Bermuda is one of those cruise destinations where having a little bit of a plan makes a big difference. The island is small, but the Royal Naval Dockyard, Hamilton, the South Shore beaches, and St. George’s are spread out enough that you probably won’t want to try to see everything in a single day.

The good news? Bermuda has excellent public ferries, buses, taxis, gorgeous beaches, historic towns, and plenty to do within walking distance of the cruise ship.

Here’s what you need to know before stepping off the ship.

Cruise ships docking at King’s Wharf or Heritage Wharf arrive at the Royal Naval Dockyard on Bermuda’s West End. Once a major British Royal Navy stronghold, the historic dockyard is now filled with museums, restaurants, shops, galleries, water activities, and transportation connections to the rest of Bermuda. 

You could easily spend several hours here without going anywhere else.

Things to do around Dockyard include:

• Visit the National Museum of Bermuda 
• Explore the historic fortifications 
• Shop around the Clocktower area 
• Browse local art and crafts 
• Book snorkeling, sailing, or boat excursions 
• Wander the waterfront and marina 
• Grab lunch or a drink at Frog & Onion Pub 

Frog & Onion is especially convenient because it is housed in the historic Cooperage and is just a short walk from both King's Wharf and Heritage Wharf. Dockyard Brewing Company operates alongside it, making this a fun stop for pub food, local beer, or a Bermuda Rum Swizzle. 

Kristin On The Go Tip

Book a tour and see the island before going out on your own.  There are many hidden gems and a two centuries of Bermudian history!

You really shouldn't visit Bermuda without seeing at least one of its famous South Shore beaches.

Horseshoe Bay Beach

If you only have time for one beach, Horseshoe Bay is the classic choice.

The curving beach is known for Bermuda's signature pink-tinted sand, turquoise water, dramatic rock formations, and beautiful coastal scenery. It also has useful visitor amenities, including restrooms, showers, food concessions, and seasonal chair and umbrella rentals. 

Because it is one of Bermuda's most famous beaches, expect it to be busy when several cruise ships are in port.

Warwick Long Bay

Want something a little quieter?

Warwick Long Bay stretches roughly half a mile along the South Shore and is surrounded by beautiful rock formations and clear water. A coastal trail connects the area with several smaller beaches and coves. 

Jobson's Cove

This one is gorgeous.

Jobson's Cove sits between rocky cliffs that nearly surround the water, creating a small lagoon with relatively calm water. It can be reached by walking from Warwick Long Bay. 

Beach Adventure Idea

Instead of staying in one spot, walk part of the South Shore Park trail between Horseshoe Bay and Warwick Long Bay. The route passes smaller beaches and coves, including Chaplin Bay and Jobson's Cove. The full coastal park trail is approximately 1.25 miles. 

Bermuda's capital is easy to reach from Dockyard.  The Blue Route ferry connects Royal Naval Dockyard with Hamilton and takes about 20 minutes, making it considerably faster—and much more scenic—than traveling the same route by bus. 

Once you arrive, head for Front Street.

You'll find colorful Bermudian buildings lining the waterfront along with restaurants, pubs, shops, and places to pick up souvenirs. Front Street, Queen Street, and Reid Street form one of Hamilton's main shopping areas. 

Hamilton is a great choice if you want a port day that combines:

Shopping + lunch + cocktails + waterfront views + wandering.

And because the ferry terminal is right along Front Street, getting back to Dockyard is relatively simple.

If history is your thing, make time for St. George's. Bermuda's original capital is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is filled with narrow lanes, colorful buildings, historic churches, forts, shops, and more than 400 years of history. 

Don't rush through it. St. George's is one of those places where half the fun is simply wandering.

Nearby attractions include:

King's Square • Fort St. Catherine • St. Peter's Church area • historic streets and alleys • Tobacco Bay

Tobacco Bay

If you'd like to combine St. George's with a beach, Tobacco Bay is a great option. Its distinctive limestone formations create sheltered areas popular for swimming and snorkeling, and snorkeling equipment and water activities are available at the beach. 

Getting There From Dockyard

For the 2026 summer season, Bermuda's Orange Route provides direct ferry service between Royal Naval Dockyard and St. George's. The government schedule effective April 6, 2026 lists service Monday through Saturday, although departure frequency varies by day. Always check the current timetable before leaving because ferry service is subject to change. 

This ferry is a huge time-saver compared with traveling across the island by road.

For one of the best views in Bermuda, add Gibbs Hill Lighthouse to your day.

Built in 1846, the 117-foot cast-iron lighthouse overlooks Bermuda's South Shore and Great Sound. Visitors can climb the spiral staircase—about 185 steps—to the top for panoramic island views. 

It pairs especially well with a trip to Horseshoe Bay because both are in the Southampton area.

Great half-day combination:

Gibbs Hill Lighthouse → Horseshoe Bay → Hamilton → ferry back to Dockyard

Bermuda's public transportation system makes independent exploring surprisingly easy.

Ferry

My first choice whenever the route makes sense.

Use the ferry for:

Dockyard ↔ Hamilton
Dockyard ↔ St. George's during seasonal service

The scenery isn't bad either.

Bus

Bermuda's buses reach communities and attractions throughout the island and are especially useful for the South Shore beaches. The public bus network operates on a zone system. 

Transportation Passes

As of the official 2026 summer ferry schedule, adult transportation passes valid on both public buses and ferries cost:

• 1 Day – $19 
• 2 Days – $31.50 
• 3 Days – $44 
• 4 Days – $48.50 

The government notes that passes are valid across bus and ferry routes and can be purchased at locations including ferry and bus terminals and visitor information centers. 

Bermuda also offers the ShoreLink app, which allows riders to purchase and validate fares from a smartphone. 

A Bermuda port day deserves at least one distinctly Bermudian food or drink stop.

Look for:

Rum Swizzle – Bermuda's famous rum cocktail
Dark 'n Stormy – another island classic
Bermuda fish sandwich – often served piled high on raisin bread
Fresh seafood
Local craft beer

Around Dockyard, Frog & Onion Pub is an easy choice for British-style pub food, Bermuda seafood, local beer, and Rum Swizzles. 

Kristin On The Go Tip

Try the Bermuda Fish Sandwhich - you will not be sorry!

This is where Bermuda really shines as a cruise port.

Day 1 — Beaches & Hamilton

Horseshoe Bay → South Shore scenery → Hamilton → ferry back to Dockyard

Day 2 — Historic Bermuda

Direct ferry to St. George's → explore the historic town → Fort St. Catherine area → Tobacco Bay

Day 3 — Stay Close to the Ship

National Museum of Bermuda → Dockyard shopping → Frog & Onion → waterfront → last-minute souvenir shopping

Trying to see Dockyard, Horseshoe Bay, Hamilton and St. George's in one port day is possible only at a pretty frantic pace. If your ship is staying overnight, spread them out and enjoy Bermuda instead of turning the visit into an island-wide scavenger hunt.

Best beach: Horseshoe Bay
Best quieter beach: Warwick Long Bay / Jobson's Cove
Best for history: St. George's
Best for shopping & dining: Hamilton
Best view: Gibbs Hill Lighthouse
Best easy stop near the ship: Royal Naval Dockyard
Best way to reach Hamilton: Ferry
Best combination: Beach + Hamilton
Don't miss: At least one pink-sand beach and a Rum Swizzle

Ferry and bus schedules can change seasonally, so check ShoreLink or the Bermuda Visitor Services Centre at Dockyard before heading far from the ship. The Dockyard Visitor Services Centre is located close to the cruise and ferry docks and can also help with transportation, tours, and island information. 

Bermuda is one of my favorite kinds of cruise ports: beautiful enough for a beach day, historic enough for serious exploring, and easy enough to wander without feeling like every minute needs to be scheduled. Give yourself time to get beyond Dockyard—you'll quickly discover that there is a whole lot more to Bermuda than the view from the cruise ship.