Explore Antigua - St John's

With a population of around 30,000 - nearly half the island's total - bustling ST JOHN'S is Antigua's capital and only city. No one could accuse it of being the prettiest city in the West Indies, but it does have a certain immediate charm and, in the centre, there are plenty of attractive old wooden and stone buildings - some of them superbly renovated, others in a perilous state of near-collapse - among the less appealing modern development. It'll only take you a couple of hours to see everything, but you'll probably want to come back for at least one evening to take advantage of some excellent restaurants and bars .

The City
As all of the main places of interest in St John's are close together, the easiest way to see the place is on foot . You should certainly make your way to Redcliffe Quay - where the waterfront and its colonial buildings have been attractively restored - as well as the tiny National Museum , which offers a well-presented rundown on the country's history and culture. If you've got time, take a stroll through some of the old streets, and check out the city's twin-towered cathedral perched on top of Newgate Street. Redcliffe Quay and nearby Heritage Quay are the best places to eat, drink and shop for souvenirs, though you'll probably want to avoid them if the cruise ships are in, when the steel drums come out to play "Hot, Hot, Hot" and the area almost disappears beneath a scrum of duty-free shoppers.