36 Best Sights in Bermuda

The park, site of the extravagant, now mostly demolished, home of a former admiral of the British Navy, has man-made caves to explore and trails with views of the north shore, but it's also notable as the perfect spot to attempt a favorite pastime of locals: cliff jumping. The cliffs are about 15–20 feet high, and the water below is deep and clear. Wear good water shoes, as the walk back up the cliffs can be a bit rocky. If you're less thrill seeker and more of a sun seeker, there's a small beach to relax off a calm cove and lagoonlike water to wade in.

Inside this former barrel-making factory, you can find the Bermuda Craft Market—arguably the island's largest and best-priced crafts outlet. It showcases the wares of more than 60 craftspeople, including quilters, candlemakers, toymakers, and wood carvers. Also in the building is the Bermuda Arts Centre, a member-run art gallery that displays innovative high-end work in changing exhibits.

A half-dozen artists at the Bermuda Arts Centre also maintain studios on the premises, so leave some time to watch them at work.

The design team had a bit of fun with these minilinks: featuring 18 holes representing the best golf courses from around the world—including Augusta National and St. Andrews—it'll challenge even the most experienced minigolfers.

Surprisingly, Bermuda Fun Golf is one of the best places to watch the sunset with uninterrupted views.

There's also a bar and grill serving cold drinks, snacks, and other nibbles.

Home to Bermuda's national art collection, the Bermuda National Gallery has permanent exhibits that include paintings by island artists as well as European masters like Gainsborough and Reynolds; African masks and sculpture; and photographs by internationally known artists, such as Bermudian Richard Saunders (1922–87). The fine and decorative art pieces in the collection reflect the country's multicultural heritage. Temporary exhibits are also part of the museum's program, and on any given day you can see a selection of local work along with a traveling exhibit from another museum. The gallery is on the second floor in the City Hall & Arts Centre, in the East Exhibition Room.

For a comprehensive look at the collections, join one of the free docent-led tours offered Thursday at 10 am (private ones can be arranged on request). Lectures and other programs are listed in the gallery's online calendar. Some of these are targeted specifically at children, and there is an interactive education space at the gallery entrance.

Home to Bermuda's national art collection, the Bermuda National Gallery has permanent exhibits that include paintings by island artists as well as European masters like Gainsborough and Reynolds; African masks and sculpture; and photographs by internationally known artists, such as Bermudian Richard Saunders (1922–87). The fine and decorative art pieces in the collection reflect the country's multicultural heritage. Temporary exhibits are also part of the museum's program, and on any given day you can see a selection of local work along with a traveling exhibit from another museum. The gallery is on the second floor in the City Hall & Arts Centre, in the East Exhibition Room.

For a comprehensive look at the collections, arrange a private docent tour. Lectures and other programs are listed in the gallery's online calendar. Some of these are targeted specifically at children, and there is an interactive education space at the gallery entrance.

The 40,000-square-foot Ocean Discovery Centre at the institute showcases local contributions to oceanographic research and undersea discovery. Highlights include the world-class shell collection amassed by resident Jack Lightbourn (three of the 1,000 species were identified by and named for Lightbourn himself) and a gallery honoring native-born archaeologist Teddy Tucker featuring booty from Bermudian shipwrecks. The equipment that made such discoveries possible is displayed, including a replica of the bathysphere William Beebe and Otis Barton used in their record-smashing 1934 dive. (Forget the Bermuda Triangle: the real mystery is how they descended a half mile in a metal ball less than 5 feet in diameter!) A more modern "submersible," Nautilus-X2, lets wannabe explorers take a simulated seven-minute trip to the ocean floor. Special events, like lectures, glowworm cruises, and whale-watching trips, are available for an added fee. The on-site Harbourfront restaurant is a lovely choice for lunch.

Pedestrians may access the facility by following the sidewalk on the water side of Front Street. Motorists must drive out of town on Front Street, round the traffic circle, and exit at the lane signposted for the BUEI.

A pair of 100-foot towers makes it impossible to miss the Clocktower Mall, where the 19th-century building that held the Royal Navy's administrative offices now is home to distinctly Bermudian boutiques—including specialty shops and branches of Front Street favorites. Observant folks will note that one tower features a standard clock, the other a tide indicator. The shops are particularly popular on Sunday because most stores outside the Dockyard area are closed.

Once a military stronghold that played a role in conflicts from the War of 1812 to World War II, the restored buildings of the sprawling Royal Naval Dockyard offer a full day of history with plenty of shopping and dining, and some adventure as well. The centerpiece is the National Museum of Bermuda, with exhibits on local maritime history and more in an imposing stone fortress; it has stunning ocean views from its highest points. The Old Cooperage holds the Bermuda Craft Market and the Bermuda Arts Centre; you can also shop in the Clocktower Mall, in another historic building. FryDays, a trampoline park for all ages, Dolphin Quest, an interactive experience, and Snorkel Park Beach are other diversions. The Dockyard has plenty of places to eat, such as British pub fare and locally brewed beer at the Frog & Onion, or a quick latte and flaky baked goods at the Dockyard Pastry Shop. Note that a cruise terminal is on King's Wharf, making this a busy spot.

Its position on Mangrove Bay once made it a popular hideout for pirates, but judging by Somerset Village's bucolic appearance, you'd never guess that now. The shady past has been erased by shady trees, quiet streets, and charming cottages. As far as actual attractions go, this quaint one-road retreat has only a few eateries and shops—most of them offshoots of Hamilton stores. Nevertheless, it provides easy access to Springfield and the Gilbert Nature Reserve (29 Somerset Rd. ), a 5-acre woodland with paths that connect to some of the most scenic portions of Bermuda's Railway Trail.

For a ringside seat to the show of sailboats and passenger ferries zigzagging around the many islands that dot Hamilton Harbour, grab a bench beneath the trees at the newly renovated Point Pleasant Park, a small waterside park, which locals refer to as Albuoy's Point. Part of the renovation gives a nod to Bermuda's biggest mystery—the infamous triangle. The park's renovation created a walkway through the park in the distinctive shape, plus a great photo-op at the triangle's "most northern point." Nearby is the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, founded in 1844 and granted the use of the term royal by Prince Albert in 1845. Today, luminaries from the international sailing scene hobnob with local yacht owners and business executives at the club's 1930s headquarters. If you're around between April and November, you might even catch one of the many club-sponsored racing events.

If you've got kids in tow—or are driving a scooter—you may want to skip the rum and stick to Bailey's—Bailey's Ice Cream, that is. The popular parlor, directly across from the Swizzle Inn, dishes up some two dozen flavors of homemade all-natural ice creams, plus low-fat frozen yogurts and fat-free sorbets.

This store accepts cash only.

It's illegal to export shipwreck artifacts or a Bermuda-cedar carving or item of furniture that's more than 50 years old without a special permit from Bermuda Customs.

On the upper floor of City Hall & Arts Centre, in the West Wing, the Bermuda Society of Arts displays work by its members. Its frequently changing juried shows attract talented local painters, sculptors, and photographers. Art collectors will be pleased to learn that many pieces may also be purchased.

When you're in the mood for a picnic in the park, pick up supplies at Bulli.Social right beside the Queen Elizabeth Park entrance or pull up a chair in the restaurant's outdoor seating area just inside the park. Come for gourmet burgers, poutine, or the Ultimate Bacon Butty—bacon jam, Bermuda Smokehouse pork belly, candied bacon, and pork cheek confit on a soft, crusty roll. For a taste of Bermuda's social scene, stop by instead for Friday-night happy hour.

The most rewarding time to visit the Cabinet Building, which was completed in 1841 and remodeled almost a century later, is during the formal opening of Parliament, traditionally held on the first Friday of November. His (or Her) Excellency the Governor, dressed in a plumed hat and full regalia, arrives on the grounds in a landau drawn by magnificent black horses and accompanied by a police escort. A senior officer, carrying the Black Rod made by the Crown jewelers, next asks the speaker of the House, elected representatives, and members of the Senate chamber to convene. The governor then presents the Throne Speech from a tiny cedar throne dating from 1642. 

After the original Anglican sanctuary on this site was torched by an arsonist in 1884, Scottish architect William Hay was enlisted to design a replacement: true to his training, Hay erected a Gothic-style structure in the grand European tradition. Inside, the clerestory in the nave is supported by piers of polished Scottish granite; soaring archways are trimmed in stone imported from France; and the choir stalls and bishop's throne are carved out of English oak. The pulpit is modeled on the one in Hay's hometown cathedral (St. Giles in Edinburgh), and the whole thing is crowned by a copper roof that stands out among Bermuda's typical white-topped buildings.

Despite the European flourishes, Bermuda Cathedral still has a subtropical flair. After all, the limestone building blocks came from the Par-la-Ville quarry, and one of its loveliest stained-glass windows—the Angel Window on the east wall of the north transept—was created by local artist Vivienne Gilmore Gardner.

After sauntering around the interior, you can climb the 155 steps of the church tower for a heavenly view of Hamilton and its harbor.

City Café is a New York–inspired deli that serves made-to-order sandwiches (including vegetarian variations) as well as tasty breakfasts. Because of its location next to the bus terminal on Church Street, City Café is a convenient place to grab a bite before catching a bus to other parts of the island. If you have time to fill up before your bus departs, continue walking past the deli (away from the harbor) to Victoria Park, where you can chow down in style amid ornamental shrubbery.

Located next to the Ferry Terminal, the Visitor Services Centre is a good place to start when you're ready to explore the rest of Hamilton. The distinctive building was built out of repurposed shipping containers, and it's the place to pick up pamphlets and maps, to book tours and excursions, and to have your questions answered. Look for brochures for self-guided city walking tours. You can also purchase Bermuda-branded merchandise. On the top floor, the Birdcage has front-row harbor views and inventive cocktails featuring locally sourced ingredients.

After immersing yourself in maritime history at the National Museum of Bermuda, you can immerse yourself—literally—in the wonderful world of dolphins. Dolphin Quest offers a range of in-water programs that allow adults and children ages five and older to pet, play with, and swim alongside its eight Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the historic Keep Pond. There are even specially designed sessions, conducted from a submersible bench, for younger kids. Since entry to the Dolphin Quest area is free with museum admission, anyone can watch the action. Participation in the actual programs, however, ranges in price, and advance booking is recommended.

The British chose the highest hill in Somerset for the site of this fort, built in the late 1860s and early 1870s, not for the lovely panoramas but to defend the flank of the Dockyard from possible American attacks. British troops were garrisoned here until World War I, and American forces were, ironically, stationed at the fort during World War II. Today its stone walls are surrounded by 22 acres of pretty gardens, and the view of the Great Sound and Ely's Harbour from the parapet is unsurpassed. Be sure to check out the early Bermuda Weather Stone, billed as a "perfect weather indicator." A sign posted nearby solemnly explains all. There is also access to the Bermuda Railway Trail.

The supersize fireplace in which coopers used to forge their barrel bands is the focal point of the Frog & Onion Pub. Architectural interest aside, this naval-theme pub makes a great place for a lunch break, an afternoon libation, or even a quick game of pool. The menu has traditional fare (think Cornish pasty and fish-and-chips) as well as thirst-quenching ales made on-site by the Dockyard Brewing Company.

Running along the harbor, Hamilton's main thoroughfare bustles with small cars, motor scooters, bicycles, buses, and sometimes hordes of cruise-ship passengers. The prime attractions here are the high-class low-rise shops that line the street, but be sure not to overlook small offshoots and alleyways like Chancery Lane, Old Cellar Lane, and the Walkers Arcade, where you'll stumble upon hidden-away boutiques. If visiting between May and August, on Wednesday evenings Front Street is closed to vehicular traffic to make way for the popular Harbour Nights, which features entertainment, food, and locally made products.

A reminder of what the island was like in its early days, this blissfully peaceful 44-acre preserve remains an unspoiled open space, except for a few flower gardens. Pathways with well-positioned park benches wind through it, affording some wonderful water views. If you continue along the main path, you'll reach rustic Heydon Chapel. Built in the early 1600s, it's Bermuda's smallest church. Weddings can be arranged by prior appointment.

Near their starting points, trails in this park are dominated mostly by agricultural land; however, once you trek past rows of vegetables, you'll find one of the best views along the western part of south shore. Outside of the arable land, there are 32 acres to explore via trails covered with endemic spice trees, as well as the remains of cedar trees that were affected by the blight in the 1940s and ’50s that destroyed much of the island's cedar tree population. But the standout is the steep coastal path that leads to the shallow shoreline. If your timing is just right, you'll find a small beach. But regardless, there are tide pools to explore, and the shallow waters mean there are plenty of opportunities to spot hog fish and brightly colored parrot fish.

Come summer you'll be able to find Captain Kirk's Longtail Floating Fun Park, an on-the-water obstacle course with slides and a diving board from the 3rd deck. Open from 10 am to 7 pm daily, walk or boat up to your day's entertainment!

To some, this rather austere 1840s structure is simply a place to mail a letter, but to stamp collectors the Perot Post Office, named for Hamilton's first postmaster, is a veritable shrine. William Bennett Perot (1791–1871) was certainly a genial fellow: he would meet arriving steamers, collect the incoming mail, stash it in his beaver hat, and then stroll around Hamilton to deliver it, greeting each recipient with a tip of his chapeau. But it was his resourcefulness that made him most famous among philatelists. Tired of individually hand-stamping outgoing letters, Perot began printing stamps in 1848. Of the thousands he produced, only 11 still exist—and several of those are owned by the British royal family. If you'd like to get your hands on one, be prepared to dig deep. In 2005, a Perot-era one-penny stamp sold at auction for a record-breaking $244,000.

Next to the Perot Post Office is the entrance to pretty Queen Elizabeth Park (formerly Par-La-Ville Park), which was officially renamed in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee celebration of Queen Elizabeth II. Once postmaster William Perot's private garden, it has winding paths, luxuriant blooms, plentiful benches, and a photogenic Bermuda moongate. Long popular with people-watchers, it is now the site of the Bermuda National Library and Bermuda Historical Society Museum, too. The Bermuda National Gallery has created a sculpture garden in the park by installing several major outdoor works. Enjoy a refreshing cup of iced tea from NovelTea, which sells its inventive freshly brewed teas from a small stall here with flavors including cherry blossom and creme brulée, as well as a small selection of tea accessories and the company's packaged loose leaf teas. On summer Saturdays you will find Gombey dancers entertaining visitors here at noon.

This eye-catching Italianate edifice, erected in 1819, is where the House of Assembly (Bermuda's lower house of Parliament) and the Supreme Court convene. The Florentine towers and colonnade, decorated with red terra-cotta, were added to the building in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The Victoria Jubilee Clock Tower made its striking debut—albeit a few years late—at midnight on December 31, 1893. Bermuda's Westminster-style Parliament meets on the second floor, where the speaker rules the roost in a powdered wig and robe. (The island has approximately 14 times as many politicians per capita as Europe or North America, so maintaining order is no small feat.) Sartorial splendor is equally evident downstairs in the Supreme Court, where wigs and robes—red for judges, black for barristers—are again the order of the day.

You're welcome to watch the colorful proceedings: bear in mind, though, that visitors, too, are required to wear appropriate attire.

Call first to find out when parliamentary sessions and court cases are scheduled. Tours can also be scheduled, except on Fridays, when Parliament is in session.

Both beautiful marine life and evidence of the Dockyard's impressive naval legacy can be viewed at this protected inlet, accessed through a stone tunnel adjacent to the National Museum of Bermuda. Beneath the water's surface lie cast-iron cannons dating from 1550 to 1800, plus an antique anchor and gun-carriage wheel. The true attractions, however, are colorful fish (you might see more than 50 varieties) and other sea creatures including anemones, sea cucumbers, and assorted species of coral. Thanks to amenities like floating rest stations, snorkeling and scuba diving couldn't be easier. Everything is available to rent, including kayaks, pedalos, Jet Skis, and underwater scooters. This is a family beach by day, catering mainly to cruise ship passengers, and a nightclub by night, with beach parties and island barbecues.

This is a popular spot for tourists as well as local families who like to treat their children to a sheltered white sand beach and pristine views of the water. Enjoy local and American cuisine while sipping a frozen cocktail at the beach's Hammerheads Bar and Grill; on-site water-sports and beach equipment rentals are available for kids and parents. A playground outside the park features a 70-foot, wooden green moray eel and a replica of St. David's Lighthouse. Snorkel Park Beach is just a short walk from the Dockyard cruise terminal, so it attracts many cruise passengers. Before you leave, stop in the Clocktower Mall and the Bermuda Craft Market to pick up a souvenir or two. Also nearby are restaurants, the Dockyard Ferry Terminal, and an ATM.

At night, Snorkel transforms into a lively nightclub area, especially on Monday and Thursday when live DJs spin top 40, soca, reggae, and dancehall hits. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; sunset; swimming.