Visiting Bermuda – Travel Tips

Visiting Bermuda? My husband and I fell in love with Bermuda when we visited ten years ago, so we were really pleased to return in February 2025. I have updated this post with fresh travel tips and insights, reflecting all the changes over the past decade — including lots of new things to see and do.

Where To Stay When Visiting Bermuda

We stayed at The Hamilton Princess in Pitts Bay Road both times we visited Bermuda. Only a few blocks from Hamilton’s main street (Front Street), the iconic pink Princess has been renovated since our last visit. It is now much larger than when we visited ten years ago and renovations and expansion are still underway.

We stayed in one of the Hamilton Princess’ larger suites when visiting Bermuda in February 2025. The suite had a living and dining room, bedroom, bathroom and cloakroom. The suite was beautifully laid out and gave us lots of space to relax. The spacious balcony, well appointed with plenty of outdoor furniture, offered a view out on to the harbour. (If you would like a little peek, check out this Instagram reel.)

The staff were very attentive and the service was excellent. However we did find the noise created by the hotel being bigger and hosting more events, combined with the construction which started quite early every day, was irritating at times. I am not sure how long the construction is going to continue.

The hotel has two heated pools, one a beautiful infinity pool overlooking the sea. When we visited in summer, the pool was a welcome respite from the heat, but I felt it was a bit cool to swim outdoors when we visited in February. It was lovely sitting poolside enjoying the view and a good book though.

Getting Around Bermuda

One of the unique aspects of visiting Bermuda is that tourists are not permitted to rent or drive traditional cars. Instead, Bermuda offers scooters, mopeds and compact two-seater electric vehicles – perfect if you are comfortable navigating the island’s narrow, winding roads, which can be a bit hair-raising! You must have a current driving license and do remember to drive on the left. 

During our visits, we have used taxis and buses instead of renting a vehicle. There are lots of buses with routes that cover the majority of the island or you can take one of the ferries if you fancy taking an even more scenic route. If you prefer a taxi, they are very easy to find and can even be hired by the hour for personalised tours. 

If you enjoy walking or cycling, there are plenty of well-signposted routes and trails, including the 18 mile long Railway Trail that covers the island from end to end. If you fancy a beach walk that includes the famous pink sands, you can walk along South Shore Park from Horseshoe Bay Beach to Warwick Long Bay Beach.

Things To Do When Visiting Bermuda

Exploring Hamilton

Hamilton, Bermuda’s vibrant capital, is a delightful mix of history, culture and modern island life. With its pastel-hued colonial buildings, lush gardens and a great selection of shops and restaurants, it offers a welcoming atmosphere that is perfect for exploring. Albuoy’s Point, just beside the ferry terminal, is a great place to enjoy waterfront views. There are plenty of shops and restaurants along Front Street, but be sure to explore the colourful side streets as well. The Bermuda National Gallery is located in the City Hall and Arts Centre on Church Street and is well worth a visit. The beautiful Church of The Most Holy Trinity, an Anglican Cathedral, is nearby too.

There is some lovely shopping in Hamilton along Front Street and beyond, with local boutiques and department stores, jewellery stores and even a small branch of the iconic British department store, Marks & Spencer. Gibbons & Company is an interesting department store too, as is Brown & Co.

Queen Elizabeth Park is a lovely place for a walk, with lots of beautiful flowers to enjoy. It was also fun watching the wild chickens roam around!

Fort Hamilton, perched on a hilltop on the eastern edge of the city, offers panoramic views of Hamilton Harbour. Originally built in the 1870’s, the fort is currently undergoing extensive renovations as part of the Fort Improvement Project so we could not visit this time but it is expected to reopen in Summer 2025.

We enjoyed the Bermuda Botanical Gardens, located just on the edge of Hamilton (about 3.3 km from the Hamilton Princess Hotel where we stayed). We walked there in just under an hour, but not all the roads are easy to walk on, so it’s easier to take the bus or a taxi. There are 36 acres of gardens, a small Art Museum and a café on site.

Also on the outskirts of Hamilton, you will find the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. While we didn’t get the chance to explore BUEI this time, it’s definitely on our list for our next visit The institute offers interactive exhibits, including a simulated dive experience and displays on shipwrecks and marine life. It’s open daily, with hours varying by season, so it’s best to check their official website for the most current information. 

The Royal Naval Dockyard

On both our visits, we travelled by ferry from Hamilton to The Royal Naval Dockyard. Used by the British Navy from just after the American Revolution until the 1960’s, the Royal Naval Dockyard is now very much a tourist attraction. On our first visit, we enjoyed strolling through the walls of the old fortress and visiting the wonderful craft shops and art galleries around the dockyard. There is also a military museum.

Please note that although the website did not say so and the hotel staff did not realise, The Royal Naval Dockyard was under construction when we visited in February 2025. I understand they have reopened, however please check before you visit!

The Historic Town of St George

Located about half an hour’s drive from Hamilton, the historic town of St George is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the earliest English urban settlements in the New World. It is very quaint, with colourful colonial architecture, gorgeous sea views, and a relaxed vibe. There are lots of amenities too, including clean public restrooms in the main square.

On our most recent visit in February 2025 – outside of peak season – some places were closed, but it was still lovely to wander around. From around March or April onwards, the main tourist season, you will find more shops and attractions open.

Luckily, many of my favourite spots are open year-round, including the beautiful and welcoming St Peter’s Church, the oldest continuously used Anglican church in the Western Hemisphere, the beautiful Unfinished Church and the State House, the island’s oldest stone building. You can also learn more about the town’s history at the St George’s Historical Society Museum at Mitchell House. 

Beautiful Bermuda Beaches

There are many beautiful public beaches that are well worth going to when visiting Bermuda. Bermudian waters are crystal clear and the most beautiful shades of blue and green. Many beaches have pink sand, not the bright cotton candy pink you might expect, but rather a beautiful burnished coral shade.

You can follow the path along South Shore Park to walk from Horseshoe Bay along to Warwick Long Bay, stopping at other beautiful beaches along the way. We explored Bermuda’s beaches more thoroughly on our first visit when the weather was warmer. However even in February when I found it a bit too chilly to be seaside for too long, the views from the taxis and bus rides were absolutely stunning.

Although we did not spend much time on the beaches this time around, we did visit Sinky Bay Beach as we were staying at the Hamilton Princess and had access to their beach club via a shuttle bus that runs regularly to and from the hotel. Even on the rainy afternoon we visited, it was a beautiful place to enjoy a moment by the sea.

Restaurants in Bermuda

Most Bermuda restaurants are known for their delicious seafood. A must try when visiting Bermuda? The Bermudian Fish Sandwich, featuring fried white fish (generally cod) garnished with sliced tomato and tartare sauce and served on a savoury, cinnamon-spiked raisin bread. The flavour combinations are unexpected, but absolutely delicious. And do try Wahoo, a white firm fish with a mild but remarkable flavour fished in local waters. We also really enjoyed the Rockfish. Not a fan of seafood? Don’t worry, there is a huge selection of restaurants to choose from with plenty of other delicious options on offer for both carnivores and those on plant-based diets.

It is very expensive to eat when visiting Bermuda, so be sure to check menus and pricing before you go.

An obligatory service charge of between seventeen and twenty percent is added to almost all restaurant bills. Occasionally an additional tip is also requested, but this latter gratuity is optional, although it can feel very awkward to refuse. In most cases we would add an additional gratuity that rounded up the tip to twenty percent. We are used to tipping up to twenty percent in North America, but if felt strange as so much of the tip in Bermuda was obligatory and not based on merit.

Bottled water generally costs about $10 per bottle in most restaurants, which can be a bit challenging as we found some of the tap water did not taste great. Cocktails are a similar price to the UK and North America in most of the places we visited, however buying wine by the bottle is very expensive.

Restaurants get very busy, so I recommend making a reservations when visiting Bermuda to avoid disappointment.

Where To Eat When Visiting Bermuda

Bermuda’s food scene is as vibrant and diverse as the island itself, blending rich culinary traditions with fresh, modern flair and fusion dishes. From laid-back cafés to elegant dining rooms, there are restaurants to suit almost every taste. Here are a few of the Bermuda restaurants my husband and I really enjoyed.

The Cloud at The Waterfront

Serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and early dinner, the Cloud is located on the third floor of Wellesley House on Pitts Bay Road. My favourite dish was their Asian Slaw with Spicy Shrimp – so good I had it twice! Their smoothies and lattes were excellent as well.

The Crown and Anchor at the Fairmont Princess

Located just off the lobby of the Fairmont Princess, The Crown and Anchor is a relaxed, pub-style restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. On of our favourite places to eat when visiting Bermuda, we enjoyed a lovely buffet breakfast here one morning, and came back on two other occasions for a laid-back alfresco lunches. This is where I first enjoyed the Bermudian Fish Sandwich I recommended above. When we returned one evening for dinner, we shared a felafel and hummus salad with rocket to start, followed by fish and chips for me, and a homemade curry pie for my husband, all of which were delicious.

Intrepid

Also located in the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel, this buzzing restaurant is very high end with price tags to match. The food is very good, but be warned – on our first visit a main course each, one side of vegetables, one bottle of water and one of their least expensive bottles of wine rang in at over $300US.

La Trattoria

A lively, traditional Italian restaurant, La Trattoria offers a large selection of dishes and some good wines at excellent price points. We ate here twice – the service was better the first time than the second, but on both occasions the food was very good. Seafood lovers might enjoy the Spiced Salmon (I certainly did!) and the long-simmered Oxtail Ragu is fabulous.

Huckleberry

Huckleberry is a charming restaurant at the historic Rosedon Hotel, a beautifully converted 1906 residence. Tables are available indoors or on the airy porch, and the menu offers a wide variety of tempting options with daily specials too. Our favourite was the Lobster Eggs Benedict special – I had mine with the hollandaise sauce on the side – and I can highly recommend the guava smoothie.

Harry’s at The Waterfront

Harrys’ is a traditional steak house in a relaxed but elegant contemporary setting, offering excellent food and service. I recommend the shrimp cocktail, salmon, scallops and steak. (We ate here more than once!) If you like a cocktail, their Old Fashioned is delicious.

Déja Vu Restaurant and Bar

Looking out over Barr’s Bay Park, this casual restaurant has a really extensive menu and lots of cocktails too. I loved the Grilled Wahoo (a local white fish) on a bed of salad with a garnish of crispy pecans. I did find the terrace bit of the restaurant where we sat a bit exposed – to be fair it was very windy that day. However, the service and food were very good.

Barracuda Grill

If you enjoy seafood, Barracuda Grill in Burnaby Street (just off Front Street) is a great place to visit. We ate here back in 2015 and again on this visit and were impressed both times. Their dishes are quite inventive – this time I enjoyed Scallops with Walnuts, Raisins and Pea Purée – a curious combination of ingredients that just plain works!

Port O Call

This busy restaurant on Front Street was very welcoming, despite the fact we had no reservation and it was very busy. We visited during Restaurant Week so enjoyed their set menu as it offered excellent value for money. Memorable dishes included the Fried Coconut Prawns served with an addictive cucumber and mint salsa and a lightly curried mayonnaise and the Salmon on Parsnip Purée with Snow Peas. The service was quite slow, but the food was worth the wait and we enjoyed the atmosphere.

This post contains my honest opinions and the advice I give to friends. None of our experiences were gifted and we paid all our own expenses. Information is correct to the best of my knowledge at the time of writing, and  every effort is made to ensure it remains up to date, however I am not responsible for any changes that may occur post publication or your experience. Always visit restaurant and venue websites for opening times, their full terms and conditions, and to check prices, availability and payment terms.

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