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Docked in Hamilton, Bermuda

Overview:

Hamilton, Bermuda's capital and largest city is also one of the smallest cities in the world. This small administrative center of Bermuda has only about 900 permanent residents, but swells to thousands during the cruise season. Hamilton, a clean, beautiful city located in the inner harbor in the middle of the Bermuda archipelago is the center of all activity from tourism to local and international business and from sports to culture and the arts. Cruise passengers will find shopping, dining, culture, history, the arts and natures bounty in abundance. Spending just a few hours in Hamilton you discover that amidst the island flair beats the heart of a traditional British Colony. There is no better example of that than the bobby in the bird cage directing traffic on Front Street.

Bobby in Birdcage

Residents are known for their relaxed and easy-going lifestyle, and this way of life is reflected in every way. From the 35 KM per hour speed limit everywhere on the island to the clock at the Hamilton Ferry Terminal set 5 minutes slow so no one misses the boat, Hamilton offers prime examples of the Bermudian tempo of life.

Ship Docked in Hamilton

Cruise Port Location and Information:

Cruise ships enter Hamilton Harbor through Two Rock Passage and dock at one of the two berths located directly downtown on Front Street. Unfortunately, the harbor entrance and dock facilities can only accommodate mid-size or smaller ships (less than 750 ft. in length). Therefore, larger ships must dock at the Royal Naval Dockyard. Not to worry though, ferries, buses and taxis operate between the two all day and into the evening so getting to and from Hamilton is not at all difficult.

View of Hamilton from Ship

Walk off the ship and passengers find themselves in the center of town and surrounded by unlimited dining and shopping opportunities. A Visitor's Information Center is located at the cruise ship terminal. Make sure to grab a Visitor's Map as you exit the terminal.

Front Street

Docking at Hamilton is especially exciting on Wednesday nights during peak season as Front Street converts into a huge street fair and party zone known as "Harbour Nights" compliments of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. Vendors set up dining opportunities, crafts and collectibles are for sale and music is played well into the night. It is a fun experience to watch Hamilton go from a commercial shopping area during the day and turn into a raging party zone at night. Note that all of the stores along Front Street and the adjoining streets will stay open until 9pm on Wednesday nights, as well.

Harbour Nights Entertainment

Exploring on Your Own:

Bermuda Ferry

Bermuda is quite easy to get around and explore on your own. As Hamilton is centrally located, everything is within easy access from here. The entire town of Hamilton is within walking distance of the pier, and Bermuda's excellent public transportation makes venturing out of the city an easy task.

City of Hamilton

In fact, public transportation system is the very best way to explore Bermuda. By law, visitors are not permitted to rent or drive cars. Only residents with a Bermuda driver's license are allowed to drive cars. Visitors can rent motor scooters, but it is highly NOT recommended. Drivers drive on the left side of the road, there are many very narrow winding streets, heavy traffic and confusing turnabouts that make scooter or moped driving a dangerous undertaking. Metered taxis are plentiful and you can also hire them by the hour for exploring. However, they are expensive, which makes public transportation the best option for exploring on your own. Cash fares require exact change only, but if you plan to do a lot of exploring on your own, you may want to consider purchasing a transportation pass. A one day adult pass is $12 and a 3 day pass is $28 – good for unlimited use on all buses and ferries.

The Hamilton Ferry Terminal is located on Front Street, directly in front of the cruise ship docks. From Hamilton, the Sea Express Ferry serves Paget, Warwick, Somerset and Dockyard on a varied daily basis and St. George's on Wednesday and Thursdays from mid-April through the end of October.

Hamilton Ferry Terminal

The Bermuda bus system is also excellent. Buses traverse the entire island and operate frequently. They are reasonably priced and clean making spending the day exploring on the bus very pleasant. All Bermuda bus stops are marked by poles painted - like the buses - in pink and blue. They are all "request" stops which means that if no passengers are waiting to get on or off at a particular stop, the bus driver will not stop. If the pole by the bus stop is PINK, the bus will be traveling towards the city of Hamilton. If the pole is BLUE, the bus will be traveling away from Hamilton. If a bus passes you without stopping, it may be full – just wait for the next one as they run frequently. 

As you exit the cruise terminal you will find local tour operators offering a variety of tours of Bermuda and also the line of horse drawn carriages waiting to take you on a tour of Hamilton. This is a great way to become familiarized with Hamilton when you first arrive.

Horse Drawn Carriage

Shopping Tips:

The shopping could not be closer to the ship. When you exit the cruise terminal, start shopping.

Front Street Shopping

Things that are especially excellent buys in Hamilton are local water color paintings, lace, Linen and many British products. Look along Front Street adjacent to the ship and up the side streets, as well. One must visit store is the famous Irish Linen Shop on Front Street just a short distance from the cruise terminal. This shop has been established for decades and offers a wealth of products.

Irish Linen Shop

Look for bargains on items from the UK and Ireland in boutiques that have very favorable pricing because of Bermuda's relationships. Also, local arts and crafts found at the Wednesday night "Hamilton Harbour Nights" are probably the best selection and pricing you will find in Bermuda.

Harbour Nights Shopping

Port Highlights:

●Just exploring Hamilton itself is probably the largest highlight of your visit. Its British heritage is seen everywhere and permeates all aspects of Bermuda. The shopping, restaurants, pubs and bars, dress and local residents really make you feel as if you are in a British colony. One of the most impressive buildings in Hamilton is the City Hall and Arts Center on Church Street. Not only does it act as the city's administrative offices, but houses a performance hall, the National Gallery and Society of the Arts.

Hamilton City Hall

●Right in the middle of Hamilton on Queen Street and only three blocks or so from the ship is Pa La Ville Park. If you are into gardening of any kind, the park is a wonderland of unique plants. Once an orange grove, the remnants of its history are everywhere. The Historical Society Museum is set in the gardens.

Par La Ville

●Another great park within the city limits, near City Hall is Victoria Park. Created in the 1880s to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, free concerts are often performed at the ornate bandstand on the park grounds.

Victoria Park

●Plenty of old cannons, a moat, wonderful gardens and an awesome view of Hamilton make a visit to Fort Hamilton a worthwhile activity. Just beyond the Cabinet Buildings along King Street, fort Hamilton is within easy walking distance of the ship, which makes for a very pleasant walk to boot.

Fort Hamilton

●Just outside the Hamilton city limits in Paget Parish on Berry Hill is the Botanical Gardens. Admission is free and if you are interested in the local flora a visit is well worthwhile.

Botanical Gardens

●Bermuda's pink sand beaches are probably the number one draw for most visitors. Bermuda is interesting because there are both public and private beaches. One of the nicest beaches in Bermuda is also the closest beach to Hamilton. Elbow Beach, about two-miles from Hamilton, is a beautiful mile long beach of crystalline soft sand and calm turquoise waters.

Elbow Beach

If you take the bus to Elbow Beach, take the 500 yard walk down Tribe Road #4, west of the hotel entrance to get to the beach. While this isn't so bad, it is the climb back up the hill at the end of the day that is somewhat challenging if you are not used to doing quite a bit of walking. 

Hike Up Tribe Road#4

My suggestion is to take a taxi, which can park right at the beach and arrange for them to pick you up at a prearranged time. While there are facilities at Elbow beach, most are reserved for guests of the Elbow Beach Hotel.  I would suggest bringing lunch from Hamilton with you. Due to the protected coral reef, Elbow beach offers great snorkeling with parrot fish everywhere among other species too.

There are many more amazing beaches in Bermuda, which will be explored in greater detail in the separate, supplemental “Bermuda Beaches on Your Own” review.

Bermuda Pink Sand Beaches

●While many tourist attractions turn out to be less than advertised. Crystal Cave is more than you can imagine. You enter the cave and take a guided tour, which includes walking on a floating walkway through the center of the most incredible array of stalactites and stalagmites you can imagine. Crystal Cave is definitely worth the $20 entrance fee.

Crystal Cave

●The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) is also very interesting to visit. Of course, the aquarium is the hot spot between the three and is well worth a visit. While there plan on spending some time in adjoining Flatts Village for some shopping, dining and drinking opportunities.

BAMZ Facility Layout

Hamilton is close to everything and offers an array of sporting activities. Fishing, diving, snorkeling, golf, sailing and enjoying Bermuda's fabulous beaches are all available during your stay in Hamilton.

Off the Beaten Path:

With so much to see in the few days in port, it is not always possible to do it all. But, if you are looking for a few activities that are not on the top of the tourist “hit list”, but still worthwhile, we have a few suggestions:

●Paget Marsh and Boardwalk in Paget Parish is a lush 25 acre nature reserve. The pond and marsh are home to many species of resident and migratory birds and an array of other wildlife.

Paget Marsh

●Spittal Pond is another nature reserve. Located in Smith's Parish along the South Shore, this 64 acre reserve is home to a diversity of habitats and is Bermuda's largest bird sanctuary.

Spittal Pond

●If you are particularly fond of hiking, stroll along the Bermuda Railway Trail. No longer in operation, it makes for a nice walk or bike ride. (Make sure to ask for a guide at the Visitor's Bureau on Front Street.)

Bermuda Railway Trail

●Finding moongates throughout Bermuda is always a rewarding activity. With only 21 square miles of land surrounded by the vast Atlantic Ocean, there is very little that has not been developed or that is not readily available. Not really created in Bermuda, but China, Bermudian moongates populate the entire island and are lots of fun to discover. Walking through a moongate is said to bless a person with good luck.

Moongate

Dining and Drinking Suggestions:

By all means, if you spend the night on the ship in Hamilton make reservations at the Lobster Pot Restaurant and Boathouse Bar on Bermudiana Road, just beyond the ferry terminal off Front Street. This is an exceptional restaurant with wonderful entrées (primarily seafood) and is frequented by locals. We have dined here a number of times and always had an exceptional dining experience. The spiny lobster in season is a local favorite.

Another restaurant/bar we really enjoy is the Hog Penny Restaurant and Pub on Burnaby Hill, just off Front Street. This restaurant resembles a pub more than a restaurant, but offers excellent food and drink. The oldest licensed restaurant in Hamilton is well worth a visit.

Must Do List:

Yes, we would give attending the Hamilton "Harbour Nights" on Wednesday night on Front Street right by the cruise terminal is a "must do".

Harbour Nights Sign

Also, without a doubt, whether you are in Hamilton or docked at one of the other ports in Bermuda, visiting at least one of the beaches that line the Bermuda shoreline can't be missed.

Bermuda Beaches are the Best

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