Holidays and events
Public holidays
Date | Holiday |
January 1 | New Year |
April | Good Friday |
April | Easter Monday |
early May | Labor Day |
June | Whit Monday |
June 12 | Queen’s birthday |
July 4 | Caricom day |
beginning of Augu | carnival |
October 7 | Trading holiday |
November 1 | Independence day |
25./26. December | Christmas |
Source: Countryaah – Antigua and Barbuda Holidays
Sporting events
The West Indies still play an important role as a cricket nation today.
The sporting association includes the states of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands. Cricket tournaments are a social event.
Climate
Travel times
The ideas of what is meant by a particularly favorable travel climate depend on a number of factors. Pure cultural travelers certainly see the climate differently than people who want to spend a pure beach holiday, for example. The state of health or age can also play an important role. The best times to visit Antigua and Barbuda are: December to March.
Climate table
The following climate table shows a range of climate data for the island country. The water temperature varies between 26 °C in winter and 28 °C in summer.
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
January | 13-15 | 26-28 | 20-21 |
February | 10-12 | 27-28 | 20-21 |
March | 09-10 | 28-29 | 20-21 |
April | 07-08 | 28-29 | 21-22 |
May | 10-11 | 29-30 | 21-23 |
June | 10-12 | 30-31 | 22-24 |
July | 13-15 | 30-31 | 22-24 |
August | 13-15 | 30-31 | 22-24 |
September | 13-15 | 30-31 | 22-24 |
October | 14-16 | 30-31 | 21-23 |
November | 12-14 | 29-30 | 20-22 |
December | 14-16 | 28-29 | 20-22 |
Attractions
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that AG stands for the nation of Antigua and Barbuda as a two-letter acronym.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Naval shipyard “Nelson`s Dockyard”
The former English naval shipyard “Nelson`s Dockyard” and the associated archaeological sites on Antigua are colonial buildings from the 18th century.
Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbor was used by the English admirals Nelson, Rodney and Hood as a safe naval base during the Napoleonic Wars because it was considered one of the few hurricane-free natural harbors in the Caribbean.
Today’s tourist attraction near English Harbor is part of Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, which also includes such attractions as Clarence House and Shirley Heights. The main attraction, however, is the aforementioned naval base and shipyard, which was used by the Royal Navy as a base for operations in the Caribbean during the 18th and 19th centuries.
There are around ten restored buildings here. They are more or less lined up around the old fortress, which nowadays only exists as a ruin.
Nelson’s Dockyard was named after Horatio Nelson, a famous shipyard commander at the time.
The naval shipyard “Nelson`s Dockyard” and associated archaeological sites on Antigua were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on July 17, 2016.
Special structures
Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John’s
The National Stadium of Antigua and Barbuda is located in the capital, St. John’s. It was previously used for the West Indies cricket team games.
Clarence House, St. John’s
Clarence House, high above Nelson’s Dockyard, is the governor’s summer residence and was the seat of the Duke of Clarence, later King William IV.
Court
Palace , St. John’s The Court Palace in Saint John’s was built in 1747.
Jolly Harbor, near Bolans
This is a township on Antigua, which is located in the southwest of the island on the coast near Bolans, south of the Five Islands Harbor. Jolly Harbors attractions include the many restaurants, shops, holiday homes and private villas. There is also a golf course and a pretty nice marina.
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, near St. John’s
This stadium in Antigua, built in 2007 for the cricket world championship, was then home to eight games of the major sporting event. For this, the audience capacity has doubled from around 10,000. The gigantic sports facility was named after Viv Richards, the captain of the former West Indies cricket team. You can find the stadium by leaving the capital St. John’s and driving about 20 minutes.
St. John’s Antigua Light, St. John’s
This is a lighthouse that rises at the city harbor of St. John’s.
Museums
Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, St. John’s
Located in the capital, St. John’s, the museum was housed in a colonial court building that was built in 1747. Objects of art from the Arawak and colonial times are shown in the oldest house in the city still in use. Certainly the most interesting exhibit is the life-size replica of an Arawak house.
Antigua Navaal History Museum, St. John’s
Located in Saint John’s, this museum deals with the history of the legendary English port.
theatre
Deluxe Theater
This theater is located in St. John’s Mall.
Old military installations
Block House and Cemetery
The Block House was built by Matthew in 1787 in case of siege. The nearby cemetery commemorates the fallen of the 54th regiment with an obelisk.
Fort James, St. John’s
Fort James, a fortress at the entrance to St. John’s harbor, was built by the British in 1706 to protect the harbor from enemy, particularly French, attacks. The imposing structure was erected on the spot where you can get a good view of the northwestern city. The fort is no longer completely preserved, but the powder magazine, some cannons and the huge walls can still be seen. If you don’t know how to get excited about such structures, you should visit the fort for its grandiose view of the harbor alone.
Shirley Heights, St. John’s
Shirley Heights is a British fortress that was intended to secure the colony’s position in the 18th century against attacks by the Spanish, French or pirates. Shirley Heights was named after the later governor of the Leeward Islands (1781).
Churches
St. John’s Cathedral, St. John’s
This imposing Anglican church in St. John’s presents itself to today’s visitor in the form it received in 1845. The original two forerunners of the current church were destroyed in the earthquakes of 1683 and 1745. The iron gates on the south side of the church are dominated by columns depicting John the Evangelist and the Baptist of the same name.
Parham, Antigua
Parham, to the east of Antigua, is a quaint octagonal church from the 18th century.
Important universities
American University of Antigua
This private university was founded in St. John’s in 2004 and currently has approximately 1,400 students. Medicine is offered as a course of study.
University of Health Sciences Antigua
This private university was founded in St. John’s in 1982. The university’s degree programs relate to medical offers.
University of the West Indies
Antigua and Barbuda are sponsors of the University of the West Indies. This university is a network of several universities, with different institutes spread across the West Indies. There are 3 main institutions in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.
Participating states at the University of the West Indies are:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- British Virgin Islands
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Cayman Islands
- Montserrat
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Natural beauties
Botanical Garden, St. John’s
Between Factory Road and Independence Avenue, the small Botanical Garden of St. John’s extends. With its pretty flora and shady benches, it is a popular refuge within the lively city.
Greencastle Hill
Greencastle Hill is a place with large, mysterious megaliths that were erected in pre-Columbian times in honor of the sun god and the moon goddess.