Is Bermuda safe?

 

 

Yes, Bermuda is one of the safer travel destinations in this part of the world, and that has not changed in any meaningful way over the years. The United States State Department currently keeps Bermuda at a Level 1 travel advisory, which simply asks you to "exercise normal precautions" (the same level given to places like the United Kingdom and Japan). That is also broadly consistent with what I see on the ground. 

 

Bermuda welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and the vast majority go home safe and happy 

 

Photo: Kansasphoto, flickr, cc by 2.0 

 

That said, "safe" does not mean "no risks". There are a few things that catch first time visitors off guard, and a few myths that are worth clearing up. I want to give you the honest picture so you can plan without being either anxious or careless. The numbers I am quoting in this article are the most recent I could verify at the time of writing. 

 

Just how safe is Bermuda for tourists?

 

In 2024, Bermuda welcomed 139,546 leisure air visitors and over 535,000 cruise passengers, according to the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Out of all those arrivals, the number of incidents that genuinely affected visitors was tiny. 

 

The serious crime that does happen here is overwhelmingly local and gang related, and as the US State Department itself notes in its 2026 update, "violent incidents specifically targeting visitors are rare". 

 

Bermuda has a resident population of roughly 64,000 people spread across about 21 square miles. That tiny scale is worth keeping in mind when you see crime statistics. A single bad month can swing the per capita numbers in a way that would not happen in a larger country. So please do not let raw rate comparisons with big cities scare you away. 

 

The real risks to your trip, in rough order of how likely they are to actually hit you, are road accidents (especially on a rented scooter), ocean dangers like rip currents, hurricane disruption if you visit in late summer or early fall, and petty theft of valuables left unattended. Serious crime against tourists sits well below all of these. 

 

Crime in Bermuda: what you need to know

 

Bermuda Police Service investigated 3,719 crimes in 2024, with 9 murders recorded for the year, 32 firearm offenses, and 53 other weapon offenses. Seven of the murders happened within a six week window between May and July, and Government acknowledged that gang and gun violence remains a concern in certain neighborhoods. 

 

As a visitor, you are extraordinarily unlikely to be anywhere near these incidents. They tend to happen at specific times, in specific neighborhoods, between people who know each other. 

 

What you are more likely to encounter is petty theft. Valuables left unattended in a hotel room, on a beach towel, or in the open basket of a parked scooter can disappear. The US State Department warns about this specifically, and so do I. 

 

A few neighborhoods are worth steering clear of after dark, just as you would in any city. The "back of town" area in Hamilton and some quiet, poorly lit streets are best avoided late at night, particularly if you are alone. During the day and evening, the main thoroughfares of Hamilton, St. George, and the Dockyard are perfectly comfortable. 

 

For the deeper picture, including how crime has trended over the years, see my page on Crime in Bermuda. 

 

Stick to well lit main streets if you are out late 

 

Photo: Kansasphoto, flickr, cc by 2.0 

 

Road safety: the risk most visitors underestimate

 

If you ask me what is genuinely most likely to ruin your Bermuda vacation, my honest answer is a road accident, especially on a rented two wheeler. In 2024, Bermuda Police responded to 461 road collisions, 128 of which involved serious injuries and 7 of which resulted in deaths. That is a high number for a population of 64,000. 

 

Roads here are narrow, often without sidewalks, and lined with stone walls or vegetation. The speed limit is 35 km/h (about 22 mph) on the main island and 25 km/h (about 15 mph) within the City of Hamilton. Locals, particularly some of the younger ones on scooters, do not always respect those limits. Vehicles drive on the left, British style. 

 

Non-residents are not allowed to rent four wheeled cars in the regular sense. Your options are taxis, the public bus, ferries, and either a rented scooter or a small two-seater electric mini car. I would strongly suggest you avoid renting a scooter if you have not ridden one before or if you have never driven on the left. The US Consulate has been blunt about this, calling motorbikes "the greatest road peril in Bermuda". 

 

An electric mini car is far safer, and the public bus and ferry system covers most places you will want to go. 

 

If you walk, stick to roads with sidewalks. Cars pass close. For longer scenic walks, the Bermuda Railway Trail is the obvious choice because vehicles are not allowed on it. 

 

Bermuda roads are narrow and traffic moves on the left 

 

Photo: Kansasphoto, flickr, cc by 2.0 

 

Health and medical care

 

Bermuda has one full service hospital, the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in Paget. The main switchboard is +1 441-236-2345 and the Emergency Department can be reached at +1 441-239-1359. For ambulance service, dial 911 from any phone on the island. There is also a smaller Urgent Care Centre at Lamb Foggo in St. David's for minor injuries and illness. 

 

The standard of care is good, but the cost is high, often significantly higher than in the United States or the United Kingdom. The US State Department explicitly notes that Medicare and Medicaid do not work in Bermuda and US prescriptions are not honored locally. Translation: you must buy comprehensive travel insurance that includes emergency medical and evacuation. This is not optional advice. A serious incident without insurance could be financially devastating. 

 

Bring enough of your regular prescriptions for the whole trip, in their original containers, with the prescription itself. Brand names you use at home may not exist here, so noting the generic name is helpful. 

 

On the disease side, Bermuda is currently classified by the CDC as a country with no mosquito borne Zika risk and has no record of any locally acquired cases. There is no ragweed on the island either, so if you suffer from hay fever you may find this is one of the few places where you can finally breathe freely. 

 

For more on healthcare services in Bermuda, see Bermuda Medical Services. 

 

Hurricane season in Bermuda

 

Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30. The island has a long history of dealing with these storms, and the building codes here are some of the best in the world. Major direct hits remain occasional. When they happen, public transport, shops, and the airport can shut down for a day or two, and power outages are common. 

 

The last two seasons illustrate the typical range. In August 2024, Hurricane Ernesto made a direct hit as a Category 1, knocking out power to most of the island but causing no significant casualties. 

 

In 2025, Hurricane Erin passed close enough in August to disrupt beaches with high surf, and Hurricane Imelda passed about 20 miles south of Bermuda as a Category 2 on October 2, with gusts up to about 99 mph at one observing site but, again, no reported casualties and only minor damage. Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, devastated Jamaica that same season but passed about 130 miles to Bermuda's northwest without making a direct hit. 

 

If your trip overlaps with a watch or warning, listen to the Bermuda Weather Service and your hotel's instructions. Most hotels are well prepared, with shutters and storm protocols. Travel insurance with trip interruption coverage helps if your flights are canceled. 

 

 

Photo: Kansasphoto, flickr, cc by 2.0 

 

Crossing the Bermuda Triangle

 

You are flying or sailing into one of the three corners of the famous Bermuda Triangle (the other two being Miami and San Juan). The Triangle is one of the busiest commercial air and shipping corridors on the planet. Hundreds of thousands of visitors pass through it every year, including in 2024 when over 670,000 air and cruise visitors made the trip. There is no genuine extra risk from crossing it. 

 

Modern scientific reviews find no unusual rate of disappearances in this stretch of ocean once you account for traffic volume, weather, and ordinary human and mechanical error. The US Coast Guard does not officially recognize the Triangle as a hazardous area, and global insurers do not load premiums for crossing it. 

 

Ocean and beach safety

 

The water is where I would ask you to be most careful, not because the beaches are unsafe, but because the risks here are easy to underestimate. Rip currents are the single biggest danger, and a tragic 2024 case at Horseshoe Bay was a reminder of that. Portuguese Man of War can also drift in occasionally, mostly in spring and early summer. 

 

I have a dedicated and detailed page covering all of this. Please read Bermuda Beach Safety before you swim, especially if you plan to visit beaches without lifeguards. 

 

Bermuda's south shore beaches can develop strong rip currents under certain conditions 

 

Photo: Kansasphoto, flickr, cc by 2.0 

 

Practical tips that actually matter

 

If you walk or ride into a neighborhood that feels off, leave the way you came. At night, stick to lit main roads, not alleys or shortcuts. Most crimes here are opportunistic, and the simple act of not looking like an obvious target removes most of the risk. 

 

Use the safe in your hotel room for your passport and valuables. Lock your door at night and when you step out. Do not leave a wallet or camera visible in a parked scooter basket or in the open part of an electric mini car. If your rental car is the open-sided type, take everything with you when you step away. 

 

Wear sturdy shoes when exploring coastal paths or rocky shorelines. Sprained ankles from loose rocks are an unsung classic Bermuda injury. Limit midday sun and reapply sunscreen. Note that reef-safe sunscreen is now required on the beaches, since regular sunscreen damages the reefs and is banned for use while swimming. 

 

Travel insurance with medical and trip disruption cover is the single best safety investment you can make for a Bermuda trip. Buy it. 

 

A final word

 

I have been writing about this island since 2008, and I have spoken to thousands of visitors over the years. The pattern is consistent. People who plan a little, respect the ocean, skip the scooter if they are unsure, and keep an eye on their valuables have a great time and go home safe. The rare bad experiences almost always trace back to one of those four areas. Do those four things and Bermuda will look after you. 

 

Related Articles

 

 

1) Check out Bermuda Tourism Guide to find answers to all your questions related to Bermuda. 

 

2) Visit Living in Bermuda to know all about what it takes to relocate and settle in Bermuda. 

 

Viewers' Reviews and Comments     Joann (December 2019)  Is it safe for a 20 and 21 year old to travel alone in Bermuda? They are brother and sister.    Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) December 2019  There is no safety issue as such other than stray incidents that take place mostly at late nights in bars and nightclubs. Also the outskirts of Hamilton should be avoided after dark. All shops usually close by 5:30pm (except on Harbor Night Wednesdays in Hamilton), and as a precautionary measure, it's better not to stray around on lonely roads at nights. Bermuda is quite safe otherwise in general.    Alison Potter (August 2015)  Hi, your website is great. It is quite hard to find honest information about holiday destinations - especially when travelling with children. We are looking for a destination for our Christmas holiday. We normally go to somewhere like Thailand but last year went to St Lucia. This year we would like to still take a holiday but I will be about 7 months pregnant (we also have a 5 year old).    From what I have seen on Bermuda the standards of heathcare/ food hygiene and hotels look high. Also the flight time from the UK is only about 7 hours which is appealing to a mum to be! You seem to have a lot of experience of Bermuda I thought I would ask someone who knows what they are talking about. Thank you so much.    Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) August 2015  Hi, Bermuda is a good travel destination to choose when it comes to food/hygiene/hotels etc. You may however note the following:    1) Hotels like Hamilton Princess have extensive Lifestyle cuisine menu other their regular menu. This gives you a good choice of food with special dietary requirements. Fairmont Southampton in particular is very flexible and can customize meals to your requirements.    2) You should take adequate foreign travel health insurance that includes maternity. Healthcare cost in Bermuda can be very high.    3) There is only one proper hospital in Bermuda - The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in Paget. So stay in a hotel close to Paget (like in Hamilton, Southampton or in Paget itself).    Nadine Smith (February 2015)  My son and I will be travelling to Bermuda via NCL on May 31-June 7, 2015. Although they offer the tour packages and excursions on board Norwegian, some have suggested you can get a better deal outside. This is my first time to Bermuda and wanted to know if it is safe to roam around the city and the beaches (in the daytime only). Should I carry my passport with me or leave it on the ship? Thanks for any input.    Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) February 2015  Bermuda is quite safe for the tourists in general. Take a group tour on per person rate from the kiosk of Island Tour Center (they offer a host of boating, sailing and land based tours). You can also take a taxi tour by the hour ... look for a blue flag taxi whose taxi drivers are certified tour guide and can share a lot of history and information along the way. Just tell them where do you want to go.    It's also safe to take a public transport like a bus or a ferry and roam around the island and the beaches (note that public beaches are open only until sunset). Do not leave any valuables unattended, they can and sometimes do disappear. You do not need to carry your passport if you can leave it safely in your ship.

 

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