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How many days in Bermuda? 4 days, by ferry, bus and pink-sand beach
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Bermuda is a chain of islands only about 35 km long, less than two hours' flight from New York, and visitors cannot rent ordinary cars, so the trip is shaped by ferries, pink-and-blue buses and small electric cars. Give it four days: one for each end of the island (St George's in the east, the Royal Naval Dockyard in the west), one for Hamilton, and one entirely for the south-shore beaches. The rule that matters: buy a transportation pass on day one and let the ferries do the long distances.
Short answer
Three days covers Hamilton, St George's, the Dockyard and Horseshoe Bay. The fourth day gives you a slow beach day, the caves and a snorkel trip without rushing.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Hamilton and the Crystal Caves
Morning. Walk Front Street in Hamilton, the small capital, past the pastel shopfronts and the 'birdcage' traffic box. Climb 15 minutes to Fort Hamilton, a 19th-century fort with a moat garden and harbour views (free); on some weekday mornings bagpipers play at noon.
Afternoon. Take bus 1 or 3 (about 25-30 minutes) to the Crystal Caves in Hamilton Parish, where floating walkways cross a clear underground lake among stalactites; a combined ticket for Crystal and Fantasy caves costs roughly US$35-45. Then visit the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo in Flatts (about US$12-15).
Evening. Stop at the Swizzle Inn in Bailey's Bay, which claims to have created the Rum Swizzle (about US$14), then return to Hamilton for dinner on the harbourfront, where a main costs US$35-50.
Bermudians greet everyone: say 'good morning' before asking a question in a shop or on the bus. Skipping the greeting is considered rude.
Day 2: St George's, the old capital
Morning. Take the ferry from Hamilton to St George's (about 35-45 minutes, run mainly in the warmer months) or bus 1, 3, 10 or 11 (about 50 minutes). The town, founded in 1612, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; start at King's Square with its stocks and ducking stool, then walk to St Peter's Church, the oldest Anglican church in continuous use outside the British Isles.
Afternoon. See the roofless Unfinished Church, then walk 20 minutes north to Tobacco Bay for snorkelling among limestone rocks (snorkel hire about US$20-25). Fort St Catherine, above the beach where the shipwrecked *Sea Venture* settlers landed in 1609, has a small museum.
Evening. Eat fish chowder on the waterfront in St George's, then take the bus back; check the last departure, usually early in the evening.
Bermuda fish chowder is finished at the table with Outerbridge's sherry peppers and a splash of black rum; ask for both.
Day 3: South shore beaches and Gibbs Hill
Morning. Take bus 7 from Hamilton (about 25 minutes) to Horseshoe Bay, the most famous pink-sand beach; arrive by 9:00 on cruise-ship days. Walk the coastal trail east through Jobson's Cove and Warwick Long Bay, about 30-40 minutes past coves and rock arches.
Afternoon. Stop at Church Bay for the island's best shore snorkelling over the reef, then climb the 185 steps of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse (about US$3), cast-iron and dating from 1846, for the view of the whole island.
Evening. Dinner in Southampton, or a fish sandwich back in Hamilton. The classic is a fried wahoo or snapper sandwich on raisin bread at Art Mel's Spicy Dicy or Woody's, about US$15-20.
Horseshoe Bay has lifeguards and loungers for rent, but the quieter coves along the trail have neither; swim only in calm conditions.
Day 4: Royal Naval Dockyard and the Railway Trail
Morning. Take the fast ferry from Hamilton to the Royal Naval Dockyard (about 20 minutes). The National Museum of Bermuda (about US$20) fills the Keep, a 19th-century fortress, with shipwreck finds and a 1,000 m² ceiling mural of island history.
Afternoon. Visit the Clocktower Mall and the craft market, then take the bus to Somerset and walk or cycle part of the Railway Trail, the route of the old railway that ran until 1948, now an 18-mile (about 29 km) path over bridges and through cuttings.
Evening. Watch the sunset from Somerset Bridge, said to be the smallest drawbridge in the world, then take a Dark 'n Stormy (Gosling's black rum and ginger beer) at a bar back in the Dockyard before the ferry.
On cruise-ship days, up to 5,000 passengers arrive at the Dockyard; visit the museum early or in the late afternoon.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, combine Hamilton with the Crystal Caves on the way to St George's, then do the south-shore beaches and the Dockyard on separate days.
Got extra days?
Extra days are for diving the shipwrecks of the western reefs, kayaking to Paget Island from St George's, a sunset sail, or golf on one of the island's courses such as Port Royal.
Where to stay in Bermuda
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Guesthouses and apartments in Paget / Pembroke | Close to the Hamilton ferry and buses; a kitchen saves a lot here. | US$220-320 |
| Mid-range | Hamilton | Central hub for all ferries and buses, with restaurants on foot. | US$300-480 |
| Mid-range | St George's | Quieter, historic streets and beaches nearby, but far from the west end. | US$280-450 |
| Comfort | South shore resorts (Southampton / Warwick) | Pink-sand beaches below the hotel, pools and spas. | US$550-1,200 |
Getting around
Visitors cannot rent standard cars. Use the public buses and ferries, which share one transportation pass (about US$19 for one day and roughly US$45-55 for three days, sold at the Hamilton bus terminal and visitor centres). Without a pass, buses require exact fares or tokens. Ferries link Hamilton with the Dockyard (about 20 minutes), Paget, Warwick and seasonally St George's. Small two-seater electric cars and scooters can be rented for about US$100-180 a day; driving is on the left with a 35 km/h limit. Taxis are metered but expensive: L.F. Wade airport to Hamilton is about US$40-50.
What to eat in Bermuda
Eating out is expensive, as almost everything is imported. The island dishes are fish chowder with sherry peppers and rum, the fish sandwich on raisin bread, and on Sundays codfish and potatoes with banana and avocado. Wahoo, rockfish and spiny lobster (in season, September to March) are the local catches. The national drinks are the Dark 'n Stormy and the Rum Swizzle. A café breakfast is US$15-20, a lunch US$25-35, and dinner with a drink US$70-110. Many restaurants add a 17-18% service charge automatically; check before tipping again.
Best time to visit
May to October is beach season, with sea temperatures of about 25-29°C and air temperatures up to 30°C. The hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking in August-October. From November to March it is mild, around 18-21°C, cheaper and quieter but too cool for most swimmers. Cup Match, a two-day cricket holiday at the end of July or start of August, fills the island.
Month-by-month weather for Bermuda →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | US$120 | US$200 | US$400 |
| Food & drink | US$60 | US$110 | US$200 |
| Sights & tickets | US$20 | US$50 | US$100 |
| Local transport | US$19 | US$30 | US$90 |
| Total per person, per day | about US$220 | about US$390 | about US$790 |
Approximate 2026 prices in US dollars, which are accepted everywhere at par with the Bermuda dollar; hotels add a government occupancy tax plus a resort or service charge, often 20-30% on top of the room rate.
Before you go
Common questions
Can I use US dollars in Bermuda?
Yes. The Bermuda dollar is pegged one-to-one to the US dollar, and US notes are accepted everywhere. You may get change in Bermuda dollars, which are not usable outside the island, so spend them before you leave. Cards are widely accepted, but buses need exact cash, tokens or a pass.
Why are the beaches pink?
The sand contains crushed shells and the red skeletons of foraminifera, tiny organisms that live on the reefs, mixed with white coral sand. The pink colour is strongest at the waterline and in the late afternoon light at beaches such as Horseshoe Bay and Elbow Beach.
Is Bermuda in the Caribbean?
No. Bermuda is in the North Atlantic, about 1,000 km off North Carolina, and much further north than the Caribbean. That is why winters are mild rather than hot, and why the beach season is mainly from May to October.
Do I need a visa for Bermuda?
Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory with its own entry rules. Visitors from the US, UK, Canada and the EU do not need a visa, but some nationalities do, and you need a return ticket and a passport valid for your stay. Confirm on the Bermuda government website.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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