Getting Around Antigua (Traveller’s Guide)

Figuring out how to get around in Antigua and Barbuda is one of your first – and sometimes confusing – parts of planning a trip, especially if you’re aiming for a relaxed, stress-free itinerary.

Antigua offers public buses, taxis, and rental cars, but they don’t all work equally well for your travel style. Rental cars provide flexibility and freedom, while taxis add up in cost quickly, and taking buses requires more planning and patience than you might expect.

I rented a car in Antigua for my whole visit and enjoyed driving around the island at my own pace.

I saw how taxis and the local bus system worked, including the reality that buses stop running at sunset – something that can catch visitors off guard if they aren’t prepared and make you miss Antigua’s beautiful sunsets.

Let’s help you decide how you will be getting around Antigua and Barbuda – especially if you want to get around comfortably without being rushed, overwhelmed, or stuck waiting on transportation.

How to Get Around Antigua & Barbuda

You can reach a lot of the island via bus if you are patient. The parts you can’t achieve can be easily reached by taxi or car rental. If all else fails and you want to skip the planning, you can always take guided tours. Here’s a breakdown of getting around in Antigua:

Buses in Antigua

Buses in Antigua are the most budget-friendly way to get around Antigua, although they aren’t as comprehensive as other tropical islands, like Barbados. Busing around Barbados was so much easier than Antigua.

The local buses are large, 12-seater passenger vans (usually white or silver with B for ‘bus’ on the license plate). You can get a bus from one of the main bus terminals, like the West Bus Station Terminal in St. Johns, or you can flag a bus on the side of the road.

The big downside to taking a bus around Antigua is that they don’t go everywhere (like Half Moon Bay, Long Bay, and Rendezvous Bay). Also, the buses leave when full, so there’s no set schedule.

They stop running at sunset daily.

Taxis in Antigua

The most expensive (and possibly inconvenient) way to get around Antigua is by taxi. Taxi costs add up quickly, especially if you’re going all around the island, so you need to budget for this.

Also, taxis aren’t everywhere. Even the hotels I stayed at in Dickinson Bay were far from town, and taxis didn’t come down the side streets. The easiest way to get a taxi is to arrange one with your hotel.

I noticed that what looked like innocent walks in Antigua were more challenging, hilly, and took way longer than you’d imagine. So, you don’t want to rely too much on walking around and taxis if you can avoid it.

Rental Car/Driving

Renting a car and driving is the best way to get around Antigua. Driving allows you to reach more off-the-beaten-path destinations and isolated beaches and, generally, go on more adventures in Antigua.

Depending on how many days you spend in Antigua, the cost of a rental car can add up, but I found it worth it for my week on the island to adventure on my own timeline. The cost of my 7-day rental worked out cheaper than taxis for where I wanted to explore.

But please get the full insurance for your rental car, because I opted out and had to pay out-of-pocket when our car got side-swipped while parked at our hotel in English Harbour.

If you don’t plan to drive or only want to rent a car for a day or two, make sure to leave extra time in your itinerary to get around by public transit and taxis.

Tours

If you want to sit back and relax without the hassle of driving, trying to catch a bus, or planning too much, you can always rely on guided tours.

Most tours, like many Antigua snorkelling tours, include transportation from your accommodation.

You can even do a mix of transportation options: take a bus to a beach, join a few tours with transportation, walk to a restaurant or two, and rent a car for a shorter period. I love to do this.

How to Get to St.John’s from Antigua Airport

The first thing you’ll need to figure out is how to get from Antigua Airport to your accommodation on the island.

By Bus

Bus #42 is the direct bus from Antigua Airport to the West Bus Station in St. John’s. It takes about 45 minutes. It’s the most affordable but not the most convenient way to travel from the airport to St. John’s.

The bus stops running at sunset so if you land at night, you’ll want to organize a taxi or rental car instead. Also, you’ll have to get from the West Bus Station to your accommodation.

By Taxi

Taxis are the easiest way to travel from Antigua Airport to St. John’s. You can get a taxi at the official taxi stand outside the airport exit. Prices are fixed, so you don’t have to worry about haggling. The ride only takes about 15 minutes.

By Driving

Having a rental car is the easiest way to get around the island because you get more freedom and can visit more places off the beaten path. You can easily rent a car at the airport and drive it to your accommodation in St. John’s. The trip only takes about 15 minutes.

Getting Around Antigua by Bus

Getting around Antigua by bus is slightly restrictive because there’s no clear bus schedule, and the buses don’t go everywhere, but it’s possible with patience.

How to Get From St. John’s to English Harbour

To travel from St. John’s to English Harbour, just take bus #17 from the West Bus Station in St. John’s. You’ll get dropped off at the English Harbour Bus Station, and the ride takes about one hour.

This is one of the most important bus routes if you’re just getting around by bus because English Harbour is one of the most popular places to visit on Antigua, and it’s near many other popular places, like Nelson’s Dockyard and some good scuba diving locations.

Before deciding to stay in English Harbour for part of my trip, I debated taking the bus to get around, and was glad I didn’t after seeing the hills. Walking on hills in the heat don’t always go well for me.

How to Get From St.John’s to Jolly Harbour

To get to Jolly Harbour from St. John’s, you can take bus #20 or bus #22. They both go to Jolly Harbour and take about 30-40 minutes.

Jolly Harbour is a popular resort destination with a beautiful beach, Valley Church Beach. I spent a few nights in Jolly Harbour at an all-inclusive hotel.

How to Get From St.John’s to Willikies

To get to Willikies from St. John’s, take bus #33. The journey takes about an hour and 15 minutes each way. While Willikies is a bit further away than other popular towns and marinas on Antigua, it’s worth visiting.

Willikies is where you’ll find Devil’s Bridge National Park and Stingray City, two highlights on the island.

It’s also easy to find information about other popular bus routes in Antigua. Just remember, there’s no set timetable. Most buses leave when full (although they leave around every 15-30 minutes for popular destinations), so you can’t rely on a schedule to get around.

How to Get to Barbuda From Antigua

The country is called Antigua and Barbuda, not just Antigua. I wanted to visit Barbuda on my trip there, but ran out of time. Nevertheless, how to get from Antigua to Barbuda is easy.

Barbuda is 42 km (26 miles) from Antigua. You can get there by plane or ferry. Flights from Antigua to Barbuda take approximately 15-20 minutes. The ferry departs from St. John’s Harbour and takes approximately 90 minutes via Barbuda Express Ferry.

Since it’s a short flight/ferry ride, you can even visit on a day trip. You can take a plane or a ferry. Just check and plan around the ferry schedule because it has limited hours. You must also prepare and plan for the weather, as the ferry departures are at the mercy of the weather and sea conditions.

FAQs on Getting Around Antigua

Even if they drop you off wherever you’re trying to go, you’ll have to walk a lot to/from the bus station, and certain parts of the island are very hilly. Public transportation is not as efficient as in other Caribbean hotspots like getting around Panama.

So, Do You Need a Car in Antigua?

You don’t need a car, but it really helps to have one, especially if you want to explore beyond St. John’s.

Most things aren’t within walking distance, and the best beaches, hikes, and adventure activities are evenly spread around the island.

You can take public buses (or white vans), but they don’t run on a schedule or go everywhere. Such as the popular Shirley Heights Lookout and Half Moon Bay on Antigua’s east coast.

Renting a car and driving in Antigua is the easiest way to explore the island.