The Best of Bermuda: 10 Essential Experiences for Travelers

The Atlantic island has tons to do, from pink beaches to historic perfumeries. If you’re looking for a destination that offers more than just beaches, Bermuda is one of the most multifaceted islands I’ve visited. While its iconic pink shores are undeniably stunning, the real pull is on land.

From its rugged coral coastlines and centuries of British history to its sophisticated global culinary scene, this Atlantic gem proves it is far more than a typical island escape.  After my recent stay, I’ve curated 10 essentials that are your roadmap to the best of the island. And if you can’t check them all off? Consider it the perfect excuse to book your return.

I spent a few nights at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, the oldest hotel on the island. Opened in 1885, the hotel has several great dining outlets, including Intrepid, where I dined on my first night. My first order of business was ordering The Pink Phonebooth, a delicious cocktail made with Grey Goose strawberry vodka, guava, pineapple, and sparkling rosé. The best part? It arrived in a pink phone booth, which was the perfect way to toast my arrival in style. 

Of all the pink sand beaches on the island, Bermuda’s Horseshoe Bay Beach is arguably the most popular, and I recommend coming here for an afternoon. The beach, framed by limestone cliffs, got its name from its wide, curved shoreline. If you’re here to be active, the clear, calm water is also great for water sports, and you can find equipment rentals (beach chairs, paddleboards, and snorkel gear) right on the shore. During the peak summer season, Horseshoe Bay Live (open April through October) offers beachside bites and cocktails. 

One of the many highlights of my recent trip was the “Discover St. George’s Walking Tour.” Led by local expert Kristin White, owner of the Long Story Short bookstore, the 90-minute tour uncovers the stories of resistance and resilience in St. George’s, the city’s former capital. Stops include sites on the African Diaspora Heritage Trail, including the home of Pilot Darrell, an enslaved Bermudian who earned his freedom by navigating British battleships through Bermuda’s reefs. 

You haven’t truly “arrived” in Bermuda until you’ve tackled the island’s most local culinary masterpiece: the Bermuda Fish Sandwich. On paper, it sounds like a fever dream: golden fried fish, coleslaw, tartar sauce, and hot sauce, all topped with a slice of melted cheese tucked between slices of sweet raisin bread. I’ll admit, I was skeptical. But this curious collision of flavors is a revelation.

The savory crunch of the fish and the zip of the hot sauce contrast with the sweet punch of the raisin bread, while the cheese adds a layer of creamy richness that ties the whole salty-sweet profile together. You’ll find variations across the island, but for an authentic taste, head to Ole Cafe, the ultimate pre-adventure fuel before you descend into the adjacent Crystal Caves.

While Bermuda’s beaches are often the star of the show, the island’s underground attractions are just as stunning. After my introduction to the island’s fish sandwich, I descend deep underground to explore Crystal Caves, a subterranean world of azure pools and dramatic stalactites. Discovered by two teenagers in 1907, these limestone caves are a natural wonder that stays cool year-round, offering a surreal, “otherworldly” perspective of the island’s geology.

The tour lasts about 30 minutes, and if you want to enjoy another underground activity, head to Natura Spa at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort and Spa for a 60-minute cave massage. Floating on a pontoon over shimmering turquoise mineral water, with the rhythmic drip of the stalactites, was one of the most unique (and relaxing) massages I’ve experienced. 

No trip is complete without visiting the island’s oldest pub, The Swizzle Inn, to sample its two national drinks: the Rum Swizzle and the Dark ‘n Stormy. The Swizzle Inn’s “Swizzle” is a secret blend of Gosling’s Black Seal Rum and fruit juices, a tradition that goes back to its creation in 1932. Another staple cocktail is the Dark’ n ‘Stormy, a blend of Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, ginger beer, and a splash of lime.

Besides cocktails, this is a great spot to taste some of Bermuda’s seafood, like Bermuda fish chowder, conch fritters, and mussels shipped from Canada’s Prince Edward Island. 

If you need a little retail therapy, Bermuda’s historic St. George’s downtown area is filled with boutique shops. One of my favorites was Lili Bermuda, a cedar-shingled cottage that offers perfume-making classes. The perfumery dates back to 1928, and has its own line of fragrances, soaps, candles, and lotions.

After spending some time browsing and discussing my favorite base notes (vanilla and patchouli) and top citrus notes (pomegranate and pink grapefruit), I walked away with two scents: Paradise and Pink, which were a sweet nod to my time in Bermuda. 

Located within the massive stone fortifications of the Royal Naval Dockyard, the National Museum of Bermuda is a deep dive into 500 years of history. The museum has exhibits dedicated to early settlers, the islands’ enslaved labor, and the development of tourism on the island. Plan on spending a few hours here, and don’t miss Graham Foster’s 1,000-square-foot mural, which captures the island’s entire history, from shipwrecks to recent social reforms, in incredible detail.

If you want to learn about Bermuda’s garden-to-table movement, book a foraging tour with local Bermudian Doreen Williams-James, founder of Wild Plants N Herbs. On a cool, overcast morning, we spent a few hours foraging at Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve. The tour included a two-mile trek through Bermuda’s edible landscape, foraging for wild fennel, succulent wild spinach, and Jamaican blue vervain.

Doreen is a master of decoding the medicinal secrets of the island’s flora while weaving in a masterclass on how the original settlers thrived off the rugged terrain. The hike culminated in a vibrant, organic vegan spread of spiced pumpkin donuts, fennel hummus, and gooseberry tarts. 

After a marathon of walking tours and deep-history dives, my body was craving a reset, which I found at Treehouse, a serene sanctuary tucked away in downtown Hamilton. I joined a session led by co-founder Tiffany Paynter, whose presence instantly dialed down the day’s noise.

Tiffany guided us through a soulful, slow-burn Hatha flow, weaving intentional breathwork with a meditative finish that felt like a mental deep clean. It was the ultimate “slow travel” antidote to a busy itinerary, and the payoff was immediate: I walked out floating and later drifted into the deepest, most restorative sleep of my entire trip.