Hamilton Overview

In this beautiful and charming playground for the world’s elite, the high culture of the British Empire melds with easy-going island life. Discover stunning beaches, world-class golf courses, quaint towns and gorgeous nature reserves--paradise.

Districts

Located 650 miles off the coast of North Carolina is a 21-square-mile island dotted with pastel-colored houses, pink sand beaches and narrow winding roads. As a self-governing British colony, Bermuda is comprised of 181 small islands and islets connected by bridges and causeways that resemble a fishhook from the air.

Bermuda is divided into nine parishes or "tribes," as they were called back in the 1600s when the island was first surveyed. The original eight tribes, named after prominent shareholders in the Bermuda Company, included Sandys, Southampton, Warwick, Paget, Pembroke, Devonshire, Smith's and Hamilton, and were divided by narrow lanes. While some tribe roads are remnants of the past, others exist today as shortcuts to major roads and footpaths found during walks around the island. St. George's, considered public land back in those days, is the island’s ninth parish.

Each parish is unique. St. George’s captures the island’s past with structures dating back to the 17th century—now they are modernized, and pastel-colored buildings make up the government and shopping Mecca in Hamilton in Pembroke Parish. Nature reserves and scenic bays can be found in Sandy’s.

Entertainment

Known for its pink sand beaches, pastel-colored houses and turquoise waters, Bermuda is a bit more relaxed when it comes to the entertainment scene. While there is after-dark action on the island, more options are available to those who visit during high season, from April through October. But there are no worries to be had when it comes to finding something to do at night from November through March as the crowds are less and prices are normally lower.

The best way to find out what is going on in terms of entertainment and nightlife is to pick up copies of free publications, such as Preview Bermuda, Bermuda Weekly and This Week in Bermuda, at the island’s tourist centers and hotel concierge and social desks. These magazines highlight the schedules of upcoming activities and events that will take place around the island. Local television and radio stations also provide visitors with details of scheduled cultural events and nightlife happenings across the island.

Pubs across the island have long been a mainstay of the local entertainment scene and are a great place for visitors to mingle with the locals. The City of Hamilton’s Front Street also houses two of the island's most popular nightspots. The Oasis nightclub is the place for rock and disco that draws a younger crowd, while Club 40’s disco dancing scene allows guests to show off their best moves on the island's largest dance floor.

Dining and Drinking

Codfish cakes, spiny lobster and fish chowder are some of the local seafood dishes that whet Bermudians palettes; while rum swizzles and the famed dark-and-stormy—a mixture of local Black Seal rum and ginger beer—are the drinks that quench their thirst. While Bermuda does not have a distinctive cuisine of its own, certain local delights await tourists and are definitely worthy of a taste while visiting. Most specialty dishes and drinks are available at local restaurants and can also be found on the menu at hotel dining establishments.

Once a staple food, codfish cakes are still enjoyed throughout the island, especially during traditional Sunday brunches, while cassava pie, whose authentic Bermuda recipe dates back to the 1600s, is a Christmas tradition. Bermuda's fish chowder, a spicy soup made with either rockfish or snapper—flavored with local black rum and sherry peppers sauce—is a national dish.

Bermuda has over 100 restaurants scattered across the island for visitors to choose from, with something to please just about every budget and food craving. Dining facilities range from small roadside cafes to smart casual eateries to formal posh dining rooms and most types of cuisine can be found. However, Jewish visitors should note that there are no kosher restaurants on the island, nor are there any vegetarian-only dining establishments. Reservations are recommended for dinner and Sunday Brunch, especially during high season, and most restaurants automatically add a 15 percent service charge to the bill instead of a tip.

Where To Stay

Bermuda’s accommodation options include something for every taste and budget level, ranging from small bed and breakfast-like guesthouses to efficiency units, to large resort hotels. Of particular note is the island’s unique collection of cottage colonies, which are Bermudian accommodations that features a main clubhouse surrounded by groups of cottages. With places to stay scattered throughout the island, the majority of properties are located close to the island’s South Shore in Paget, Warwick and Southampton Parishes, as well as in Pembroke Parish, just outside the City of Hamilton.

The island’s high season runs from April through October, when the sub-tropical island attracts the majority of its visitors, warmer weather, numerous recreational choices and higher prices. During low season, from November through March, lower rates can be found along with cooler temperatures, less crowds and endless activity options.

For accommodations that have restaurants, a Modified American Plan (MAP) consisting of daily breakfast and dinner at the property’s restaurants might be available. Since the expense of eating off-property at various restaurants can be costly, purchasing the MAP can be a good value and should be considered.

Did You Know?

The city is named after Bermuda's first governor, Sir Henry Hamilton, a British Army general who was Lieutenant-Governor of Canada during the American Revolutionary War.

Orientation/Geography

Hamilton is the capital of Bermuda and is located in the parish of Pembroke. The city is on the central west coast of Bermuda along the Atlantic Ocean.


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