Just a short flight from the East Coast, the island of Bermuda offers a haven for history lovers, adventure seekers, and anyone craving serious R&R. This Atlantic Ocean gem—famous for its blush-pink-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and pastel cottages—holds over four hundred years of rich, layered culture. From sunken shipwrecks and tales of global espionage to British hospitality and island traditions, Bermuda offers far more than just pretty views (though there’s plenty of that, too). See why it belongs on your bucket list.
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Gibbs Hill Lighthouse.
And enjoy the best views on the island
Why you should go: Bermuda’s average elevation is just ninety-eight feet above sea level, so you’ll need to climb to get an island-wide view. Fortunately, the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, built in 1846 and one of only two working cast-iron lighthouses in the world, offers breathtaking panoramic vistas of Bermuda’s brilliant blue waters, vibrant greenery, and coral reefs stretching toward the horizon.
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Crystal blue water on Bermuda’s South Shore.
Discover some of the most picture-perfect settings on the island
Why you should go: Pack your camera; you’ll want to use it along Bermuda’s South Shore, a series of stunning beaches that includes a coastal nature preserve. To appreciate the island’s iconic pink sand, visit Jobson’s Cove, an idyllic lagoon perfect for families looking to snorkel. Or stroll a one-and-a-quarter-mile clifftop trail stretching from Warwick Long Bay to Horseshoe Bay.
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Exploring the Crystal and Fantasy Caves of Bermuda.
See the caves that inspired Jim Henson
Why you should go: There are caves and then there are the Crystal and Fantasy Caves of Bermuda, singular grottoes filled with stalagmites that look like cake icing dripping over an azure subterranean lake. Located in Hamilton Parish, these stunning chambers were discovered in 1907 when two boys playing cricket stumbled upon them. Hollywood took notice and in 1913, Neptune’s Daughter was filmed on-site. Later, the legendary puppeteer Jim Henson would produce Fraggle Rock, a children’s television show inspired by the island catacombs.
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Swimming in Walsingham Nature Preserve.
You grotto go!
Why you should go: Bermuda’s famed Blue Hole is located in Walsingham Nature Preserve, or what locals call Tom Moore’s Jungle, a twelve-acre labyrinth of pools and grottoes named after the Irish poet who composed some of his most celebrated works there. For visitors, look for signs that say Blue Hole Park and you’ll find an otherworldly tunnel network surrounded by mangroves, with a deep swimming hole at its center.
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A shaded spot in historic St. George’s.
See where the island’s story began
Why you should go: The UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. George’s invites visitors to wander cobbled streets lined with colonial forts, quaint churches, and iconic whitewashed roofs. Witness the Peppercorn Ceremony, a centuries-old tradition featuring the governor, a velvet pillow, and a single peppercorn as lease payment. Follow a guide along the African Diaspora Heritage Trail, stopping at sites like Tucker House and Joseph Hayne Rainey’s barbershop. Finally, visit the hauntingly beautiful Unfinished Church, relax on the shores of Tobacco Bay, and craft a personalized fragrance at Lili Bermuda Perfumery—an aromatic journey into history.
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Walking trails weave through the thirty-seven-acre park.
Trek through one of Bermuda’s best-kept secrets
Why you should go: One of the island’s most beguiling natural spaces, Southlands National Park is a thirty-seven-acre estate in Warwick Parish, where modern life seems to melt away among lush flora and fauna. Once a seventeenth-century estate, the property is now home to Bermuda’s largest banyan grove in addition to thirteen tree species found nowhere else on the island. Wander among tangerine, mango, pawpaw, and black ebony trees before paying a visit to pristine Marley Beach, a quiet escape on the South Shore.
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Hamilton’s City Hall.
Salute the Bermuda Triangle and see how the rich and famous cruise
Why you should go: Bermuda’s captivating heritage—a fusion of maritime lore and diverse cultural customs—imbues its compact capital with cosmopolitan flair. Anchoring this charming tableau is the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, affectionately dubbed the Pink Palace, a hotel whose illustrious past encompasses service as a WWII intelligence hub (and inspiration for Ian Fleming’s legendary James Bond), a favored retreat of Mark Twain, and a benchmark of Bermudian hospitality for over 140 years. You’ll also find fantastic shopping, restaurants serving island specialties, and a glamorous yacht scene to make even 007 feel underdressed. Add a dash of culture to your visit with a self-guided walking tour of local and international art, beginning at the Bermuda National Gallery in Hamilton’s City Hall, where works span the centuries. From there, walk to the Historical Society Museum and National Library to browse rare island artifacts before strolling down Front Street, where, on Wednesday evenings in the summer, visitors can enjoy al fresco meals, shop artisan goods, and watch Bermuda’s Gombey dancers perform during Harbour Nights.
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Cooper’s Island sits northeast of Castle Harbor.
An unspoiled preserve surrounded by water
Why you should go: At the southeastern tip of Bermuda, there’s a place that feels alluringly wild and untouched. The twelve-acre wooded reserve known as Cooper’s Island—part of Bermuda’s National Parks system and once the home of a NASA space tracking station—offers jaw-dropping views of the Castle Harbour chain of islands. After strolling its serene walking paths, splash in the sea on Turtle Bay, a beach with shallow, azure water.
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Albuoy’s Point in Point Pleasant Park.
Is the legend real? You be the judge.
Not far from the heart of Hamilton’s business district, you can stand on the tip of the Bermuda Triangle. Albuoy’s Point in Point Pleasant Park is officially recognized as the mysterious area’s northern terminus. A bronze plaque marks the spot, and a QR code sign offers insights into the history of the nautical phenomenon. Whether you choose to believe the theories or not, it’s certainly worth a selfie.
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The Royal Naval Dockyard.
An imperial fortress turned lively port
Why you should go: The famous adage “the sun never sets on the British Empire” is easy to understand when you’re standing in the Royal Naval Dockyard, once the principal base of the Royal Navy in the western Atlantic. Today, the longtime marine hub is a destination for shopping and entertainment, not to mention the island’s largest cruise terminal. Here, you can book snorkeling trips, rent bicycles, shop for artisan-made crafts, explore the Bermuda National Museum, and catch a sightseeing cruise—like the Famous Homes and Hideaways tour, which takes visitors past the homes of resident celebrities. Make time for the Clocktower Mall, a former naval warehouse turned shopping mall filled with local goods, including colorful artworks by Lisa-Ann Rego Gallery, cedar crafts by the Littlest Drawbridge, pottery from artist Jon Faulkner, and more.