How does public transport operate in Antigua and Barbuda?

Public buses operated by the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board serve East Bus Station, West Bus Station and other stops, while private minibuses serve established lines. Service is concentrated around St. John’s and nearby communities, usually operates roughly from 05:30 to 18:00, and may vary by day and availability.

How can travellers travel between Antigua and Barbuda by transport?

Travellers can use Barbuda Express or another ferry service, or choose a regional or charter flight. The sea crossing takes about 90 minutes when operating, but weather, operator schedules and vessel availability can cause delays or cancellations.

Which traffic rules apply to drivers in Antigua and Barbuda?

Drivers keep left, with a maximum speed of 40 mph on highways and 20 mph in built-up areas, communities and the city. Handheld mobile-device use while driving is prohibited, and drivers generally remain at a crash location until police arrive unless medical assistance requires leaving.

Transport in Antigua and Barbuda

Q: What does a visitor need to drive a rental car legally in Antigua and Barbuda?

A visitor needs a valid home-country driving licence, a temporary driver's licence and third-party motor-vehicle insurance. The temporary licence costs EC$50 or US$20 and is available through Coolidge Police Station or Dockyard Police Station with the original licence and a local address.

Transport in Antigua and Barbuda relies mainly on roads, private cars, rental cars, taxis, minibuses and public buses. Travel between Antigua and Barbuda uses ferries or regional and charter flights, while Redonda has no local land transport service. Walking and cycling are possible, but sidewalks and protected cycling infrastructure are limited outside central St. John’s.

Tip

Choose buses for lower-complexity travel around St. John’s when variable schedules are acceptable, and choose a rental car when flexible movement justifies the temporary driver's licence and left-hand driving. Use licensed taxis for direct trips and verify the fare before departure. Treat travel between Antigua and Barbuda as a separate planning decision because ferry service depends on weather and timing.

byAaliyah&Dwayne

Road transport is the main way to move around Antigua and Barbuda. The Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board (ABTB) operates public bus services and also handles functions connected with vehicle licensing, inspections, road markings, traffic signs, public-service permits and the national school bus system. Buses commonly serve passengers from East Bus Station and West Bus Station, while private minibuses operate on established lines. Service is most relevant around St. John’s and nearby communities. Tourism information places bus operation roughly between 05:30 and 18:00, but schedules and availability can change, and no reliable nationwide real-time timetable has been verified. Taxis use public-service permits administered through the ABTB and can be found at taxi stands and the airport. Fares are generally posted, so passengers should check the licensed vehicle and fare information before travelling. No reliable nationwide app-based or metered taxi system has been established in the available research. The Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investments, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda Traffic Department, the Ministry of Housing and Works and the ABTB share different transport, road and enforcement responsibilities. The Barbuda Council handles local infrastructure matters on Barbuda. Rental cars and private cars are central to individual travel. Roads can be narrow and winding, and outside central St. John’s there are often few sidewalks. Visitors who rent a car need a valid home-country driving licence and a temporary driver's licence. The temporary licence costs EC$50 or US$20 and can be obtained through the Coolidge Police Station or Dockyard Police Station; the original driving licence and a local address are required. An international driving permit has not been confirmed as a substitute for the local temporary licence. Motor-vehicle third-party insurance is required. Antigua and Barbuda drives on the left. The maximum speed is 40 mph on highways and 20 mph in built-up areas, communities and the city. Drivers must follow traffic signs and police instructions, avoid handheld mobile-device use while driving and remain at a crash location until police arrive unless medical assistance requires leaving. Road works can temporarily change traffic conditions; projects identified in 2026 include work on All Saints Road and on Barbuda’s Two Mile Road between the airport and River Dock. Barbuda Express and other ferry services connect Antigua and Barbuda by sea. The crossing takes about 90 minutes under the current Barbuda Express information, but departures, delays and cancellations depend on the operator, weather and vessel availability. Several weekly departures were listed in July 2026, and advance reservation is sensible. Regional or charter flights provide an alternative. V.C. Bird International Airport, commonly identified by the code ANU, handles international and regional aviation and provides ground-transport services. Redonda has no evidenced local land-transport service. Walking is locally useful, especially in built-up areas, but continuous pedestrian infrastructure is not available across the islands. Cycling is mainly local or recreational, with no evidenced island-wide protected cycling network. Visibility, road sharing and traffic conditions therefore matter for people walking or cycling. A Barbuda draft plan proposes safer walking and cycling connections, fifteen-minute neighbourhoods and accessible public transport; these are planning objectives rather than measures implemented across the island. Antigua and Barbuda has no current passenger railway or active railway body identified in the available research. Environmental transport policy includes Sustainable Low-Emission Island Mobility, electric vehicles, solar charging and climate-resilient roads. The documented projects include nine electric buses associated with the Antigua and Barbuda Bus Association and two electric minivans associated with emergency medical services. Government policy also refers to electric-vehicle import incentives and additional electric buses, but transport has not been fully converted to electric vehicles. Standards, charging infrastructure, battery life-cycle management and reliable transport data remain implementation issues.