Hannah & Alex
Things To Do
Crystal and Fantasy Caves
The Crystal Caves of Bermuda, an otherworldly network of caves and subterranean lakes, was first discovered in 1901 by two Bermudian boys who were trying to track down a lost cricket ball. What they eventually uncovered is now one of Bermuda’s true hidden treasures—a cavernous, watery world, complete with centuries-old stalactites and stalagmites. Today, guided tours take visitors deep inside these two Ice Age–era caves where you’ll descend about 120 feet below ground for an unearthly natural experience. A word of caution, though: a tour through the Crystal Caves of Bermuda is not for the faint of heart or for the claustrophobic—the spaces that lead to the caverns are tight. The tour operators recommend that prospective visitors reach out in advance of arrival; walk-in tours are available during peak season.
BDA Watersports
When Somerset Bridge Watersports’ longtime owner retired in 2019, the future of the business seemed uncertain. But its prospects brightened when his son took up the mantle. They modernized, acquiring new vessels, renovating the physical space, and sprucing up the website — rechristening the business BDA Watersports. Still, it was the middle of 2020, and the island’s tourism industry was struggling. But there was an untapped audience for BDA Watersports’ many offerings: locals. “Everyone was stuck on the island,” Sarabi says. “There’s not a lot to do.” Four years later, BDA Watersports is a standout among the island’s tour operators and rental facilities — offering everything from guided jet ski tours to e-foil lessons to rentals of “crystal kayaks” (clear vessels so you can see through the jewel-tone water to the wildlife swimming beneath you). Though the facility does accommodate on-the-fly reservations, it’s best to book ahead to ensure you secure your optimal time and tour guide.
Horseshoe Bay
Pause, for a moment, to conjure an imaginary Bermuda beach in your head. Once you’ve got it, you’re probably looking at Horseshoe Bay Beach, one of the island’s most iconic—and most trafficked—stretches of pink sand, located in Southampton Parish. It's so indelibly Bermuda that it’s also where the island hosts its biggest beach party of the year: Beach Fest, the hedonistic extravaganza that kicks off the cricket tournaments over Cup Match weekend each July.
The Swizzle Inn Pub and Restaurant
Bermuda has two national drinks: the Dark n’ Stormy, made with Gosling’s Black Seal Rum and ginger beer, and the Rum Swizzle, a not-so-sweet punch originally invented at the Swizzle Inn when it opened in 1932. In those days, the Bailey's Bay dive bar was a converted 17th-century roadhouse that served potent rum drinks and Bermuda fish chowder. Nearly 90 years later not much has changed; in fact, graffiti from decades of customers is still scribbled all over the walls. Anything goes, which is why patrons are encouraged to “Swizzle Inn and Swagger Out.” It’s impossible to find a bar or restaurant in Bermuda that doesn’t serve Rum Swizzles, but you can’t leave the island without trying a taste of the original.
Unfinished Church
Unfinished Church For a brief time in the late 19th century, townspeople wanted something new and shiny—they wanted to replace the then-dilapidated St. Peter’s Church. The town began to erect a new church, but squabbles over money, plus a healthy dose of local drama, led the project stall out after the roof was erected in 1897. (The roof blew off in a freak storm roughly 30 years later.) Now, the Unfinished Church looks like the picturesque ruin of a house of worship—and not one that was simply never finished—with arches of limestone bricks and a carpeting of scratchy Bermuda grass. Parts of the church are currently closed due to safety concerns, but you can get a sense of its ghostly atmosphere even from the outside.
Hamilton
HAMILTON Hamilton, the island’s capital city (referred to by most locals as, simply, “town”) is the business and financial hub of Bermuda, populated with pastel-colored office buildings (this is still Bermuda, after all). But that’s not to say there’s a dearth of leisure activities downtown: That’s where you’ll find fresh, contemporary boutiques, some of the country’s best restaurants, and a handful of cultural sites. Wander down Front Street, lined with brightly hued buildings (zoned at a maximum of two stories to preserve the waterfront skyline), or venture farther into town—wherever you’re at, here are the best things to see in Hamilton, Bermuda.
The Island Shop
Pink traditional cottages, blue watery landscapes, green indigenous lizards: They've long been the muse of local artist Barbara Finsness, whose hand-painted, island-inspired sketches appear on just about everything sold at The Island Shop in Bermuda shopping hub Queen Street. You’ll find her designs on Italian ceramics, linen pillows, lucite trays, melamine kitchenware, and accessories galore, including aprons, bags, scarves, and silk ties. If you don’t feel like schlepping home a bunch of pottery on your return flight, pick up a print—the store sells several depicting the artist’s favorite island landscapes.
Bermuda Craft Brewing
Bermuda hasn’t historically been known for its craft brewing scene, so you’d be forgiven for not automatically seeking out breweries while visiting the island. This is one of the only microbreweries on the island, and its suite of beers are brewed on site in gleaming silver kettles that are visible from the bar. It emerged four years ago out of owners Freddy Phillips and Cameron Madeiros’s experiments in home brewing, when the popularity of those home brews started to take off among their friends. Phillips spent some time at a brewery in the Netherlands, got inspired, and Bermuda Craft Brewing was born. The real draw here is the exterior beer garden, with its picnic tables, string lights, umbrellas, and a tent to protect from the rain (which is always a possibility here in Bermuda). “It’s a real taproom vibe, grungy but fun and relaxed,” Phillips says—plus, dogs are welcome.
East End, St. George's
St. George’s, one of three main town centers on the island, was the first established by settlers on the island in 1612. It was a key port city during the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars, assisting both the American rebels and the Confederate south in obtaining supplies; in 2000, its rich architectural and military history earned it a spot among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Now, it’s home to several churches and a stunning seaside fort, but it’s not just lodged in the past: St. George’s and the rest of the east end are also home to some of the island’s most pristine outdoor spaces, a handful of iconic restaurants, and a perfumery-cum-tea shop. For a little history and a little modern, there’s no better destination on the island.
Sweet P
Twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m., Lili Bermuda Perfumery hosts classic English afternoon tea in the gardens of the shop, which is nestled inside the historic Stewart Hall in St. George’s. It's a picturesque spot to indulge in a quintessential British pastime, and all the staples are here: tiered trays of finger sandwiches, tiny cakes, and petits-fours, plus scones with clotted cream, honey, and jam, many of them featuring local ingredients.
St. Peter's Church
When the Town of St. George’s was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, it took its place among the world’s great architectural, cultural, and historic treasures. St. Peter's Church, originally constructed in 1612—the same year the town was founded—is one of the main reasons for the honor, since St. Peter’s is the oldest Anglican place of worship outside the British Isles. Granted the royal designation of “Their Majesties Chappell” by Queen Elizabeth to celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2012, the church is a well-preserved gem in a town brimming with cultural history, and one of the best examples of ecclesiastical architecture in Bermuda.
Gibb's Hill Lighthouse
Once you’ve conquered the hill leading up to Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse, a cast-iron lighthouse built in 1844, you’re only part of the way to your ultimate destination. The view from the top of the hill itself is great, but the one from the top of the lighthouse’s 185 steps is even better: a panorama over the whole of the island, stretching east from Hamilton to Dockyard in the west, and from the Little Sound in the north to the South Shore and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. At the base of the lighthouse, in what used to be the lighthouse keeper’s quarters, a solid restaurant from the team behind Rustico in Flatts dishes out a varied menu of sandwiches, salads, and pizzas.
Bailey's Bay Ice Cream Parlour
On hot days, you’ll see the crowd on the patio at Bailey’s Bay Ice Cream Parlour before you’ve even parked. Located across the street from the Swizzle Inn, this turquoise-hued dessert destination dishes out homemade ice creams, sherbets, sorbets, and frozen yogurts. While you’re sure to spot some classic flavors, you'll also see island-specific scoops, like Dark n' Stormy and Bermuda banana. They have 26 flavors total and their best-seller right now is vanilla peanut butter crunch. There’s also a selection of decadent ice cream sundaes, layered with fudge, whipped cream, brownies, and more. While samples are still available, due to the pandemic customers are limited to one each and must go outside to eat them. There’s no indoor seating right now.
Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo
Unfinished Church For a brief time in the late 19th century, townspeople wanted something new and shiny—they wanted to replace the then-dilapidated St. Peter’s Church. The town began to erect a new church, but squabbles over money, plus a healthy dose of local drama, led the project stall out after the roof was erected in 1897. (The roof blew off in a freak storm roughly 30 years later.) Now, the Unfinished Church looks like the picturesque ruin of a house of worship—and not one that was simply never finished—with arches of limestone bricks and a carpeting of scratchy Bermuda grass. Parts of the church are currently closed due to safety concerns, but you can get a sense of its ghostly atmosphere even from the outside.
Art Mel's Spicy Dicy
It would be unwise to visit Bermuda without sampling the local delicacies, and for most Bermudians, a fried fish sandwich—fish pon bun—is one such delicacy. You’d be hard-pressed to find a pub around the island that doesn’t offer some riff on the sandwich, but for the real deal, make your way to Art Mel’s Spicy Dicy, a (way, way) back-of-town outpost dishing out one of the finest sandwiches on the island. Even chef Marcus Samuelsson, who has his own restaurant on the other side of town, still considers Art Mel’s signature offering a stellar bite.
Wadson's Home Farm Market
Tom Wadson, the man behind Wadson’s Farm in Southampton, first set trowel to soil in 1976. Since then, he’s raised a variety of fruits, vegetables, and livestock while hewing to sustainable farming practices on his 30-acre farm on the west end of Bermuda. It’s also where he hosts a year-round farm stand, selling whatever’s in season (as well as some can’t-miss souvenir t-shirts)—ranging from zucchinis to sweet potatoes. If you’re staying in an apartment with a kitchen, opt for a whole chicken and some fresh produce to whip up a home-cooked, sustainably- and locally- sourced feast.
Bermuda National Gallery
Bermuda National Gallery If you’ve spent the day exploring Hamilton’s shops and boutiques, it’ll be hard to miss the Hamilton City Hall and Arts Centre, the gleaming white building on the north end of town. First opened in 1960, the structure is the seat of the municipal government; it's also home to the Earl Cameron Theatre, Bermuda’s main stage for prominent musical and theatrical productions. But the real draw is the Bermuda National Gallery on the second floor, where you’ll find an array of galleries dedicated to art by Bermudians and depicting the island, like local artist Elizabeth Mulderig’s “Bermuda Wonderland,” a technicolor reimagining of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.