Overview of Bermuda

Bermuda is a beautiful island with pink sand beaches situated just off the coast of North Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean. There are actually 140 islands that make up Bermuda as a whole, but only 20 of them are inhabited. The main island, which we commonly refer to as Bermuda, is only 21 square miles and is one of the smallest territories in the world. Although not in the Caribbean, the climate is similar – mild in the spring, winter and fall, but quite hot and humid during the summer months.

Bermuda has three main ports:

• King's Warf (also known as Heritage Wharf and formerly known as Royal Naval Dockyard) is located on the northwestern tip of Bermuda. King's Warf is Bermuda's busiest port and the only one that can accommodate the trend in the cruise industry toward bigger ships. Ferries and buses go to and from King's Warf to Hamilton City, which is the center of commerce for Bermuda.
• Hamilton Harbour is located near the center of the island, in the middle of Bermuda's capital city, Hamilton. Every place in Hamilton is within walking distance of the pier, which makes this dock the most convenient port of the three. However, only small to medium sized ships can dock here, which limits the cruise ships that can dock here.
• St. George's Harbour is located on the northeast tip of Bermuda. Ordinance Pier, where the cruise ship dock, in St. George's Harbour can only receive smaller cruise ships (less than 750 feet) and thus is less busy than the other two ports. Ferries and buses go to and from St. George's to Hamilton, as well as taxis, which are a more expensive, but quicker option.

What language is spoken at this port? Do they speak English?

English is the official language of Bermuda (a very small amount of people speak Spanish, French, or Portuguese.)

What is the national currency in Bermuda?

The Bermuda dollar, which is equivalant to the US Dollar (One Bermuda Dollar equals 100 US Cents), is the national currency.

Do they accept US Dollars around the port?

US Dollars are universally accepted, however, be aware that you will always receive change in Bermuda dollars.

Where can I get or exchange money?

Currency can be exchanged at banks and at “bureaux-de-change” found throughout the island. Note that banks are generally open from 9 am to 4:30 pm and as are ATMs, generally speaking. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Traveler’s Checks are widely accepted on the island as well.

• Banks closest to Port: Most cruise ships dock in Bermuda at King’s Wharf (aka the Royal Naval Dockyard). Smaller cruise lines tie up in Hamilton Harbour. There is a shopping center within walking distance of the port. There is a Bank of Bermuda at King’s Wharf, open from 9 am to 4 pm on weekdays only.
• ATMs closest to Port: The closest ATM is at the Bank of Butterfield, easy to find at the Clock Tower Mall. Note: ATMs in Bermuda only accept 4-digit PIN numbers.

How do I get around Bermuda from the cruise port?

No car rentals are available on the island. When visiting Bermuda from a cruise ship, your best option is a taxi. Though you might think that renting a scooter would be fun, driving on the left on unfamiliar roads and operating a scooter are more difficult than you might think, and accidents can occur. Why spoil your vacation?

Walking

Within easy walking distance of the cruise ship dock, King’s Wharf offers an extremely large (75 acre) shopping mall with restaurants, museums, a movie theater, etc.

Taxis

Taxis are widely available, safe, and an excellent choice for cruise ship passengers when they visit the island. Taxis are metered, as in any large American city, and a gratuity of 10-15% is expected and appreciated.

Taxis with blue placards in the window signify that the driver is a certified tour operator – you can negotiate an island tour for a set number of hours.

Although it is against the law in Bermuda for a child to ride unrestrained, there are no car seats in taxis and they are exempt from this rule.

Buses

A pink bus system criss-crosses the island. They stop every 15 minutes or so, and you must make sure you have correct change or tokens before boarding a bus.

Scooter

Scooters are available for rent for $50-$55 across the island. A short driving lesson will be given before a rental is finalized – be sure you know exactly how to operate all of the equipment and that you (and a passenger if you have one) wear helmets. Traffic is fairly fast and, as mentioned earlier, on the left. Drivers in Bermuda pay little attention to rules or signs, so be extremely cautious at all times. You must be at least 16 years old to rent a scooter. Rentals are available at Oleander Cycles which have several locations, including one walking distance from the port, by the Clock Tower.

Rental Car

There are no car rentals on Bermuda.

Ferry

Ferries run to and from Hamilton Harbour, King's Warf and St. George's Harbour. Ferries are an economical, in comparison to taxis, and pleasant way to get to and from Hamilton, which is the commerce center of Bermuda.

How can I stay in touch with home? (Ex. Email, phone, etc.)

High speed internet is readily available on the island although Wi-Fi coverage can be difficult to find. Most mobile phones will work on the island as well; be aware that roaming charges do apply.

How can I call home? Are there call centers?

Internet Cafes (see below) are your most economical and private option, however public phones are widely available and cost about 35 cents in Bermuda currency for local calls. If you use a prepaid phone card, which can be purchased at various locations, you can make international calls from the public phones. You can also use you credit cards to make international calls from the payphones.

Where are the Internet cafes?

There are several internet cafes on the island:

• Internet Lane, on The Walkway between Reid Street & Front Street (about 15 miles, by car, southeast of the King's Warf see map and walking distance to the west of Hamilton Dockyard), has 7 public computer terminals connected to high-speed Internet access. They also offer office services, such as faxing, scanning and private offices. If you want to tote around your laptop, you can also connect here.
• Logic Internet Café, on Burnaby Street in Hamilton (about 15 miles, by car, southeast of King's Warf see map and walking distance west of the Hamilton Dockyard), offers long distance calling in private booths and phone cards, in addition to Internet services.
• TeleBermuda International Customer Centre, corner of Reid Street & Queen Street, Hamilton (about 15 miles, by car, southeast of the King's Warf see map and less than half a mile west of the Hamilton Dockyard) offers long distance calling in a quiet environment and phone cards, in addition to Internet services.

What are the cell phone rates?

Verizon is $1.99/minute and AT&T is between $1.69 and $1.99/minute. Contact your cell phone provider for international roaming rates.

What are the best attractions and must-sees in Bermuda? How long will it take me to get there and to explore?

Attractions

• Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo is three attractions in one. Established in 1926, the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo's (see the facility map) motto is “to inspire appreciation and care of island environments.” You can take the #7 or #8 bus to the facility (19 miles, by car, from King's Warf see map and 4 miles west of Hamilton.) Tours operate at 1:10 pm daily from April to September. There is a hands-on activity room for kids as well as a posted schedule of seal feedings.
• Bermuda Skyrider is a two-person parasail excursion that takes a maximum of eight passengers into the Great Sound and north-shore area. The 8-10 minute ride costs $50 for adults and $35 for children under 12. Passengers who go along to watch, but do not parasail will pay $15 each. This excursion departs from the Royal Navy Dockyard, adjacent to the port.

  Check out this video of father and daughter parasailing over the waters of Bermuda

• Crystal Caves & Fantasy Caves has guided tours every 30 minutes to explore these fascinating caverns. Her you will see some of the clearest natural pools of water you have ever seen, as you can see the cave floor even when the water is more than 55 feet deep. You will also see rock formations that resemble the Manhattan Skyline, the face of Bob Marley, and other well-known images. Crystal Caves & Fantasy Caves is located 20 miles northeast of King's Warf (see map) and 7.5 miles west of Hamilton.

Beaches

Some would say, that best advice when looking for a beach on an island is to ask the taxi driver: "Where do all the cruise ship passengers generally go?" then choose a beach in the opposite direction. Below are a couple of beaches we like:

• Elbow Beach, located 13.4 miles southeast of King's Warf (see map) and 2.5 miles south of Hamilton, is protected by coral reefs which surround it and make it one of the safest beaches on the island to swim. The beach is divided into two sections: private on the east, which is reserved for hotel guests and public on the west side of the beach.
• Horseshoe Bay, located on the south coast about 10 miles south of King's Warf (see map) and 5.6 miles southwest of Hamilton, is perhaps the best known and most popular public beach on the island. Not all beaches on Bermuda are public, so take care not to lay out your towel on a private beach. There are changing facilities and a snack concession on this beach.
• Warwick Long Bay, located on the south coast of the island is about 7 miles southwest of the port (see map) and under 5 miles southwest of Hamilton, is the longest beach on the island and not as well known as others that cater to cruise ship passengers. Although on the south side of the island, the beach on Warwick Long Bay is protected by the reef and does not experience turbulent surf.

Shopping

Bermuda is known for high-quality goods, at better prices than one would pay in the US. Look for unique island-made items such as arts & craft pieces, linens, and jewelry. These are unique boutiques, not chain stores seen on every island.

• Hamilton is where you will find the greatest variety of stores and boutiques. Most are located on Front St., walking distance from the Hamilton Harbor, but there are some real finds if you venture into the back streets of Hamilton as well.
• King's Square in St. George, which is known as the second city, located 24 miles west by car(see map) and 11 miles from Hamilton, is quickly becoming a favorite of visitors to Bermuda because of the city's charm and ease to walk around. Although less variety than Hamilton, the sights make up for the difference.

Golf

Bermuda has more golf courses, per square mile, than any place in the world. The unpredictable winds and elevated greens make for some pretty challenging courses. Be sure to adhere to the strict dress code for these courses: collared shirt with sleeve (long or short) and shorts no shorter than knee level.

There are three private courses that require an invitation from a member to play. However, these courses can be played as part of excursions purchased through the cruise line. There are also five public courses that are good enough to not envy those playing the private ones. Below are some of our favorites:

• Mid Ocean Golf Club designed by Charles Blair MacDonald in 1922 and revised by Robert Trent Jones in 1953, is regarded as the best golf course on Bermuda and a top 45 course outside of the U.S. This private club has a par-71 challenging enough to have recently hosted PGA tour events.
• The Port Royal Golf Club is the most popular public course on the island. Located on the South Shore, it has undergone recent updates and is rated as one of the best public golf courses in the world. Also designed by Robert Trent Jones, this 18-hole championship course is a 6,561 yards par 71.
• Ocean View Golf Club is a 9-hole, 2,819 yard par-35 course. It offers gentle breezes and amazing ocean views. Located on the main bus route, it is the easiest course to reach from Hamilton.

Scuba

Most SCUBA diving in Bermuda is relatively shallow diving, and you will see reefs with a multitude of tropical fish as well as sunken freighters, a Confederate gunrunner, and a schooner built in 1918 named the Constellation – one of the wrecks seen in the movie The Deep.

Check out this video of a dive off of Bermuda.

• Dive Bermuda offers instruction and diving tours. They are strategically located on the “South Shore”, which offers you access to a variety of wrecks and reef dive sites.
• Blue Water Divers & Watersports is Bermuda's longest running Dive and Watersports shop. Blue Water Divers has two locations:
  • Elbow Beach Resort for watersports and Shore Dives.
  • Sommerset Bridge Dive Center, located in Robinson's Marina, for Boat Dives.
• Fantasea Bermuda offers SCUBA, Snorkeling, Snuba, private charters and more. Snuba, which combines snorkeling and Scuba, requires no previous experience and allows you to experience the coral reefs without the heavy, cumbersome equipment for Scuba diving.

Tours

• Segway Tours of Bermuda offers 1.5 hour tours on fun, easy to ride Segways – explore the Naval Dockyard, several museums, historic sites and more wearing a wireless headset connected to the tour guide.

  Check out this video of a Segway Tour of Bermuda

• Aquatic Bermuda gives you the chance to see the coral reefs without getting wet. Captain Tony will take you the shallowest reefs, for longer, than other glass bottom boat tours. Unlike most tours of this type, the groups are small and the experience is more personal.
• Snorkel Bermuda offers a two-hour snorkeling tour, including two shipwrecks – the Constellation and the Montana. All equipment is provided, but note that this tour is recommended for confident swimmers only. Because the tour begins adjacent to the cruise port at King's Warf, you can get out quicker and spend more time in the water.

What are the best eats in Bermuda?

Bermuda lobster (also known as guinea chicks) is very popular as is mussel pie, a pie made with mussels, potatoes, bacon, onion & papaya seasoned with curry powder & thyme.

Where are the best places to try them?

• The Lobster Pot Restaurant in Hamilton serves fresh rockfish sandwiches, platters of tuna and wahoo, and fish chowder with a shot of rum (if requested) along with fresh lobster dishes. (Click here for Menu)
• The Somerset Country Squire Pub & Restaurant, located on Mangrove Bay offers traditional English pub food, including mussel pie, best washed down with a pint of Guinness. (Click here for Hours and Menu)

Note: The dress code on Bermuda, especially in most of the finer restaurants, is a bit more conservative than on other Caribbean islands. While a suit jacket (or tie) is no longer required for men, you must wear a collared shirt and long pants (some restaurants also allow Bermuda shorts).

What are the must-drinks in Bermuda?

The Dark & Stormy, made with their own Gosling’s Black Seal Rum and home-made ginger beer, served over ice, is Bermuda's national drink.

Where is the best place to get them?

The Dark & Stormy is available at any bar on the island, but if you are looking for a bar with some character, try the Swizzle Inn. While there also try their famous Rum Swizzle. The Swizzle Inn has two locations:

• The Swizzle Inn, located in Bailey's Bay (20 miles east of King's Warf see map and 7 miles east of Hamilton see map.)
• The Swizzle is located on the South Shore near Elbow Beach.

Which are the best souvenirs to buy in Bermuda? Where can I get them?

There are plenty of excellent souvenirs and gifts to be had on Bermuda. There is no sales tax and duties are free or atleast reduced. There is also no shortage of good places to shop. For those that like to search for deals, you will find them here.

Under $25:

A bottle of Gosling’s Black Rum – can be picked up at any liquor store on the island.

$25-$75

Bermuda shorts, or as they are called on Bermuda... shorts (just kidding, but it is a little redundant), are very distinctly Bermuda (just in case you didn't get that from the name). One of the best places to get them is The English Sports Shop on Front Street (15 miles northeast of King's Warf see map and close to the port in Hamilton.)/p>

Over $75

Walker Christopher Goldsmiths shop on Front Street in Hamilton has what they call "The Pirate Collection": Jewelry made from rare coins and other treasures recovered from the many shipwrecks surrounding the island, make an excellent gift and/or souvenir.

What is the weather like in Bermuda?

Current Temperature

Average Monthly Temperatures and Rainfall in Bermuda