|
The two main cities
of Bermuda are like
perfectly fitting
pieces of a puzzle,
they are truly
opposites completing
each other. The
modern city of
Hamilton, a port
city, is the capital
and the commercial
center of the
island. It is know
for its
entertainment and
shopping
opportunities. St
George, on the other
hand, is a colonial
gem testifying to
Bermuda's past with
rich architecture.
Only a few
kilometres separate
these two cities,
giving you the best
of both worlds and
offering plenty of
activities, parks
and points of
interest in between.
The locals are
friendly and warm
people. If you are
not spending the day
at one of the nine
golf courses, then
you will probably
enjoying one of the
dozens of small
beaches dotting the
coast or visiting
the enumerable
museums and sights.
The evenings will be
filled with fine
dining experiences,
catching a cultural
performance at one
of the many art
centers or enjoying
the sounds of a
traditional
balladeer.
|
|

The Bermuda's
Guide to Beaches and
Transportation
brochure is a great
source for
travellers.It
includes a map, bus
and ferry schedule
and indicates beach
locations. Southern
beaches are more
scenic but have
rougher waters.
Bermuda's beaches
are famous for body
surfing and the
sand's rosy colour.
Shelly Bay Beach
is well protected
from strong
southerly winds and
has quite shallow
waters. It is a
great beach for
families, there is
even a playground
nearby.
Somerset Long Bay
beach is less
frequented, and has
calm and shallow
waters. Do bring
water shoes since
the bottom is rocky.
Tobacco Bay Beach,
the most popular
beach near St.
George's, has all
the tourist
facilities.
Elbow Beach
offers great
swimming and body
surfing but gets
crowded on weekends.
Horseshoe Bay
Beach is ideally
located next to the
South Shore Park and
is a very popular
beach with all the
facilities. Do take
care when swimming
as the undertow can
be strong.
John Smith's Bay
is the only public
beach of this
district so you
easily mingle with
the locals. There
are lifeguards
during the summer
months.
Warwick Long Bay
is framed
beautifully by high
cliffs and lush
green hills. The
strong southerly
winds have sculpted
the close by coral
outcrops.
|
Climate
Bermuda enjoys quite
mild temperatures
year round, which
makes it ideal
almost any time of
the year. Bermuda
has no definite
rainy season but is
rather characterized
by short
thunderstorms soon
followed by clear
skies. Water
temperatures do cool
down during the
winter months so
bring along your
wetsuit if you plan
on practicing water
sports.
|
Temperature
in Celcius
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
Maximum |
20 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
23 |
27 |
29 |
30 |
28 |
26 |
23 |
21 |
|
Minimum |
16 |
15 |
15 |
17 |
20 |
22 |
25 |
25 |
24 |
22 |
19 |
17 |
|
Rainfall
(mm) |
120 |
110 |
100 |
80 |
70 |
120 |
110 |
120 |
120 |
160 |
100 |
110 |
|
lora & Fauna

Bermuda has a 400
year tradition of
protecting our
environment. In
fact, the first
conservation laws in
the New World
were issued here to
protect marine life.
Bermuda is now known
as one of the
premier snorkelling
and diving
destination in the
world. Rock
walls,
cathedral-like
caves, famous
shipwrecks, and
underwater gardens
are waiting to be
discovered. Some of
the colourful
fish species
seen here include
the blue, queen, and
Townsend angelfish,
clown wrasse,
rainbow parrotfish,
rock beauty, blue
chromis, foureye
butterfly fish,
spotted puffer,
triggerfish, and
hundreds more
swimming among the
gigantic purple
sea fans to the
brain coral and sea
anemones.
For those wanting to
take a glimpse at
the vast subtropical
vegetation, there
are numerous parks
and reserves all
over the islands.
Notable ones are:
Blue Hole Park
is one of the newer
parks with an
abundance of
wildlife. There are
small, natural pond
and caves close by
for you to explore.
Gilbert Nature
Reserve is
comprised of 5 acres
of unspoiled
woodland with paths
that connect to the
Railway Trail.
Mature cedars still
grow here and the
area is also an
excellent spot for
bird watching.
Gladys Morrell
Nature Reserve,
located by Mangrove
Bay village is a
hidden gem. Many
endemic trees
flourish here,
including olivewood
bark and cedar. The
Bermuda bluebirds
prosper here as
well.
Hog Bay Park
has wonderful shaded
paths that lead
through agricultural
fields, woodlands,
ruined lime kiln and
abandoned cottages.
Paget Marsh
and Boardwalk has 25
acres of lush and
leafy land. The peat
marsh has remained
unchanged and is
covered with cedar
and palmetto forest.
The pond and marsh
are home to an array
of wildlife,
including many
species of resident
and migratory birds.
Spittal Pond and
Nature Reserve
is a 64 acre reserve
that provides
habitat for an
incredible variety
of birds. In fact it
is Bermuda's largest
bird sanctuary and
the Spanish rock
found here is the
oldest evidence of
humans on the
island.
Warwick Pond
is the second
largest freshwater
pond in Bermuda and
is a sanctuary for
residents and
migratory waterfowl.
Allspice trees and a
number of surviving
endemic Bermuda
cedars can be seen
here.
|
Geography
|
Out of the hundreds
of the island, only
20 or so of them are
actually populated.
Great Bermuda is the
largest, measuring
close to 23 km long.
It is also home to
the capital,
Hamilton, and is
located on the
northwest side of
Bermuda. St George,
situated on St.
George's Island, is
on the northeast
tip. The other
principal islands
are Ireland Island,
Boaz Island,
Somerset and St.
David's.
|
History

Three years after
the first settlers
arrived, St George
was founded in 1612
and it remains to
this day the oldest
continuously
inhabited
English-speaking
settlement of the
New World. It was
Bermuda's first
Capital and then
passed the torch to
Hamilton some 200
years later. St
George also
influenced the
history of the
United States by
smuggling gunpowder
to George Washington
during the War of
Independence. The
city also played a
role during the
American Civil War
by shipping supplies
and munitions to the
Confederates.
Hamilton was founded
in 1790 when the
parliament set aside
a good chunk of land
for the future seat
of government. The
city was officially
incorporated in 1793
and became the
capital in 1815. The
city is named after
Bermuda's first
governor Sir Henry
Hamilton.
|
Specialties &
Characteristics
|
The Bermuda
Triangle is
considered one the
creepiest place on
earth. The island
was already
considered enchanted
by the first sailors
as they questioned
the eerie noises
coming from the
island. In fact what
they heard was the
calls of cahow birds
and the squeals of
wild pigs. Many
early vessels ended
their long voyages
here on the coral
reefs. About 50
recorded ships and
20 aircraft have
vanished here
without a trace. The
most logical
explanation would be
extreme weather
conditions and some
scientists have
suggested large
deposits of methane
gas present here
could suck a ship
underwater. Don't
let the local lore
stop you from
exploring the
wonderful waters.
Bermuda shorts
actually originated
in Britain to help
military officers
deal with the heat
of warmer colonies.
Bermudian soon
copied the idea.
When the American
tourists arrived in
the 1950s the
fashion spread.
|
Activities & Sports

What Bermuda is most
famous for is golf.
With 8 18-hole
golf courses and one
9-hole course,
golfers from all
over world flock
here to practice
their favourite
sport and numerous
tournaments take
place every year..
You must book your
tee time in advance.
Hotels and
guesthouses can make
the arrangements for
you. The Bermuda
Tourism Bureau
offers the Advanced
Tee Time System
where you can book
up to 60 days in
advance. The courses
are:
Belmont Hills Golf
Club
Fairmont Southampton
Golf Club
Mid Ocean Club
Ocean View Golf
Course
Port Royal Golf
Course
Riddell's Bay Golf &
Country Club
St. George's Golf
Course
Tucker's Point Golf
Club
Bermuda Golf Academy
Beach resorts and
public beaches with
facilities offer
swimming,
snorkelling,
sailing, fishing,
surfing, body
surfing, kayaking
or any other water
activity imaginable.
Scuba diving and
snorkelling is
extremely popular
since Bermuda is the
world's top wreck
diving destination.
Deep sea fishing
expeditions can be
booked. Catches
include wahoo, tuna
and blue marlin.
Land activities
abound as well, such
as horseback
riding, tennis,
hiking, cycling or
soccer.
|
Attractions & Museums

There are so many
attractions and
museums in Bermuda,
it is practically
impossible to see
them all in one
trip. Consider
buying the
Heritage Passport
at the visitor's
bureau. It gets you
into several
attractions over a
four-day period for
one price. Listed
below is a highlight
of the most visited
and interesting
points of interest:
Hamilton, the
capital, houses the
government, the
oldest of the
Commonwealth. It is
Bermuda's biggest
city with a harbour
and many shops on
Front Street.
The Fort Hamilton
is a huge Victorian
fort shaped like a
polygon. Many
museums and sites
can be visited here,
like the Bermuda
Historical Museum,
the Perot Post
Office and the
Bermuda National
Gallery. The capital
counts some
wonderful churches,
such as the
Neo-Gothic Cathedral
of the Most Holy
Trinity, St.
Andrew's
Presbyterian Church
and St. Theresa's
Cathedral.
Delightful parks
to stroll in include
Albuoy's Point,
Barr's Bay Park and
Victoria Park. Not
far outside of
Hamilton are a few
must see for nature
lovers: the
Botanical Gardens
and the Bermuda
Underwater
Exploration
Institute.
If you're heading
west you'll find the
Scaur Hill Fort
and Park, the
Somerset village and
the old Royal Naval
Dockyard. Today
the dockyard houses
the Bermuda
Maritime Museum
and a crafts
market. In
Southampton Parish
you will find
Gibbs Hill
Lighthouse, the
oldest cast-iron
lighthouse in the
world.
In the east lies
many fascinating
sites as well;
Verdmont is an
18th century mansion
that can be visited
in Smith's Parish;
the Bermuda
Aquarium, Natural
History Museum & Zoo
is just across
Flatts Bridge in
Hamilton Parish; the
spectacular
Crystal Caves
with its stalactites
and stalagmites; the
Blue Hole Park
and the Devil's
Hole; and the
St David's
Lighthouse.
At the very northern
tip is the historic
town of St.
George, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
Fort St.
Catherine is
striking and dates
back to 1614. This
town was the first
capital as testified
by the State
House going back
to 1620. Many
museums are
located here as
well, like the
Bermuda National
Trust Museum, the
Bermudian Heritage
Museum, the
St-George Historical
Society Museum and
the Tucker House
Museum. St
Peter's Church
is the oldest and
most continuously
used Anglican Church
of the New World.
Take a walk in
Somer's Garden,
a tribute to
Bermuda's
discoverer. On
Ordnance Island you
can witness an
unusual site: the
Ducking Stool
that was used to
punish excessive
naggers and
gossipers.
|
Day-tripper

Spend the day
exploring the
Bermuda Railway
Trail. This old
34km railroad way
was Bermuda's
transportation
system until 1948.
Today most of the
original railroad is
a recreational trail
that can be explored
on horseback,
bicycle or foot.
Make sure to get a
copy of the
Bermuda Railway
Trail Guide, to
make the most out of
your day.
You will come across
many parks and green
spaces, like the
Gilbert Nature
Reserve, filled with
poinsettias,
oleanders, hibiscus
and the rare Bermuda
cedar. Some of the
island's best great
attractions are
along or close to
the trail, such as
the Scaur Hill Fort,
the Somerset Bridge
(the smallest
drawbridge in the
world), the Gibb's
Hill Lighthouse, the
Botanical Gardens,
the aquarium and
zoo, the Crystal
Caves and the
historical town of
St George.
Several tour
companies offer
sailboat, catamaran
and boating
excursions. Some
smaller tours
include the Glass
Bottom Boat tour
will show you
Bermuda's famous
reefs and shipwrecks
without getting wet.
Other half or full
day tours will take
you around the
islands and stop for
great snorkelling or
diving.
|
Entertainment
|
Bermuda has more of
a cultural
reputation. The
nightlife is a bit
more subdued but
there are few great
places to try out.
The music scene is
dominated by local
acts and bands.
Enjoy live Jazz, or
contemporary bands
playing everything
from reggae to
rock'n roll. Try out
the Blue Juice
Disco Bar, Hilly's
Jazz Club, Hubie's
and the Ozone
Nightclub, Rock Room
and Lucky Strike.
Concerts,
performances, and
dramatic
presentations by
the Bermuda
Philharmonic,
Bermuda Musical &
Dramatic Society,
Bermuda Civic
Ballet, Gilbert &
Sullivan Society,
Menuhin Foundation,
and other local and
visiting troupes,
ensembles, and
soloists make for
cultural events as
lively as the Island
is colourful.
The Don't Stop
the Carnival
evening cruise and
The Island Party
Cruise offer a
barbecue dinner,
music and an open
bar
|
Accommodations
|
Bermuda counts close
to 3,400 available
rooms. A wide range
of accommodations
are offered to suit
every need or
budget. The most
popular ones are the
large all inclusive
resorts since most
have their own beach
and every imaginable
amenities. Other
possibilities
include beds and
breakfasts, inns,
cottages, apartments
and small hotels.
|
Purchases
|
Head to the
Bermuda Craft Market
at the Royal Naval
Dockyard for you
local art and craft
purchase. Look for
paintings,
pottery, Bermuda
cedar crafts, blown
glass, dolls and
miniature furniture.
Front Street
in Hamilton is lined
with fanciful shops
filled with local
souvenirs, regional
edible treats and
lavish imports like
Irish linen, crystal
and antiques. Some
high end designer
stores can be
found here as well.
Bermuda is a great
place to by
summer and beach
clothes.
|
Restaurants

Bermuda counts about
150 restaurants so
you are sure to find
something to suit
your taste and
budget. Everything
from very simple
fare to
gastronomical meals
can be enjoyed.
Great local places
include Barracuda
Grill, Freeport,
Black Horse Tavern,
Monty's and
The Pickled Onion.
Fish is the
main staple of the
Bermudian cuisine
and is prepared in a
multitude of ways.
One of the favourite
ways to prepare it
is panfried with
almonds and banana
slices. Seafood
is also excellent
when in season, such
as lobster,
conch, scallops,
mussels and mullet
roe. Meat lovers
will appreciate the
cassava pie,
which resembles our
meat pies but made
with pork or chicken
and cassava (a
starchy vegetable
similar to
potatoes).
Bananas baked in
rum and brown sugar
and banana crumble
are best to satisfy
a sweet tooth.
Strawberries,
cherries and the
popular loquats
are served when in
season.
|
Practical Info
Airport :
Bermuda International Airport
Airport Tax :
The departure tax of around US
$25, per person, is usually
included on your plane ticket,
but if not added it will be
payable at the airport. Please
verify.
Distance from Airport :
20 minutes to Hamilton and 10
minutes to St George.
Tourist Office :
Hamilton: Front Street, tel: 441
295-1480. St George: King's
Square, tel: 441-297-1642
Tourist Season :
April through October
Local Festivities

January/February -
Bermuda Festival of
the Performing Arts
March - Bermuda
International Film
Festival
October - Bermuda
Music Festival
|
Transportation
|
Bermudians drive
on the LEFT side.
Car rentals are not
permitted in
Bermuda. As a mater
of fact residents
are only allowed one
car per household.
This is due to the
island's strong
environmental
commitment. Taxis
are the fastest way
around the island
but they can get
quite expansive.
Buses run as well
between towns and
are cheap. The fare
varies according to
established zones
and exact change or
tokens are required.
Ferries are a great
way to travel from
one part of the
island to another.
They are inexpensive
and often faster
then the bus
service.
The most popular way
to get around is
with a moped or a
scooter. Be very
careful as accidents
are common,
especially for first
timers. There are
many rental places
but you must be at
least 16 years old
and helmets are
obligatory by law.
Bicycle rentals are
available on the
island but warned
you may encounter
quite a few steep
hills when cycling
outside the cities.
|
|