Bermuda
TerritoryAdministered by: United Kingdom
“Not the Caribbean, not America — 1,000 km out in the Atlantic on its own”
Bermuda is routinely filed under the Caribbean and is nowhere near it: the island sits roughly 1,000 km (620 mi) off the coast of North Carolina, at the same latitude as Charleston, warmed by the Gulf Stream rather than by the tropics. It is a British Overseas Territory, self-governing since 1620 through the oldest continuous parliament outside Britain.
The look is unmistakable — white stepped roofs on every house, because they are rainwater catchments and the island has no fresh groundwater worth the name. St George's, founded in 1612, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the reef ringing the island has wrecked enough ships to make it one of the best wreck-diving grounds in the Atlantic.
Highlights
St George's
Founded 1612 and continuously lived in since — a UNESCO site of lanes, a replica of the Deliverance, and the unfinished church that ran out of money in 1874.
The south shore beaches
Horseshoe Bay, Warwick Long Bay and the coves between them: pink sand from crushed red foraminifera, and cliffs to walk along the whole way.
Crystal Caves
Found by two boys chasing a cricket ball in 1907 — a clear underground lake under a floating pontoon walkway.
Wreck diving
Over 300 recorded wrecks on the surrounding reef, several in shallow enough water to snorkel.
When to go
JanCool and windy; many hotels closed.
FebColdest sea of the year.
MarWarming; low prices.
Getting in
Checking your passport…
Before you fly
Passport Index dataset
What it costs
A day in Bermuda
Comfortable · sample day
≈ $259
Line items are real prices we track. The daily budget is an editorial estimate for this level, not their sum.
Where this sits among 55 countries we have costed
Rates roughly halve between November and March, when much of the island shuts. July and August are the top of the market.
Updated Aug 2026 · Editorial synthesis — Bermuda government transport tariffs, published hotel rates (2025–2026) · confidence medium
Excludes international flights — they depend on where you fly from.
Regions to know
5Hamilton
The capital, the ferry hub and most of the restaurants.
St George's
The UNESCO old town at the east end and the quieter beaches near it.
The south shore
Horseshoe Bay and the pink-sand coves, linked by a cliff path.
Royal Naval Dockyard
The old naval base at the west end, now museums, glassworks and the cruise pier.
The parishes
Warwick, Paget and Southampton — the residential middle, and where most guesthouses are.
Practical guide
Getting there
L.F. Wade (BDA) has direct flights from several US east-coast cities, Toronto and London. Cruise ships dock at Hamilton, St George's and Dockyard.
Entry formalities
Bermuda Travel Authorisation must be completed online before departure — airlines check it at the gate.
Getting around
The pink public buses and the ferries are excellent and use the same tokens and passes. Scooters are the local default; the electric two-seat minicars are the only four wheels a visitor may hire.
Money & costs
Bermudian dollar pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, and US dollars are accepted interchangeably. Cards everywhere. It is one of the most expensive places on earth to buy groceries.
Safety
Low crime. The real risks are scooter accidents and the south-shore surf.
Health
A modern hospital in Hamilton, priced at US levels. Insurance is essential.
SIM & internet
Full 4G/5G coverage. Roaming is expensive; local eSIMs exist.
Driving
The speed limit is 35 km/h (about 20 mph) across the entire island, including the one main road. It is enforced, and it is the reason the island still works.
Rules change — verify with an official source before you rent.
No verified partners here yet — all 6 country seats are open.
Before you go
BermudaFrequently asked questions
Can I rent a car?
No. Bermuda does not allow visitors to rent cars — a rule kept since 1946 to hold traffic down on a very small island. You get around by bus, ferry, taxi, scooter or a rented electric minicar.
Is Bermuda in the Caribbean?
No. It is a lone Atlantic island around 1,000 km (620 mi) off North Carolina. Winters are cool by Caribbean standards — around 18 °C — and the sea is genuinely chilly from January to April.
Do I need a visa?
Bermuda sets its own rules and a UK visa does not carry over. Most European, North American and Commonwealth nationals enter visa-free for up to 90 days, and everyone must complete the Bermuda Travel Authorisation online before departure.