Things to do in South Shore Beaches
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit South Shore Beaches
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Dry and sunny, water cooler; high season prices
Ideal: warm water, calm seas, thinner crowds
Hottest with calmest water; peak crowds at Horseshoe Bay
Hurricane season; swells can close beaches for days, cheapest rates
Quiet, water still swimmable, good value
What's on
- Bermuda Day late May
Parade day; locals head to the beaches for the long weekend
- Cup Match late July to early August
The island's biggest party weekend brings local crowds to the beaches
- Harbour Nights Wednesdays, May to August
Pairs with a beach day; head to Hamilton for the evening festival
Best things to do in South Shore Beaches
Horseshoe Bay Beach
The famous pink-sand beach; arrive before 10am to beat the cruise crowds.
Warwick Long Bay
Half-mile sweep of sand at the east end of the cove trail, quieter than Horseshoe.
Jobson's Cove
Cliff-sheltered cove with calm shallow water and easy snorkeling near the rocks.
Chaplin Bay
Small cliff-ringed shore on the cove-walk route; good for a quiet swim.
Stonehole Bay
Small beach with adjoining coves, coral structure, and few people on weekdays.
Church Bay
A snorkeler's beach with coral reefs close to shore; bring water shoes.
Elbow Beach
Long Paget beach with gentle water and a relaxed crowd.
Astwood Cove
Rocky shoreline for snorkellers; watch the cliffs for nesting longtails.
Best restaurants in South Shore Beaches
Waterlot Inn
Historic steak and seafood house; the special-occasion dinner on the south shore.
The Newport Room
Formal French dining in ship-like decor; jackets expected, reserve ahead.
Henry VIII
Long-running English pub near Horseshoe Bay; fish and chips and Sunday roast.
Blu Bar & Grill
Hilltop dining with harbour and south shore views; book for sunset.
Sea Breeze Lounge
Waterfront terrace on Paget's south shore for lunch or a sunset drink.
Ocean Echo
Oceanfront restaurant at The Reefs; open to non-guests with a reservation.
Rum Bum's Beach Bar
The beach bar at Horseshoe Bay for burgers and rum drinks in the sand.
The Dock
Casual waterfront seafood and sunset views with a local feel.
Outdoor things to do in South Shore Beaches
Gibbs Hill Lighthouse
Climb the 1846 lighthouse for a full-island view, then tea at the base.
Paget Marsh Nature Reserve
Floating boardwalk through mangroves and palmetto forest; a shaded 45-minute loop.
Bermuda Railway Trail
Flat clifftop walking along the old rail line above the south shore beaches.
Southlands National Park
Woodland trails leading to quiet coastal viewpoints; the green counterpoint to a beach day.
Best hotels in South Shore Beaches
Fairmont Southampton
Big resort above Horseshoe Bay with restaurants, pools, and a beach club.
The Reefs
Smaller, quieter clifftop luxury hotel above its own beach; best for couples.
Pompano Beach Club
Family-run beachfront hotel with a house reef; friendly and unpretentious.
Coco Reef Bermuda
Beachfront resort near Elbow Beach; good mid-range beach base.
Clairfont Apartments
Apartment-style stays a short walk from Warwick Long Bay and Jobson's Cove.
Newstead Belmont Hills
Hilltop golf resort with harbour views, 10 minutes from Elbow Beach.
Cambridge Beaches Resort
Secluded resort on a private peninsula with several small beaches.
Is South Shore Beaches expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | BMD 120 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | BMD 200 a person |
| Splurge | BMD 400 a person |
| No limits | BMD 700 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Waterlot Inn: a few days ahead
- The Newport Room: a few days ahead
- Blu Bar & Grill: a few days ahead
- Ocean Echo: a few days ahead
- Fourways Restaurant: a few days ahead
- Fairmont Southampton: weeks ahead
- The Reefs: weeks ahead
- Pompano Beach Club: weeks ahead
- Resort restaurants (Waterlot Inn, Newport Room, Fourways): 1-2 days ahead in high season
- Horseshoe Bay loungers are not reservable; arrive before 10am in July
- Scooter rentals sell out on cruise-ship-heavy days; book the day before
Is South Shore Beaches safe?
- Risks are the ocean and the sun: swim near lifeguards, respect red flags, wear reef-safe sunscreen
- Do not leave valuables visible in a parked scooter
- Emergency number is 911
South Shore Beaches travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- The pink in pink sand is a subtle blush tint, not bubblegum; calibrate expectations
- If red flags are up at Horseshoe Bay, walk 10 minutes east to a sheltered cove
- Beach vendors sell imported souvenirs at higher prices than Hamilton
Getting around South Shore Beaches: public transport and more
- The #7 bus runs along South Road past all the south shore beaches
- Taxis from Hamilton take 15-25 minutes; meters are honest
- Scooter rental gives the most freedom for beach-hopping; drive on the left
- The coastal trail between coves needs water shoes and is not stroller or wheelchair friendly
Who South Shore Beaches suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make South Shore Beaches your trip
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