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Antigua and St Kitts are located in the Northern region of the Eastern Caribbean islands.
They are both English Speaking islands and share the Eastern Caribbean Dollar as the official currency.
The Central Bank for the Eastern Caribbean is located on the island of St Kitts.
Nevertheless, US dollars are widely accepted on both islands. US coins however are rejected.
In this article, we provide a detailed and comprehensive review of Antigua and St Kitts to help you make an informed decision for your next Caribbean vacation.
As a general rule, Antigua is the destination of choice for visitors interested in white sand beaches and exploring Caribbean history. On the other hand, St Kitts & Nevis is the destination of choice for visitors interested in forts, Caribbean history and an exciting night life experience.
Read on for further details and explanations on how these two beautiful Eastern Caribbean Islands compare. This article is written by a Caribbean National familiar with both destinations.
Antigua Vs St Kitts Which Island Is Bigger
Antigua has the slightly larger landmass than Grenada being 169.9 square miles.
However, it has a smaller population being 99,445 according to worldometers.info at the time of writing.
The highest point of elevation is Boggy Peak which stands at an elevation of 1,319 feet.
The twin island nation of St Kitts and Nevis is 69 square miles and 36 square miles respectively.
According to Worldpopulationreview.com, the population at the time of writing was 53,544.
The highest point of elevation is Mt Liamuiga which stands at 3,792 feet.
Antigua Vs St Kitts: Which Island Is Safer
According to the US Department State, Overseas Advisory Council based on a 2018 crime report per 100,000 citizens, St Kitts and Nevis had 42 murders and 0 kidnappings.
Contrastingly, Antigua had 12 murders and 2 kidnappings during the same period.
Nevertheless, due care must be taken as in any other country.
Visitors should avoid walking in secluded areas at nights and take only taxis authorized by the taxi associations.
Antigua Vs St Kitts: Which Island Has The Better Beaches
Hands down Antigua is the clear winner in this category.
Antigua is fondly known as the Caribbean island with 365 beaches which is one beach for each day of the year.
The beaches are white sand with turquoise waters.
Dickenson Bay is one of the well- loved beaches in Antigua with both locals and tourists alike.
It is a favorite spot for water activities such as paddle boarding due to its shallow and calm waters.
To help visitors choose among its many beaches, the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority launched a beach personality quiz.
Feel free to visit the page to find the perfect beach for you while in Antigua.
Contrastingly, visitors to St Kitts will find much fewer choices when it comes to beaches.
Alternatively, there are fewer beaches available in St Kitts & Nevis.
Pinney beach is a one of the most popular beaches on the island of Nevis and Cockleshell bay and Banana Bay are some of the must visit beaches in St Kitts.
However the beaches are not as beautiful as those in Antigua
Antigua Vs St Kitts: Can You Hop To Other Islands
St Kitts offers the better opportunity for island hopping of the two destinations. Makana Ferry Services offers direct connections to St Maarten with onward services to St Eustatius and Saba.
Furthermore, there are other providers with ferry services to Anguilla and St Barths. So you can fly to St KItts and at an affordable price connect to six other Caribbean islands on a budget.
Alternatively, for individuals who enjoy island hopping, there is a ferry available from Antigua to the island of Montserrat.
The ferry named Jayden Sun departs from Heritage Quay from 8:30 am and returns 5 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays weekly.
The price of the ferry is approximately XCD$300.
Antigua Vs St Kitts: Which Island Has Better Nightlife
If nightlife is your priority, then St Kitts & Nevis has the edge. At nights the Frigate Bay part of the island comes alive.
There are a various range of restaurants and bars in this area of the island.
Three of the most common restaurants in this area are The Shiggidy Shack Beach Bar, Rock Lobster and Cathy’s Ocean View Bar and Grill.
There are also casinos on the island as well as several golf courses.
There are four of golf courses on the island with Robert Trent Jones course at Pinney Beach in Nevis and Royal St Kitts Club located between Half Moon Bay and North Frigate Bay in St Kitts.
Contrastingly, when it comes to nightlife Antigua is a bit slower than St Kitts.
The nightlife on the island features several bars and nightclubs.
Alternatively, Shirley’s Heights Lookout is a well-known entertainment spot in Antigua on Sunday evenings.
There is usually a live band with drinks and food available for purchase.
Some of the popular nightlife spots on the island are The Lime and Tryst Nightclub, Bar and Restaurant
Antigua vs St Kitts: What Are The Unique Things To Do
Unique Things To Do In St Kitts
Visit A UNESCO Heritage Site– St Kitts is the only island of the two that has a UNESCO world Heritage site which is The Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park.
This location is magnificent for panoramic views of the island.
The Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is a 17th and 18th century military fort that is of historical, cultural and architectural importance on the island.
The fort officially became a UNECO World Heritage site in 1999 and was built by African slaves to protect the island from attacks.
Take A Scenic Train Tour- Get an opportunity to experience the last railway in the West Indies via a 3 hour tour in St Kitts This adventure makes a 30 mile circle around the island.
Eighteen miles of the tour is by a narrow gauge train and the remaining 12 miles on a bus.
The rail was built between 1912 and 1926 to bring sugar cane from the plantations to sugar factories on the island.
Unique Things To Do In Antigua
Visit Laviscount Island- enjoy a getaway to a private island which is home to Giant Aldabra Tortoises.
Animal lovers will truly enjoy feeding and interacting with the tortoises on this island.
Swim With Stingrays– enjoy swimming and snorkeling in beautiful waters of Antigua with friendly stingrays.
There are also amazing coral reefs and several species of fishes that you can enjoy at the pool.
Visit Nelson’s Dockyard- delve into the history of the island by visiting Nelson’s Dockyard where there are modern conveniences such as shops and marina businesses.
This dockyard allows visitors to enjoy the park’s beauty.
There is also the dockyard museum which provides deep insight into the dockyard’s history and current research on the island.
Final Thoughts
On a whole, Antigua is an exceptional choice for individuals who love exploring the island’s many beaches and island hopping to Montserrat. Alternatively, St Kitts is an exceptional choice for a traveler who loves forts and wants to ride on the last railway in the West Indies.
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