Bermuda 2 Day Itinerary
Bermuda 2-Day Itinerary
Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory of about 21 square miles sitting alone in the North Atlantic, around 1,000 kilometres east of North Carolina. What it lacks in size it compensates for with specificity: pink sand beaches produced by crushed coral and red organisms, a cuisine centred on rockfish and wahoo, and a transport rule that baffles every first-time visitor. You cannot rent a standard car. Non-residents are prohibited by law from driving four-wheeled vehicles with one exception: a limited number of two-seater electric microcars (think Renault Twizy), which rent for USD 90-120 per day. The practical alternatives are scooter rental at USD 30-35 per day (helmets mandatory, accident rates among visitors are well-documented), or the public bus and ferry network, which covers all major beaches and towns and costs around USD 5 per journey or USD 28-35 for a multi-day unlimited pass. The pass is the right call.
Visa and Entry
Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, and most EU countries do not need a visa for stays up to 30 days. You will need a valid passport and an onward ticket. The Bermuda Dollar is pegged 1:1 to the US Dollar and the two are interchangeable everywhere on the island. US dollars are accepted as readily as local currency.
Where to Stay
Hamilton is the capital and the most practical base: central, walkable, with ferry and bus connections in every direction. The Grotto Bay Beach Resort in Hamilton Parish is a good mid-range option with direct beach access. The Hamilton Princess and Beach Club is the prestige address, with pricing to match (from USD 500 per night in summer). For a two-day visit, staying in Hamilton saves time; the island is small but the road network is slow.
Day 1: East End and the Best Beach in the Atlantic
Start at Horseshoe Bay Beach on the South Shore, which occupies a consistent position near the top of global beach rankings. The pink colour comes from pulverised shell fragments and foraminifera (small red organisms) mixed into the white quartz sand. It is not a gimmick; the colouring is visible and real. The bay faces south, the water is clear, and the undertow can be strong outside the sheltered cove at the western edge called Port Royal Cove. Swim in the cove if conditions are rough.
Take Bus 7 from Hamilton to Horseshoe Bay, roughly 45 minutes. Arrive before 10am in summer to get a good spot; by midday it fills significantly with cruise ship passengers.
After the beach, head east to Crystal and Fantasy Caves in Hamilton Parish. These are interconnected limestone caves discovered in 1907, with formations that include stalactites hanging over a clear underground lake. Guided tours run every 20 minutes from 9am to 4:30pm. Adult admission is USD 22 for one cave or USD 30 for the combination ticket covering both. The temperature inside is a steady 18-19 degrees Celsius year-round, which feels cold after the beach; bring a light layer.
Lunch: Head to the nearby village or take the bus back towards St George’s. Art Mel’s Spicy Dicy in St George’s serves the famous Bermudian fish sandwich for USD 10-15. The standard version uses local wahoo or rockfish, battered and fried, served on Bermudian raisin bread with tartar sauce. It is a more specific thing than it sounds.
Afternoon: St George’s is the country’s original capital, founded in 1612 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 in recognition of being one of the oldest English urban settlements in the New World. Start at King’s Square in the town centre, then walk the narrow lanes to St Peter’s Church, which dates to 1612 and is widely cited as the oldest Anglican church still in use in the Western Hemisphere. The World Heritage Centre near Penno’s Wharf has interactive exhibits on the island’s early colonial history and is worth an hour.
The Bermuda National Trust Museum on Duke of York Street occupies a building from 1700 and covers the island’s role in smuggling goods to American Confederate states during the Civil War, which is a less expected chapter of Bermudian history.
Evening: The Swizzle Inn in Bailey’s Bay, open since 1932, is where the rum swizzle originated. The current standard version combines Gosling’s Black Seal and Gold rums with orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, and Angostura bitters, shaken and served over crushed ice. Locals order it by the jug. Dinner here is pub food rather than anything refined, and that is fine.
Day 2: Hamilton and the Royal Naval Dockyard
Hamilton is Bermuda’s commercial and governmental centre in a format that resembles a small English market town placed in the tropics: pastel buildings, relatively quiet streets, a parliament building visible from the water. Front Street is the main shopping drag with duty-free goods, local crafts, and souvenir shops. More interesting is the Bermuda National Gallery on Church Street, which holds the island’s main fine art collection including works by Thomas Gainsborough and George Stubbs alongside Bermudian artists.
Barracuda Grill on Burnaby Street is a reliable choice for lunch, known for seafood and steaks at prices that reflect Bermuda’s import-dependent cost structure (USD 40-60 per person for a main and drinks). For more affordable fish chowder, Hog Penny Pub on Burnaby Lane does it with proper sherry pepper sauce and Gosling’s dark rum, served tableside for you to add yourself. Ask if the server doesn’t bring them. The chowder without the rum is technically incorrect.
Take the ferry from the Hamilton Ferry Terminal to the Royal Naval Dockyard at the island’s western tip. The crossing takes about 30 minutes and costs around USD 5 with a transport pass. The Dockyard was built by enslaved and convict labour between 1809 and 1862 to serve the Royal Navy’s North Atlantic operations. The buildings are substantial limestone structures that now house the Bermuda Maritime Museum, which covers the island’s connection to ocean exploration, shipwrecks, and the Royal Navy. Entry is USD 20 for adults.
Dolphin Quest operates here if that is of interest, with structured encounter programmes (USD 90-160 per person) in a lagoon setting. It is popular with families arriving by cruise ship.
The Dockyard also has local craft shops, a small brewery (Dockyard Brewing Company), and direct ferry service back to Hamilton in the evening.
Warwick Long Bay on the South Shore is the less-visited alternative to Horseshoe Bay: a longer stretch of the same pink sand, no cruise ship groups, and free parking. Take Bus 7 from Hamilton if you want a quieter afternoon beach stop before the ferry.
Practical Reminders
Bermuda is one of the most expensive destinations in the Atlantic. Budget USD 80-120 per person per day for food alone at sit-down restaurants. The fish sandwich is the best value meal on the island. Tipping convention is 15-20% at restaurants. The national speed limit is 35 km/h; take it seriously on a scooter because the roads are narrow and left-hand traffic takes adjustment for North American visitors. The Swizzle Inn on the north shore is worth returning to on the second evening if you want to stay near the east end rather than coming back to Hamilton.