Experience Bermuda

Overview

The alluring island of Bermuda is a self-governing overseas British territory found in the North Atlantic Ocean. Renowned for its incredible pink sand beaches like Horseshoe Bay, and Elbow Beach. Bermuda has a wonderful blend of cultures and a deep maritime history, home to the massive Royal Naval Dockyard complex. The 21-square-mile island is brimming with astonishing beaches, natural wonders, and thrilling adventures. It offers laid-back island vibes that feed the soul, inviting visitors to soak up the sun, sand, and seas with a nice cooling breeze. 

Bermuda’s charming, historic neighborhoods are beautifully decorated with cotton candy-colored limestone cottages and other unique Bermudian architecture. The island is filled with aquatic adventures like scuba diving over shipwrecks, deep sea fishing, and cliff jumping. There are plenty of activities on and offshore with a bounty of museums, galleries, restaurants, nature reserves, immaculate beaches, and spotless outdoor spaces. 

Things to see and do

Visit the historic capital of Saint George’s town on the southern coast of St. George’s Island, northern Bermuda. Established in 1612 by colonists in the service of the Virginia Company of London, and known for its British architecture such as St. Peter’s Church, which is the oldest surviving Anglican church in continuous use outside the British Isles. The State House in Saint George was built in 1619, these buildings and other historic structures were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.The town is beautifully preserved with charming narrow lanes and colorful colonial buildings. 

Check out the Unfinished Church, building began in 1874 by settlers in St. George to replace St. Peter’s Church. Poor planning, insufficient funds, and a debilitating storm led to the site being abandoned. Today the structure has been fortified to withstand visitors, it is still unfinished and has only the sky for a ceiling. Check out the intricate Gothic architecture and serene surroundings, the church is stunning in photos and is well worth the trek up Government Hill. 

Wander along the bustling Front Street, which is the main thoroughfare of Hamilton, Bermuda’s capital town. The charming area is brimming with colorful colonial architecture and the glistening harbor, a picturesque town that is postcard-worthy. Go shopping in the unique boutiques and high-end shops that line the street, sit down for an alfresco lunch at one of the many cafes and restaurants, or just simply watch the people and world go by and look out for the men in their traditional colorful Bermuda shorts and knee-length socks. The area is a hotspot for sunsets and comes alive after dark with plenty of nightlife and entertainment options to choose from. 

Head to Blue Hole Park one of the island's hidden gems, tucked away behind an understated road, it's a site that shows off Bermuda’s natural beauty. The Blue Hole is a deep pool of crystal clear water with lots of tropical fish and mangroves, it's surrounded by cliffs, wildlife, and natural vegetation. In the summertime, it's great to take a swim in the spectacular refreshing waters as well as snorkeling and diving opportunities. 

Blue Hole Park is located within the 12-acre Walsingham Nature Reserve and boasts hidden caves and grottoes that have natural pools with stalactite formations that are all connected by a network of hidden underground tunnels.

Visit the Royal Naval Dockyard, once the principal base of the Royal Navy in the Western Atlantic Ocean, it is now a tourist-slanted marina and cruise ship dock. There are a number of attractions dotted along the waterfront here including restaurants, art galleries, shops, and pubs along with the National Museum of Bermuda, and Dolphin Quest water at the Keep Fortress. 

The Crystal and Fantasy caves were accidentally discovered in 1907 by two young boys, as the story goes Carl Gibbons and Edgar Hollis were playing a game of cricket when the ball got hit into a hole. One of the boys climbed down the hole to retrieve the ball and ultimately discovered the hidden caves. The caves are covered with crystal formations that surround a 55-foot-deep lake, there are bridges that run throughout the caves today that allow for visitors to descend deep into the darkness witnessing the magnificent beauty of the crystals on a guided tour.

See the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in Southhampton Parish for some amazing panoramic views as far as the eye can see. The stunning cast iron lighthouse stands 117 feet tall, atop a 245-foot tall hill, it has been in operation since 1846 and originally used a kerosene light to warn sailors within 40 miles of the treacherous coral reefs that extend out as far as 16 miles offshore. It is still an operating lighthouse today and a popular tourist attraction.

Shopping

The island of Bermuda is an excellent shopping destination, drawing in shopaholics from all over the world. Those visitors seeking a day of retail therapy can find it in the island’s local markets, modern shopping malls, and trendy dockside streets, many found within a few blocks of each other. Some popular shopping destinations include Washington Mall, Reid Street, and Front Street in Hamilton City, and in the historic town of St George’s, there are some unique boutiques found along Water Street in Somers Wharf. In the waterfront capital City of Hamilton, shoppers can stroll along the chic waterfront in a charming setting and check out the different shops selling local rum, high-end clothing, and luxury items. There are many unforgettable shopping experiences to check out in Bermuda with retailers offering the best selection of some of the top brand names in the world, as well as locally crafted artisans, innovators, designers, and merchants. 

Bermuda has some unique finds when it comes to the perfect gift or souvenir to take home. Take home an authentic gift like Bermuda-inspired resort wear such as colorful-knee length Bermuda shorts, and knee socks, beachwear, ceramics, glassware, handcrafted cedar carvings, island-inspired pottery, perfume, and locally made pink sand jewelry.  

The Old Cooperage Building is home to the Bermuda crafter market at the Royal Naval Dockyard, the hours vary depending on the season. Also at the with beautiful artwork on display from local artists, there are also workshops, and shows hosted here. Harbour Nights is held every Wednesday during peak season (May to September), when the street closes down to traffic from 7-10 pm, the streets are filled with the island’s best artisans who come out to showcase their work.

The Washington Mall is located in the heart of downtown Hamilton, the largest shopping center in Bermuda, and home to over 50 retailers selling everything from leather goods, furniture, clothing, and sportswear to jewelry. The mall is also home to one of Gibbons Companys Shop-In-Shops the Gibbons Home Store. The mall offers a wide variety of dining options including dine-in and takeout at their food court. There is a spa on-site and a virtual gaming cinema.

The Clocktower Shopping Mall is the top retail destination in Bermuda found at the historic Royal Naval Dockyard offering visitors a mixture of history, Bermuda-inspired souvenirs, and restaurants to choose from. The Mall's iconic 98-foot twin clocktowers are a great photo opportunity, one tower displays the actual time, and the other marks high tide.

Beaches

The island of Bermuda is brimming with its famous pink sand beaches which exude comforting vibes. There are 75 miles of sprawling coastline fringed with diverse beautiful beaches and sparkling ocean waters. The beach is never far away and each one invites you to refresh your senses, and explore hidden coves, relax on pristine soft pink sand beaches. The alluring shores of the island and the marvelous crystal-clear turquoise waters provide a refreshing reprieve from the sun-filled skies. The island is brimming with carefree beach vibes for all to inspire your beach getaway at Bermuda’s sublime beaches.

Tobacco Bay Beach in St. George is a protected bay that’s great for families with beach rentals. This beach is in a beautiful cove boasting calm waters excellent for swimming, and snorkeling. The waters feature unusual limestone formations making it a haven for abundant marine life such as blue angelfish, and sergeant majors. There is a beach bar, and restaurants offering food and drinks.

Horseshoe Bay Beach is one of Bermuda’s most popular beaches known for its unusual pink-tinged sand, shimmering dark turquoise waters, and lush verdant hills. There are hidden caves in Horseshoe Bay Cove located at the west end of the beach, which is also a fantastic spot for sunset on the headland. There are amenities at the beach with chairs and umbrella rentals, food concessions, restrooms, and showers.

Warwick Long Bay Beach is the longest stretch of shoreline in Bermuda boasting idyllic pink sands. A picturesque beach with crystal clear deep turquoise waters great for swimming. There are amenities such as bathrooms, showers, a playground, beach rentals, and food concessions. There are trails through limestone bluffs and secluded coves through the prized South Shore Park to Horseshoe Bay located here.

Cusine

The rich food culture in Bermuda is delicious, and multi-dimensional, with its international roots and bounties from the sea, dining is a delicious cultural experience. The deep flavors of Bermuda are made up of savory, soulful, traditional dishes blending rich heritage and influences from British, Portuguese, African, Caribbean, and Native American cultures. The island of Bermuda is surrounded on all sides by the ocean making it a seafood lovers paradise, restaurants serve up incredibly fresh delicious sea-to-table fare like tuna, wahoo, and spiny lobster to name a few. In fact, a classic Bermy dish is the traditional codfish breakfast, a fried fish sandwich that takes on a unique twist with spices and ingredients from around the world, served with boiled potatoes, onions, and sweet banana slices, topped off with a sauce of your choice. 

Spinach, bok choy, avocados, prickly pear, passion fruit, and guava are local seasonal Bermudian fruits and vegetables used to make meals with lots of color and flavor. Honey, goat cheese, and seafood are also seasonal favorites. The Rum Swizzle is a fruit-flavored tropical beverage, this classic Bermuda can be found on many cocktail menus, along with Gosling’s Dark ‘n Stormy, a spicy ginger beer-based cocktail. Restaurants throughout the island are a mixture of upscale formal dining, cozy pubs, laid-back local joints, and beachfront restaurants with a view, wherever you choose to go and eat you are sure to be amazed by the food and flavors.

Nightlife

The best thing to do after the sun goes down in Bermuda is to visit one of the laid-back cozy pubs, casual cocktail lounges, lively beachside bars, buzzing sports bars, or upscale swanky clubs to enjoy some classic cocktails and live music. The island often hosts many fun festivals, and exciting parties in the summer with live DJs playing reggae, jazz, and calypso jams. A lot of Bermuda’s nightlife is found in the capital city of Hamilton with dozens of all-day venues, historic pubs, and restaurants to choose from along Front Street. St. George’s is also worth visiting for a relaxed evening out in the town, with classy cocktail lounges, the historic theatre with plays and musicals, and lots of live music venues. The nightlife here is quite diverse and offers a great blend of the island’s culture and welcoming island vibes, many establishments here offer breathtaking expansive views of the Great Sound and the North Atlantic Ocean.