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2 Days in Bermuda: The Perfect Weekend and Short Cruise Itinerary
Updated: July 2026
As a Certified Bermuda Specialist, I spend a lot of time helping visitors fix broken itineraries. Forty-eight hours is a tight window for an island that forces you to slow down. If you do not plan your logistics carefully, you will spend half your trip waiting at bus stops.
I built this exact 2-day route to help you bypass the most common traps. It combines the absolute must-see historic sites with the best beaches, all structured around the reality of our local ferry and bus schedules.
Who This Itinerary Is For (And Who Should Skip It)
This plan is built specifically for weekend fly-in visitors and short-stay cruise passengers docking at the
Royal Naval Dockyard. It is an aggressive, fast-paced sightseeing route designed to maximize a short window.
If you are traveling with young toddlers, this amount of transit will exhaust them. If your goal is to sit by a resort pool with a dark and stormy in hand for two days, you should skip this guide. This itinerary requires walking, navigating public transit, and keeping an eye on the clock.
At a Glance
| Feature |
Details |
| Best Time to Go |
May through October for swimming; November through April for golf. |
| Primary Transport |
2-Day Transportation Pass (ferries and buses) or Twizy rental. |
| Ideal Starting Point |
Royal Naval Dockyard or City of Hamilton. |
| Pace |
Active and highly structured. |
What Surprises Visitors the Most
Over the years of answering reader emails, one shock factor stands out above all else. Visitors drastically underestimate travel times. Bermuda is only 21 miles long, but top speeds are capped at 35 km/h (22 mph).
Taking the bus from the Dockyard all the way to St. George's takes nearly two hours each way. You cannot simply zip across the island.
Sunday closures are the second biggest shock. Much of the island shuts down on Sundays, including the critical Orange Route ferry. If your two days fall on a weekend, you must tackle St. George's on Saturday.
Common Mistakes When You Only Have 48 Hours
The most frequent mistake is trying to cram the East End (St. George's) and the South Shore beaches into a single day. Geographically, they are on opposite ends of the island. Trying to do both means you will spend most of your daylight looking out a bus window.
Another major error is missing the last ferry. The Blue Route ferry back to the Dockyard from Hamilton usually stops running around 9:30 pm on weekdays (the only exception is on Harbor Night Wednesdays when the last ferry leaves late). If you miss it, you are stuck paying for a very expensive, 45-minute taxi ride back to your ship.
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Practical Details for a 2-Day Trip
Your best investment for this trip is a 2-Day Transportation Pass. This gives you unlimited access to the public buses and ferries. Cash fares in buses require exact change in coins, which is incredibly frustrating to manage when you are rushing. Buses do not accept paper bills.
Ferries on the other hand can accept a $5 bill onboard for a 14-zone ride but not coins. You can now use the Shorelink app on your smartphone to easily purchase digital tickets and passes.
If you prefer private transport, rent a two-seater electric micro-car. You can read my complete breakdown on transport costs and rental hubs on our
Bermuda transportation guide.
Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority
Day 1: The East End and Capital City (History, Caves and Culture)
Morning: St. George's
Start your day early by catching the Orange Route ferry directly from the Dockyard to
St. George's. This scenic water ride takes about 45 minutes and drops you right into the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Walk through
King's Square and head up the hill to the
Unfinished Church. The brick paths here can be quite slippery when damp, so wear shoes with good grip. The towering, roofless Gothic arches make for incredible morning photos before the crowds arrive.
Mid-Day: The Caves and Lunch
Catch the outbound bus (Routes 1, 3, 10, or 11) toward Hamilton and ask the driver to let you off at the
Crystal and Fantasy Caves. The damp, earthy smell of the caves hits you as you descend the steep pontoon walkways over crystal-clear underground lakes.
Note: We skip the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo on this tight schedule. Their main North Rock Tank recently underwent major renovations, making the caves a much better use of your limited time.
After the caves, walk down the road to the original
Swizzle Inn in Bailey's Bay. Order a bowl of local fish chowder. It comes with cruets of black rum and sherry peppers. Add a splash of both for the authentic local kick.
Photo: kansasphoto, flickr, cc by 2.0
Afternoon and Evening: Hamilton City
Hop back on the bus heading west into the
City of Hamilton. Spend your afternoon walking along Front Street, popping into the pastel-colored boutiques.
If you are visiting on a Wednesday evening during the summer, stick around for
Harbor Nights. The street closes to traffic, filling with local vendors, Gombey dancers, and food stalls.
Day 2: Pink Sands and The West End (Beaches and Maritime Heritage)
Morning: The South Shore Trail
Start Day 2 by taking the #7 bus from the Dockyard to
Horseshoe Bay. Arrive before 9:30 am to experience the famous pink sand before the major crowds descend.
Update: The former Rum Bum Beach Bar is closed, but Horseshoe Bay Live has taken over the space, offering full beach services, food, and drinks.
Instead of staying at Horseshoe, walk east along the sandy, sometimes uneven
South Shore Trail. You will hear the roar of the tree frogs in the brush as you hike toward Jobson's Cove and Warwick Long Bay. These beaches offer the same stunning limestone cliffs and pink sand, but with a fraction of the foot traffic.
South Shore Trail
Mid-Day: A Local Lunch
For lunch, board the eastbound #7 bus and stop at
Lost in The Triangle (LITT). This excellent local seafood joint recently took over the footprint of the old Swizzle Inn South Shore location. Order the wahoo nuggets.
Alternatively, if you want a view, take a short taxi ride up to the
Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. The cast-iron spiral staircase to the top is a tight squeeze, but the panoramic island views are unmatched.
Afternoon: Royal Naval Dockyard
Head back to the
Royal Naval Dockyard to finish your trip. This keeps you safely within walking distance of your cruise ship before departure.
Walk the grounds of the
National Museum of Bermuda to explore the restored Commissioner's House and the massive maritime murals. If you have an hour left to kill, grab a final drink near the water at
Snorkel Park Beach before you depart.
Alternatives: If This Isn't For You...
If historical sites bore you, swap the morning of Day 1 for a
catamaran snorkel tour out of the Dockyard. The waters here are littered with visible shipwrecks, marine life and coral reefs that are easy to explore.
If your cruise ship leaves early on your second day, you will need to compress this plan. Check out our dedicated
1-Day Bermuda itinerary for a tighter schedule. If you decide to extend your trip, our
3-Day Bermuda itinerary slows the pace down and adds a dedicated beach-hopping day.
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.
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Questions and Answers
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Hello,
My family and I will be taking the Anthem of the Seas to Bermuda in July. We will be docked in Bermuda on Monday, July 1st (arriving at 9am) and Tuesday, July 2nd (leaving at 5pm).
There will be 4 of us.. including my spouse and 2 kids (ages 12 and 13). We have never been to Bermuda before. What do you recommend for an itinerary?
The only things that may be a must is some time at a beautiful beach (I'm thinking Horseshoe Bay or Jobson's Cove?), spending some time shopping in Hamilton and maybe a fort too. My son is on the spectrum and does not like snorkeling, but does love to go in the ocean (go figure).
Please give me some ideas of what you would recommend and the best approach to getting the most for our time. Thanks,
Marty (January 2019)
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Hi, on day-1 try to take the first ferry from dockyard to St. George (the old town and UNESCO World Heritage site). Spend some time there (Kings Square, St. Peter's Church etc) and then take bus #1 or 3 to Crystal Caves. Having visited the caves, walk down to Blue Hole Hill Circle (2-3 minutes from Crystal cave bus stop) and take bus #10 or 11 to visit the Aquarium.
From there continue on bus #10 or 11 to Hamilton City. Visit Hamilton Fort and do some shopping on Front Street (note that shops close by 5:30pm). So time your visits accordingly. Get back to Dockyard by the Blue Route Ferry from Hamilton Ferry Terminal. You should ideally buy a 1-day pass from Dockyard Visitors Service Centre for each of you to get unlimited bus/ferry rides for the day.
On day-2, take bus #7 or a beach shuttle from dockyard to Horseshoe bay beach. From there take the beach trail and walk down to Jobson's Cove and then to adjacent Warwick Long Bay Beach (total of 1.25-mile walk). Come up to the road and take bus #7 back to dockyard.
Spend some time to visit a few attractions in Royal Naval Dockyard including the National Museum, Dolphin Quest (located within the museum complex), Clock Tower Mall (one more opportunity for shopping), Jon Faulkners Gallery etc, ride the free train trolley that completes a full circuit through dockyard passing by various historical sites and attractions. You can pay the bus fares in cash or token (beach shuttles take only cash).
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, January 2019)
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Hi Raj!! My husband and I will be going on a Bermuda cruise by ourselves (no kids) for the first time in a long time this September and will be there for 2 days. What would you recommend would be the best way to make the best of it?. He does not like the beach too much. We are 45 and 46 y/o. Really appreciate your help...
Xcel (June 2017)
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Hi, You can consider visiting the following places:
Day1: Crystal and Fantasy Caves, Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo, visit Hamilton and take the train Trolley tour to get a flavor of Hamilton City, at the end of the tour visit BUEI (Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute), walk along Front Street ... do some shopping if you want, or take your dinner at one of the harbor facing restaurants with open balcony.
Alternatively after spending brief time in Hamilton, you can take bus #7 in the afternoon to get to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in Southampton and Horseshoe Bay Beach.
Day2: Visit Tom Moore's Jungle in the morning and explore the forest, blue holes and caves (better take a guided tour ... Hidden Gems Tours is good), then Visit St. George... you can take a Self Guided Walking Tour.
Alternatively take a minibus from Kings Square and visit Tobacco Bay beach, Fort St. Catherine, Gates Fort etc and do visit St. Peter's Church (walking distance from Kings Square).
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, June 2017)
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Following a serious family illness, I am finally able to bring two of my grown sons on our first vacation in ten years and hope to make it special. We only have two days in Bermuda with our RCI cruise.
Would it be trying to fit too much to take the ferry from Dockyard to St George (for the Segway), Crystal Cave, and Horseshoe Bay Beach the first day. Then, the second day do the Jessie James snorkeling cruise or the Hartley Helmet dive. My sons won't enjoy being over-scheduled and I'm likely to do just that if I don't keep myself under control. I'd appreciate your opinion. Personal regards.
Donna Hoover (May 2017)
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Hi, The first day's plan may turn out to be a little hectic unless you generally like to be on the move. You don't seem to be in a position to enjoy that.
Here is another plan that you may like to consider for day-1:
Take a morning ferry from dockyard to Hamilton, then take a bus for Crystal Caves. Then come down to Horseshoe Bay Beach by bus #7. Once done with the beach, continue on Bus #7 for the Dockyard. You can have lunch at 'Frog and Onion' in dockyard or go back to your cruise ship for lunch.
Come back and visit the some of the many attractions within the dockyard complex itself like the National Museum, Dolphin Quest, Snorkel Park, Glassworks, Craft Market, Art Center, Clayworks etc etc. Here also you can take the Segway Machine tour to go around the complex.
The second day's plan looks fine. Hope this helps. Regards,
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) May 2017
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