Bermuda Travel Information

Bermuda is not a Caribbean destination proper, but it enjoys many of the same characteristics -- island locale, comfortable weather year-round and tropical beaches.

This overseas territory of the United Kingdom is located 650 east from the coastline of North Carolina. More than 80 percent of its total visitors are tourists from the United States.

U.S. visitors are drawn to Bermuda because it is a two-hour flight from Washington D.C., it has a strong sense of colonial history and it has numerous things to see and do.

As a member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Bermuda is 16th in popularity among the top Caribbean destinations for total tourism visits -- sandwiched between St. Lucia and Martinique. It is almost equally popular as a cruise visit and as a longer-term stopover visit for tourists.

The only problem with taking a Bermuda vacation involves making decisions. With the many must-see, must-do tourist attractions, the problem isn't finding something to do, it's deciding which activities to try.

Is shopping and dining your cup of tea? If so, you'll find yourself in shopping paradise in whichever port you visit -- King's Wharf, St. George's or Hamilton. Fine shops await you as you shop tax-free for clothing, accessories, jewelry, cosmetics and perfumes. With imports from Great Britain and Ireland along with island-made jewelry, you can bargain shop or search for those one-of-a-kind treasures to your heart's content.

After an enjoyable day of shopping the stores of the island, refresh yourself with fine dining in the Barracuda Grill, Beau Rivage, Bouchee, or the Breezes at Cambridge Beaches. Outstanding seafood, incredible French dishes, French wines, and European cuisine are yours for the asking as you sit back and relax from the day's shopping.

Feeling more adventurous? Try scuba diving, snorkeling, or sailing on any of the island's beautiful pink-sand beaches. Enjoy the exotic marine life as you swim through the crystal waters or take a glass-bottom boat ride.

Not adventurous enough? Try Helmet Diving and take an underwater walk on the ocean floor. Afterwards, explore Crystal Cave or Blue Hole Park and take in the breathtaking sights.

Add to these attractions, 8 challenging 18-hole golf courses, the free Botanical Gardens, the Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo, lighthouses, tennis, and nightclubs, and you can see why choosing your activities while vacation on Bermuda can be a challenge.

But don't let that discourage you. With Bermuda's wonderfully mild weather and the many attractions to experience, vacationing is a treat. Recline on the beach, dip your toes in the water, relax to the sound of seagulls, and take your time make all those pesky decisions. When it's all said and done, your Bermuda vacation will be one you won't soon forget.


Unique attractions include dozens of military forts; large historic churches including Anglican Cathedral, with its 157-step tower, and St. Peter's Church, built from island cedar in 1612; the 36-acre Botanical Gardens; 758 historic homes listed with the Bermuda National Trust; and the Royal Navy Dockyard, built more than 200 years ago.


U.S. citizens visiting Bermuda by air need a passport upon returning to the U.S. Those visiting by sea need a government-issued photo ID and document proving citizenship (such as a passport card of birth certificate), but a passport will be required for re-entry in the summer of 2009. Canadian citizens need a passport, official birth certificate OR original naturalization /citizenship certificate.

May through August are the dominant months of the year for stopover vacations with half of all visitors coming during that time. The least active months are January and February.


The Bermuda climate is subtropical, mild and humid; gales and strong winds are common in winter. The average daytime high temperature ranges from the upper 60s in January and February to the mid 80s during the summer.

The average rainfall ranges from 10 to 17 rain days per month throughout the year, although total rainfall is moderate. The total inches of rain spikes during August, which also is the warmest month of the year.


The Bermuda dollar equals the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar, but like most Caribbean destinations change will be given in local coins. There are no sales taxes. A service charge often is added to a bill; if not, 15 percent is the norm for bars, hotels and restaurants, while 10-15 percent is the norm for taxis.


The dominant and official language is English because it is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The geography is low hills separated by fertile depressions.

• Caribbean Tourism Organization
  
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  
• U.S. State Department Travel
  
• CIA Factbook