From dazzling pink beaches to fine restaurants and from posh resorts to world-class golf, Bermuda has something for almost every type of traveller. Here are 10 things to check out on your next visit.
Superb Stays
Bermuda has a bevy of wonderful hotels. Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa is anchored on a west-side peninsula with a series of pretty beaches and coves. The St. Regis Bermuda Resort is a stone’s throw from pretty Saint Catherine’s Beach and a short walk from Fort Saint Catherine. The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club (managed by Fairmont) feels like an open art gallery. Visitors will see one of Andy Warhol’s famous Queen Elizabeth II works, as well as art from the likes of Picasso and Banksy. The Fairmont Southampton is a top choice that’s undergoing renovations.
Classic Cuisine
Bermuda is renowned for its food scene. In Hamilton, Portofino’s features everything from hand-pulled burrata to grilled lamb chops and pasta with sausage, ragu and truffle paste. For a truly decadent meal, try the lobster and foie gras at Cambridge Beaches Resort and Spa on the west side of Bermuda. Huckleberry Restaurant at the Rosedon Hotel in Hamilton is one of the best restaurants in Bermuda. It serves up a wide variety of dishes, including pan-roasted duck breast. It’s not just fancy food and white linen tablecloths in Bermuda. Stop in at the casual Jamaican Grill in Hamilton for jerk chicken, rice and peas and other Caribbean delights.
Great Golf
Playing a round of golf on one of the many lush layouts is one of the top things to do in Bermuda, which claims to have more golf courses per square mile than any place on earth. The Mid Ocean Club is a stunning, link-style course that has twice hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Port Royal Golf Course has been ranked among the world’s best public courses by Golf Digest and was named Bermuda’s finest course by the New York Times. Located at the Fairmont Southampton, Turtle Hill Golf Club is a gorgeous layout that was named “Best Par 3 Golf Course in the World” in 2020 by voters in the World Golf Awards.
The Beach Life
Many observers call Horseshoe Bay the best beach in Bermuda. It’s famous for its pink sand and impossibly turquoise waters. The beach at Whale Bay, a short distance down the hill from the Fairmont Southampton and just west of Horseshoe Bay, is a small but lovely stretch of sand with large rocks that protect swimmers from big waves. Tobacco Bay Beach is a small pocket of sand that’s often voted one of the best beaches in Bermuda. It’s also famous for its sunsets. Located in the west-side village of Somerset, Long Bay Beach is great for a stroll and for watching the sun go down.
Explore the Villages and Cities
Bermuda homes are often painted in wild colours that jump out at a visitor and are sure to spark a smile. You’ll find houses in shades of watermelon pink, Delft blue, Fuschia, Granny Smith apple green, French’s Mustard yellow and lots more. Bermuda is also a delight for gardeners, with flaming red hibiscus, deep pink oleander and beautiful flowers all around. When I visited, I loved walking around the village of St. George’s, poking my head into art galleries and small shops and chatting with the locals. Hamilton is a bustling, lively city with a nice harbour and fun shops along Front Street, everything from t-shirt shops to Louis Vuitton and Longchamp. Climb the 153 steps at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Hamilton and enjoy fine views of the city.
The Cocktail Circuit
You might think of Bermuda as a place for the rich and famous, but it’s got a casual/fun side. Downtown Hamilton is very much a lively place on a weekend night. Flanagan’s Irish Pub on Front Street in Hamilton has reasonable prices and a nice second-storey patio that looks out over the harbour. In the main town of Hamilton, the Pickled Onion is a sleek affair that wouldn’t look out of place in Manhattan or Montreal. Drinks at the Pickled Onion have names such as Pink Panties, Smooth Operator and Jealous Coconut. The national drink is the Dark and Stormy. It’s served with dark Gosling’s rum (no other kind is acceptable for the real thing), ginger beer and lime juice.
A History Lesson
Checking out old forts is a great thing to do in Bermuda. Located on the northeast tip of Bermuda, Fort Saint Catherine is a great spot with tons of cannons and even some World War II artillery, just in case the enemy thought they might pop by for a visit. When I visited, I loved the walk to the village of St. George along the coast from Fort Saint Catherine. Instead of fancy hotels and gardens, I passed average homes and a dairy farm with goats that came to greet me and a stable and fields with contented Jersey cows and yards with hens clucking about, all of that just yards from pounding surf surging onto jagged, black rocks. There are two more forts on the way back to town: Alexandra Battery and the tiny Gates Fort. On the west side of the islands, Fort Scaur is a great stop for history fans or anyone looking for a quiet seaside vista.
Water World
Bermuda is famous for reefs that have caused many a shipwreck; bad if you’re a sailor but great if you’re a diver. May to October offers the best chance for calm, clear water and is the best time for swimming, especially on exposed south shore beaches. Diving and snorkelling are great activities in Bermuda. The calm waters that surround some of Bermuda’s islands (there are seven main islands and more than 170 smaller ones) are great for kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Sailing is a major sport in Bermuda, as well, and there are several places offering rentals. You also can take ferry rides around various parts of the island. The route between Hamilton and Dockyard is probably the most popular.
A Two-Wheel Excursion
The highlight of my trip a few years ago was an afternoon on a rented moped. Yes, the roads are narrow. Yes, folks drive on the left. But if you can keep your balance on a bike and navigate Yonge Street in Toronto in rush hour, Bermuda is a piece of (rum) cake. There are gazillions of mopeds in Bermuda, so drivers are used to them. I found drivers to be quite patient when I was in front of them. Just stay left, pull into the frequent bus stops or driveways to let folks pass, and you’ll do just fine.
A Fine View
Just west of the Fairmont Southampton is Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, with roughly 180 steps to the top. The views from the top are glorious: all the way to St. George’s in the east and up to the cruise ships at the Dockyard in the west/north. You can see for miles and miles, with deep green forests and pasture land and that impossibly beautiful ocean.
How to Get There
BermudAir recently launched direct flights to Bermuda from YYZ (Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays) and YHZ (Saturdays). Air Canada offers seasonal flights to Bermuda from YYZ.
