Taxi to Nelson's Dockyard or bus?

What is the best way to get to the Dockyard? We are doing the helicopter to Montserrat in the morning but will be back at about 11 am and want to see the Dockyard. Is there any trouble getting a taxi back to port? Are there taxis waiting at the Dockyard? Our ship sails at 5. And does anybody have a favorite bar/restaurant at the Dockyard to recommend?

Following along for an answer too! Thanks for asking! Rates and are they cars or larger passenger vans. We have a group of 6 going to the dockyard!

Here is a copy of a post from the Antigua Board

Hi everyone,

Just an update for those adventurous souls. DD (15) and I were in Antigua last week and following the great advice here we easily took the #17 bus out to Nelson's Dockyard and English Harbor. We did not want a beach day after a harrowing riptide experience in Virgin Gorda the day before, so I changed my plans to take the bus to Valley Church and went to the Dockyard instead.

Basically if you took the tour through the cruiseline it was $55; if you got off the ship and asked at the Visitor's Information office they were ferrying folks to buses that would take you for $25 + $7 admission; we went the route of the $3 RT bus...

Just to let you know, we are both petite blondes, well traveled with a normal degree of caution and a bit of "don't mess with me" tough-guy-ness. We felt completely comfortable the entire experience and would recommend the buses in Antigua.

Antigua Bus Routes

#17 - Valley Rd, Joseph's Lane, All Saints Road, Belmont, Clarks Hill, All Saints Village, Liberta Village, Falmouth, Cobbs Cross, English Harbour.

To Bus stop:

From the dock, you walk straight -- Keep going straight to Market Street and turn right. Then it's a short walk and you'll come to a fork in the road where you bear right (there's an enormous sculpture at that fork, you can't miss it). There is also the big public marketplace. Once past the fork you'll come to the bus station on the right. Some posters have described this walk as going through "seedy" areas. If you have ever lived in any metropolitan area or ventured out at all this area is not seedy; it's just 'real life.' Only danger is the uneven sidewalks. I would not recommend for anyone not physically fairly fit/active due to the uneveness of the roads and the fact that it is a good 10+ minute walk.

You do not buy tickets. Just look for Bus # 17 (or your desired route) - the buses are in "slots" with numbers assinged to them. We waited about 10 minutes to leave. We and a German tourist family were the only 'non Antiguans' on the bus. Cost was $1.50 each. The driver wanted payment up front. On the ride back we paid when we got off.

We took a lovely leisurely ride all the way to the last stop at Nelson's Dockyard and wandered around it, and the English Harbor for a bit. Flagged down a returning bus in a matter of minutes and took it back to the bus station. Since you are going terminus to terminus it was super easy. Granted, there was no narration involved, but a lot of scenery and 'real life.' On the ride back we were the only tourists on the bus.

Returned Sunday from a cruise to Antigua and these directions from post #1 are spot on.

We took the #17 bus after waiting 15 or so minutes for it to fill up to the dockyard and they dropped us off right in front. Admission is now $8/pp to the dockyard and we had a fun time walking around looking at all the boats and museum. We were hoping to take the water taxi to Shirley Heights but the lady at the front desk said it was no running that day.

We spend a couple hours wandering around and then walked back out to find the #17 bus and immediately took us back. The way there on the bus there were several stops maybe a 30 minute drive and on the way back it was a 15 minute drive as fast as our driver was driving. Round trip on the bus for 2 people and entrance into the park was $24.