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Voykit pocket guide · Bermuda
Hamilton
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.
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.
- Country
- Bermuda
- Best months
- Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Dec
- Time zone
- Atlantic/Bermuda
- Stay
- 2 days: Front Street, City Hall and Victoria Park; a ferry ride
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BMD
- Money
- 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.
- Daily spend
- Budget Bd$100–160 excl. bed · Mid Bd$160–320 excl. bed · High Bd$320+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Roaming works but is costly; check a visitor eSIM or a local prepaid SIM from a shop with your passport.
- Emergency
- Police 911 (check) · Fire 911 (check) · Ambulance 911 (check)
- Plugs
- 120 V; American-style two- and three-pin sockets (type A and B). No adapter is needed for North American plugs.
- Tipping
- Many restaurants add a service charge of around 15–17 percent: check the bill before adding more. Round up taxi fares.
- Water
- Many houses use treated rainwater; tap water is safe in most hotels but bottled water is common. Ask your host.
- Toilets
- The bus and ferry terminals, cafes, hotels and the City Hall area.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (cafe) | BD$4–7 |
| Fish sandwich | BD$10–18 |
| Beer (pint), pub | BD$8–11 |
| Short taxi ride, Hamilton | BD$10–15 |
| Bus or ferry ride | About BD$5 |
| Water bottle | BD$2–3 |
| Museum or gallery entry | BD$10–15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- L. F. Wade International Airport (BDA)
- BDA to Hamilton: one licensed airport taxi, 25–40 minutes — the risk is not the ride but a hotel desk that is closed when you arrive.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| L. F. Wade International Airport taxi rank (LF Wade International Airport) | The only international airport, at the east end of the island | Taxi 25–40 min |
| Hamilton bus terminal (Washington Street bus terminal) | Buses to the south shore beaches, St George's and the west end | Walk 5 min |
| Hamilton ferry terminal (Front Street ferry terminal) | Ferries to Paget, Warwick and the Dockyard | Walk 2 min |
| Cruise ship berths (Front Street and the Dockyard berths) | Cruise passengers, mainly in summer | Walk |
Typical fares
- Airport → Hamilton, taxi
- BD$50–70, 25–40 min
- Bus or ferry, one ride
- About BD$5 (check)
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk in the Hamilton grid; use buses and ferries for the rest of the island and a licensed taxi at night. Visitors cannot hire standard cars.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | The whole centre |
| Buses | About BD$5 a ride (check) | South-shore beaches, St George's, the west end |
| Ferries | About BD$5 a ride (check) | Paget, Warwick and the Dockyard |
| Taxis | BD$10–15 across the centre | Night, bags, the airport |
| Scooters and electric minicars | Check | Experienced riders only |
| Rented standard car | Not available | Not applicable |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- A transport pass pays back after two or three bus or ferry rides a day; buses need exact change or a pass.
- Late at night
- No rail. Bus and ferry services thin out after 19:00–21:00 (check the official timetable); use a taxi late.No rail. Bus and ferry services thin out after 7:00 PM–9:00 PM (check the official timetable); use a taxi late.
See and do
01Front Street and the harbourFront Street
The flat, walkable waterfront with the ferries and shops.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 45 min · 32.2941, -64.7834
02A harbour ferry rideHamilton Ferry Terminal
The cheapest boat trip in Bermuda and the way to the Dockyard.
Hours: best Morning · Price: About BD$5 · Time: 1–3 h · 32.2951, -64.7856
03City Hall and Arts CentreCity Hall
An indoor national gallery for the hottest or wettest hour.
Hours: best Late morning · Price: About BD$10 · Time: 45–60 min · 32.2942, -64.7811
04Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity
A stone cathedral with a tower view of the harbour.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free; tower fee · Time: 30–45 min · 32.2937, -64.7797
05Fort HamiltonFort Hamilton
The best free view over Hamilton and the harbour.
Hours: best Morning or late afternoon · Price: Free · Time: 40–60 min · 32.3004, -64.7784
06Victoria Park
Shaded lawns for a break.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 20–30 min · 32.3000, -64.7794
07Par-la-Ville ParkPar-la-Ville Park
A garden and a historic post office in the middle of the grid.
Hours: best Midday · Price: Free · Time: 20–30 min · 32.2937, -64.7823
08Fish chowderBermuda fish chowder
The island's signature soup with black rum and sherry peppers.
Hours: best Lunch · Price: BD$10–15 · Time: 45 min
09Sunset at Barr's Bay
A quiet harbour edge for the last light.
Hours: best Sunset · Price: Free · Time: 30 min · 32.2954, -64.7880
10Horseshoe Bay
The pink-sand beach is a bus ride from Hamilton.
Hours: best May–October · Price: Bus fare plus gear · Time: Half to full day
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Naval Dockyard | Fast ferry from the Hamilton terminal | Half to full day |
| Horseshoe Bay and the south shore beaches | Bus from the Hamilton terminal, about 30–40 min | Half day |
| St George's (UNESCO old town) | Bus from the Hamilton terminal, about 45–60 min | Full day |
| Paget and the Botanical Gardens | Bus or short ferry from Hamilton | Half day |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish sandwich on raisin bread | Fish sandwich on raisin bread · Central Hamilton | BD$10–18 | Budget |
| Reid Street coffee and pastry cafes | Sandwich, salad or pastry · Reid Street | BD$8–20 | Budget |
| Supermarket picnic | Bread, cheese, fruit · Any supermarket | BD$8–15 | Budget |
| The Hog Penny | Pub meal and a pint · Church Street | BD$25–50 | Mid-range |
| Fish chowder on the harbour front | Fish chowder and a sandwich · Front Street | BD$25–40 | Mid-range |
| Front Street pubs and grills | Burgers, fish and chips, grilled catch · Front Street | BD$25–45 | Mid-range |
| Harbour-view fine dining | Local fish, lobster in season, a tasting menu · Pitts Bay Road and Front Street | BD$70–120 | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Hours change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | BD$150–250 | Guesthouses and small hotels | Guesthouses, small inns |
| mid | BD$250–450 | Harbour side and Church Street | 3–4 star hotels |
| splurge | BD$500–900+ | Pitts Bay Road and the harbour | Luxury and resort hotels |
Per room per night in BMD, 2026 estimate; prices are high all year.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Good morning / good afternoon | Good morning, good afternoonGOOD MOR-ning |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| A bowl of fish chowder | Fish chowder with black rum and sherry peppersfish CHOW-der |
| Which ferry goes to the Dockyard? | Which ferry goes to the Dockyard?which FERRY goes to the DOCK-yard |
| Where is the bus terminal? | Where is the bus terminal?where is the bus TER-mi-nal |
| The front, the harbour | The Front (Front Street)the FRUNT |
| The Rock | The Rock (Bermuda)the ROCK |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- 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.
- Driving: Traffic keeps left and speed limits are low; pedestrians should not assume drivers will stop.
- Noise: Keep voices down in residential streets and on the buses; Sundays are quiet.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people; parades and Gombey dancers are usually happy to be photographed.
Red lines
- Cover up away from the beach.
- Greet people with good morning or good afternoon before asking anything.
- Do not bring cannabis.
Scams and watch-outs
- Unlicensed cars or scooters offered for hire on the street: use licensed taxis, buses and ferries, and never ride a scooter without experience.
- Pre-paid tour sellers near the ferry and cruise berths offering a private tour at a high price: compare with the official ferry and bus fares first.
- Restaurant bills with service charge added on top of a tip line: check the total before adding more.
- 'Free' cocktail or rum-tasting offers that end at a shop: stay at the counter you chose.
One and two days
1 day
A cruise stop or a day between flights. Skip: The south-shore beaches: they need a bus and a half day.
- 09:009:00 AMFront Street and the harbour
- 10:0010:00 AMCity Hall and the cathedral
- 12:3012:30 PMFish chowder on the front
- 14:002:00 PMA ferry ride across the harbour
- 17:005:00 PMSunset at Barr's Bay
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Bermuda Tourism Authority (official): www.gotobermuda.com/
- UK FCDO travel advice: Bermuda: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bermuda
- Wikivoyage — Hamilton (Bermuda): en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Hamilton_(Bermuda)
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Hamilton
Please take me to this address
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Front StreetFront Street and the harbour front
- Hamilton Ferry TerminalHamilton Ferry Terminal and a harbour ride
- City HallCity Hall and Arts Centre
- Fort HamiltonFort Hamilton and its dry-moat gardens
- Par-la-Ville ParkPar-la-Ville Park and Perot Post Office
- Bermuda fish chowderFish chowder on the harbour front
- Police911 (check)
- Fire911 (check)
- Ambulance911 (check)
Your consulate is in Hamilton or handled remotely: write your own 24-hour line below.
Buses and ferries thin out after early evening: know your last boat home.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/hamilton-bermuda). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.