Discover the Best Beaches in Bermuda!
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My husband and I just returned from a dream trip to Bermuda, long on my travel bucket list. I wanted to see Bermuda’s pink sand beaches. LIttle did I know that there’s more to Bermuda than pink sand. Whether you want a beach with lounge chairs and umbrellas, or a rustic beach to go cliff jumping, or a secluded cove with gentle waters, there’s a beach for you!
If you want to go cliff jumping at Bermuda’s beaches, check water depth before you go. If you’re unsure of safety, don’t jump! And, if you’re a little afraid to jump, it’s okay to back out!
We cruised to Bermuda, thinking the two and a half days in Bermuda with relaxed days at sea before and after would be great. And they were. Though, that taste left us wanting more time exploring Bermuda’s beaches, the city of Hamilton and historic St. George.
One thing I found a bit frustrating when planning our trip was not having all the best beach information in one place. On cruise forums, some information was great. But, they weren’t specific about location or how to get there. And, Google Maps doesn’t have good information on bus transportation in Bermuda, even though the bus is REALLY EASY to use!
If you’re looking for the best beaches in Bermuda, whether staying on island or visiting by cruise ship, I hope this guide is helpful. (We loved Bermuda so much, we will go back next summer to explore even more and add to this list!)
Our Bermuda beach guide is organized based on proximity to the Royal Naval Dockyard where the cruise ships are docked. The pink box at the end of each beach summary includes location and directions for how to get there. Save the post on Pinterest. Share it with your friends and family. And then, go to Bermuda! You’ll love it!
Here’s a map of all the beaches featured in this post:
Table of Contents
Snorkel Park Beach Club
Located in the northwest corner of the Royal Naval Dockyard, you can see the entrance to Snorkel Park Beach Club from port. It’s less than a five minute walk from the ship to Snorkel Park Beach Club, making it a great option if you want to stay close to port.
After passing through a limestone tunnel, left over from the days when this was an active fort area, you’ll discover a tropical oasis with a soft, white sand beach, a bar and restaurant, chairs and umbrellas (fee), and water sport rentals.
This is the only beach on this list with an admission fee, currently $15 per person.
Besides beach day fun, Snorkel Park Beach Club has special events in the evenings, like Bonfires and S’mores when ships are in port.
Snorkel Park Beach Club, 5 Freeport Road, Royal Naval Dockyard
Open Daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Evenings on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Admission: $15
Directions from the Wharf: Follow the signs. It’s less than a 5 minute walk from the cruise port.
Glass Beach
Just a mile and a half from the Royal Naval Dockyard, Glass Beach is a popular beach in Bermuda to visit. It’s a unique curiosity, but it’s not one of the best beaches in Bermuda for swimming.
Sea glass and other items wash up at the beach, so wear water shoes if you go. And, it looks like the locals come here to have bonfires.
If you wonder how all that glass got there, here’s the story I was told…. Way back when, pirates in Bermuda would throw their glass bottles into this cove, making sea glass. To keep up the tradition, locals throw glass bottles into the water here to create sea glass and keep the mystique going. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s what I was told.
When visiting, please respect the rules in Bermuda and leave the glass — and sand — on the beach.
PRO TIP: After you see Glass Beach (it’s interesting), go up the stairs and turn right. Just past the building out front, there’s another beach more suitable for swimming.
Glass Beach, Ireland Island South at Prince Albert Row
Open sunrise to sunset.
Directions from the Wharf: Take Bus 7 or 8 from the Dockyard ($3.50/person each way). At Glass Beach, you’ll get off the bus across the street from the beach. Cross carefully. On the return trip, the bus stop is on your side of the road. Travel time, 10-15 minutes.
Horseshoe Bay
Perhaps the most famous beach in Bermuda, Horseshoe Bay is the first beach in a string of beaches along Bermuda’s south shore.
This famous Bermuda pink sand beach is especially popular with cruise travelers because of its location and amenities.
Horseshoe Bay, considered among the best beaches in Bermuda, has restrooms, changing rooms and showers, all free to use. There’s also a restaurant, a bar, chair, umbrella, snorkel gear and boogie board rentals.
Those with mobility issues have access to a beach wheelchair.
Horseshoe Bay is one of the few beaches with lifeguard stations. Safety note: The beach is subject to rip currents and Portuguese Man ‘o War so follow lifeguard instructions.
There is ample parking for those exploring Bermuda on scooters or Twizy microcars. There are also regular taxi runs at Horseshoe Bay, but when it’s busy, the taxi minibuses wait until filled before leaving so watch your time, especially on cruise departure day. Another alternative is the public bus, with a convenient stop at the entrance at the top of the hill.
We used the bus to get to and from Horseshoe Bay our last day in Bermuda, arriving at about 10:30 after a 35 minute bus ride. We returned to the bus stop at 12:15, waited about 20 minutes for the bus and got back to the Royal Naval Dockyard at 1:15. That left us almost an hour to get back to the ship before we had to leave.
PRO TIP: For calmer waters and fewer crowds, take a right when you get to the beach. There’s a quiet cove where the water is more gentle, great for little kids.
Horseshoe Bay, South Shore Park off South Road
Open sunrise to sunset. Park amenity hours may differ.
Directions from the Wharf: Option 1, take Bus 7 or 8 from the Dockyard ($3.50/person each way). On the return trip, the bus stop is on your side of the road. Travel time, 30-35 minutes. Option 2, take a minibus taxi from the Wharf to Horseshoe Bay ($7/person each way). The minibus runs when it’s full, so factor that time in returning to port.
Jobson’s Cove and Warwick Long Bay
Further east on the string of south beaches, you’ll find Warwick Long Bay and Jobson’s Cove. They share a park entrance.
This section of beach is less developed than Horseshoe Bay, which means it’s usually a bit less crowded. Warwick Long Bay Beach and Jobson’s Cove share basic amenities: composting toilets and food trucks when cruise ships are in port. There are no chair or umbrella rentals here.
Warwick Long Bay Beach is less sheltered. For playing in the waves, it’s among the best beaches in Bermuda.
Jobson’s Cove is past the rocks to the right.
More sheltered by volcanic rock formations, the water is calmer, and absolutely beautiful. Many people consider Jobson’s Cove the best beach in Bermuda for its seclusion, calm waters and pink sand beach.
Jobson’s Cove and Warwick Long Bay Beach, Warwick Parish off South Road
Open sunrise to sunset.
Directions from the Wharf: Take Bus 7 from the Dockyard ($5.00/person each way). On the return trip, the bus stop is on your side of the road. Travel time, 40 minutes.
There are many other beaches as you head away from the Royal Naval Dockyard toward St. George. We haven’t visited them yet, so I am not including them in this list, though some people consider them the best beaches in Bermuda because they are usually less crowded. Elbow Beach is one to consider for its calm waters and the sunken ship that entices snorkelers.
Tobacco Bay
When we were planning our trip, Tobacco Bay topped my husband’s list of beaches in Bermuda to see. He read about the sheltered bay, the clear water and easy snorkeling. Of course, we went!
Tobacco Bay is on the north side of Bermuda in St. George. Admission is free. The park offers restroom and changing rooms, wheelchairs for those who need assistance, concessions and a bar, and chair, umbrella, snorkel gear and float rentals.
The views at Tobacco Bay are absolutely stunning!
You can see Fort St. Catherine from the rocks and views for miles.
And, yes, it’s easy to see parrotfish and other sea life here! With that said, there’s quite a slope down to the shore which might be difficult for those with mobility issues.
When you visit Tobacco Bay, bring shoes for hiking and climb the sandy trail behind the restaurant for the best views of Fort St. Catherine. There are some quiet swimming coves that way, as well, if Tobacco Bay is too crowded for you.
Tobacco Bay, St. George’s Parish on Coot Pond Road
Open sunrise to sunset. Park amenity hours may differ.
Directions from the Wharf: Take the St. George Ferry from the Royal Naval Dockyard ($5/person). The trip takes about 45 minutes and if you sit on the right hand side facing forward, you’ll get great views of Bermuda. From Market Wharf, pass through historic St. George toward the Unfinished Church, where signs will direct you to the right toward the beaches. It took us about 20 minutes to walk to Tobacco Bay from the Wharf.
PRO TIP: When walking in Bermuda, stay to the right (the same side you drive on in the United States) to walk toward traffic. Stay to the edge of the road!
Admiralty House Park and Clarence Cove
While Tobacco Bay was my husband’s top choice, Admiralty House Park and Clarence Cove topped my list of places to see in Bermuda for the history and the views. Most tourists don’t venture here, so if you want privacy, it’s the place to go!
The Admiralty House was used by admirals of the British Royal Navy when stationed in Bermuda. Not much of the structure remains, but what is there is pretty neat to look at. The most interesting thing about Admiralty House are the caves and underground passages in the rock, built by Admiral Thomas Cochrane in the mid-1800s. Cliff jumpers climb out of the water through the tunnels even today!
I was really excited to explore the tunnels, but we went during low tide. And, I know (absolutely) I would have been too chicken to jump off the cliffs. Next time I’m in Bermuda (next year, I hope), I’ll visit again to see if I can explore the caves!
Clarence Cove is an incredibly tranquil place to swim, great for kids! There’s a sandy beach, and the clear water is great place to practice snorkeling. In my opinion, this off-the-beaten-path beach is one of the best beaches in Bermuda for its unique history and quiet beauty.
Cruise travelers can see the cruise ships at the Royal Naval Dockyard from here — a great photo op.
Admiralty House and Clarence Cove, Spanish Point in Hamilton
Open sunrise to sunset.
Directions from the Wharf: Take the Hamilton Ferry from the Royal Naval Dockyard ($5/person). Walk three blocks to the bus terminal on Washington Street next to City Hall. Take Bus 4 ($3.50/person) to Spanish Point. Ask the driver to let you know when to get off at Admiralty House. You’ll cross the street (look for traffic both ways). It’s a beautiful downhill walk to Clarence Cove. On the way back, there’s a sheltered bus stop to get the bus back to Hamilton.
Plan your visit to the best beaches in Bermuda
I hope this overview of the best beaches in Bermuda makes it easier to plan your trip to Bermuda.
We had three days in Bermuda and opted to get the three day bus pass ($44/person). Tallying our trips, we essentially broke even compared to paying cash or using tokens and appreciated the convience the passes offered. The bus drivers (and Bermudian passengers) are incredibly helpful, and will make sure you get where you want to go.
We recommend you take the following on your Bermuda beach adventure:
- A waterproof bag to store your belongings. We got the 20L Piscifun Dry Bag for this trip. It was the perfect size for a few beach towels, sunscreen, sunglasses and water bottles. My husband found the mesh shoulder straps to be more comfortable than our old dry bags.
- Reef friendly sunscreen to protect the beautiful waters, coral and sea life in Bermuda.
- Baby powder to get sticky sand off your feet! (Funny story… we traveled with friends who have lived in North Carolina their whole lives. They had never heard of the baby powder trick to get sand off of feet. Skip the rinsing station. Just sprinkle baby powder on your feet and the sand brushes right off — add a little to your shoes if it’s hot and humid, too.)
- Beach towels. If cruising to Bermuda, the cruise line generally provides beach towels to use on shore excursions.
- Water bottles. We found wide mouth water bottles easiest to fill, and like the push button opening these bottles provide.
- Waterproof waist pouch (think fanny pack). We didn’t want to leave our cell phones, credit card, IDs or money on the beach while we played on Bermuda’s beautiful beaches, so we used these waterproof waist pouches to keep things safe.
- Sunglasses
- Ship contact info in case of emergency.
Our ship was docked in Bermuda for two overnights plus a partial third day. The first two days, we really enjoyed not having to worry about getting back to port before the ship left. The last day, we only ventured as far as Horseshoe Bay knowing we had many options to easily get back to the ship.
On our cruise, four people did not get back to the ship the last day in time. The ship stayed in port an extra 30 minutes, but they never showed up. Make sure you know when the all-aboard time is — and use a 90 minute buffer to ensure you allow time for slow buses or other travel issues. We also wonder if those people might have asked people sailing on another cruise line what time to be back. Their all aboard time was an hour later than ours, so that could cause problems. If you lose track of time easily, stay close by in the Royal Naval Dockyard on departure day or book shore excursions through the cruise line.
Wrap Up: The best beaches in Bermuda
I have never seen more beautiful beaches anywhere than in Bermuda. For pink sand and all the amenities including lifeguards, head to Horseshoe Bay. For thrilling cliffs and big waves with secluded coves nearby, head to Warwick Long Bay and Jobson’s Cove. If you want an easy beach outing without travel stress, Snorkel Park Beach Club at the Royal Naval Dockyard is great. And, for spectacular snorkeling, consider the north shore beaches, whether Tobacco Bay in St. George or Admiralty House and Clarence Cove in Spanish Point (Hamilton).
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a shore excursion to enjoy a beach day in Bermuda. Use the taxis at the port to go to Horseshoe Bay, where you can rent chairs and umbrellas if you want, and you have all the amenities you could want. Or venture out by bus to other beaches. The friendly bus drivers and local Bermudians will help you get where you want to go. They won’t mind your beach bag! And it’s just as quick as a shore excursion.
I hope you enjoy Bermuda’s beautiful beaches, friendly people, incredible history and stunning beauty as much as we did. And I truly hope this post makes planning easier! Let me know if you have any questions.