2-Day Bermuda Itinerary

In early November I went on a cruise to Bermuda from New York City. It was a unique cruise, with only one destination on the itinerary: Bermuda. Our ship cruised across the Atlantic Ocean and docked in Bermuda for 2 nights and we had 2 full days (total) to explore the island. Since we had limited time, I wanted to maximize our 2-day Bermuda Itinerary. The weather didn’t really cooperate during our full visit, but we made the most of it anyway.

About the Island of Bermuda

Before I jump into my 2-day Bermuda Itinerary, I thought I should share a few facts about the island of Bermuda. The island is a fishhook shape and relatively small, making it possible to explore in a short time frame. It measures approximately 40 kms in length and approximately 1.6 kms at the widest point. The population of the island is approximately 71,000. Bermuda is self-governed and relies on the United Kingdom for foreign relations and defense. The Bermudian dollar is on par with the US dollar, and in general Bermuda is an expensive island to live on and visit.

2-Day Bermuda Itinerary: Day 1

Crystal & Fantasy Caves
Our first official stop was at the Crystal & Fantasy caves. It was pouring rain, so it seemed to be a popular stop for tourists to keep dry. When we arrived there was a huge crowd that continued to grow as more and more buses drove in. They only had the Crystal Cave open, and there was a 3-hour wait! Luckily, as we were waiting in line they opened the Fantasy Cave so that cut our total wait time down to less than an hour. We were the first group called to see the Fantasy Cave, and that meant less of a crowd inside and better photo opportunities. It was interesting to learn about the history of the caves and more about the island, but I’m not sure that this is a “must do” when you’re in Bermuda, especially if you’ve ever been to a cave or cenote before. It looked very similar to the one we visited in Curacao, and to all of the cenotes we saw in Mexico. If you have time to use, then definitely add it to your list!

Swizzle Inn
After the cave experience we decided to go for lunch and happened upon one of the most well-known restaurants in Bermuda: the Swizzle Inn. This restaurant is famous for their Rum Swizzle which is a tropical rum drink with light rum, dark rum, orange juice and some other ingredients that make it delicious! We both got the Swizzle Burger and had the options of regular fries or seasoned fries. Don’t even give regular fries a look – go straight for the seasoned fries! The restaurant is on the expensive side (for what it is), but we really enjoyed the experience.

City of St. George’s
There is a bus stop in front of the Swizzle Inn which is very convenient. We waited for about 10 minutes and then were on the bus to St. George’s. This part of Bermuda is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It got its name after Saint George, the patron saint of England by Admiral Sir George Somers. In this area you will find little shops, restaurants, a small marina, and the historic King’s Square. This is a fantastic part of the city to do a walking tour to see the colonial-style buildings, enjoy the square and take in some history! There are even replicas of the stocks and pillory from the 18th century used for public punishments. The city is also home to a perfumery – which is recommended in numerous guides about Bermuda. Definitely don’t miss visiting this beautiful part of the island!

King’s Wharf & Royal Naval Dockyard
We went back to the King’s Wharf and Royal Naval Dockyard area to do some shopping and look around. Right across from the bus stop was the Clocktower Mall where we found some souvenirs and tasty gelato! There is also a pirate ship boat bar with swimming area, restaurants and a beach in the area.

Horseshoe Bay
Of all the beaches in Bermuda, Horseshoe Bay has to be the most well-known and popular tourist beach. And for good reason – it’s beautiful! There is a large pink sand beach, a lovely cove, and the main attraction: amenities! There is a restaurant, restrooms, showers, chair and umbrella rentals and plenty of space to enjoy the beach. Having amenities like this is definitely a perk for tourists and locals alike.

2-Day Bermuda Itinerary: Day 2

For our last day in Bermuda we did the Bermuda Island Tour by Mini-Bus, and booked this through the ship. It was a nice way to see the highlights of the island in 5-hours and learn more from our tour guide, Here’s an overview of the tour.

Hamilton
The first stop on our island tour was in Hamilton – the capital city of Bermuda. We parked at the Earl Cameron Theatre, beside the bus station on Church Street, From here we had easy walking access to the shopping centre, souvenir shops, and Front Street. We had approximately 30 minutes to explore. We spent most of the time shopping for souvenirs and exploring Front Street. You definitely need more than 30 minutes to see this city.

St. George’s
After Hamilton, we went right to St. George’s for a second time. We were lucky because the weather was beautiful which was a change from the previous day. We again did the waterfront area and went to the St. Peter’s Church which is the oldest Anglican church outside the British Isles. It is also the oldest Protestant church in use in the new world. It is a cute little chapel at the top of a large hill with many steps. There is an accessible entrance around the back through the side street. You can pay a small donation to go inside and look around – definitely worth it! We ended our time in St. George’s with a quick stop at the Deliverance – a replica of the ship that took Sir George Somers and his men to Virginia after they were stranded on Bermuda. Definitely make a stop here!

John Smith’s Bay
Bermuda is well known for the beautiful beaches on the island. The most popular is Horse Shoe Bay which we visited on the first day. I highly suggest visiting John Smith’s Bay or any other beach on the island. They may not have the amenities of Horse Shoe Bay, but they are just as lovely and less populated. You could end up with the whole beach to yourself! Our tour bus guests were the only people at the beach on our visit.

Gibbs Hill Lighthouse
After the quick stop at the beach we made our way to the final stop on the excursion – Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. There is a restaurant and gift shop on site and beautiful views of Bermuda below. You can climb to the top of the lighthouse for a small fee for even better views of the island. It was quite busy when we were there, so we decided to skip the climb and enjoy the views instead.

2-Day Bermuda Itinerary Summary

We were able to fit a lot of sightseeing into our 2-day Bermuda itinerary without rushing. If you’re planning your own Bermuda itinerary you can definitely see the highlights of this beautiful island in a short visit. Two days was enough time for us to see the main highlights, but it would have been great to have more time. Whether you have a weekend or a week, you can definitely make the most of your time visiting Bermuda. Check out my Bermuda tips before you go!