We took a tour from the docks area in an open air vehicle which was good. Today was hot but breezy. We stopped here for half an hour to visit the small museum ($2 per person) and take pictures. The old windmills are beautiful but all the other buildings are in ruins. It is up on a hill so views are nice.

Betty's Hope Sugar Plantation was the first and largest sugar plantation in Antigua. Established by Sir Christopher Codrington in the late 1600s. An enterprise that thrived fueled by labour from enslaved Africans. The site provides a somber and brutal reminder of the island's sugar production and colonial past. The site is on hill which also provides great views. Whilst a lot of the buildings are in ruins, there are placards dotted around with information, detailing what they were and how they were used. I visited at the weekend and as it was quiet and empty it was emotional to stand at the ruins and take in the history of the site. You are free to walk and roam the site, exploring the restored mill and boiling houses for the sugar production. There is also a small slave home, which shows a glimpse of how harsh conditions were for the slaves. Definitely a visit that rocked my emotions. A $2 USD entry fee is recommended, which is fair as there is upkeep for the open air museum to remain a tourist attraction.

Such an amazing structure as I believed it to be a windmill, but it’s a windmill made to crush sugar canes into cranial and liquid. Such a fascination contraption. The history of this sugar plantation blown me away as I learned how and why African slaves were brought here to this island to produce the sugar as it enriched the English people.

It was nice to see and learn about the history. The lunch that was served was also delicious. I had gone with a tour. The tour guide was great.

Interesting history and a cool place to visit. Lots of ruins, but one sugar mill was restored and you could see inside what it would have looked like back in the day. We were told they no longer export any sugar. Lots of goats wandering around the area. We ate lunch here and then were a bit rushed to leave due to our tour, probably need about an hour to walk the sites and read the history.

Small sugar plantation site with a history of over 350 years. There is information available over the site's ownership, history and future restoration plans. We visited on a weekday with next to no crowd and enjoyed our stay. They recommend a small donation of 2 USD per person but it's left to your discretion. The site is quite damaged and there is very little left to see. However, you can visualise what the place would have looked like and it's quite inspiring. I hope the trust invests more money in its upkeep and restores it to former glory.

A must-see to understand Antigua’s troubling history. Run by a local conservation group, there’s a mixture of ruins and some restored components. Visitors are encouraged to make a $2 USD donation to help with future restoration efforts. There’s a small museum room that provides some overarching context with artefacts (with WC facilities) and each of the ruined buildings has a plaque with a little additional information. The restored windmill is quite a landmark, and the ruins of the rum distillery are impressive too. Some great wildlife on-site, we saw a green hummingbird! Quite a lot of guided tours stop through this area - we had 30 minutes with Antigua Voyages Scenic Tour, could have spent 45-60 minutes quite easily.

Nice little shopping area. Many of the vendor's have the same merchandise. Part of the shopping experience is too haggle with the over the price. Most times you can get it for a little less. Front Street is another area where you can find duty free items, that's worth visiting

Very short walk on a long pier and you are rewarded with being in the thick of St Johns, shops, very colourful, bars and restaurants, and of course tour boats of many sizes. It's really easy to wander ashore and amble through the colourful streets, loads of photos, plenty of seats and incredibly lots of free WiFi. We only wanted a short end of day stroll which we really enjoyed but had we known how close the tour boats are we would have spent the day ashore and hopped on a ferry or tour. They are very similar in price to the ship excursions but you are supporting local operators which might be important to you and there are more variety on offer. Worth checking Google or Trip Advisor for guidance as it's a really interesting island if you the time to plan... You can rent ebikes, snorkeling gear etc ashore if you couldn't bring your own.

Visiting heritage Quay is a must when going to Antigua as it’s considered as the islands center, having free-duty shops and great restaurants and a taxi kiosk where you can get a taxi or tour for a decent price

recently visited this Quay Complex and was thoroughly impressed with its beauty and safety measures. The architectural design is stunning, providing picturesque views of the waterfront and some colourful buildings. The entire complex is well-maintained and clean, with attentive security personnel ensuring a safe environment for visitors. I highly recommend this quay complex for a delightful and secure experience. Closes early by 5pm however, something to take note of.

Nice shops. Scams abound everywhere. Even worse the moment you set foot outside the complex. Lots of spotters and pickpocket teams. Very apparent if you stay vigilant. The final straw was a crying child decoy when we tried to walk the boardwalk. Immediately gave up and went back on the ship. Again the shops are nice, but to us, completely not worth the time or vigilance.

This is probably one of my favorite Ports to visits. There is lots of things to do. A lot of stores to choose from, they have Casinos to play/gamble at, restaurants and bar to eat and drink. There are lots of activities all around the area as well.

In the past, I wouldn't bother getting off the ship in St. John's. But, thev worked hard and improved the cruiseport area. So now it's worth a stroll. In town, not so much.

Is nice very old church dominant object in Sant John's. Is obliged to visit 😉 Church ⛪️ is completely renovated from inside and is really done very well. Almost all interiors are made from good quality wood and all other things are done well. The problem is outside look at Church looks like abandoned. Entrance in church is 5 dollars so hopefully that money will help to restore church from outside. Around you have many very old grave also for renovation. With support of visitors and maybe some good donations can become really big touristic attraction. People working there is very nice and polite.

Restoration still in progress! A historical trrasur that reminds of the ctuciform architecture style. The interior reflects the Key Features of a Cruciform Cathedral: Nave: The main body of the church where the congregation gathers. Chancel: The part of the church surrounding the altar, often with a higher level. Transepts: The wings that extend from the nave, forming the arms of the cross. Crossing: The intersection of the nave and transepts. Chapels and Apses: Additional spaces within the cathedral, often found at the ends of the transepts or nave.

This church is located in the city center. The ticket is $5, and only cash is charged. There are many cemeteries and stone tablets in the yard outside. Go up the stairs and enter the church, which is a wooden structure, very beautiful, and there is a staff member at the door. The stairs are blocked to visit with wooden boards. The building is very majestic, but there are many cracks in the courtyard wall, and I am worried that it will collapse.

It was sadly closed when we got to it. Walking through town its out of place as the building around it are newer and colorful. But the outside is beautiful. Great place to see if your in town

St. John’s Cathedral is a short walk from the cruise terminal. Originally built in 1683, twice destroyed by earthquakes. Last time rebuilt in 1845. The exterior is in a somewhat romantic state of ancient ruin: a lot of windows are boarded as well as the second tower clocks. The interior however is what stands this cathedral apart: entirely wood laden (ceiling included) it resembles a ship of the era of great geographical discoveries complete with stained glass windows.

Nice church located in downtown. On the outside on one of the side there is the cemetery and a store that sells souvenirs. Inside the church everything is done with wood, when you look from the entrance the church is a cross shape. The organ if beautiful.

This is a beautiful and very old Cathedral on the island of Antigua and Barbuda. It is currently under restoration construction, but you can still trip around inside and out. We did not take a tour, we just walked from downtown, at the cruise port. It's about a 10 minute walk, and worth checking out if you like spending 10-20 minutes looking at a bit of history. There aren't any plaques or posters explaining the history of the church, but there were individuals on sight if you had questions. The inside is beautiful and looks fresh and new.

Pristine beach. No public facilities. Park on side of the road past the resort and there is a gate to the walk thru to the beach. Great snorkeling. Live fan coral, saw a hug eel, couple founders and a young turtle while we were there. There was quite a bit of boat traffic so keep a eye out while swimming/snorkeling. Practically had the beach to ourselves. Great way to spend a couple hours for sure.

Thank you, Jenny Sprague, for the directions to access the beach. We parked across from the gate to Galley Bay Heights and walked back to the green chain-link gate that allows access over the resort property. Note: according to the Antiguan government all beaches are public even though several resorts will not allow you through their gates. The beach is nearly 1/2 mile long and a bit steep. The waves were unusually strong when we were there making casual swimming difficult. It would be a five star beach if it wasn't for the resort rooms crowding the beach.

This is a great beach. They have tried to make it look private but almost All beaches in Antigua are public. Enter via the unlocked gate in the fence and walk a short gravel path to a pristine beach. Great for swimming, snorkelling etc. Snorkelling is good at both ends but the right hand side (as you face out to sea ) is best. For snorkelling be aware that the jet skis that come out of Deep Bay come illegally close to snorkellers on occasion (within 15m) as most of the riders are first timers, so a surface marker buoy is a useful safety precaution. There are occasional Moon Jellyfish which are pretty harmless and easy to avoid. Would be no worse than a stinging nettle even if you did brush up against the underside of the bell.

Take the road that bypasses the resort to get there and park on the side of the road. Enter through a gate (see photo) and you will find yourself walking through parts of the resort to get to the beachfront. The beach had a nice sunset view, but I can see it getting crowded since it is right by the resort.

Very quiet secluded beach with crystal clear water despite the sea being quite choppy due to the constant wind blowing from East. Many seashells and broken corals on the beach so that children can go treasure hunting and keep busy for a few hours. Very recommended to those who don’t like the crowd at Dickenson Bay.

A bit of a hidden gem. If you’re not staying at the resort then access is through a gate on the far right of the resort just on the uphill bend. Beautiful beach with a good snorkelling reef right off the beach

Galley Bay beach is a great beach. A little bit difficult to get to on foot but easy on a Kayak. Lots of wild goats on the trail over the rocks at the far end of the beach!

Worth checking out if you are interested in the history of the area. It's inexpensive and interesting but very small. If you are day touring, it makes for a nice short stop.

Small but quite interesting museum giving historical background to Antiguan history. Exhibits are quite limited and it can be visited quickly as there are really inly a couple of rooms if exhibits currently although some restoration is perhaps being done. Worth a visit if you temper your expectations.

Very small and doable. Some important and meaningful history regarding the slavery history at the back wall. Stuff that warrants regular reminders to keep a measured perspective about your life and privilege. Whatever you do, don’t go sit in there and scam wifi. Make the 3$ contribution and enrich yourself for 1/2 hour.

Charming museum walking distance from the cruise terminal. Exhibitions begin with the forming of the islands from the movement of the earth’s plate tectonics, to the islands colonial past, slavery and its independence. The exhibits need a little refreshing and updating, as many look worn down. Nevertheless, the information is valuable and speaks to the overall history of the Antilles.

Quite small ,but with lots of interesting items, it can get crowded as the school children were on a trip ,didn't impact on our visit as they were so polite. It was 3 euros to enter, and we could use the wifi. Wish we had more time there. There was a lot about Christopher Columbus, a small gift shop in the corner that offers small trinkets. The museum is well worth a visit. We will return on our next trip.

Lovely little museum, very small but as long as you read the information boards there is lots to learn.

Nice, albeit small museum about the island's history. Admission is $3USD or 8ECD. Per person. Recommend paying in ECD to save some money. You can hire a tour guide for added fee.

Redcliffe Quay, Antigua and Barbuda – A Historic Gem by the Harbour Redcliffe Quay, located in the heart of St. John’s, Antigua, is one of the island’s most charming and historic waterfront destinations. Once a bustling trading hub during the colonial era, it has been beautifully transformed into a vibrant area filled with boutique shops, art galleries, and restaurants that capture the essence of Antiguan culture and hospitality. The cobblestone walkways and restored Georgian buildings create a picturesque setting that blends old-world charm with modern Caribbean flair. Visitors can explore a variety of local and international boutiques offering fashion, jewelry, and handcrafted souvenirs. The area is also home to several art galleries showcasing the creativity of local artists, making it a perfect spot for those who appreciate culture and craftsmanship. Dining at Redcliffe Quay is a highlight, with waterfront restaurants and cafés serving everything from traditional Caribbean dishes to international cuisine. The relaxed atmosphere, paired with views of the harbor and the gentle sea breeze, makes it an ideal place to unwind after a day of shopping or sightseeing. Redcliffe Quay’s proximity to Heritage Quay and the cruise port makes it easily accessible for both locals and tourists. The area is well-maintained, safe, and welcoming, offering a true taste of Antiguan warmth and style. Whether visiting for a leisurely stroll, a shopping experience, or a romantic meal by the water, Redcliffe Quay delivers a memorable experience that reflects the island’s rich history and vibrant spirit. Highlights: Historic architecture, boutique shopping, local art, waterfront dining, relaxed ambiance.

This was a nice area to walk around and look in shops. There were lots of cute souvenirs to choose from at good prices. There were also lots of fun photo ops including the British phone booths. Parking was available, but in paid parking lots. I don't recall how much parking was, but I don't remember it being a very high price. This is a fun area to spend a few hours.

Great place to explore and shop straight out of the cruise port

Needs some funding from companies who own cruise liners. These vast ships totally overwhelm this small area of St John's off loading tourists by the thousand. Two shops selling diamonds( as you do), I guess there are loads of diamond mines on the small Island of Antigua , a couple of sleazy drink venues and clothes shops probably imports. How does this tourism benefit the people of Antigua? Sad.

It's filled with small shops , clothing, food, restaurants. Great to explore if your new to Antigua or to visit your favorite restaurant or vendors if you're a local.

Nice port, or was incredibly busy with 4 ships docked. Street vendors, especially cab drivers were incredibly pushy, made me uncomfortable. Otherwise there is a lot to see, and it's beautiful!

I love this place. Lots of choices for eating. I always choose Cuties re restaurant. The food is just damn finger licking, makes your mouth water for more. Cocktails are made with love I say because they don't lack anything. The foods are really reasonable prices. Honestly I think it should be even more expensive when you see the presentation plus your taste buds will be screaming with pleasure. There is no A.c because it's not hot. The lovely Caribbean breeze will cool you down🌟🌛🌜😚