. Today it's a family-friendly playground with tonnes of shops, restaurants, and opportunities for fun and adventure.

You can find tonnes of museums, fort ruins, hotels, and restaurants in this area. If you visit in April and May, keep an eye out for the Antigua Sailing Week event, a free celebration with barbecue and boat racing.

Fort James is a historic cliffside fort on the northwestern shoreline of the island with a rocky beach ideal for horseback riding, historic adventures, and stunning views of the bay. Not to be confused with the sandy Fort James Beach, a few minutes drive up the coast, these ruins aren't great for swimming or lying in the sand, but they are an outstanding place to go if you want to capture photos and learn about the island's history.

Horseback riding tours are popular here, and you'll be guided on your ride with waterfront, rolling hill, and craggy clifftop views and learn all about the island. It's a different kind of family-friendly beach experience.

Jabberwock Beach offers a mile of yellow-white sands and clear waters hit by trade winds and sea breezes that make this beach a popular spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. This is the beach to come for watersports from surfing to bodyboarding and beyond. The beach even hosts a kiteboarding school on its southern end. It's just a few minutes from the V.C. Burd International Airport on the island's northeastern shores.

The beach is also lined with palm trees for shade and dotted with picnic tables. It's a popular weekend spot not only for sports enthusiasts but for people looking to pack a picnic and just relax in the shade.

Long Bay Beach is known as the spot to come for snorkelling with sponges, parrotfish, and other colourful sea life abundant just feet away from its soft sugar sand shores. The coral reef here on the island's eastern shore is vibrant and full of life and is sure to make for an exciting snorkelling experience. This is also the home of Devil's Bridge, the easternmost point of Antigua, where millions of years of coral buildup have created a stunning rock arch with blowholes and waterspouts.

Just a few steps from the beach, you'll find independent beach kiosk shops and great restaurants. This full-featured beach offers everything from shopping and dining to excitement and relaxation all in one spot.

Rendezvous Bay Beach is a stretch of white sand and turquoise water on the island's south side, offering an isolated hidden gem amongst undeveloped coastline. The only way to reach this bay is by either a private yacht or a rugged hike through dense rainforest. The trail is marked, but it's a hike of a couple of miles. When you reach the beach, however, the hike is worth it.

The sand is along the shores of a crystal clear lagoon with calm waters ideal for wading, relaxation, and swimming. It's also rarely crowded, as most folks gear towards the more visitor-oriented beaches. This is the place for a serene escape after a good hike.