The island of Bermuda sits in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, an archipelago of volcanic islands and islets famous for their pink sand beaches and brilliantly blue waters. It’s an idyllic destination for a family holiday and easy to get to as well; a quick two-hour flight from New York City and a direct seven-hour flight from London. It’s also a popular stop on cruise ship itineraries.
The main reason to book a family vacation to Bermuda is obviously the beaches and really you can’t ask for more when it comes to the island’s sweeps of blush pink sand.
But there is more to this island than sand, surf and sun loungers. Bermuda boasts a fascinating history, fun family travel activities, great restaurants, excellent family hotels and pretty much everything you could need to design the perfect family holiday. Oh, and there are also lots of golf courses, more per square mile than anywhere else in the world apparently.
This guide has been designed to help you plan your holiday to Bermuda with kids. We have advice on the best hotel in Bermuda for your family as well as tips on the best beaches, non-beach activities, advice on the best time of year to visit Bermuda as well as suggestions on how to get around. We also share our top tip for visiting with kids!
Read on to discover more and to start planning your family vacation.
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Where to stay in Bermuda with kids
There are some excellent Bermuda hotels for families. The following are some of the best:
Rosewood Bermuda
The Rosewood Bermuda is a truly beautiful hotel with outstanding service to match. The hotel has 88 rooms in seven different categories and every room comes with an ocean view. The larger rooms and the suites can accommodate children (the hotel offers babysitting services)
There are two swimming pools, tennis courts, and an 18-hole golf course and the hotel’s Beach Club, just a minute away by shuttle from the hotel Manor House. Open from March to January, the private beachside area is where the hotel hosts events including beach barbecue, bonfires, and cinema events. There are also two pools here (one dedicated for families) as well as the Beach Club Restaurant.
There are seven different dining experiences at the Rosewood Bermuda; children aged 3 and under enjoy free meals when dining with their parents.
What’s particularly special about the Rosewood Bermuda is its Kids’ Club. Designed for young children aged between 5 and 9, the “Summer Hangouts” offer fun-filled activity days for all kids staying at the hotel. The sessions are run in partnership with In Motion, a Bermudian children’s education studio, and take place during the summer season until early October.
Beyond the summer, seasonal week-long holiday camps are available for activity-filled weeks with holiday-themed games, crafts, movie nights, and more.
The Rosewood Bermuda also runs the Living Reef Foundation which is a great way for kids to learn more about the ocean and the efforts needed to conserve it. The project is aimed at restoring Castle Harbour’s coral reefs and children can help to “plant” a reef during their stay.
Take a look at rates for the Rosewood Bermuda here.
St. Regis Bermuda
There aren’t many hotels in Bermuda with direct beach access and even fewer that can boast of direct access to the beach where the crew of the historic Sea Venture landed. The St. Regis Bermuda opened in 2021 with 120 rooms, 21 of which are suites. If you can, plump for a direct ocean view room, the views from the partial ocean view rooms are not nearly as impressive.
In addition to direct beach access, the hotel enjoys two pools (one for families) and a kids’ club (although it wasn’t open when we visited). There’s an 18-hole golf course, spa, and fitness centre. The real clincher however are the views from the main lobby, which are simply beautiful.
Take a look at the rates for the St. Regis Bermuda here.
The Hamilton Princess
If you want to be closer to town then the Hamilton Princess is a great option. Overlooking the harbour, the Grand Dame of Bermuda has been welcoming guests since 1885 and remains just as popular today as it did back then. Affectionately referred to as “The Pink Palace” the hotel is now part of the Fairmont chain but still retains much of its original island charm.
There are three restaurants, interconnecting rooms for families, a private beach club in Southampton – just hop on the hotel’s shuttle and you’ll be there in no time.
Other perks for families include cribs, accommodation for nannies, a family pool with toys, sunscreen goggles and other pool amenities, and babysitting services. Kids aged 5 and under eat free off the children’s menu and children aged 6-11 eat for half price off the regular menu.
Take a look at rates for The Hamilton Princess here.
Other family hotels in Bermuda:
Top tip!
If you don’t want to cart all your kiddie gear with you on holiday then take a look at Little Longtails, a baby equipment rental service. Run by two Bermudian mums, not only does the company have a range of baby equipment available for hire, the company can also act as a “kiddie concierge” and help create a kid-friendly itinerary, make restaurant recommendations and more.
The best time of year to visit Bermuda
Bermuda’s high season runs from May to October with temperatures raining from 24C (75F) to 30C (85F). This might be the best time to visit weather-wise (and for warm swimming waters) but it’s also when Bermuda is at its most expensive with some hotel rooms going for $1,500 a night.
If you don’t mind slightly cooler waters then March and April are ideal. Temperatures during the shoulder season hover in around 20C (late 60F / early 70F).
Between November and February the average daily temperature varies between the mid-low 20Cs (late 60Fs/early 70Fs) but you’ll find the waters too cool for swimming. That said, you’ll find some well-priced hotel rooms!
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 but despite Bermuda officially lying within the hurricane corridor, the island is not always affected. If it is then these tend to be late-season storms in September and October.
Things to do in Bermuda with kids
Bermuda is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a beach holiday but there are also lots of other fun things to do. Here are some of the best things to do in Bermuda with kids that don’t involve a bucket and spade – scroll down for our best beach recommendations too!
St. George
St. George was the original capital of Bermuda and is the oldest continually inhabited town in the Americas. When sailors on the Sea Venture washed up on Bermuda’s shores in 1609 they named the town after the patron Saint of England and immediately set about building a church.
The sailors had been on their way to Jamestown in Virgina with fresh supplies when they ran into a hurricane and then hit the reefs surrounding the island before washing up on Bermuda’s shores. The majority of the survivors later continued onto the New World, in a ship cobbled together from the wreckage of the Sea Venture (there’s a replica of this new ship, Deliverance, near the marina in St. George). However, three sailors stayed put in Bermuda, and three years later the island became a British territory.
St. George is not large and is easy to wander around but the best way to learn about the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is on a tour with Kristin White. Kristin runs Long Story Short, a really lovely gift store selling products by black and female authors, artisans and entrepreneurs around the world. She also stocks local artisan skincare line, Salt Spray Soap Co.
The main reason to come here, however, is to book a tour with Kristin. Kristin runs a number of different tours that dive into the history of the town and the island. Some are walking tours, others can be enjoyed by electric bike.
Crystal Caves & Fantasy Caves
In 1907 two young boys were playing cricket when they lost their cricket ball. When they went looking for it they stumbled upon what is today known as Crystal Caves, underground caverns filled with ancient stalagmites and stalactites as well as crystal clear pools and underground waterways. Today Crystal Caves, and neighbouring Fantasy Caves, are two of the island’s main attractions and well worth a visit.
The caves can only be visited on a group guided tour and the tour leaders put on a theatrical show, turning out lights and pointing out rock formations in the shape of the lost city of Atlantis and the Statue of Liberty.
Be aware that there are steep steps to access the caves so you’ll need to take care if visiting with small children.
Foraging Tour
Almost everything on Bermuda is imported but the island is rich in things to eat – if you know where to look. Join chef Doreen Williams-James on a foraging tour and discover the many fruits, vegetables and herbs that are freely available on the island – and what they can be used for.
The foraging tours begin with Doreen blowing her conch shell (“to let the plants know that we are coming”) before finding what natural goodies are on offer. We took a tour in Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve, which was once a U.S. naval base and NASA tracking station. It was also home to the only McDonalds on the island until the Americans left, taking their Big Macs with them.
These tours are a great way for kids to learn not only more about Bermuda but about how not everything we eat has to come from a supermarket. Doreen is very good at explaining what the various fruits and vegetables can be used for. Aloe Vera, for example, can be used as a shaving gel or put in bath water. The flesh of the prickly pear is good for inflammation and purslane (also known as cat’s tongue) has more Omega3 than fish.
The tour ends with something to eat; we enjoyed fennel and purslane hummus as well as pumpkin all spice doughnuts made by Doreen, as well as a variety of drinks created using local herbs.
Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo
If you need to get the kids out of the sun for a while then the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo is a great place to go. Founded in 1926, the aquarium is one of the oldest in the world and home to hundreds of fish species as well as rescued sea turtles and harbour seals. There is also a huge coral reef exhibit.
The zoo houses birds, reptiles and mammals from islands around the world including Madagascar, Australasia and the Caribbean. The Bermuda Natural History Museum explains the island’s geological formations.
National Museum of Bermuda
Housed within the island’s largest fort in the Royal Naval Dockyard, the National Museum of Bermuda explores the island’s history as well as cultural links with the West Indies and the Azores. Don’t miss the enormous mural by local artist Graham Foster that showcases four centuries of Bermuda history.
There’s a fun activity trail for kids to follow and, once they have finished that, then the Museum Playground & Playhouse is brilliant for kids with a lighthouse slide and a 70-foot moray eel model.
Botanical Gardens
Located near to the City of Hamilton, Bermuda’s capital, are the Bermuda Botanical Gardens. The 36-acre park was originally founded in 1898 as a way of protecting the island’s endemic tress and plans and is now home to tropical plants and trees from around the world.
The gardens are very pretty with a Japanese Zen garden, traditional English gardens, and even banyan trees from India.
The gardens are also home to the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, which houses an impressive collection of island-inspired artwork from the 19th and 20th century.
Bermuda Railway Trail
It wasn’t that long ago that the only way to get around Bermuda was by horse and cart or by train. Nicknamed the “Old Rattle and Shake”, the train ran from 1931 to 1948 along the coast, transporting passengers from running from St. George’s Station in the east to Somerset Station in the west.
Today the old railway line is no more but the route has been transformed into a trail for walkers and cyclists. It’s a wonderful way to see some of the coast – although I wouldn’t recommend walking all 18 miles! The views across the crystal clear waters are spellbinding.
Royal Naval Dockyard
Located on Bermuda’s West End is the Royal Naval Dockyard. This was once the United Kingdom’s largest naval base in the Atlantic, and was known as “the Gibraltar of the West”.
Today it’s home to museums, markets restaurants and the Spirit of Bermuda, a three-masted replica of a Royal Naval ship.
Snorkelling & Diving
You might not think it when looking at where Bermuda is located on the world map but Bermuda is an excellent place to go snorkelling and diving. The island is surrounded by coral reefs, which thrive thanks to the Gulf Stream that keeps the waters clean and warm.
Of course the coral reefs were less welcome in the days of the early settlers when ships would fall foul of the reef system – Bermuda is home to more shipwrecks per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Still today apparently local sea captains take charge of cruise ships arriving in Bermudan waters because navigating the reefs is so challenging.
There are myriad places where you can go snorkelling and diving in Bermuda and see the myriad tropical fish and marine life that call blue waters home. One option is to hire a boat and captain for the day. Traveler Bermuda boats can also organise activities such as jet skis.
For diving opportunities take a look at the following options:
Blue Hole Park
There are no freshwater lakes or rivers on Bermuda but there are fun waterways and caves to discover. Located on the eastern end of the island, Blue Hole Park is a 12-acre park peppered with underground tunnels that connect pools and caves. The Blue Hole itself is a large, deep pool filled with clear blue water and a wonderful place to swim. Locals call this area Tom Moore’s Jungle after the Irish poet who fell in love with Bermuda.
Sip a Rum Swizzle
Ok, so this is not one for the kids but definitely one for mum and dad. The Rum Swizzle is one of Bermuda’s national drinks (the other is the Dark n’ Stormy) and was originally created at the Swizzle Inn in 1932. Located not far from the airport, this roadside inn is a Bermuda institution and well worth a stop – it also serves great food so you can come here for a family lunch or dinner. This is not the only place where you can order a Rum Swizzle by the way, but it’s the original and best place.
Best Beaches in Bermuda with kids
You can’t really go wrong when it comes to choosing a beach in Bermuda and with calm, clear and protected water, all of them are generally good for kids and learner swimmers. For added safety, some of the more popular beaches employ a lifeguard during high season. These include Clearwater Beach / Turtle Bay, John Smith’s Bay and Horseshoe Bay.
South Shore
Elbow Beach
One of Bermuda’s iconic pink beaches, this is a good place to come to kayak, snorkel and even kitesurfing. The shipwreck of Pollockshields is just 100ft offshore so it’s a great spot for beginner divers.
Warwick Long Bay
This is a popular spot with locals and visitors. There are bathrooms and a playground at nearby Horseshoe Bay.
Horseshoe Bay
Bermuda’s most iconic beach is home to tidal pools, interesting rock formations and beautiful pink sand. The beach has lots of amenities including a cafe, showers and toilets and a shop for renting beach equipment. Horseshoe Bay Beach does get busy as it’s a popular day trip offering with cruise ships. For something a little quieter, take a short walk to nearby Chaplin Bay or Stonehole Bay.
Church Bay
An excellent choice for snorkelling thanks to the nearby reefs.
West Whale Bay
Come here to see the humpback whales pass just offshore between the months of March to April. This is also a popular local beach for fishing. Picnic tables and bathrooms are available.
East End
Tobacco Bay
Named after the Gunpowder Plot of 1775 that saw locals help American revolutionaries steal gunpowder to fight against the British, this beach is today a favourite spot for snorkelling thanks to the nearby coral reefs. The beach is replete with amenities including gear rentals and food and drink at the Tobacco bay Beach Bar & Restaurant.
Gates Bay
Another historical beach, this one is where Sir George Somers and his crew came ashore after their boat the Sea Venture ran into the reefs. Today the St Regis has direct access to the beach but it is still open to the public and not a private beach.
John Smith’s Bay
Named after the explorer who was the first to crate a map of the archipelago (but who is better known for his links to Pocahontas and Jamestown), this large beach is a great one for families with shallow waters, colourful reefs and lifeguards during summer months.
West End
Daniel’s Head
The wreck of the Vixen is located just off shore here, making it great place to go snorkelling. Canoeing and kayaking are also available and there’s an inflatable water park here too.
Somerset Long Bay
This much-loved local beach is the place to come to swim with sea turtles. And while a sighting of these gentle creatures is not guaranteed, you might get lucky and see one swimming nearby.
Snorkel Park Beach
Located in the northwest corner of Royal Naval Dockyard, Snorkel Park Beach offers a great opportunity for visitors to try out a number of different water sports. You can rent a kayak, paddle board or pedal boat, go snorkelling among shipwrecks and coral reefs and then kick pack on a beach chair for the afternoon.
North Shore
Shelly Bay
This beach in Hamilton Parish is a really popular spot with families who come for the shady trees and shallow, protected waters. A small nature reserve borders the beach to the western end with a playground and picnic tables nearby.
Bermuda Festivals
Bermudians like to party and there are a handful of festivals throughout he year when they really let loose. These include:
The Bermuda Heroes Weekend Carnival
This annual event takes place during the summer months and features lots of late night and early morning parties. Although these are less family-friendly, the Parade of the Bands is a fun street parade featuring music, bands and lots of feathers and sequins. Carnival typically takes place in June.
Cup Match
One of the biggest events of the year in Bermuda takes place over two days in the summer and centres around a cricket match between St. George’s and Somerset. Apparently this is the type of competition that not only divides the island but pits friends, families and colleagues against one another! Cup Match typically takes place in July.
The Peppercorn Ceremony
Taking place in King’s Square in St. George every April is the Peppercorn Ceremony. The tradition dates back to 1816 when the capital was moved from St. George to Hamilton City and when the Old State House in St. George was handed over to the Freemasons for the rent of only one Peppercorn. Every since then, the day has been marked (with much pomp and pageantry) and the annual rent of one Peppercorn is presented on a velvet cushion laid out on a silver platter.
Getting Around Bermuda with kids
In a bid to avoid traffic congestion on the small island (Bermuda is only 24 miles (40 km) long and less than 1 mile (1.6 km) wide) Bermudians are only allowed one car per household and visitors are not permitted to hire ‘real’ cars. Instead, what’s on offer, are small Twizzy cars. These tandem electric buggies look a little like shrunken golf carts and are a popular way to get around the island.
If you’re travelling with young kids, however, and need a car seat then you are best talking to your hotel or hopping on public transportation – there’s a reliable and efficient bus service that runs the length of the island.
