Bermuda

A Four-Day Beach Getaway to Bermuda

My household is very divided on the beach vacation theme. Some of us define vacation as “doing nothing.” Others define it as “doing something.” I fall into the “doing something” camp. It is very hard for me to just sit on a beach for more than a couple hours at a time. My darling husband, on the other hand, can “do nothing” harder than anyone I know. Seriously, tho.

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Bermuda is a fantastic blend of both worlds, so we discovered! It has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and plenty of other things to see and do to balance out your days. We went in July for our wedding anniversary, but Bermuda’s consistent weather from May through October make it a great choice during most of the year.

Getting to Bermuda from the US is a relatively short and easy flight. We flew from NYC following a short weekend city break. We didn’t have to give up an entire day to travel, which was nice. We landed, settled into our hotel, and we were sipping swizzles on the terrace by lunchtime.

Above photos: Swizzles on the patio at The Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda

Day 1: Arrival, Horseshoe Bay Beach

We stayed at the Fairmont Southampton, located on the southeastern curve of the island. The resort has a plethora of amenities, dining options, activities, and it’s own private beach. While there are gorgeous pink sand beaches up and down the south shore, it was nice to have beach access directly across from our hotel. Naturally, this was our first stop.

The water was very swimmable during our visit. Most of the beaches along the south shore have lovely, shallow entries making it possible to wade out and not get knocked down by overpowering waves. Non-motorized water sports and floaties of all kinds are very popular.

Above photo: Private Beach at Fairmont Southampton looking out to East Whale Bay

The Fairmont’s private beach looks out to East Whale Bay, which is right next to Horseshoe Bay Beach. The two beach areas are separated by a rock formation, but it is very easy to access either side. Both beaches are beautiful. The main difference for us was the full bar service, chaise lounges, and beach umbrella on our hotel beach:). We spent most of the afternoon there, but then popped over to Horseshoe Bay Beach for a slightly different view.

Above photos: Horseshoe Bay Beach

We kept to the resort area and beach on our first day, partly because we did not have a car and partly because there was quite a bit of fun to be had right where we were:)

Day 2: St. George’s, Beach Hopping, Crystal Caves

Following morning coffee at Wicket’s Coffee Bar, we headed over to Smatt’s Cycle Livery, Ltd. on the hotel property to pick-up our scooter rental for the day. If you visit Bermuda, it should be mandatory to go for a scooter ride. It is a super fun way to get around the island to see the sights and do a bit of beach hopping! **Always wear your helmet.**

We doubled-up on a scooter and headed north. The scooters don’t go that fast, which is probably for the best since the highest speed limit anywhere on the island is 35 km/h (that’s about 22 mph). The island is only 25 miles long from tip to tip, so you can easily get anywhere you want in under an hour even during the most congested periods.

Above photo: Scootering on Bermuda

Our first stop was the city of St. George’s for a little sightseeing and boutique shopping. The Unfinished Church is the ruins of a neo-Gothic church, partially built in the late 1800s but never completed. It is used as an event venue and the grounds are kept-up nicely.

Above photo: The Unfinished Church

Not far away, the main walking district of St. George’s has some cute shops and restaurants. High on my list was the Lili Bermuda Perfumery. The shop is adorable and the scents are amazing. I ended up buying several Fragrance Library Gift Sets for presents to take back home, as well as their Easter Lily and Fresh Water eau de parfumes for myself.

After a successful shopping trip, we headed over to Wahoo’s for lunch. This casual, waterfront restaurant is a local favorite (so we were told) and has a great menu. We were seated outside on the patio and enjoyed our fish tacos while looking out over the harbor. Loved it!

Our next stop was Tobacco Bay. This is not a big stretch of pink sand, but it was probably my favorite beach on Bermuda. It was gorgeous! The water was clear and calm, protected by large rocks slightly further out. You can swim or snorkel over to the rocky areas — or jump on the giant trampoline parked in the middle of the bay. At this point, we didn’t have much to compare it to. Only after a little more beach hopping did we realize what a gem this place was.

Above photos: Tobacco Bay Beach

After we had had our fill of sun and sand, we started our return trip back, stopping at Crystal Caves just on the other side of Castle Harbour. This is another must-see on Bermuda. My photos do not do it justice.

Above photos: Crystal Caves

A little further down the main road, we veered off to stop at the infamous Elbow Beach. The ocean view is expansive and the sand is truly pink. This stretch of beach is around half a mile with hotel resorts on either end. Surprisingly, it wasn’t crowded.

Above photo: Elbow Beach

We ended the day with dinner at the Waterlot Inn on our resort property (reservations required). This was a delicious steak and seafood restaurant, which always works out well for us – me being a seafood person and my husband being a steak guy. Both food and service were very good – and we were able to walk away full, happy, and just a few steps from flopping on the bed.

Day 3: Railway Trail

A new day brought a new adventure. This time, on pedal-powered bikes! The Bermuda Railway trail is a historic, scenic trail that offers a fun way to explore the island from one end to the other on bicycle. We had no intention of biking the entire trail as it is broken up in to different sections that are not connected. We mapped out a section extending from our resort down to Somerset Village in Sandy’s Parish – and then back.

Above photo: Railway Trail, Bermuda

There are many bicycle rental locations on Bermuda close to the various entry points to the trail. We rented from Oleander Cycles by the Reefs Hotel.

The trail is really beautiful. However, it is not a smooth, easy ride. Some sections are paved, some are dirt path, and some are so rough you have to dismount and lift your bike over hurdles and stairs. We went about 10 km in each direction with a quick swim mid-point. Any thought I may have ever had to do a cycling vacation had been satisfied. I never need to do that again. The good news is that I was over any guilt concerning my dessert indulgences.

Above photo: Railway Trail, Bermuda

If you decide to bike or walk the Railway Trail, it is undoubtedly a great way to see the island and get some exercise. Just fair warning, it can be quite challenging in some parts.

Above photos: Our turning point at a beach park where we stopped for a quick swim

Above photos: Somerset Bridge and the marina

Above photos: Railway Trail

Day 4: Hamilton, Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse

For our final full day on Bermuda, we made plans to take the ferry across the Great Sound to Hamilton via the Pink Route. This short ferry route stops at several docks in Warwick Parish. A cab will take you from your resort to the dock where you can catch the ferry. It ends up being faster than driving and it is a nice way to see Bermuda from the water.

Above photo: Ferry to Hamilton, Bermuda

Hamilton is the capital city of Bermuda and is also a busy port for cruise ships. Our hotel was able to tell us which “port days” to avoid due increased crowds. The walk along Front Street is speckled with pastel colored buildings, souvenir shops, restaurants and bars. We strolled up and down, grabbed lunch, and then took the 1:15 pm ferry back. Unless you’re a big shopper (or if its not good beach weather), visiting Hamilton is not a full day event. The ferry landing will have walking maps you take and follow to find historic markers and points of interest in town.

Above photos: Hamilton, Bermuda

The Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse was within walking distance of our resort. We could see it from our hotel window and finally decided to go explore. The lighthouse is one of the oldest cast iron lighthouses in the world. We climbed all 185 steps and were rewarded with incredible views of the island.

Above photos: Views from Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse

It was time to hit the beach one last time! We headed back to East Whale Bay and enjoyed the Fairmont’s full beach service as long as we possibly could until we had go back to our room to get showered for dinner.

Above photos: Beaching in Bermuda

Our dinner reservations were at the Ocean Club, another resort restaurant. Ocean Club serves mostly seafood in an upscale atmosphere right on the beach. We could hear the waves crashing from our table and watched the sun disappear behind the hills. Once again, the food and service were perfect.

Above photos: Ocean Club, Bermuda

Departure

We were lucky to have a decent lay-in on our departure day. Usually, we are setting alarms and having to rush to the airport. Not this time. We had an early afternoon flight, which meant we slept late, took long showers, and had a proper breakfast. I would 100% go back to Bermuda again. It would be such a great place to take the kids, too.

Since our stay at the Fairmont Southampton, the property has started a significant renovation project. It was already a beautiful property, so I’d be excited to return, experience the updates, and spend a day at their spa (which I regrettably missed). Be sure to check their website for re-opening dates if you are considering booking a trip.

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