Best time to visit Antigua for sun-soaked holidays

September 11, 2025Hannah Rehman

Antigua has a stable climate all year round, with the exception of the hurricane season in summer, when tropical storms and strong winds can interrupt a sunny day. The best time to visit Antigua is really just a matter of preference. You can’t really go wrong whenever you choose, but some months are more comfortable if you’re like most of us Brits, not used to high temperatures mixed with humidity.

Here are our recommendations for the best time of year to visit Antigua, whether you’re a sun worshipper or prefer cooler climes. We’ve also taken into account the amount of rain the island gets – the last thing you want is to escape the rainy season in the UK only to find even heavier downpours in what should be a sunny tropical paradise. Let’s zero in on specific months so you can decide when you’d like to jet off on your Caribbean holiday.

Table of Contents

February: Spring brings the best out of Antigua

If you don’t like warm humidity, the best time to visit Antigua is in February. This is the driest month on the island, with an average of only 86 mm of rainfall. The average relative humidity is 73%. It’s the lowest of the entire year, except for March when it drops a little to 71%. So you could also visit the month after. However, there’s quite a bit more rain in March than in February, at 112 mm. It’s a bit of a case of swings and roundabouts when it comes to a choice for the best time to go to Antigua in spring.

Given the island’s location in the tropical band of the Caribbean, you won’t be able to avoid this kind of humidity, unfortunately. We Brits are used to a lot of water vapour in the air, with levels often reaching over 90%, but that kind of cold rain-soaked air is very different to tropical humidity. That said, the average temperature of about 28°C in February is the coolest that Antigua gets all year long. It’s not too much to stop you getting out and about.

It’s a great time for land and marine activities, with plenty of special experiences that you won’t soon forget. You can go kayaking among the mangroves, take a deep-sea fishing trip or slip beneath the surface to snorkel through the colourful subterranean life. This is also a good time of the year to get great views from Shirley Heights, but just beware of sudden wind gusts. February is one of the windier months in Antigua, with an average wind speed of about 17.3 mph. For comparison, it’s only 11.5 mph in September.

Accommodation tip: Check out Jolly Beach Antigua.

December & January: Best time to go to Antigua in winter

Winter is the second-best time to visit Antigua. You might wonder why December and January aren’t the best months to visit. After all, what could be better than escaping the frigid cold in the UK and swanning on a beach in the Caribbean, right? The reason is that these months get more rain than in February. The average rainfall in January is around 122 mm, which is quite a bit more than the 86 mm in February. That’s still much less than in other months like October, which receives more than double, with about 196 mm pelting down.

The humidity levels aren’t too bad, reaching about 75% in December and dipping ever so slightly to 74% in January. The temperatures are on the moderate end of the spectrum, reaching an average of 28.2°C. Compare this to temperatures in the UK at this time of year, and it’s a no-brainer – answer the call of the Caribbean.

Accommodation tip: Book your stay at Sandals Grande Antigua.

June: Wonderfully warm yet volatile summers

The summer season is, without a doubt, the best time to visit Antigua if you’re after hot summer days and you don’t mind humidity. Temperatures reach an average of 30 to 31°C. It’s not much more humid than in winter at least, with an average June relative humidity of 75%. That’s about the same as in December and January, and only a few points more than the March low of 71%.

The drawback of holidaying in Antigua at the height of summer is that the weather is pretty volatile at this time of the year. It’s hurricane season in the Caribbean, and while you don’t have to worry about them sweeping the island, you’ll experience sudden short bursts of very intense rain, not to mention dramatic thunderstorms. So if you want the full Monty, June is the best time of year to visit Antigua.

Accommodation tip: Relax and unwind at Pineapple Beach Club.

September: Best time to visit Antigua for autumn getaways

Autumn is generally quieter on Antigua, so it’s a perfect time to slip away for a quiet holiday or a romantic getaway. It does rain a bit more in September than in some of the other months, with an average of 168 mm, but don’t let that put you off. You can still enjoy around 7 hours of sunny skies every day. It’s nice and hot too, averaging around 31°C. It’s humid, at 77%, but once again, this isn’t particularly extreme compared to the rest of the year.

Take advantage of the off-peak season to explore the island at your leisure. You can wander around the famous Nelson’s Dockyard and visit one of the world’s first big sugar plantations, Betty’s Hope. Its ruins evoke Antigua’s swashbuckling history of rum and pirates.

Accommodation tip: Enjoy a romantic adults-only hideaway at Hawksbill Resort Antigua.

Conclusion

Antigua is an all-year-round holiday destination, thanks to a climate that’s warm with not much variation. If you choose the right months, you’ll find a reason for every season. When it really comes down to brass tacks, deciding on the best time to visit Antigua is all about balancing how much heat and humidity you prefer.

FAQs

When is the rainy season in Antigua? 

The heaviest rain falls in autumn, from August to November. October has the highest average precipitation at around 196 mm.

When should I not go to Antigua?

Try to avoid visiting Antigua in November. It gets really hot, with the second-highest humidity of the year. Add thunderstorms, erratic strong winds and an average rainfall of 180 mm.