Things to do in Hamilton
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Hamilton
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Dry, sunny, 65-75F; high season with highest prices, book ahead
Warming up; ideal shoulder season, Bermuda Day late May kicks off summer
Hot and humid with calm seas; Harbour Nights weekly, Cup Match crowds
Hurricane season peak; some businesses cut hours, cheapest rates, watch forecasts
Quieter and still warm enough to swim; good value
What's on
- Bermuda Day late May
Parade and half-marathon kicking off summer
- Harbour Nights Wednesdays, May to August
Free Front Street festival with vendors and Gombey dancers
- Cup Match late July to early August
The island's biggest party weekend; book hotels months ahead
- Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts January to March
Music, dance, and theatre across the island
Best things to do in Hamilton
Front Street
The harbourfront main street for shops, food, and Wednesday-night Harbour Nights.
Fort Hamilton
19th-century fort with gardens and the best free harbour viewpoint in the city.
Bermuda National Gallery
Compact national gallery inside City Hall, good for a one-hour culture stop.
Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity
Climb the 155-foot tower for a full 360-degree view over Hamilton.
Royal Naval Dockyard
Historic naval base turned attraction hub; the ferry ride over is half the fun.
National Museum of Bermuda
Bermuda's best history museum, set in the Dockyard's old Keep with shipwreck finds.
Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute
Marine museum with shells, shipwreck finds, and a straight-talking Bermuda Triangle exhibit.
Harbour Nights
Free Wednesday-night street festival on Front Street with vendors and Gombey dancers.
Best restaurants in Hamilton
Barracuda Grill
Fresh local seafood and steaks in an elegant Hamilton dining room.
Marcus'
Marcus Samuelsson's harbour-view restaurant; the splurge dinner in Hamilton.
1609 Bar & Restaurant
Harbour-view bar and restaurant; best for a sunset drink before dinner.
Hog Penny
Hamilton's oldest pub; fish and chips and local beer, walk-ins fine at lunch.
The Pickled Onion
Upscale-casual harbour dining in a former liquor warehouse; known for fritters.
Port O'Call
Reliable waterfront fine dining on Front Street for a special occasion.
Devil's Isle Kitchen and Bar
Farm-to-table cafe popular with locals at lunch; fresh and fairly priced.
Bolero Brasserie
European-style brasserie on Front Street with polished service and a good wine list.
Best coffee in Hamilton
Brew Bermuda
Relaxed waterfront cafe; the morning coffee and breakfast stop on Front Street.
Outdoor things to do in Hamilton
Horseshoe Bay Beach
The famous pink-sand beach; go before 10am to beat the cruise crowds.
South Shore Park
Coastal trail linking Horseshoe Bay to Warwick Long Bay past a string of quiet coves.
Crystal Cave
Dramatic underground cavern with clear pools; pair it with smaller Fantasy Cave.
Fantasy Cave
The smaller, quieter of the two adjoining caves, covered on the same ticket.
Gibbs Hill Lighthouse
Climb the 1846 lighthouse for views across the whole island.
Bermuda Railway Trail
Flat walking and cycling trail along the old railway line with harbour views.
Elbow Beach
Long pink-sand beach with gentler water and fewer crowds than Horseshoe Bay.
Snorkel Park Beach
Calm Dockyard beach with loungers and a bar; pairs with the museum day.
Best hotels in Hamilton
Hamilton Princess & Beach Club
The Pink Palace; grand harbour-view hotel with the marina and Marcus'.
Rosemont Guest Suites
Hilltop aparthotel with kitchens and harbour views, 10 minutes to Front Street.
Royal Palms Hotel
Small hotel in a colonial house with gardens; central without Front Street prices.
Rosedon Hotel
Quiet small hotel near the botanical gardens with breakfast included.
Newstead Belmont Hills
Hilltop golf resort with harbour views; family-friendly with an on-site course.
Fourways Inn
Classic Bermuda inn with a respected restaurant and garden dining.
Edgehill Manor
Budget guesthouse-style stay with kitchenettes; good for families.
Is Hamilton expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | BMD 130 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | BMD 225 a person |
| Splurge | BMD 450 a person |
| No limits | BMD 800 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Hamilton Harbour: a few days ahead
- Barracuda Grill: a few days ahead
- Marcus': a few days ahead
- The Pickled Onion: a few days ahead
- Port O'Call: a few days ahead
- Bolero Brasserie: a few days ahead
- Harbourfront Restaurant: a few days ahead
- La Coquille: a few days ahead
- Fine dining (Marcus', Port O'Call, Bolero, La Coquille): 1-2 days ahead in high season
- Harbour sunset cruises: the day before in summer
- Hotels for Bermuda Day week and Cup Match: months ahead
Is Hamilton safe?
- Bermuda is one of the safer islands; risks are petty theft from scooters and road accidents, not violent crime
- Lock scooters and do not leave bags unattended on beaches
- Emergency number is 911
Hamilton travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Front Street souvenir shops sell mostly imported goods; the Dockyard craft market has more local work
- Horseshoe Bay at midday with three cruise ships in is a different beach than at 9am; time it
- The pink sand reads more beige-pink in person; calibrate the Instagram expectation
Getting around Hamilton: public transport and more
- Pink and blue buses cover the island; buy day passes at the Central Terminal on Washington Street
- The orange ferry between Hamilton and the Dockyard runs frequently in season and is the prettiest transit
- Taxis are metered but expensive; no rideshare apps
- Visitors cannot rent cars; scooters and small electric vehicles are the alternative, driving on the left
Who Hamilton suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Hamilton your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
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