Jen & Cam
Things To Do
Fairmont Beach
Located at the Fairmont's own private beach, get there by taking the trolley down from the hotel lobby. The beach bar has the BEST Pina coladas, daiquiris, and the Bermuda famous drink - rum swizzles! And of course, take a swim in the Bermuda blue clear water! Rent or bring your own snorkeling gear to see all the tropical fish that swim among the limerock.
Walk from Horseshoe Bay to Warwick Long Bay and Back
Our favorite spot on the island! Has clear sand paths on top of the cliffs or you can walk down by the water at low tide. Each little cove is so special and has it's own personality - take a swim in each! We also took our engagement photos along this walk. You can take the free trolly down to the fairmont beach and cut-over from the Fairmont parking lot into the public Horseshoe Bay parking lot. There you will enter Horseshoe beach. Keep walking left to enter the walking paths and little beach coves! #1 recommended activity by us.
Royal Navy Dockyard & West End
Visit the Royal Navy dockyard, the old colonial house, 'game of thrones' like city on the water. Explore the old forts, where you can walk-on-top of, see the old forts, and walk in old tunnels. They even have swimming with the dolphins! Until it went out of use in 1995, just a few years after the end of the Cold War, the Royal Naval Dockyard was the United Kingdom’s largest naval base in the Atlantic. Today, it’s better known for its tourist attractions: shops like Dockyard Glassworks and the Bermuda Rum Cake Company, Dolphin Quest and Snorkel Park, and a sampling of pubs. And where the east end of the island is home to Bermuda’s best nature reserves—Walsingham and Blue Hole Park—the west end is where you’ll find its most iconic beaches and some of its finest dive shops. Read on for our picks of the best things to do west of Hamilton.
St. George & The East End
St. George’s, one of three main town centers on the island, was the first to be 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.
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.
City of 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.
Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Hotel
It’s sort of a prerequisite for a luxury island hotel to have a spa, but the Fairmont Southampton's Willow Stream Spa is anything but rote. The wellness oasis includes 15 treatment rooms where aestheticians offer a wide range of services using primarily organic, sustainable, and local products; a sauna, fitness center, indoor pool and hot tub, steam room, and yoga classes; and spa-friendly food. The spa recommends you arrive 30 to 45 minutes before your treatment to sign forms, change into a robe, and check out the facilities—we’re sure you’re going to want at least an hour.
Gobbs 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.
Grab a Drink at the Original Swizzle Inn
No trip to Bermuda would be complete without a stop at the Swizzle Inn. Though there are now two locations, it’s ideal to visit the original location in Bailey’s Bay. The restaurant and bar opened its doors in 1932. It was here that bartenders created Bermuda’s national drink: the Rum Swizzle. Made with Gosling’s rum and a mix of fruit juices, the drink is shaken until frothy. It will quench your thirst on a hot tropical day. Stay for a while, grab a burger or two, and if you’re there on a Thursday, try your hand at winning Trivia Night at the bar.
Crystal Caves
As legend goes, in 1907, a pair of young boys were playing cricket and lost their ball. When one went to retrieve it, he found himself inside an expansive underground grotto, which would eventually be opened for tours. In 1908, Mark Twain was reportedly the first to visit Crystal Caves, named for the rock formations lining its walls. You’ll walk along a boardwalk suspended over the clear waters while your guide explains the geologic history of the site. Then, they’ll turn out the lights so you can see just how dark it might have been in 1907. The caves are an essential visit for families with kids.