Visiting Bermuda – My Travel Guide
Ever thought about visiting Bermuda? Does hearing terrifying stories of the Bermuda Triangle frighten you? It shouldn’t because Bermuda is a tropical paradise in the Atlantic Ocean. The Island of Bermuda seems like some far away island in the middle of the ocean when in reality it is only about 600 miles off the Eastern Coast of the United States. Bermuda is a quick 3 hour flight from Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina and is actually closer to the country of Canada then it is to the Caribbean. If viewing the island using satellite imagery, it is shaped like a giant fish hook. Bermuda is a British Territory and has been under British rule since the early 1600’s after a shipwreck left English colonists stranded on the island.
Bermuda is an archipelago made up of seven main islands. The length of the archipelago is about 24 miles long and about a mile wide. Hamilton is the current capital and largest city of Bermuda, St. George being the old capital. The currency is the Bermudian Dollar. For U.S. travelers, the exchange is easy as 1 Bermudian Dollar equals 1 United States Dollar, at least it was when I was visiting Bermuda.
Bermuda is an island and overseas territory so it has a reputation of being quite expensive. I am not going to lie, Bermuda is not a cheap destination.
For a relatively small island in the Atlantic Ocean, there is a lot to see and do in Bermuda. They have world-famous beaches and golf courses, a maritime museum, a zoo and aquarium, caves, a jungle, and much more. Bermuda also has a fantastic bus system that works very well, it transits between St. George all the way to the Royal Naval Dockyard.
Visiting Bermuda - Getting Here and Transportation
Bermuda is a relatively easy destination to fly to. There are daily flights from airports on the East Coast of the US, like Atlanta or Boston, but I flew here out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. The flight was approximately three hours to Bermuda L.F. Wade International Airport. If you have a guest house booked, the best way to get there from the airport is by taxi.
Transportation
Surprisingly, Bermuda had a phenomenal and easy bus system. There is a large bus station in Hamilton, this is where I got a three day visitor pass. There is a one day, three day, and seven day pass. Other then the Hamilton bus stop, the pass can also be purchased at the Royal Naval Dockyard and in St. George.
The bus stops are scattered throughout the island, many of them were just posts in the open while other stops were actual covered bus shelters. Here comes the brilliant part. Each post was either marked blue or pink. Blue posts were for stops heading away from Hamilton and Pink posts is where you want to stand if you are looking to go toward Hamilton. This made it super simple, because many times I had no idea where I was but knew it was close to being late, so I just looked for a pink post and knew a bus would arrive making its way to Hamilton. The bus stops basically went from one end of the island to the other and stopped at all major attractions.
I found the people while riding the bus to be incredibly helpful and kind. Three different occasions I was helped and still hold great memories of the people I met. I met an older gentleman on the bus, he was originally from England but has been living in Bermuda longer then, let’s say, I’ve been around. I talked to him until I departed the bus, he made sure I got off the right stop. This gentleman used to be a police officer in England and told me fantastic stories, as I departed he gave me a couple of old coins from Bermuda that are no longer used, but what a great souvenir and memory.
Cities and Villages around Bermuda Worth Visiting
When visiting Bermuda, you will most likely stay in either Hamilton or St. George. Hamilton is the Capital and largest city on the island of Bermuda. Then you have the town of St. George which used to be the capital of Bermuda and is the oldest British inhabited “New World” settlement. Visitors can also stay in and explore Flatts Village which is a small village with an aquarium and zoo.
Hamilton
Hamilton is the largest city and capital of Bermuda. For a city of its size, there is quite a bit to do and see not to mention there are many great restaurant and bar options.
The Anglican Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity is a rather impressive cathedral and open to the public. I found Hamilton to be very walkable, I enjoyed walking the piers and around the beautiful parks.
Side note: The only fast food in Bermuda is a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). With the exception of KFC, fast food franchises are prohibited on the island. I read somewhere that there is a Prohibited Restaurant Act 1977, that banned foreign fast food restaurants. I wish more places, especially islands had a rule like this!
St. George
The old capital and Bermuda’s second largest town. St. George is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. St. George’s downtown area is very well preserved and not much has changed in the last 200 years.
I found St George fascinating to walk around. The colonial buildings and cobble stone streets made this town truly unique. There are several museums in St. George and historical homes. The unfinished church was my favorite site here. This Gothic-Style Church was never completed due to funding issues and the constant threat of hurricanes.
Flatts Village
Flatts Village, seemed more like a neighborhood to me then an actual village. I mainly came here to check out the zoo and aquarium. I couldn’t help but notice the brilliantly clear and turquoise ocean water while walking around Flatts Village. At one point, I was standing on a bridge looking down and saw two manta rays swim by. They do in fact have a small zoo and aquarium. For its size, it was pretty nice with a good variety of animals.
Beaches
Bermuda is obviously known for its beautiful beaches. No visit to Bermuda is complete without visiting at least one of the beaches on the island. I visited several beaches while here and they were honestly all beautiful and unique in their own ways. Here is a list of beaches I explored while visiting Bermuda.
Elbow Beach
Elbow Beach got it’s name because the beach looks like an elbow. Elbow Beach is one of Bermuda’s famous pink sand beaches and stretches for almost a mile.
The pink sand at the beaches here are caused by small reddish organism that live by the coral. Once these organisms pass on, they fall to the ocean floor and mix with the sand that eventually washes up on the beach.
Horseshoe Bay
Horseshoe Bay is another famous pink sand beach. This beach is the most popular and crowded of all the beaches.
Tobacco Bay
This bay is located in Northern Bermuda near St. George. Beauty wise, this one was probably my favorite. The beach here was shallow with crystal clear water. It is a popular snorkeling spot, although I just walked around in the water.
Warwick Long Bay
Warwick Long Bay is not as popular or crowded as some of the others as it is more secluded and farther out. This beach had a long shoreline with beautiful pink sand.
Other Attractions that are Worth Visiting
There is so much more to Bermuda then just beaches, golfing, and resorts. There are many other attractions around the island that are worth stopping at. There are caves, jungles, historical sites, and beautiful views of the coast. Take the bus and stop at random locations, I promise there will be a few surprises waiting. Here are my favorite attractions around the Island of Bermuda.
Crystal and Fantasy Caves
Visitors flock to Bermuda for the beaches and gorgeous views, but one of the more spectacular and beautiful attractions was the Crystal and Fantasy Caves.
I was lucky enough to have traveled here solo. On top of that there was not a single person here, I basically had the park and caves to myself. It was just me and a guide and we explored both cave systems. Crystal Cave was my favorite as it was an underground lake. Boardwalks were set up so visitors can walk above the water and look down at the crystal clear water. Fantasy Cave was a more traditional cave, where you walk on a path and view the caverns.
The Royal Naval Dockyard
One of Bermuda’s most popular attractions, The Royal Naval Dockyard is at the far west end of the island and there is a bus stop right out front!
The British Royal Navy called this area home and created their headquarters here after their defeat against American forces during the Revolutionary War. Now, the stronghold is open to tourists and has shops, restaurants, and the National Museum of Bermuda.
Spittal Pond
Spittal Pond was one of my favorite attractions on the island, especially for viewing marine wildlife. Spittal Pond is a Nature Reserve and there is a round trip trail to get here that is fairly easy. Near the coast here, there is a rock that had the carvings RP and 1543, which was potentially from a Portuguese Ship that crashed offshore, apparently the crew arrived on the island at this specific location.
Tom Moore’s Jungle
Another Nature Preserve, Walsingham Reserve (Tom Moore’s Jungle) is a 12 acre Reserve that has hiking trails, caves, and the famous Blue Hole.
I really enjoyed coming here to hike around, I visited some of the caves, and sat at the Blue Hole for a half hour watching tropical fish leisurely swim around.
Food and Drink
Bermuda, like most other islands is popular for their seafood. Like everything else in Bermuda, the prices are pretty steep for a meal. Some local favorites are salted codfish, chowder, and Hoppin’ John. Hoppin’ John consists is a meal that consists of black-eyed peas and rice. Other popular dishes include shark hash, and potato pudding.
Restaurants can be found in Hamilton and St. George. I also picked up food items at local grocery and convenience stores. I remember eating a codfish omelet sandwiches in the morning from a nearby convenience store to start my day! There is a popular restaurant on the Island called Art Mel’s Spicy Dicy, I was eager to try it out but unfortunately, they were closed for the season when I was there, so maybe next time.
I don’t normally drink cocktails, but Bermuda is known for a drink called the Rum Swizzle which mixes amber and Jamaican rum along with other citrus juices. I did find a great craft brewery in Bermuda named Dockyard Brewing Company. This brewery can be found at the Royal Naval Dockyard by the Frog and Onion, which from what I remember had great fish chowder.
Safety in Bermuda
I would say, Bermuda is generally a safe destination. Reading online, there are some crimes that occur related to drugs. Like any other places just be cautious and aware of your surroundings.
I did encounter one incident though while visiting Bermuda. I was here for New Year’s and spent my New Year’s in the city of Hamilton. They actually had a decent night life, there were bars, clubs, and parties going on all night. Unfortunately, I sat outside near the docks all by myself and watched fireworks. At one point a group of teens surrounded me, they asked me odd questions and tried to sell drugs, I declined but felt a bit nervous the entire time. Once they left, I felt relieved and continued watching the fireworks and just enjoyed the atmosphere.
More Facts and Information
- There is no fresh water source (lakes, rivers, etc.) in Bermuda. The tiny island is surrounded by salt water. Locals rely on rain as a source of fresh water. Actually their houses are designed to collect rain. Most houses have white roofs that have steps. This style of roof helps collect rain water which flows to the gutters and into a storage tank beneath the house.
- Bermuda is a British Territory, so they drive on the left side of the road. But fear not, as tourists we don’t have to worry about that! Why? Because, it is illegal for tourists to drive here. Thankfully they have a great bus system!
- There are no snakes or poisonous animals on the island of Bermuda.
- There are over 300 shipwrecks off the coast of Bermuda. Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with the Bermuda Triangle, instead shallow reefs surround the island which is difficult for ships to see.
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Booking Accommodations
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Activities and Tours
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