Sights Overview

There is certainly no shortage of things to see in Bermuda. The town of St. George's, at the island's East End, is the original 1600s settlement and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city of Hamilton (not to be confused with the parish of the same name farther northeast) is home to Bermuda's principal harbor and most of its shops. It's also the main departure point for sightseeing boats, ferries, and the pink-and-blue buses that ramble all over the island. The Royal Naval Dockyard, at the West End, is a former British shipyard that has been transformed into a stunning tourist attraction.

All three of these destinations can be explored easily on foot. The rest of the island, however, is best discovered by taxi, motor scooter, or bicycle -- but only if you're fit, because Bermuda is hilly! The main roads connecting the parishes are North Shore Road, Middle Road, South Road (also known as South Shore Road), and Harbour Road. Their names make it easy for you to get your bearings and almost all the traffic traversing the island's 21-mi length is concentrated on them, although some 1,200 smaller roads also crisscross it.

To make the most of your money, as well as your time, consider buying a $25 Heritage Passport if you plan on visiting several of the following sites: the Bermuda National Gallery; Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute; Bermuda Maritime Museum; Fort St. Catherine; Bermuda National Trust Museum in the Globe Hotel; Verdmont; Tucker House; and the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo. The passport allows unlimited admission to all eight sites for seven consecutive days. You can purchase it online at www.bermudatourism.com or in person at individual attractions. Passports are also available at the island's visitor information centres. Return travelers should note that these replaced the former visitor service bureaus in the spring of 2007. Along with a new name (and new hours) they also have new locations.