Getting around Antigua is cheaper and simpler than most visitors expect. A minibus ride costs a few EC dollars. Taxis charge fixed fares set by the government. And nowhere on the island is far from the middle, which is where our eleven apartments sit, on Freemans Main Road between Sea View Farm and Freemans Village. This is our guide to how to get around Antigua from a central base, with the bus routes that run closest to us, what a taxi should cost and when a hire car earns its keep.
Antigua covers about 108 square miles, and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority says most journeys take 45 minutes or less. From the centre most are shorter, and our drive times are in the table further down. Our guide to where to stay in Antigua explains why we think the middle is the best base.
Can you get around Antigua without a car? Yes, by bus in daylight and by taxi after dark
You can get around Antigua without a car if you plan your days around daylight. The Tourism Authority gives bus hours as 5.30am to 6pm. After that, and for any trip to or from the airport, you will want a taxi.
One guest put it well in a Google review.
For transportation the adventurous can take a bus with public transportation nearby or take a cab or drive a rental car.
Milton Ponson, guest review on Google
Adventurous is fair. The buses are cheap, and they run on local habit more than printed timetables.
The Antigua bus system is a fleet of private minibuses that start and finish in St John’s
Antigua’s public buses are privately owned minibuses, with a few larger coaster buses, running on set routes. The routes and the fares are regulated by the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board, but each bus belongs to its owner or driver. You will know a public bus by the letters BUS on its number plate and the route number, usually fixed in the upper right corner of the windscreen, according to the independent Bus Stop Antigua guide.
Every route begins and ends at one of two stations in town. The West Bus Station is on Market Street, next to the Public Market, and serves the routes south and west. The East Bus Station is on Independence Avenue near the Botanical Gardens and serves the routes east and north, towards Potters, Parham, Willikies and the airport road.
Do not look for a timetable at the stop. Departure times are left to the driver, and many vans leave when they are full, so build some slack into your day. No route runs to the airport terminal, and most vans have little room for suitcases. Arrival day is a taxi day.
You can flag down an Antigua bus anywhere on its route and call out when you want to stop
Stand on the side of the road the bus is travelling, wave as it comes, and tell the driver where you are going as you climb in. There are marked stops, but drivers will stop for a wave along the route. When your stop is near, call out “bus stop” so the driver hears you.
Leaving St John’s, some drivers collect the fare at the station before they pull out. Coming the other way you usually pay when you get off. It is cash only. US dollars are accepted, but change comes in EC dollars at a rate often worse than the bank’s, so carry EC dollars.
How much is the bus in Antigua? Most rides cost between EC$2.25 and EC$3.75
Most adult bus fares in Antigua fall between EC$2.25 and EC$3.75, which is roughly US$0.85 to US$1.40 at the fixed rate of EC$2.70 to the US dollar. Short hops around town sit at the bottom of that range, and the long ride to English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard at the top. Children pay a little less.
No official fare sheet is published for visitors. The figures here come from the route by route fare lists on Bus Stop Antigua, and the 2026 bus guide from AntiguaSearch shows the same prices, so fares have not moved in years. In October 2026 Cabinet set up a committee to spend 90 days reviewing proposed bus fare increases, including charges for travel on public holidays. No new fares had been approved when we checked in November 2026.
Carry coins and small notes. Change for a big note is never a sure thing on a minibus.
The Antigua bus routes closest to LambLion are Route 12, Route 32 and the English Harbour bus
Three routes run close to us, and two more are useful once you are in town.
| Route | Leaves from | Runs via | Adult fare from St John’s |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | West Bus Station | All Saints Road, Belmont, Clarke’s Hill, Sea View Farm, Freemans Village | About EC$2.75 |
| 32 | East Bus Station | Potters, Paynters, Gunthorpes and Lightfoot to Sea View Farm | About EC$2.75 |
| 17 | West Bus Station | All Saints Road, the Sea View Farm stop, All Saints, Liberta, Falmouth, English Harbour | About EC$3.75 |
| 15 | West Bus Station | All Saints Road, All Saints and Liberta to Horsford Hill | About EC$3.00 |
| 22 | West Bus Station | Jolly Harbour, the west coast beaches, Old Road | About EC$2.75 to Jolly Harbour |
Routes and fares come from the Bus Stop Antigua route pages, which date from 2014, cross checked against the AntiguaSearch 2026 guide and checked in November 2026. They are unofficial.
Route 12 is the one to know, because it serves Sea View Farm and Freemans Village, the two villages on either side of us. Route 32 reaches Sea View Farm from the East Bus Station through Potters and Paynters. The closest stop depends on which way you are heading, so ask us which bus stops closest when you arrive.
The Antigua bus to Nelson’s Dockyard is Route 17, and it runs along All Saints Road
Route 17 runs the length of All Saints Road from the West Bus Station to English Harbour, and its stops include one listed as Sea View Farm. The roads to Sea View Farm and Freemans Village meet All Saints Road at a single junction, so you can pick up Route 17 there and ride south to Nelson’s Dockyard without going into town first. Ask us how far the walk is. Route 15 shares the road as far as Liberta, then turns off for Horsford Hill.
Beach buses leave from the West Bus Station, so a beach day by bus starts with a ride into town
Route 22 is the beach bus, running from the West Bus Station past Jolly Beach, Valley Church, Ffryes, Darkwood and Turners to Old Road. From us that means Route 12 or 32 into St John’s, then a second bus out. It is cheap, though not fast. Half Moon Bay and Long Bay on the east coast have buses too, but Bus Stop Antigua puts both 15 to 45 minutes on foot from the nearest stop.
Students at the American University of Antigua can take Route 42 from town through Coolidge, and our note on medical school accommodation has more. A shared minibus is also the lightest way across the island, which sits well with a stay at our Green Globe certified apartments.
Staying central without a car? Book direct, then WhatsApp us for local taxi and car hire contacts. We will tell you which bus stops closest to your apartment.
Antigua taxi prices are fixed by the government, so agree the fare before you set off
Antigua taxis do not use meters. Fares between the airport, the hotels and the main destinations are fixed, and the Tourism Authority says they are posted at the airport and at taxi stands. Licensed taxis carry TX on the number plate. At the airport, the V. C. Bird International Airport authority requires taxi drivers to wear a uniform and show a badge in the front window.
Fixed does not mean you can skip the question. Ask the price before you get in, ask whether it is in EC or US dollars, and ask whether it is for the car or per person. The Tourism Authority also notes that taxis are often shared, so say so if you want the car to yourself.
The government’s own tourism sector adaptation plan gives one example fare, about US$21 from the airport to Nelson’s Dockyard, and says the Transport Board publishes fare guides in both currencies. Treat any figure you read online, this one included, as a starting point and confirm it on the day.
Many drivers also run island tours, which is an easy way to see the Atlantic side without hiring a car. Agree the route, the hours and the price before you go.
Is there Uber in Antigua? No, so save a taxi number before you need one
Uber does not list Antigua and Barbuda among the countries it serves (checked November 2026). A local app, Swyft Taxi, calls itself Antigua’s first ride share service on the App Store, but a phone number is simpler. The airport lists these two taxi associations.
- United Taxi Association. +1 268 562 0262, +1 268 770 7357 or +1 268 720 8042.
- Mill Reef Taxi Association. +1 268 484 0700.
Staying with us? WhatsApp us for local taxi and car hire contacts. One guest review mentions it.
Lionel is a gem and always there to help with advice and organising things like transport.
Mike Askew, guest review on Google
How much is a taxi from Antigua airport to St John’s? It is a fixed fare, so check it before you load the bags
A taxi from V. C. Bird International Airport to St John’s, or out to us, runs at the fixed fare for that route. The fares are posted at the airport, so read the board or ask the driver before the bags go in the boot.
We are about 9 km from the airport. Send us your flight times when you book and we will help you arrange a transfer. Check in at our apartments is from 3pm and check out is at 12pm.
Do you need to rent a car in Antigua? Not to get by, but a car is the easiest way to see the whole island
A car is not essential. It does change what a day can hold. One guest wrote in a Google review that they reached over a dozen beaches in a nine night stay with us, each about a 25 minute drive away. Another kept it simple.
The location is central, so you can get to almost any beach in around half an hour with a car.
Stefan Arba, guest review on Google
To drive, you need your home licence and a temporary Antigua driving permit, which the Tourism Authority lists at EC$50. Rental firms usually arrange it when you collect the car. Our guide to renting a car in Antigua covers prices, insurance and the airport desks. Antigua drives on the left and most cars are right hand drive. Parking at our apartments is free, and we are happy to help you arrange car hire.
How long does it take to get around Antigua? From the middle of the island, most drives take 15 to 30 minutes
Most drives from central Antigua take 15 to 30 minutes. The bus column is the slower, cheaper version of the same trip.
| Where you are going | By car from LambLion | By bus from LambLion |
|---|---|---|
| St John’s | About 20 minutes | Route 12 or Route 32 into town |
| The nearest beaches | About 15 minutes | No direct route |
| Nelson’s Dockyard and English Harbour | About 20 minutes | Route 17 from the Sea View Farm stop on All Saints Road |
| Jolly Harbour and the Barbuda ferry | About 20 minutes | Into St John’s, then Route 22 or Route 20 |
| Dickenson Bay | About 25 minutes | Into St John’s, then a north coast bus |
| East coast beaches | About 30 minutes | Into St John’s, then an East Bus Station route and a walk |
| V. C. Bird International Airport | About 9 km | Taxi, as no bus serves the terminal |
Car times are approximate from Freemans Main Road, and the Tourism Authority puts peak traffic between 8am and 4pm. Our things to do in Antigua page has the places worth the drive.
Visiting mainly for town? Our page on apartments near St John’s explains why 20 minutes out works. Staying a few weeks? Our guide to one month in Antigua covers mixing a hire car with buses and the odd taxi.
The Barbuda ferry leaves Jolly Harbour every day and takes about 90 minutes
The ferry to Barbuda is run by Sea Bridge Ferries, which has sailed the route since 2004 under the Barbuda Express name. Since 1 November 2023 it has boarded at Jolly Harbour Marina, at the dock in front of Sea Dream Restaurant. Jolly Harbour is about 20 minutes from us by car. The crossing takes about 90 minutes, and the published schedule has the boat leaving Antigua in the morning every day of the week.
From 1 July 2026 an adult return costs US$120 (EC$325) and a one way ticket US$65 (EC$175), according to the Sea Bridge fares page. Children aged 3 to 11 pay US$80 return. The captains can delay or cancel a sailing in bad weather, so check the timetable the day before.
There are no public buses on Barbuda, so arrange a tour or a taxi on the island before you sail. Sea Bridge no longer runs tours itself.
How do you get around St John’s? On foot, because the centre is small and both bus stations are in it
St John’s is a walking town. Both bus stations, the Public Market, the cathedral and the shops at Heritage Quay are in the centre, so once a bus drops you there you can walk the rest.
The Tourism Authority notes that sidewalks are uncommon beyond downtown St John’s, which means that on country roads you share the tarmac with the traffic. Walk the village lanes in daylight. If you cycle, go early before the heat builds, and wear something bright with lights on any main road.
Is it easy to get around Antigua safely? Yes, if you take the bus by day and a licensed taxi at night
Antigua is an easy island to move around, and most of the planning comes down to the clock. The buses wind down by about 6pm, so set off for anything far away in the morning and keep a taxi number for the ride home. Use taxis with TX plates and agree the fare first.
After dark, take a taxi instead of walking a main road with no pavement. When you are unsure about anything, from the nearest stop to whether a fare sounds right, ask us. Lionel and Lorilyn are Antiguan and answer every day from 8am to 8pm through our contact page, so you will get a straight local answer.
Our pick is a hire car for the beach days and Route 17 for one slow morning to the dockyard
For a first week, hire a car for the days you want three beaches before lunch. Take Route 17 down All Saints Road one morning for the ride itself. Save a taxi number for dinner nights in English Harbour. Then choose your apartment on our apartments page and WhatsApp us for the contacts.
The island is small. From the middle, it is smaller still. Pick a bus, a taxi or a set of keys and go.
Our guide to holiday apartments in central Antigua covers the location and every apartment in more detail.
Book your central Antigua apartment directly
Eleven self catering apartments in central Antigua, with free laundry, Wi Fi and parking. Book two nights or more directly and get 15% off the nightly rate.