Cricket is by far the most popular sport in Antigua & Barbuda, with one of the sports’ most famous stars, Sir Vivian Richards hailing from the island. The 10,000 capacity Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was built ahead of the 2007 Cricket World Cup and has hoted a number of West Indies matches, replacing the Antigua Recreation Ground as the island’s primary cricket venue. The Recreation Ground saw world record batting displays, including Viv Richards scoring the fastest Test century off 56 balls, while Brian Lara twice scored the highest individual Test innings here with 375 in 1994 and 400 not out in 2004.
Football is also a popular sport on the islands, with ‘The Benna Boys’ reaching the third round of CONCACAF qualifcation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and reaching a FIFA World ranking of 70.
Key Information
Capital –Â St John’s
Currency – The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, however US Dollars are widely accepted.
Official Languages – English.
Population – 93,000
Time – GMT -4
Travelling to Antigua & Barbuda & Visa
As well as Antigua being a popular cruise stop, the VC Bird International Airport is the island of Antigua’s main gateway, with international flights from the UK, North America, Italy, Germany and other islands of the Caribbean. The airport is about 5 miles to the east of St. John’s.
Thinking of flying? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.
British passport holders do not require a visa to visit Antigua & Barbuda, however your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of entry. Further information can be found through the UK government website here. If you are not a British passport holder, please consult your country’s travel advice for Antigua & Barbuda.
Travelling around Antigua & Barbuda
Boat (between Antigua and Barbuda) – The catamaran takes 90 minutes to travel between St John’s and River Wharf Landing in southern Barbuda. The return journey is quite pricey, starting at US$85 for adults.
Bus – Buses are private minivans which run from the West bus station in St Johns to the south, northwest and west, and from the East bus station to the northeast, east and southeast. Buses generally won’t leave until full and from about 6am until 7pm, with infrequent services on Sunday’s.
Taxi – Taxi’s on Antigua have licence plates beginning with ‘TX’, with government regulated fares in operation. However it is still always best to confirm the price beforehand.
Hotels in Antigua & Barbuda
Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Antigua & Barbuda by clicking here.
What to do in Antigua & Barbuda
They say that Antigua has a beach for every day of the year and hence has 365 beaches to choose from. Popular beaches on the island include Long Bay, Jolly Beach or Runaway Beach.
Nearby to St. John’s, Fort James was built by the British to protect the town’s harbour. For those looking after some shopping, Heritage Quay is a duty free area offering everything you could look to purchase on your travels. Or the Public Market is where the locals shop.
To the south of the island, Nelson’s Dockyard is a restored marina that was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 2016, offering a glimpse of what life is like in this dockyard which has been in operation since 1745.
Last Updated on September 14, 2022 by Sports Tourist