16 amazing things to do in Bermuda

Bermuda really bowled me over; it’s the first place in a long time that I’ve been genuinely sad to leave. We caught a direct flight from Atlanta and were there in under three hours.

The beaches were beautiful and plentiful. The food was reliably delicious, and the rum swizzles went down a treat every time. The people were friendly and helpful; a stranger stopped at the bus stop on a rainy day and insisted we get in her car, then went ten minutes out of her way to drop us at our destination. 

A few things to know about Bermuda

We stayed at a lovely Airbnb in St. David’s, on the eastern tip of the island near St. George. I was unsure about the location when I saw it on the map—who wants to stay so close to the airport?—but had absolutely no regrets. Would stay again, no question. 

As a result, my recommendations are skewed towards St. George, but Bermuda is only 24 miles long so everything is relatively close. Bermuda’s bus system is simple and reliable, but we rented a motorbike from Oleander Cycles so we could be more independent. It cost about $300 for seven days and made life much easier. 

Be warned, Bermuda is shockingly expensive because so much is imported. During our first grocery shop, we added a few things to our basket that didn’t have price stickers, figuring it couldn’t be that bad. 

I was humbled when a 16oz tub of Fage Greek yogurt and a can of Illy cold brew came to $19.17. The Bermudan dollar is equivalent to the US dollar, so no matter how you slice it they were eye-popping prices. 

Still, I was starry-eyed at the island, and left thinking about when we could come back. Here are 16 things we did in Bermuda that made me want to return. 

1. Beach it up at Coopers Island Nature Reserve

A taxi driver told us that they used to film Victoria’s Secret ads out here, because the beautiful beaches look remote while being relatively accessible. This whole area used to be off-limits to civilians because it was alternately controlled by the British and US military before being “returned” to Bermuda in 2002. 

The Reserve is just behind the airport, past the man-made Clearwater Beach and thoroughly lovely Turtle Beach. Go all the way to the end and turn left—mind the chickens—and you’ll see a collection of rocks just off the sand. This is a great snorkeling spot! I was nipped by a school of cheeky Sergeant Majors, a tiny fish with a bold bite. 

2. Cliff jump at the Blue Hole

The Blue Hole is part of Walsingham Nature Reserve, and it’s free to explore. The titular attraction is a deep blue pool surrounded by cliffs and mangroves that create a natural barrier from the ocean. 

Of course, jump with caution and at your own risk. And take off your watch—I forgot to remove mine and ended up having to dive to the sandy bottom! It was only 14 feet down but it felt treacherous. 

3. Find a cave

Continue past the Blue Hole to find a couple of creepy caves and a random swimming hole or two. It was a cloudy day and we only had a phone torch, so it was really hard to see in there. The cave is filled with water and you could theoretically swim in it, but I’ll leave that to those who are braver than me.

You can also visit the better-known Crystal Caves, just on the other side of the reserve. This is a well maintained and lit set of caves that we didn’t check out due to the entrance fee: $24 per cave or $35 for a combination ticket.  

4. Get a rum swizzle at the Swizzle Inn

After the Blue Hole, swing by the historic Swizzle Inn for a rum swizzle or two, depending on who’s driving! I was very fond of these fruity concoctions because they feature two of my favorite fruits: cherry and pineapple. They managed to seem less sweet because there’s a shipload of rum in there—you’ve been warned.

5. Catch the ferry from St. George to Dockyards

Roll your motorbike right onto the ferry for a scenic 45-minute sail along the north side of the island, then make your way back, stopping wherever you please along the way. We front-loaded our stops, which left us too drained to give much attention to anything north of Horseshoe Bay. So my advice is to be more discerning about where you pull over! If I had my time again I’d have skipped Whale Bay Park; it was pretty windy which made it somewhat unpleasant. 

6. Peek at Horseshoe Bay

This is one of the most famous beaches in all of Bermuda, and for good reason—it’s very beautiful. However, it’s also got the biggest parking lot we saw on the island, a pricey beach bar, and plenty of people on the sand. We only popped in for a quick look, but I was glad we did. This is considered one of the ‘pink sand’ beaches the island is known for, but on the day we visited it was more of a light blush. Also I apparently forgot to take a photo?

7. Go up the Gibb’s Hill lighthouse

We almost didn’t do this, because we were getting a bit burned out on the motorbike, but it was worth the stop. You get full panoramic views of the island from the base of the lighthouse, and I am a sucker for a view. It costs $2 to climb to the top. You can’t step out onto the railing for safety reasons, but you can get up close and personal with the lantern. We were the only people there and climbed all the way up into what was essentially a windowed sauna. All those windows catching and reflecting the light really pump up the temperature—get ready to sweat. 

8. Snorkel at Tobacco Bay 

Tobacco Bay must get a bit touristy, but somehow we timed it right, twice, and were the only people in the water. So forgive me if my perception is biased, but I had a top-notch experience, which I understand is not always the case. The protected bay has excellent snorkeling out by the border rocks, where you’ll hang out with lots of vibrant parrotfish.

9. Walk around the unfinished church in St. George

Construction on this church got off to a great start, only to be slowed by religious in-fighting, financial trouble, and hurricane damage. It got so bad that people started to think it was cursed. The unfinished stone church with the sailing gothic arches was eventually designated as a historical monument, popular with visitors and event planners alike. You can’t go in, but you can see through the gates and walk around the outside walls. It’s a fascinating stop, a ten-minute walk from downtown St. George. 

10. Buy a pair of Bermuda shorts

Forget the three-piece suit; in Bermuda businesswear starts and ends with shorts. People really do wear these colorful, tailored shorts with knee-high socks, blazers, and ties for a day at the office, and I bet their work day is better for it. Adapted from British military uniforms in WWI, the classic shorts are usually made off-island for brands like The Old English Sports Shop (the original manufacturer) or TABS (The Authentic Bermuda Shorts). Jared bought a pair from TABS, because they were far more comfortable, however your mileage may vary. 

11. Eat as many fish sandwiches as you can

I’d read that the classic Bermudan fish sandwich was served on toasted raisin bread with coleslaw, and I had my doubts. But after one bite, I was firmly on board. I had a fish sandwich from Wahoo’s and two from Munchie’s by the Sea. I tried to get one from Mama Angie’s, but they hadn’t gotten a fresh catch due to weather, so no luck. Gives me a reason to return!

12. Sit on the dock of the bay

You’ll need a dock to do this, of course, but docks are somewhat plentiful on an island. Grab your favorite beverage, leave your phone behind, and feel the worries leave your body. 

13. Have a coconut cream pie at Temptations

The display case at this nondescript coffee shop in St. George did indeed tempt me. The coconut cream pie was so heavenly, we got it twice.

14. Walk through a moongate

Moongates made their way to Bermuda via Asia, and are now a common feature in island architecture. These circular portals are often seen in gardens, and legend says that newlyweds who pass through one while holding hands will have eternal good luck. Walk through one regardless of your marital status, we could all use a little everlasting luck. 

15. Grab a beer at the Moongate Brewery

Moongate is a cozy brewery on the water in St. George, with a large games room upstairs. I’m partial to a sour and a hazy IPA myself, so the No. 3 Bus and Shark Oil were right up my alley. No word on whether drinking the beer has the same effect as walking through a moongate, but I like to think it does.

16. Bop around Hamilton

The capital city of Hamilton is well-positioned in the middle of the island, which is perhaps how it stole the title from St. George in 1815. We didn’t spend much time here, just enough to snap a shot of the sign and pick up a pair of Bermuda shorts. We drove up to Spanish Point, a popular lookout spot, and saw an extremely ominous storm cloud forming that sent us on our way back to St. George.