Bermuda Itineraries: How to Plan Your Days on the Island
Most travelers I hear from get stuck on the same two questions before they even land. How many days do I actually need in Bermuda, and how do I lay them out so I am not wasting half a day waiting for a ferry that does not run on Sundays? I have been answering versions of these questions on this site since 2008, and the framework below is what I send to readers when they write in.
How Many Days Do You Need in Bermuda?
The honest answer depends on what you came for, not on how big the island is. Bermuda is only 21 square miles, but the road from St. George at the east end to the Royal Naval Dockyard at the west end is a slow 22-mile drive, and you cannot rent a car. So time on the ground stretches differently here than it does on paper.
Here is how I break it down.
1 day (cruise port day or stopover): Pick one region, do it well. You will not see the island. You will see a slice.
2 days (short cruise leg): Two regions. Usually Dockyard plus either Hamilton or St. George.
3 days (standard cruise stay, short fly-in): The classic split. Beach and caves day, Hamilton and culture day, Dockyard and water sports day.
4 days: Add St. George properly, or add a snorkel cruise, or both.
5 days: The sweet spot. You finally get a slow day at the beach, a chance to repeat a meal you loved, and time for one off-the-track experience like Tom Moore's Jungle or the Railway Trail.
7 days or more: You are now a Bermuda traveler, not a tourist. Add Spittal Pond, the Crystal Caves a second time, a day-trip to Nonsuch Island if you can get a permit, and slow mornings on a different beach each day.
If you have under 24 hours and are flying in, do not come. Take a longer trip later. The transit time chews up most of a day.
Pro-Tip: Bermuda is not a day-trip island for shore excursions. If you are on a cruise that gives you only one port day, treat the island the way you would treat a small European city, pick one neighborhood (Dockyard, Hamilton, or St. George) and go deep. You will leave with better memories than if you tried to chase three.
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Quick Picks by Length of Stay
If You Have 1 Day
A single day works if you are clear-eyed about what you are skipping. The two most common one-day moves I recommend are Horseshoe Bay plus Dockyard, or Hamilton plus a ferry harbor cruise back. Full plan is in
Bermuda in 1 day.
If You Have 2 Days
Two days lets you split between east and west. Day one is usually St. George by Orange Route ferry from Dockyard, day two is south shore beaches and Hamilton. The order matters because the Orange Route runs only on weekdays. The full plan is in
Bermuda in 2 days.
If You Have 3 Days
Three days is what most cruise passengers get and what I think is the minimum to feel like you have actually visited Bermuda. The plan I recommend covers Aquarium and Caves day, beach and Hamilton day, and a dockyard plus water tour day. Full plan is in the
3-day Bermuda itinerary.
If You Have 5 Days
Here is the 5-day shape I recommend for most travelers, fly-in or cruise. I am not writing it out as fixed days because the day of the week matters more than the day number. Mix and match.
Beach day (south shore): Horseshoe Bay, then walk east along the South Shore Trail to Chaplin Bay, Stonehole Bay, Jobson's Cove, and Warwick Long Bay. Bring water and reef-safe sunscreen. Bus #7 returns from the Warwick Long Bay stop.
East end day: Orange Route ferry from Dockyard to St. George in the morning (weekday only). Kings Square, St. Peter's Church, Unfinished Church, Fort St. Catherine, Tobacco Bay for an afternoon swim. Return by ferry by 3:00 pm if you are cruising, otherwise stay for sunset on Tobacco Bay.
Hamilton day: Front Street, Reid Street and the alleyways for shopping, City Hall and Arts Centre, Bermuda Cathedral, Fort Hamilton for the view. Lunch at Smokin' Barrel for cheap, or Bolero Brasserie balcony if you want the harbor view. If it is a Wednesday in summer, you stay for Harbour Nights street festival from 7 pm.
Caves and central parishes day: Bus or ferry to Hamilton, then bus #1 or #3 to Crystal and Fantasy Caves. Lunch at Swizzle Inn in Bailey's Bay (the original, not the Warwick branch, ask for the Rum Swizzle). Then Tom Moore's Jungle and Blue Hole Park if you can hike, BAMZ (Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo) at Flatts Village if you have kids.
Dockyard and water day: Snorkel cruise or glass-bottom boat from Dockyard in the morning, National Museum of Bermuda and Clocktower Mall in the afternoon, Snorkel Park or sea-glass beach walk at the end of the day.
That is 5 distinct days, each anchored by one region, with no doubling back across the island.
Pro-Tip: If you have 5 days, deliberately leave one afternoon unscheduled. Bermuda rewards slow time more than checklists. A long sit at Jobson's Cove with no plan beats running to a fifth fort.
Footbridge at Crystal Cave
Photo: Scott Heaney
If You Have 7 Days
With a week you can stop optimizing. Add a section of the
Railway Trail, repeat your favorite beach, eat a proper Sunday codfish breakfast at Paraquet in Paget, and put aside a half day for nothing but reading on a balcony.
The Framework I Use to Build Any Bermuda Itinerary
Whatever your trip length, the same three rules apply.
1. Cluster by region, not by attraction. Bermuda has three anchor regions: West (Dockyard, Somerset, Sandys Parish), Central (Hamilton, Paget, Warwick, Southampton, the south shore beaches), and East (Hamilton Parish, Smith's, St. George's). Pick one region per day. Cross-island hops eat 60-90 minutes each way by bus.
2. Match your day to the ferry schedule, not the other way around. The Orange Route to St. George runs only on weekdays and only 3 to 4 times each direction. Miss the return ferry and you are stuck on a 2-hour bus ride through Hamilton. The Blue Route between Hamilton and Dockyard is the workhorse and runs frequently every day. Pink Route is the slow scenic loop through the harbor villages. Green Route serves Rockaway in Southampton.
3.
Respect the day of the week. Sundays and public holidays shut down most shops and reduce bus and ferry frequency. The town of St. George becomes a quiet outdoor museum on a Sunday, lovely but with closed doors. Plan shopping and indoor sites for weekdays. Also see,
What you can do in Bermuda on public holidays.
Pro-Tip: Before you fix any day, check whether it falls on Bermuda Day (last Friday in May), Cup Match (late July or early August), or Remembrance Day (11 November). On Cup Match almost everything closes for two days while the island watches cricket. That is not a complaint, it is the local rhythm, and joining it for a few hours is a real Bermuda experience.
Transport Pass: Which One Saves You Money
Cash is the most expensive way to pay. As of 2026, a one-way fare on a bus or ferry is $5 for adult 14-zone travel and $3.50 for 3-zone, paid with exact coins only. Drivers cannot make change. Ferries do not accept cash at all.
The smart options:
Tokens: $4.50 each (14-zone), $2.75 (3-zone). Good if you are taking just a handful of rides.
15-ticket booklet: $37.50 (14-zone) or $25 (3-zone). Best if two of you are sharing across a few days.
Transportation pass (unlimited bus and ferry):
1-day: $19 adult, $9.50 child
2-day: $31.50 / $16
3-day: $44 / $22
4-day: $48.50 / $24.50
7-day: $62 / $31
For most cruise passengers with 2 full active days, the 2-day pass at $31.50 is the obvious pick. For 3 days, the 3-day pass. If you plan to skip the last day at Dockyard (which has no further transit cost from the cruise ship), buy a 2-day pass and use cash for one stray trip. For families with multiple kids, do the math on a booklet of 15 tickets first, it often wins.
You can buy passes at the Visitor Information Center at Dockyard the moment you step off the ship, at the Hamilton ferry terminal, or now digitally through the government's Shorelink app, which is the easiest option if you have data on your phone. Children under 5 ride free.
Pro-Tip: Bus transfers do not require a second ticket if you ask the driver for a transfer slip when you pay cash or use a token. With a pass, transfers do not matter at all, you just ride (as long as you transfer to the next available bus). New visitors waste a lot of money not knowing this.
Common Mistakes That Wreck a Bermuda Trip
I see the same mistakes in trip reports year after year.
Trying to see St. George and the south shore beaches on the same day from Dockyard. It can be done, but you spend more time in transit than at either place. Split them.
Booking a beach day on a rainy forecast and panicking. Bermuda weather changes within a day. Keep beach plans loose, swap to a caves-and-Hamilton day if the sky looks heavy in the morning.
Renting a Twizy or scooter without thinking it through. A Twizy is a small electric two-seater you can rent. It is fun but you drive on the left, the roads are narrow and twisty, and many cruise visitors are not insured for accidents. For most trips, the bus and ferry pass is faster, cheaper and far less stressful.
Skipping the ferry back to Dockyard until the last moment. The Orange Route from St. George has limited evening runs. Always know your return ferry time before you leave the dock in the morning.
Eating only at the cruise port or hotel. Bermuda food is expensive everywhere, but a meal of fish chowder spiced with black rum and sherry peppers, or a slice of cassava pie around the holidays, is a memory worth the money. Try the cheap classics, Smokin' Barrel on Front Street, Wok Express near Southampton, Gojo's at Kings Square in St. George.
Pro-Tip: Order Bermuda fish chowder at least once. It comes plain. The whole point is the small bottle of dark rum (Gosling's Black Seal) and the small bottle of sherry peppers sauce that arrive next to it. You add both, to taste, at the table. Without them it is just soup.
Bermuda fish chowder
Photo: kansasphoto, flickr, cc by 2.0
Themed 5-Day Itineraries
Different travelers want different shapes. Here are three I have built for readers over the years.
For Couples Who Want to Slow Down
Two beach days (Horseshoe area on day one, Tobacco Bay on day three after St. George). One Hamilton day with afternoon tea at the Hamilton Princess and dinner at 1609 Bar and Restaurant on the harbor. One sunset sailing cruise from Dockyard. One quiet day for the Botanical Gardens in Paget and a long lunch.
For Families With Kids
Aquarium and Caves day with Swizzle Inn lunch. Horseshoe Bay with the beach shuttle from Dockyard. St. George with Tobacco Bay snorkeling. Dolphin Quest at the National Museum complex. One day with Snorkel Park at Dockyard plus the Clocktower Mall.
For History and Culture First
A full day in St. George (UNESCO World Heritage town), including Fort St. Catherine and the Unfinished Church. Hamilton walking tour with City Hall, Cathedral, Cabinet House, Fort Hamilton. Royal Naval Dockyard for the National Museum of Bermuda. A morning at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI). One beach day to recover.
When Should You Visit?
Peak season is May through October, with water temperatures from 74 degrees Fahrenheit in early May climbing to the low 80s by August. June and early July are my favorite window, warm water, full ferry schedule, and Harbour Nights running on Wednesdays in Hamilton. Hurricane risk rises in September.
November through March is quiet and cheaper but several attractions and water tours shut down, and many restaurants reduce hours. If you visit in winter, do not expect beach swimming, expect long walks, light jackets, and a peaceful island.
Questions and Answers
Kavyesh T. (September 2019)
Hi Raj, We are visiting Bermuda on Sep 30 and Oct 1. We are planning to visit the Crystal Caves and Jobson's Cove. Can we combine them in a single trip? If yes, what is the best mode of transportation, public buses or ferries or private taxis?
Raj (September 2019)
Hi, optimal transportation will depend on your location of stay. Anyway, you can do Crystal Caves first. Buses #1 and #3 from Hamilton City have stops there. After the caves visit, take a bus back to Hamilton and then transfer to bus #7 to get off at the western end of Warwick Long Bay Beach. Jobson's Cove is an easy walk from there along the beach trail.
Patricia Johnson (May 2019)
Hello, Sir. I love your helpful site. This is my fourth visit. However, I have a group of adult children and friends going in August. We arrive the morning of Wednesday, August 14. We have a full day. The second full day they are booked with Hidden Gems. The last day, Friday, is only a portion so they should probably stay local or book through the ship to guarantee they don't miss the ship. My question is for the first day, the Wednesday. They would like to go to Horseshoe Bay Beach. I would love for them to see St. George or should they do the beach and visit Hamilton for the Gombey dancers and the street festival?
Raj (May 2019)
Hello, go to the beach in the morning. Get back for lunch and take the 2:45 pm Orange ferry to St. George. Take the return ferry at 5:45 pm to get back to the cruise port (Dockyard). Later take the Blue Route ferry (7:30 pm) from Dockyard to Hamilton for Harbour Nights festival. The last return ferry from Hamilton is at 10:30 pm (prior to that 9 pm).
Khanh Nguyen (April 2019)
Hi Raj, We (all can walk) will be in Bermuda on Jun 5, 6, 7 with NCL. Would you please give me advice for these activities such as ferry, bus, lunch, and Bermuda attractions that I may miss from my study:
Wednesday Jun 5: Dockyard to BAMZ, BAMZ to Caves, Caves to Tobacco Bay, Tobacco Bay to Dockyard. Then Dockyard to Harbour Night and Harbour Night to Dockyard.
Thursday Jun 6: Dockyard to Horseshoe Bay and Horseshoe Bay to Dockyard.
Friday Jun 7: Dockyard.
Raj (April 2019)
Hi, on June 5 take the ferry to Hamilton and then bus #10 or 11 to BAMZ. Continue on the same route and get off at Swizzle Inn, have lunch here (pub fares) and try out the island drink Rum Swizzle if you want. Walk down to the caves. Then take bus #1 or 3 to St. George and then walk or take the shuttle to Tobacco Bay. Get back to Hamilton and take the ferry back to Dockyard.
On June 6, other than Horseshoe Bay Beach, visit the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse (you can walk between the beach and the lighthouse or take bus #7). Use the beach shuttles from Dockyard. Have lunch at the beach cafe or walk up to the main road and have lunch at Gulfstream (a better option). On day 3, visit the National Museum of Bermuda (in Dockyard) and Dolphin Quest (in the same museum complex) and then the Clocktower Mall for some shopping.
Karley (October 2018)
Hi there, I've been reading your forum for some time and it's full of great information. We are taking our 2 kids (7, 10) with a cruise to Bermuda in November. We will be docking Monday (Nov 12, Remembrance Day rollover holiday) and leaving on the Wednesday. Our must see/do are: BAMZ, Horseshoe Bay, lighthouse, both caves, Tobacco Bay, checking out the shops in both Hamilton and St. George. Wednesday we are just staying in the Dockyard. Can you help me plan an itinerary using ferries and buses?
Raj (October 2018)
Hi, Remembrance Day (12 November) being a public holiday, most shops would be closed in Hamilton and St. George although Dockyard shops including Clocktower Mall would remain open. So on 12th, visit Gibbs Hill Lighthouse and then walk down to Horseshoe Bay Beach. Note that buses run on reduced frequencies on public holidays. In the second half, take the ferry to Hamilton and then bus (#10 or 11) to BAMZ.
On 13th, take the first ferry to Hamilton and then a bus (#1 or 3) to the caves. Continue to St. George (by bus #1 or 3) and take a minibus to Tobacco Bay. Get back to Kings Square, do shopping and then proceed to Hamilton. Do shopping and try to be on time for the last ferry to Dockyard (else you need to take a one hour bus ride to get back). On your last day, visit the National Museum of Bermuda and Dolphin Quest, and the Clock Tower Mall for boutique shops.
Ed Eng (September 2018)
Hello Raj. Our cruise ship will be arriving Bermuda 6 pm in King's Wharf on Oct 20 then depart on Oct 22 at noon. We need your recommendations.
1. With the late arrival, can we do anything the first day or night besides going to VIC?
2. The next day we like to do your self-guided St. George half day in the AM then Hamilton in the afternoon. Would that work?
3. The last day we like to finish off with Royal Naval Dockyard.
4. With 3 days in the island should we get the passes?
Raj (September 2018)
Hi Ed, unfortunately you can't do much on your first and last days. All shops and sites start closing down by 5 pm. Only option is to spend some time taking a walk around the Dockyard. On day 1 you can optionally take a horse carriage ride (if available), or take a taxi to Horseshoe Bay Beach (about 25 minutes by cab). Sun sets at around 8 pm, so you can still get about an hour of beach time. Day 2 plan is good.
In St. George avoid distant places like Tobacco Bay and Fort St. Catherine to save time and get back to Hamilton by lunch hours. 21st October being a Sunday, several attractions and almost all shops would be closed. So I suggest you carefully check the open hours of the individual sites and do not plan for shopping.
Julie (April 2018)
Hello, we're cruising to Bermuda for our first time next month. Day 1 take the $7 shuttle to Horseshoe Bay Beach. That night take the ferry to Harbour Nights. Day 2 (this is the most confusing for me): take ferry to St. George's. We want to go to Tobacco Bay. Then to the Crystal Caves. If possible we'd also like to check out Tom Moore's Jungle / Blue Hole Park. Is this doable in one day and how do we get back to the Royal Dockyard?
Raj (April 2018)
Hi, Tom Moore's Jungle (Blue Hole Park) and Crystal Caves are located close to each other. From St. George you can take bus #1, 3, 10 or 11 and get off at the bus stop near Blue Hole Park entrance. From there take bus #1 or 3 for Crystal Cave.
From the caves you can again take bus #1 or 3 and get to Hamilton City ferry terminal, and then take Blue Route ferry back to the Dockyard. Although you can visit all three places on a single day, you will be able to spend limited time at Blue Hole Park which actually requires minimum of half a day to experience properly.
Felicia (August 2017)
Greetings. I will be on a cruise docked at the Royal Naval Dockyard from Mon 9 am until Sunday 1 pm. I was considering Dockyard, Hamilton and Horseshoe Bay Beach. Would there be time to spend at St. George's? I would like to do a horse carriage ride as well.
Raj (August 2017)
Hi, considering you have only one full day, it is difficult to include St. George in your itinerary. I suggest you first visit the beach after you reach, and then spend the second half at Hamilton. You can take a horse carriage ride in Hamilton (book in advance) or at Dockyard, although the ride at St. George would have been the best. On day 2, visit the various attractions in Royal Naval Dockyard before you leave.
(Follow-up: if you can finish touring by 1 pm on day 2, the Orange Route ferry has limited runs. Take the first ferry at 9:30 am, return ferry from St. George is at 1:15 pm or 12:30 pm depending on day. You can get about 2 to 2.5 hours in St. George.)
Kristin (April 2017)
Hi Raj. We are coming on a cruise in 16 days and will purchase transportation passes. I cannot find a time schedule for May 2017. Can you tell me if I am overbooking? Day 1: caves and aquarium, then Black Bay Beach for sea glass and sunset, then Harbour Nights, ferry back. Day 2: lighthouse at 9 am, then Horseshoe Bay all day. Day 3: stay close to the boat.
Raj (April 2017)
Hi, the summer ferry schedule is on my site. Your plan is okay. For getting to caves and BAMZ, you should take the ferry from Dockyard to Hamilton and then bus. Same way back. The only beach within the Dockyard complex is Snorkel Park (short walk from the cruise ship). There is an admission fee.
Karyn Hall (November 2016)
Hello. We are coming via NCL Breakaway in June. We have 2 adults and 3 kids, 14, 13 and 9. We want to snorkel from a beach and take at least one snorkel cruise. We also want St. George and Horseshoe Beach. I've read about Tom Moore's Forest and Blue Hole. And maybe the Hamilton evening fest. Can we fit all this Wednesday 8 am to Friday 3 pm?
Raj (November 2016)
Hi, here is a suggested plan. On day 1 (Wednesday), take the first Orange Route ferry to St. George. Visit the town, Kings Square, St. Peter's Church, then walk or take a minibus to Tobacco Bay Beach for snorkeling. Lunch at the beach house or Tempest Bistro, White Horse Tavern, or Gojo's Cafe for something light. Take a bus (#1, 3, 10 or 11) to Tom Moore's Jungle.
Continue to Hamilton, watch Harbour Nights, ferry back to Dockyard by Blue Route. Day 2: shuttle minibus to Horseshoe Bay in the morning, walk or take bus to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, then a snorkel cruise from Dockyard in the afternoon, then National Museum, Clocktower Mall, Dolphin Quest. Day 3: bus #7 to Jobson's Cove for swimming and snorkeling, or walk to Snorkel Park at Dockyard.
Christopher Yee (July 2015)
Hi Raj. Norwegian Dawn, Sunday 11 am to Tuesday 5:30 pm. Day 1: ferry to Hamilton, lunch, then bus #7 to Elbow Beach, Warwick Long Bay and Horseshoe. Day 2: early ferry to St. George, Tobacco Bay, then Crystal Caves. Day 3: rent a motorboat with H2O Sports. Is day 1 too much?
Raj (July 2015)
Hi, your first day would be a bit too much. Start with Warwick Long Bay Beach, then walk over to Jobson's Cove (a small but great beach for snorkeling), and then walk further west along the shoreline to Horseshoe if you have time. These are all south shore beaches and have pink sands. All public beaches are open until sunset.
Shelley (July 2015)
Hello Raj. We will be in Bermuda July 29 to August 4 at the Fairmont Southampton. I understand that the Soccer Cup will be taking place while we are there. We like history, cycling, my daughter dives, great food. How might we best use our time before, after and during the Cup? Recommendation for dinner on Harbour Night?
Raj (July 2015)
Shelley, it's not the soccer cup, it's the cricket cup, something radically different from soccer and worth watching for a while if you like to feel the local vibe. For dinner on Front Street, I like to dine at the balcony of Bolero Brasserie and watch the activities below and the harbor view beyond. You will get several local dishes here including Bermuda fish chowder and local fish. Pickled Onion is another great option. Go early if you want balcony seats.
Melissa Quinn (January 2014)
Hi Raj. Visiting Bermuda for the first time, 3 nights at the Fairmont Southampton, 30 May to 2 June. We want beach, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, Crystal and Fantasy Caves, budget restaurants. We were told we had to visit the Swizzle in Warwick. Tips on where to go when, where to eat, bus routes.
Raj (January 2014)
Hi, Horseshoe Bay Beach and Gibbs Hill Lighthouse are near Fairmont Southampton (bus route #7). Visit both on day 2. Lunch at The Dining Room at the base of the lighthouse. Late afternoon, go to Hamilton City, shop along Front Street, then a harbor-facing restaurant (like Pickled Onion upstairs balcony). Day 3 visit Crystal and Fantasy Caves (bus #7 or 8 to Hamilton, then #1 or 3).
Lunch at Swizzle Inn near the caves, the original and oldest pub in Bermuda which invented the Rum Swizzle. Then bus #1, 3, 10 or 11 to St. George, get off at Kings Square, Water Street, Somers Wharf, St. Peter's Church. Buy a 15-ticket booklet from a post office or bus and ferry terminal. For cheap eating, see the budget restaurants page. Wok Express is within walking distance of Fairmont Southampton.
About the Author
By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj has been writing about Bermuda since 2008, when he launched bermuda-attractions.com, one of the longest-standing independent guides to the island. A Certified Bermuda Specialist (Bermuda Tourism Authority), his work draws on personal visits, local contacts in Bermuda, and questions and trip reports from thousands of readers over the years.
