One of the smallest capital cities in the world, Hamilton with a population of 15,000 is more of a quintessential charming town. Named after Henry Hamilton, Bermuda’s governor from 1788 to 1794, Hamilton is home to most government offices, international businesses and plenty of sightseeing attractions.
More than a tropical paradise and an offshore financial centre, Bermuda is a mix of British Style and relaxation. Tidy pastel buildings and manicured gardens line the narrow winding roads while soft pink sand lines the beaches. For sport enthusiasts, the golfing and scuba diving around the island are superb.
Hamilton Bermuda Attractions
Front Street
Located along the water is Hamilton’s main drag Front Street, where all the shopping, restaurants and taverns are located. Trimingham’s provides the largest collection of duty-free shopping under one roof. Other goods available for purchase include British goods such as porcelain, fine china and crystal as well as Harris Tweed jackets and Scottish woolen goods. Front Street also offers great buys on Bermuda shorts and other souvenirs.
Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute
A fifteen minute walk from downtown Hamilton is the state of the art, Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. This multi-million dollar institute focuses entirely on deep water exploration and features a simulated deep-water dive down 12,500 ft to the base of the Bermuda Sea Mount.
(40 Crow Lane, Open daily from 10am – 6pm)
Fort Hamilton
Built in the mid 19th Century during a time of rising tension between Britain and the United States is the large Victorian fortress of Fort Hamilton. Today, the Fort offers an amazing panoramic view of Hamilton Harbour and is used as a plant nursery with beautifully landscaped gardens. Visit the Fort on Mondays at noon for the Skirling Ceremony where bagpipers and traditional dancers perform.
(Happy Valley Rd., off King St., 8 a.m.–sunset daily, free admission)
Bermuda: Language, Currency and Weather
English is spoken in Bermuda and the official currency is the Bermudian dollar, which is equivalent to the US dollar. US currency is also readily accepted on the island.
Bermuda enjoys a mild subtropical climate. The island has none of the steamy hot found in the Caribbean islands during the summer and no rainy season. Temperatures are around the 80s in the summer and drop to between the 60s and 70s between November and March.
Getting Around Hamilton and Bermuda
Everything within the city of Hamilton is in easy walking distance. Rental cars are not available for tourists and taxis can be expensive. Visitors can rent a scooter, however the roads are narrow and winding plus speeding locals don’t always obey traffic laws.
The best option for visitors to see the rest of the island is the public ferry/bus system.
The Hamilton Ferry and Bus Terminal is located just off of Front Street. Both ferries and buses run to Dockyard, Paget, Warwick, Somerset all year and to St. George’s from April to October. The transportation pass, popular among visitors offers unlimited rides on the bus and ferry systems.
