12 Best Sights in Bermuda

A pair of 100-foot towers makes it impossible to miss the Clocktower Mall, where the 19th-century building that held the Royal Navy's administrative offices now is home to distinctly Bermudian boutiques—including specialty shops and branches of Front Street favorites. Observant folks will note that one tower features a standard clock, the other a tide indicator. The shops are particularly popular on Sunday because most stores outside the Dockyard area are closed.

On the upper floor of City Hall & Arts Centre, in the West Wing, the Bermuda Society of Arts displays work by its members. Its frequently changing juried shows attract talented local painters, sculptors, and photographers. Art collectors will be pleased to learn that many pieces may also be purchased.

The most rewarding time to visit the Cabinet Building, which was completed in 1841 and remodeled almost a century later, is during the formal opening of Parliament, traditionally held on the first Friday of November. His (or Her) Excellency the Governor, dressed in a plumed hat and full regalia, arrives on the grounds in a landau drawn by magnificent black horses and accompanied by a police escort. A senior officer, carrying the Black Rod made by the Crown jewelers, next asks the speaker of the House, elected representatives, and members of the Senate chamber to convene. The governor then presents the Throne Speech from a tiny cedar throne dating from 1642. 

After the original Anglican sanctuary on this site was torched by an arsonist in 1884, Scottish architect William Hay was enlisted to design a replacement: true to his training, Hay erected a Gothic-style structure in the grand European tradition. Inside, the clerestory in the nave is supported by piers of polished Scottish granite; soaring archways are trimmed in stone imported from France; and the choir stalls and bishop's throne are carved out of English oak. The pulpit is modeled on the one in Hay's hometown cathedral (St. Giles in Edinburgh), and the whole thing is crowned by a copper roof that stands out among Bermuda's typical white-topped buildings.

Despite the European flourishes, Bermuda Cathedral still has a subtropical flair. After all, the limestone building blocks came from the Par-la-Ville quarry, and one of its loveliest stained-glass windows—the Angel Window on the east wall of the north transept—was created by local artist Vivienne Gilmore Gardner.

After sauntering around the interior, you can climb the 155 steps of the church tower for a heavenly view of Hamilton and its harbor.

The British chose the highest hill in Somerset for the site of this fort, built in the late 1860s and early 1870s, not for the lovely panoramas but to defend the flank of the Dockyard from possible American attacks. British troops were garrisoned here until World War I, and American forces were, ironically, stationed at the fort during World War II. Today its stone walls are surrounded by 22 acres of pretty gardens, and the view of the Great Sound and Ely's Harbour from the parapet is unsurpassed. Be sure to check out the early Bermuda Weather Stone, billed as a "perfect weather indicator." A sign posted nearby solemnly explains all. There is also access to the Bermuda Railway Trail.

Running along the harbor, Hamilton's main thoroughfare bustles with small cars, motor scooters, bicycles, buses, and sometimes hordes of cruise-ship passengers. The prime attractions here are the high-class low-rise shops that line the street, but be sure not to overlook small offshoots and alleyways like Chancery Lane, Old Cellar Lane, and the Walkers Arcade, where you'll stumble upon hidden-away boutiques. If visiting between May and August, on Wednesday evenings Front Street is closed to vehicular traffic to make way for the popular Harbour Nights, which features entertainment, food, and locally made products.

A reminder of what the island was like in its early days, this blissfully peaceful 44-acre preserve remains an unspoiled open space, except for a few flower gardens. Pathways with well-positioned park benches wind through it, affording some wonderful water views. If you continue along the main path, you'll reach rustic Heydon Chapel. Built in the early 1600s, it's Bermuda's smallest church. Weddings can be arranged by prior appointment.

To some, this rather austere 1840s structure is simply a place to mail a letter, but to stamp collectors the Perot Post Office, named for Hamilton's first postmaster, is a veritable shrine. William Bennett Perot (1791–1871) was certainly a genial fellow: he would meet arriving steamers, collect the incoming mail, stash it in his beaver hat, and then stroll around Hamilton to deliver it, greeting each recipient with a tip of his chapeau. But it was his resourcefulness that made him most famous among philatelists. Tired of individually hand-stamping outgoing letters, Perot began printing stamps in 1848. Of the thousands he produced, only 11 still exist—and several of those are owned by the British royal family. If you'd like to get your hands on one, be prepared to dig deep. In 2005, a Perot-era one-penny stamp sold at auction for a record-breaking $244,000.

Next to the Perot Post Office is the entrance to pretty Queen Elizabeth Park (formerly Par-La-Ville Park), which was officially renamed in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee celebration of Queen Elizabeth II. Once postmaster William Perot's private garden, it has winding paths, luxuriant blooms, plentiful benches, and a photogenic Bermuda moongate. Long popular with people-watchers, it is now the site of the Bermuda National Library and Bermuda Historical Society Museum, too. The Bermuda National Gallery has created a sculpture garden in the park by installing several major outdoor works. Enjoy a refreshing cup of iced tea from NovelTea, which sells its inventive freshly brewed teas from a small stall here with flavors including cherry blossom and creme brulée, as well as a small selection of tea accessories and the company's packaged loose leaf teas. On summer Saturdays you will find Gombey dancers entertaining visitors here at noon.

This eye-catching Italianate edifice, erected in 1819, is where the House of Assembly (Bermuda's lower house of Parliament) and the Supreme Court convene. The Florentine towers and colonnade, decorated with red terra-cotta, were added to the building in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The Victoria Jubilee Clock Tower made its striking debut—albeit a few years late—at midnight on December 31, 1893. Bermuda's Westminster-style Parliament meets on the second floor, where the speaker rules the roost in a powdered wig and robe. (The island has approximately 14 times as many politicians per capita as Europe or North America, so maintaining order is no small feat.) Sartorial splendor is equally evident downstairs in the Supreme Court, where wigs and robes—red for judges, black for barristers—are again the order of the day.

You're welcome to watch the colorful proceedings: bear in mind, though, that visitors, too, are required to wear appropriate attire.

Call first to find out when parliamentary sessions and court cases are scheduled. Tours can also be scheduled, except on Fridays, when Parliament is in session.

Popular with Somerset locals, this beach is on the quiet northwestern end of Bermuda, far from the bustle of Hamilton and major tourist hubs. In keeping with the area's rural atmosphere, the beach is low-key and great for bird-watching. Undeveloped parkland shields the beach from the light traffic on Cambridge Road. The main beach is long by Bermudian standards—nearly ¼ mile from end to end. Although exposed to northerly storm winds, the bay water is normally calm and shallow—ideal for children. The bottom, however, is rocky and uneven, so it's a good idea to put on water shoes before wading. Amenities: parking (free). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Just behind the Hamilton Central Bus Terminal is a green oasis with plenty of benches and leafy shade to rest after sightseeing around the City of Hamilton. The highlight of the park is the ornate, grand bandstand erected in 1889 in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Today, it, along with the park, hosts many cultural events including concerts and festivals. Make sure to come to the park with an empty stomach—Leslie's Desserts creates European-style treats served out of an Airstream in the southeastern corner of the park. The freshly baked bubble waffles topped with caramel gelato and Lotus Biscoff cookie crumbles will not disappoint.