First time · Hamilton

First time in HamiltonHamilton

Hamilton is a weekday morning city with a harbour: do Front Street and City Hall early, use the ferry terminal as your hub, and remember that visitors cannot rent standard cars and that most shops close on Sundays.

Everything here is a short version of the Hamilton guide. Prices and hours are estimates: check before you rely on them.

The honest verdict

Hamilton is Bermuda's capital, a small grid of streets on a harbour, with the bus terminal and the ferry terminal on the water. Trips here go wrong when people treat it as a beach base (the pink-sand beaches are on the south shore, a bus ride away), arrive on a Sunday when shops are shut, or plan to hire a car, which visitors cannot do. Four small areas cover a first visit; buses and ferries reach the rest of the island from one kept bed.

From the airport

L. F. Wade International Airport (BDA)

Fastest and cheapest: Licensed airport taxi to the hotel door · about 30 min · about BMD 55

Typical ride times and fares, 2026 desk estimates (check). Last services and night options are on the gateway page.

Airport-to-bed timings →

How long to stay

2 days: Front Street, City Hall and Victoria Park; a ferry ride
3 days: Four areas in the mornings, a beach or ferry afternoon
5 days: Hamilton 3 + a south-shore beach day + a Dockyard ferry day

Itineraries by length →

Three mistakes to avoid

Cover up away from the beach.(Survive · red lines)
Traffic drives on the left; scooters are the main visitor injury: do not ride without experience.(Survive · safety)
Greet people with good morning or good afternoon before asking anything.(Survive · red lines)

Scams and safety →

Money and SIM

Budget day: Bd$100–160 excl. bed
Cash: Cards work almost everywhere. The Bermudian dollar is at par with the US dollar, and US dollars are accepted. Check whether a service charge is added to restaurant bills.

Money, SIMs and apps →