The Perfect 72 Hours in Bermuda
The ingredients for an ideal long weekend out here in paradise? A solid dose of island life, tasty cuisine, sunny pink-sand beaches and adventurous shipwreck dives.
- Adventure,
- Food,
- Local Hotspots,
- Travel Tips
Day 1: Friday
BEACHES, CULTURE & COCKTAILS
BERMY BUZZ: ROCK ISLAND COFFEE
Kick-start the weekend with a trip to Rock Island Coffee, which serves the only locally roasted coffee in Bermuda. It's served alongside treats like scones, muffins and biscotti. Be sure to check out the colourful Bermudian art that lines the walls.
PRETTY IN PINK: BERMUDA’S BEST BEACHES
Bermuda is home to some of the world’s greatest beaches, so you'll definitely want to sink your toes in the legendary pink sand. Horseshoe Bay Beach (one of USA Today’s Best Caribbean Beaches) is one of the most popular choices. If you’re in search of something a little more secluded, head to Jobson’s Cove, a photogenic sliver of pink and blue framed by steep, jagged cliffs.
HISTORY AROUND EVERY CORNER: THE TOWN OF ST. GEORGE
Founded in 1612, the Town of St. George, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the oldest continually inhabited English settlement in the New World. There's history down every street, and in each pastel-hued house. Attractions include St. Peter’s Church, a circa-1612 house of worship, and Fort St. Catherine, one of Bermuda’s most formidable fortresses.
FRIDAY NIGHTS: PICK YOUR PARTY
Bermuda does weekend nights right, no matter the season. Set sail on a sunset cruise aboard an elegant ÜberVida celebration yacht, or kick off your shoes and cozy up to a beach bonfire at Tobacco Bay. During the summer, you might soak up a spectacular sunset, cocktail in hand, at Marina Nights, an enticing dockside happy hour at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. You could also enjoy the warm night air at Sea Breeze Lounge and Terrace for great food, cocktails, live music and DJ sets every Friday night. Whatever you decide, it’ll be a fitting finale to your first day in Bermuda.
Day 2: Saturday
MAKING A SPLASH & SIPPING TEA
GET WET: AQUATIC ADVENTURES
The sparkling turquoise ocean that surrounds Bermuda isn’t just mesmerizing to look at – the island is a serious sport fishing destination, with waters filled with big-game catches like marlin, tuna and wahoo. A jet-ski tour around the island is an automatic adrenaline rush, as you zoom across the blue to secluded beaches, hidden coves and sunken ships. Speaking of sunken ships, Bermuda is a magical undersea playground for divers. Go beneath the waves to explore such amazing shipwrecks as The Constellation, which was the basis for Jaws author Peter Benchley’s The Deep.
HISTORIC HUB: THE ROYAL NAVAL DOCKYARD
Once known as the Gibraltar of the West, the Royal Naval Dockyard was a symbol of Royal Naval might in the Western Atlantic for more than 150 years. You could spend a whole day exploring here. Dive into maritime history at the National Museum of Bermuda and Bermuda Maritime Museum or head to the Clocktower Mall to browse shops and boutiques. For lunch, try the Frog & Onion, a classic British-style pub that's also Bermuda’s only craft brewery.
ROYAL TEA: TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA
Bermuda hits “pause” every day for that oh-so-British activity, traditional afternoon tea. One of the most popular spots for tea time is the Crown & Anchor at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. The restaurant, overlooking picturesque landscaped gardens, puts a modern spin on this favorite pastime. The presentation is impeccable, with servers offering tiered, three-foot-high silver trays filled with homemade pastries and steaming pots in a bright and airy setting.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: FRONT STREET NIGHTLIFE
Enjoy Bermuda's thriving nightlife with music and dancing at island hot spots, many of them on Hamilton’s jewel-toned main drag, Front Street. Grab a Dark 'n Stormy® – one of the island’s signature drinks – and mingle with locals at the Bermuda Bistro at the Beach.
Day 3: Sunday
HIDDEN GEMS
GOOD MORNING: THE CODFISH BREAKFAST
On weekend mornings, locals all over the island sit down for a hearty, classic codfish breakfast. It’s a heaping plateful of boiled or steamed salt cod with boiled potatoes, onions and sliced bananas topped off with a hard-boiled egg and, occasionally, avocado slices. You may want to skip lunch after this big Bermudian meal. Bouchée Bistro Français and Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa both offer Sunday brunch!
BEACHSIDE BRUNCH: OCEAN ECHO
Or, sleep in and then head to The Reefs Resort & Club, where the open-air terrace at Ocean Echo will let you savour the first meal of the day while taking in spectacular views of pink sands, blue sky and shimmering sea. We're willing to bet your Eggs Benedict never tasted so good.
RIDE THE RAILS: THE BERMUDA RAILWAY TRAIL
Spend the rest of the morning taking a cycle ride filled with island history and rich, flora-filled landscapes. The 18-mile Railway Trail is named for the transit route that once wrapped around the island. Today, it’s the perfect cycling adventure, leading you to intimate beaches, panoramic ocean views and remnants of the past like an old drawbridge.
JUNGLE TREK: HIDDEN GEMS ECO-TOUR
Discover Bermuda’s very own jungle. The Hidden Gems Nature Hike takes you deep into the heart of the Walsingham Nature Reserve (Tom Moore’s Jungle to locals). You’ll hike through lush green trails, swim in gorgeous blue waters and explore subterranean caves. Afterwards, climb the steps to the top of St. David’s Lighthouse for a 360-degree, bird’s-eye view of the island. Top it off with a trip to Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve for snorkelling and relaxing on the beach.