Bermuda family holidays and breaks

Bermuda, the oldest British overseas territory, is an ideal family holiday destination for those hankering for year-round sun. Famous for its mysterious triangle and its baggy shorts, this archipelago of 180 small islands connected by bridges and causeways offers fantastic beaches, spectacular pink sands and plenty of fun for all the family – plus reputedly more golf courses per square kilometre than anywhere else in the world!

11.00

Today

22°C
72°F

Flying Time	7 hours
Timezone	GMT -5
Local Currency	Bermuda Dollar

What to do

Step back in time at St George’s, the world’s oldest extant English-speaking colonial town. The capital of Bermuda until Hamilton took over in 1815, it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll around the old town square and harbour or relive the colonial lifestyle at one of the town’s many historic houses.

Head to Hamilton to admire the traditional Bermudan buildings with their pretty pastel colours and indulge in the best shopping and dining on the islands. Escape the bustle by treating the kids to a horse-drawn carriage ride around the capital.

Take a short ferry ride from Hamilton to the Royal Naval Dockyard at the far west of the island. Bermuda’s biggest tourist attraction, this former strategic outpost for the Royal Navy has been converted into a complex of restaurants, shops, craft markets and museums. Marvel at The Bermuda Glass Blowing Studio,  spend the day exploring the former military structures, underground chambers and interactive exhibits at the Children's Museum, and take in the exhibits at the Bermuda Arts Centre.

Explore the Bermuda Maritime Museum in a sprawling six-acre fortress at the edge of the Dockyard. Roam the old munitions warehouse and the world’s first wrought-iron house, then cross the moat into Bermuda’s largest fort. The museum is also home to Dolphin Quest Bermuda, which offers year-round encounters with bottlenose dolphins – a surefire family holiday highlight.

For more animal encounters, take a trip to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo at Flatts Village near the centre of the island (with regular buses from the Dockyard, Hamilton and St George’s). The museum has displays on the island’s geology, native biodiversity and habitats.

Having taken in the sights, get back to the fantastic child-friendly beaches – Bermuda’s big family draw. Almost everywhere on the southern shore boasts those famous pink sands, but head to South Shore Park for the longest stretches of spectacular rosy-hued beach, linked by a coastal trail – don’t miss the sweeping crescent at celebrated Horseshoe Bay. There are lifeguards May–Oct at the latter, and also at John Smith’s Bay, Turtle Bay and Clearwater Bay. Clearwater, located in St George’s parish, is particularly ideal for families, with a 36-acre park with nature trails and a playground.

Fantastic beaches mean plenty of water-based activities, including the unusual Bermuda Bell Diving, which allows ages 8 and up to go face-to-face with sea creatures during a walk along the ocean floor wearing a diving helmet. Otherwise, the coral reef that lines the southern shore makes Bermuda the perfect place to introduce kids to snorkeling. Or try your hands at kayaking – Dive Bermuda offers guided diving, snorkel and kayak tours taking you out to the reef/breaker line and a wreck site. For historical and ecological kayak adventure tours suitable for kids 6 and up, try Fantasea Bermuda.

If you prefer not to get your feet wet, charter a boat and chance your luck at fishing, or stay on dry land and watch some of the many yacht races that finish in Bermuda. The racing season runs from Mar–Nov, with most races held at weekends in the Great Sound. Find out more from the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

Take the Bermuda Railway Trail – the ‘Old Rattle and Shake’, Bermuda's only train, made its first run in 1931 and was gone by 1948, by the stretches of old railway line in nearly every parish are the perfect place for an easy family hike.

Bermuda also offers plenty of opportunities for mountain-biking or horse-riding, or you can take the family back to nature at the Walsingham Nature Reserve with its mangroves, bird-watching area, and tranquil grotto and caves.

Don’t leave without seeing the Crystal Caves in Hamilton Parish – hear the tale of their accidental discovery by two boys playing cricket in 1907 and marvel at the dramatic stalactites and stalagmites 37m underground. Children love the walk across the pontoon bridge over underground Cahow Lake and panning for hidden gems at Captain Jack’s Treasure Trove. If you have time, visit the neighbouring Fantasy Cave, but be prepared for the steep climb back to the top.

Where to stay

Families are most likely to visit Bermuda as part of a package deal including hotel accommodation (take a look at the luxurious Fairmont Southampton); otherwise, staying here can ferociously expensive.

A cheaper family holiday alternative if you book your flight separately are the many B&Bs and small hotels with rooms with kitchenettes, such as the Rosemount.

Take a look at our Virgin Holidays, First Choice, Thomson and ITC Classics partner pages to find out more about package and all-inclusive holidays to Bermuda, or see the Booking Specials in the right-hand column of this page.

When

Bermuda has balmy weather year-round, making it ideal for a family holiday at any time. The hottest part of the year is May–mid-Oct (23–29˚C); the winter average is 21˚C. Hurricanes occasionally occur, though there’s less chance of one than in the Caribbean.

How

British Airways flies direct to LF Wade International Airport from London Gatwick in 7hrs 30mins, with Bermuda 4hrs behind GMT (expect some jet-lag).

You might combine a visit to the islands with a stopover in the United States: American Airlines breaks its 14hr flight from London Gatwick in Miami.

See our family-friendly car-hire page.

Eat

For the biggest selection of restaurants, head to Hamilton, where options include American, British and international cuisine, including plenty of child-friendly pizza and ice cream. Dining out in Bermuda is expensive as most food apart from fish is imported.

Traditional Bermudan cooking can be more difficult to find, but make the extra effort to be rewarded by lobster, codfish and bananas, spicy fish chowder and even shark fritters – the stuff of true family holiday memories.

Cost

Bermuda is not the place for a low-budget family holiday, with hotels and eating out both generally on the expensive side.

Return flights cost around £600pp; combined flight-and-hotel packages start at around £1,000 per adult for seven nights.

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