Sports Illustrated: Live the Swimsuit Model Life in Bermuda
For the first time in 30 years, Sports Illustrated returns to Bermuda in the May 2025 Swimsuit Edition. We’re celebrating by shining a spotlight on the island’s most iconic photo ops.
- Local Hotspots,
- On the Beach
With its spectacular natural beauty, year-round mild, sunny weather, and convenient nonstop flights from major U.S. East Coast cities, Canada, and the UK, Bermuda makes it easy to find unique, Instagrammable photo backdrops that will level-up your feed.
Whether you’re channeling your inner swimsuit model or capturing vacation memories in the most gorgeous way, you’ll find great photo ops around every corner in Bermuda. Check out the top spots selected by Sports Illustrated and get ready to take the photos of a lifetime.
Iconic Shots at Horseshoe Bay Beach
Strike a pose at one of Bermuda’s most celebrated and scene-stealing beaches, the world-famous Horseshoe Bay. Known for its silky pink sand and stunning scenery, Horseshoe Bay has been ranked among the world’s top beaches by publications such as Condé Nast Traveller.
The bay, curved like a crescent, creates a natural cove with panoramic ocean views. Located on Bermuda’s South Shore within South Shore Park, Horseshoe Bay is also a prime starting point for exploring a coastal trail that winds east and west, connecting you to a string of other picturesque beaches and coves. Scenic backdrops abound, making it easy for you to live out your swimsuit model fantasy.
Setting up your photo is easy with backgrounds like limestone cliffs, intimate rocky coves, lush greenery, and turquoise waters. Plus, convenient amenities like restrooms, changing rooms, and showers make outfit changes and freshening up between shots a breeze.
In Perfect Form at Tobacco Bay Beach
The signature limestone rock formations of Tobacco Bay Beach add drama to any photo. This spot has everything you need, from coastal scenery and sun-soaked vibes to a beach bar and restaurant serving up post-shoot snacks.
Slip into the clear, shallow waters and strike a pose. Then go snorkelling with the colourful marine life that offer a striking backdrop for underwater shots. The photo-ops are plentiful here, you can find other spots like a water-side pool table to show off your billiards skills, walk along the wooden plank path that leads gracefully into shallow rock pools, or sit under palm umbrellas in the water, giving a dreamy, tropical aesthetic. After capturing the best angles, kick back and sip on a Rum Swizzle at the beach bar while listening to live music (in season).
Located in St. George on the island’s East End, Tobacco Bay is close to the Town of St. George, a UNESCO World Heritage Site ripe with many other photo-ops.
A Touch of Wild Beauty at Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve
One of Bermuda’s most impressive natural attractions, the pristine Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve is a hidden gem dripping with natural beauty. Open to the public since 1995, the reserve offers secluded nature trails and shallow-water beaches perfect for capturing the island’s beauty in its purest form. Climb the observation tower to spot wildlife and capture island panoramas from above.
Located at the northeastern tip of Bermuda, you’ll find access to several beautiful but uncrowded public beaches, including the tucked away Turtle Bay and Clearwater Beach.
Breathtaking Scenes at Cambridge Beaches
Tucked away in Bermuda’s West End on a 20-acre peninsula with sweeping ocean views, Cambridge Beaches is a historic luxury resort that’s perfect if you’re craving privacy and dreamy island beauty. Wind-swept palms line the beaches, sailboats float in the bay, and charming pink cottages are sprinkled throughout the lush landscape. With four secluded beaches, this relaxing resort is made for scroll-stopping swimsuit shots.
Find elegant backdrops both in and out of the water, like classic Bermuda cottages with private pools that you can’t find anywhere else on the island. Be sure to check out the stylish restaurant and cocktail bar Sunken Harbor Club, where you can raise a glass to grid-worthy memories.
