First time · Hamilton
First time in HamiltonHamilton
Hamilton is a weekday morning city with a harbour: do Front Street and City Hall early, use the ferry terminal as your hub, and remember that visitors cannot rent standard cars and that most shops close on Sundays.
The honest verdict
Hamilton is Bermuda's capital, a small grid of streets on a harbour, with the bus terminal and the ferry terminal on the water. Trips here go wrong when people treat it as a beach base (the pink-sand beaches are on the south shore, a bus ride away), arrive on a Sunday when shops are shut, or plan to hire a car, which visitors cannot do. Four small areas cover a first visit; buses and ferries reach the rest of the island from one kept bed.
You will like
- Compact walkable centre
- Ferries across the harbour
- Orderly, safe streets
What wears you down
- Sunday closures
- High prices
- No car rental
Five things not to miss
- 1Front Street and the harbourThe flat, walkable waterfront with the ferries and shops.Best Morning · Free
- 2A harbour ferry rideThe cheapest boat trip in Bermuda and the way to the Dockyard.Best Morning · About BD$5
- 3City Hall and Arts CentreAn indoor national gallery for the hottest or wettest hour.Best Late morning · About BD$10
- 4Cathedral of the Most Holy TrinityA stone cathedral with a tower view of the harbour.Best Morning · Free; tower fee
- 5Fort HamiltonThe best free view over Hamilton and the harbour.Best Morning or late afternoon · Free
Where to stay on a first visit
- Pitts Bay Road hotelsFor: First visit, 3–5 nightsThe most convenient bed for the ferries and Front Street.
From the airport
L. F. Wade International Airport (BDA)
- Fastest and cheapest
- Licensed airport taxi to the hotel door · about 30 min · about BMD 55
Typical ride times and fares, 2026 desk estimates (check). Last services and night options are on the gateway page.
How long to stay
- 1 day
- A cruise stop or a day between flights
- 3 days
- The standard Hamilton stay
- 5 days
- Hamilton plus the island
Show 5 more blocksHideThree mistakes to avoid, Money and SIM, Etiquette, The best time to go, A first day
Three mistakes to avoid
- Unlicensed cars or scooters offered for hire on the street: use licensed taxis, buses and ferries, and never ride a scooter without experience.(Scams)
- Cover up away from the beach.(Survive · red lines)
- Traffic drives on the left; scooters are the main visitor injury: do not ride without experience.(Survive · safety)
Money and SIM
- Budget day
- Bd$100–160 excl. bed
- Paying
- Cards work almost everywhere and the Bermudian dollar is at par with the US dollar; US dollars are accepted but change usually comes back in Bermudian dollars. Buses may need exact change or a pass: check the current system at the terminal.
- Cash
- Cards work almost everywhere. The Bermudian dollar is at par with the US dollar, and US dollars are accepted. Check whether a service charge is added to restaurant bills.
- SIM
- Visitor eSIM: Install it before you fly; a regional or global eSIM is often cheaper than roaming.
Etiquette: the top three
- Greetings
- Say good morning or good afternoon before asking anything: skipping it reads as rude.
- Dress
- Beachwear stays on the beach; cover up on Front Street, in shops and restaurants.
- Bermuda shorts
- Knee-length shorts with socks are a local smart-casual style; short shorts are not.
The best time to go
Mar: Mild; walking weather.
Summer (Jun–Aug): Warm sea, beach days, Bermuda Day and Cup Match.
A first day
Day 1 — Front Street and City Hall, a 12:30 lunch table
Start about 09:00
Fixed point: Lunch table 12:30 (Front Street)
Hotel or AC café 13:00–15:30; a ferry ride on the harbour if the day is dry.Hotel or AC café 1:00 PM–3:30 PM; a ferry ride on the harbour if the day is dry.
Timed version: Hamilton in 3 daysYour Hamilton checklist
The money points and the first-timer mistakes from this page in one list. Tick each one when you have handled it.
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