Top places to visit in Bermuda
You can travel from one end of Bermuda to the other in about an hour by a taxi or a scooter. But despite its small area, the island offers numerous tourist attractions.
There are lovely pink beaches, picturesque landscapes, wonderful architecture, historic buildings & sites, art & craft, and so much more.
St, George, Bermuda
Photo: Charles Lewis, Shutterstock
You can also hire a taxi by the hour and
take a taxi tour. Most taxi drivers in Bermuda, particularly the ones who are Blue Flag Certified, are highly knowledgeable about the island and its history... they double up as great tour guides.
Viator offers a range of sightseeing tours in Bermuda (both island tours on minibuses as well as boating & sailing tours).
Rates by Viator
Below are the top places in Bermuda that you should keep in your 'Must Visit' list.
Bermuda is famous for its amazing pink sandy beaches that line the south shore. Some of them are fairly large expanses of sand and the others are just beautiful tiny coves.
Horseshoe Bay Beach in Southampton is undoubtedly the most popular beach in the island. It's a scenic beach on the south shore and facing the turquoise waters of the Atlantic. A cliff-line fringes the picturesque curved stretch of sands.
Photo: Captain-tucker, cc by-sa
The beach is great for sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling as well as for cliff jumping from the rocks at the ends. Horseshoe beach has good amenities including bathrooms with showers, cafe, beach bar, beach rentals, etc.
Bus #7 has a stop on the main road near Horseshoe Beach, you will then need to walk down the approach road to get to the beach. Minibus shuttles are available between Dockyard and Horseshoe Bay Beach when cruise ships are in port.
A sandy trail from Horseshoe Bay leads to several other pristine south shore beaches and coves to the east. One of them is the picturesque
Jobson's Cove which is surrounded by rocky cliffs... the shallows here are ideal for snorkeling.
Next to it is the
Warwick Long Bay Beach that has long expanse of sand with many rocks fringing it. This is the longest beach of Bermuda and hence the name.
Warwick Long Bay remains relatively secluded and is great for swimming and snorkeling. You can see coral reefs in the blue waters just offshore.
Bus #7 has a stop on South Road near the western entry of Warwick Long Bay. A concession stand operates during summer offering light snacks and snorkel rentals. There are toilet facilities near the car park located above the beach.
Elbow Beach is another wonderful beach on the south shore and located in Paget. There are barrier reefs offshore that make the water calm and great for swimming as well as snorkeling. There is a wreck of a Cargo Steamer just 100 yards offshore.
Bus #7 has a stop nearby... you need to walk for 500 yards from the bus stop to get to Elbow Beach. Although Elbow Beach Resort has facilities on the beach such as a Bistro & Beach Bar, but presently, the resort and all its facilities are closed.
These are two amazing subterranean caves located in the same cave complex in Hamilton Parish. The caves have underground lakes and stunning limestone formations hanging down from the ceilings and jutting out from the bottom.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Walk over a pontoon bridge and watch the wonders of the nature. Guided tour of the caves is included in ticket cost. Bus #1 and 3 (operating between Hamilton and St. George) have stops near the entry to Crystal Cave.
This is the cruise port at the west end of the island where the large cruise ships dock. This port area has developed into a major tourist complex in itself.
Photo: James Willamor, flickr, cc by-sa 2.0
It houses a historic fort The Keep, the National Museum of Bermuda located inside the fort complex, a great swimming & snorkeling beach, art and craft centers, a shopping mall with many boutique stores, several stand-alone stores, a dolphin activity center etc.
The dockyard also has several great eateries, restaurants, bars and pubs. You can reach Royal Naval Dockyard by bus #7 or 8. There is also a direct ferry service between Hamilton and Dockyard which takes 20 minutes one-way.
Built in 1846, this is one of the oldest cast iron lighthouses in the world. Gibbs Hill Lighthouse is located in Southampton parish and close to Horseshoe Bay Beach.
In the early days, the powerful light beams from this lighthouse which could be seen from as far as 40 miles away, used to guide the ships to navigate through the treacherous underwater reefs around Bermuda.
You can climb the 185 spiral steps inside and go up to the top balcony and get a panoramic view of the parish and the
Great Sound water area.
Bus #7 has a stop nearby on South Road. It's a short walk from there to the lighthouse (along Lighthouse Road and then St. Anne's Road).
The museum is located in dockyard and showcases numerous exhibits and artifacts which depict the early maritime life in Bermuda as well as the island's centuries old history.
The main sections of the museum are housed in the historic Keep Fortress. The highlights here include the Commissioner's House that was built in the 1820s in Georgian Architecture. It once used to be the residence of the Dockyard Commissioner.
It now houses exhibits depicting Bermuda dark days of slavery, rare coins, collections from the US Air Force and Royal Navy, and more.
The Queen's Exhibition Hall within the fortress once used to be a magazine for storing gun powder. It now showcases the history of Bermuda, how it was discovered, how the human settlement took place in the island, etc, through a series of exhibits.
You can reach Royal Naval Dockyard by bus #7 or 8. There is also a direct ferry service between Hamilton and Dockyard which takes 20 minutes one-way.
As you enter the Aquarium, you get to see the exotic marine life and colorful corals which the scuba divers can see in the Atlantic around Bermuda.
One of the main features here is the 140,000-gallon North Rock tank which has vast collection of live corals. You can also see over 200 species of marine life and fish here.
North Rock Tank, Bermuda Aquarium
The complex also has a natural history museum as well as a zoo. The zoo has more than 300 birds, reptiles and mammals from oceanic islands. Bus routes #10, 11 operating between Hamilton and St. George have stops at BAMZ.
This small yet picturesque beach is located in St. George. The water here offers great opportunities for snorkeling. There are many rock formations on the water and they are home to a lot of colorful tropical fish.
Tobacco Bay Beach has a lot of on-beach amenities including a cafe with a beach bar, bathroom facility, lockers, beach rentals (chairs & umbrellas), snorkel & kayak rentals, etc. It also holds sunset beach parties on the week ends.
From Kings Square (St. George), it's a 25 minutes walk. There are also minibus services.
This is the oldest continually used church in the western hemisphere. It's located in St. George's Town. The church looks very simple from outside.
But inside, the candlelit chandeliers, the open cedar beams and unfinished look of the pillars create a charming yet an awe inspiring ambience.
Photo: JoeyBagODonuts, cc by sa 3.0
There are two graveyards on the premises here - one that was used for the black slaves and the other for the whites.
You can get to St. George by bus #10, 11, 1, 3 from Hamilton. Orange Route ferry also operates from Dockyard to St. George on few days of the week during summer. Once you reach Kings Square in St. George, it's an easy walk to the church (100 yards).
This is a pristine nature reserve located in Hamilton Parish. It spans across 12 acres of land area. This is actually the only real forest land area in Bermuda.
Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC by SA 3.0
The reserve has amazing natural pools, hidden grottos & caves, nature trails and lush vegetation. You can reach there by bus #1, 3, 10 or 11. Get off near the entry gate of Grotto Bay Beach Resort, and walk a short distance to the reserve.
During the colonial days, the British had built several forts in Bermuda... Fort St. Catherine was one of the first such forts that was originally built in the early 1600s in St. George, although it was later rebuilt several times. It is the largest fort in the island.
Photo: reivax / flickr, cc by 2.0
The fort has been converted into a museum. It showcases various military exhibits and artifacts that belong to the British era.
You can see the canons, pistols, swords and even muzzle loaders. The fort has many tunnels, towers, redoubts and ramparts, and is surrounded by a dry moat.
Fort St. Catherine is located at the north-eastern fringe of St. George and at a short walking distance from
Tobacco Bay Beach. So, when visiting this part of the island, you should plan to visit both the fort and the beach.
There are two other nice beaches on two sides of the fort, one is
Achilles Bay which offers excellent sunset view, and the other is the wonderful
St. Catherine's Beach.
This is a wonderful unspoiled reserve with lush vegetation. It offers excellent views of Castle Harbor from various points. There are marked trails and boardwalk to get around the reserve. It's also a habitat of various species of birds.
Reserve (Boardwalk), Rotate the imagery for 360° view
There are several pristine beaches here such as Long Bay and Well Bay Beach. There is also an observation tower... you can go to the top and soak in the panoramic views.
The reserve is located at St. Davids and next to
Clearwater Beach which is a very popular family beach in the area. There is a beach bar & restaurant here. Beach rentals like beach chairs and umbrellas are available. The beach park also has a children's playground.
Some services of bus #6 from St. George caters to Coopers Island Nature Reserve as well as Clearwater Beach. A scooter or an electric minicar would be perfect to get there.
This is an excellent Dolphin training center located in Royal Naval Dockyard and housed within the Keep Fortress where the National Museum of Bermuda is located.
Other than training the bottlenose dolphins that are found in the surrounding Atlantic, they also hold stunning dolphin shows here.
There are various dolphin programs where you can participate... for example, swimming with dolphins or feeding the dolphins.
You can get to the Dockyard by bus #7 or 8. There is also a direct ferry service between Hamilton and Dockyard which takes 20 minutes one-way.
BUEI is a popular tourist attraction in Hamilton City and perfect for kids & families. The Ocean Discovery Center here houses numerous artifacts and interactive exhibits that help you learn a lot about the ocean surrounding Bermuda and its marine life.
Photo: BUEI
There is a simulated dive where you can see colorful corals and marine creatures of various types. There is even a shark cage dive. There are coral crusted coins and many other treasures that have been collected from the sunken ships.
One of the newest interactive exhibits here will help you learn about the various Bermuda Triangle related phenomena and the possible causes.
BUEI is located at 40 Crow Lane off Front Street. It's about 0.8 mile from Hamilton Ferry Terminal and takes about 20-minute walk along Front Street.
This church is a wonderful exhibition of Victorian architecture. This imposing structure with its 143-ft tower is one of the most well known landmarks in Hamilton City. Awesome architectural work and views from the top of the tower are its main attractions.
Photo: Brendan Purdy, flickr, cc by 2.0
The church is located on Church Street in Hamilton City. It's a 10-12 minute walk from the Hamilton Ferry Terminal.
This is the largest and the most premium nature reserve of Bermuda covering 64-acres of land. It is also the best bird watching location in the island.
Other than the large pond and lush vegetation, you can get marvelous views of the coastline, get to see some strange natural formations on the coast, and also a cave where a slave once hid for a month during the slavery period to escape from his master.
The reserve is located in Smith's Parish. Bus #1 and 3, operating between Hamilton and St. George, have a stop at the entry to the reserve.
This is a nice parkland located at the outskirts of Hamilton City with its northern edge overlooking the north shore. The park has several underground tunnels and caves, and ruins of an old historic building (the Admiralty House that was built by the British Navy).
You can walk through lush & colorful vegetation. There are also a couple of small beaches in the park that are great for swimming. In fact, these are very popular swimming spots for locals from the neighborhood.
There is also a cliff-top which is a popular cliff jumping spot. The park has picnic tables and a make shift toilet. It's a great place for families and kids. Bus #4 from Hamilton Bus Terminal has a stop at the park's entry gate.
Front Street is the arterial road of Hamilton City and is undoubtedly the busiest one. This is where most of the prominent shops, restaurants, bars and pubs are lined up. So, other than a shopping hub, Front Street is also the main place for dining and nightlife in Bermuda.
You can see pastel colored buildings lining the street and housing the retail stores and the dining venues. There are many branded and upscale stores here selling apparels, jewelry, gifts & souvenirs, accessories, perfumes & cosmetics, and many other items.
Photo: Darryl Brooks, Shutterstock
Front Street runs parallel to the Hamilton Harbor. So, if you take a table on a front balcony in a
restaurant or pub on Front Street, you will get lovely view of the harbor as well as the people and activities on Front Street.
The famous street festival
Harbor Nights is held on Front Street on every Wednesday during the summer. Live music, Gombey dance, and other activities take place on Front Street. Local vendors set up stalls selling local food as well as art & craft.
Dockyard and various ferry docks in the island are connected to Hamilton by ferry. As you come out of Hamilton Ferry Terminal, you will walk straight into Front Street.
Almost all bus routes originate as well as terminate at Hamilton. Front Street is at a walking distance from the Hamilton bus terminal.
The construction work of this church started in 1874 and was carried on for several years, but it could not be finished. There were several reasons for this including parish infighting and lack of funds.
Photo: Andrew Malone/flickr
It has today become a picturesque ruin of Gothic architecture. The Unfinished Church is located in St. George and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Kings Square (the town center of St. George), it is a 15 minute walk.
This historic fort was built in Hamilton in the 1870s to protect the Hamilton Harbor from enemy invasion. However, the heavy canons that were installed here never had to be fired. There are ramparts and several underground tunnels in the fort.
The fort terrace and the moat around it have been converted into beautiful landscaped gardens with many flowering plantations. It's a great place now for family picnics.
The fort overlooks the gardens and the nearby Hamilton Harbor. You get excellent views from the terrace. Entry is free.
The fort is located on Happy Valley Road in Hamilton, and it requires about 22-25 minute walk from Hamilton Ferry Terminal to get there.
This beach with pale pink sand is located in Smith's Parish. It's very popular with the local families. The reef line which is 200 yards offshore acts as a barrier and keeps the water calm. The beach is therefore excellent for swimming.
In fact, John Smith's Bay is a great beach for snorkeling as well. Go down to the western rocky stretch where there are reefs rising from a depth of 25 feet to close to the water surface... this is an excellent place to spot colorful tropical fish while snorkeling.
There are toilet facilities here. A lunch wagon sells burgers, fries, etc. Coast guards are on duty during the summertime. Bus #1 and 3 from Hamilton have stops close to the beach.
This is a walking and cycling trail that extends from the west end of Bermuda to the east end. Once tracks existed and Bermuda Railways used to operate trains along this stretch.
However, after Bermuda Railways closed down, it has been converted into a scenic nature trail with lovely views of landscapes and ocean. It is now an 18-mile long trail, passing through various parishes and mostly along the north shore.
There are several sections on this trail with various entry and exit points. So, if you want to visit one section of the trail, I would recommend walking the section in Hamilton Parish, which is arguably the most scenic section.
In order to enter this Railway Trail section at Hamilton Parish, you can take bus #10 or 11 and get off at Bermuda Aquarium. The entry to the trails is a short walk from here.
If you take serious interest in artwork and paintings, then this is the place you must visit. There are over 1,500 collections of Bermuda inspired paintings and artwork dating from 1700s till the current time. And many of them are from internationally recognized artists.
Source: Masterworks Bermuda
There is a permanent exhibition gallery. Some of the famous artists whose artwork are exhibited here include the Winslow Homer, Albert Gleizes, and Georgia O’Keeffe who lived in Bermuda in 1930s.
There are also many exhibits from Bermudian artists as well that keep changing. There is an in-house cafe and a gift shop as well.
Masterworks is located inside Botanical Gardens in Paget. There is an admission fee. Bus routes: #1, 2 and 7 have services to Botanical Gardens.
If you love sea glasses, then you will be delighted to visit this beach. In fact, Sea Glass Beach and Black Bay Beach are twin beaches located next to each other and well known for the treasure of sea glasses that can be found there.
You can find lots of green, brown, yellow and colorless sea glasses on these beaches, especially on the Sea Glass Beach. These tiny colorful gems have been created through wave actions by the ocean from discarded glass shards.
Photo: nathanmac87, flickr
However, you can only see the sea glasses, you are not allowed to collect them by law. Water is calm here, but there are underwater sharp rocks. However with care, swimming and snorkeling experience can be good.
You can get wonderful sunset view from Black Bay Beach. There are picnic tables here but no other facilities (not even toilets), which actually help to keep the beaches crowd free.
These two beaches are located in Sandy's parish. Bus #7 and 8 have a stop nearby. From the bus stop, you need to walk for about 300 yards.
This is an excellent city park located in Hamilton. It's a perfect place to relax and unwind. There are wooden benches and plenty of shady trees in the park. There are also mosaic pathways through the park so that you can take a stroll around.
You can find a rock garden, many flower beds as well as see different types of birds here. There are several sculptures on the park, as well as a koi pond. A Royal Poinciana tree stands at the center of the park.
This park is a popular place for the local office goers and school children who come here to take their lunch. There are toilet facilities here. Entry is free.
This is the smallest draw bridge in the world. It's located at Somerset in Sandys parish. It was originally built in 1620. An wooden block needs to be removed to allow the mast of a sail boat to pass through. A great place for a photo shoot.
Bus #7 and 8 go over the bridge and have stops nearby.
This 55-ft tall lighthouse stands on the highest point at the Eastern tip of the island in St. David's and can send its beam 20 miles over the ocean.
Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, cc by-sa 3.0
Climb up the 85 odd stairs to go to the balcony on top and soak in the wonderful views of the countryside... you can see the Atlantic ocean towards the south, Ruth’s Bay to the southwest, and St. George’s to the north.
Bus #6 from St. George has a stop close to the lighthouse.
Located in Hamilton Parish (and also part of Smiths), this picturesque sleepy village on the waterside once used to be a busy port in Bermuda.
Photo: tequilamike/flickr, cc by 2.0
Mark Twain spent his final few days here. Stroll around through this quaint charming village, enjoy the water view at Flatts inlet, the pastel houses on the water edge and the scenic landscapes, as if it's all popping straight out of a picture postcard.
Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo (BAMZ) is located at Flatts and across the Flatts Bridge. So, after visiting BAMZ, you can take a leisurely walk to see Flatts Village. Bus #10 and 11 pass through the northern part of Flatts and also serve BAMZ.
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Visitors' Reviews and Comments
J Tibbles (September 2019)
HI...your responses are great. I will be visiting Bermuda in Oct. for 3 days. What are the must see sites? Horseshoe beach and the Crystal cave? Is it best to buy multiple day pass for the buses? What about using the ferry services too... can you purchase passes for them as well.
Can I purchase bus and ferry passes in advance? I am pretty adventurous, and would like to see as much as possible...in the least expensive way. Thank you for your time, I look forward to hearing from you... and any info you share to offer to make this visit the best.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) September 2019
Hi, must see sites depend on what you may like.... there are plenty. Horseshoe Bay Beach, Crystal and Fantasy Caves, Bermuda Aquarium are certainly some of the most popular sites, however there are several other great sites as well.
For example Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, Jobson's Cove, Warwick Long Bay Beach, Tom Moore's Jungle with Blue Holes and Caves, Fort Hamilton, Fort St. Catherine, St. Peter's Church etc etc.
You should also visit and spend some time in Hamilton City and St. George, and there are several great attractions within Royal Naval Dockyard including the National Museum of Bermuda and Dolphin Quest.
Multi-day transport pass is convenient, works for both public buses and ferries, and is a good option if you plan to travel to several places a day. You can otherwise buy tokens for one-way journeys ($4.50) or even pay in cash ($5)... but this can become expensive if you plan to use local transports often.
Another option is a pack of 15 tickets which is available at Hamilton ferry and bus terminals and also at several post offices... if you plan out your day-wise local travels in advance, you can purchase the packs accordingly and that can be the cheapest option. However you can not buy passes, tickets or tokens outside Bermuda in advance.
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