Bermuda is a special place. Pink sand, hidden coves and cliffs everywhere, and it’s only a short flight from the East Coast.

But it isn’t a cheap island, and where you stay in Bermuda shapes the whole trip: which beach you wake up next to, how you get around (you can’t rent a car), and how much of your budget is left for everything else.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the best areas to stay in Bermuda and my picks for every budget, from the big resorts to guesthouses that cost a fraction of the price.

Quick Answer: Where to Stay in Bermuda
Best area for beaches: The South Shore (Southampton & Warwick), home to Horseshoe Bay and Warwick Long Bay
Best central base: Paget or Hamilton, with buses and ferries to every end of the island
Best luxury resort: Rosewood Bermuda at Tucker’s Point
Best vacation rental: Devonshire Waterfront Home on the North Shore, where I stayed
Best beach hotel: The Reefs in Southampton
Best in Hamilton: Hamilton Princess & Beach Club
Best for couples: Cambridge Beaches on the West End
Best for families: Grotto Bay Beach Resort
Best budget stay: Blue Horizons Guest House in Warwick, from about $200 a night

Note: Planning the rest of your trip? Here’s my 3-day Bermuda itinerary, the best hidden beaches in Bermuda, and where to go cliff jumping in Bermuda.

Where to Stay in Bermuda: The Best Areas

Bermuda is small, around 21 miles end to end, but it’s long and thin, and with no rental cars, getting from one end to the other can take an hour or more by bus.

The importance of the area you pick depends on how you plan to get around – because if you rent a scooter (do it!), your options are significantly broadened since you won’t have to worry about bus routes.

South Shore: Southampton & Warwick

If you came for the beaches, stay here. The South Shore has the pink-sand beaches Bermuda is famous for: Horseshoe Bay, Warwick Long Bay, Church Bay and plenty of amazing small coves in between. Many of the hidden beaches I love are along this stretch.

Most of the beach hotels are here too, from The Reefs and Azura down to a few guesthouses on South Road.

Paget

Paget sits between Hamilton and the South Shore, which makes it possibly the best all-round base on the island.

Elbow Beach is on its south side, and Hamilton is a short ferry or bus ride across the harbor, so you get beaches by day and restaurants at night without long trips.

Elbow Beach isn’t strictly my favorite, but you’re still only minutes away from Warwick and lots of little hidden coves, so I wouldn’t stress about that.

Hamilton & Pembroke

Hamilton is Bermuda’s capital, and the main bus and ferry terminals are here.

If you won’t be riding a scooter, it may be a good idea to stay here – since every bus route and ferry starts from town. It also has the best restaurants on the island (Pearl, in my itinerary, is in Hamilton).

Downside: there’s no real beach in town, so you’ll be prioritizing town and commuting to the beach.

North Shore: North Shore Road, Devonshire & Smith’s

This is where I stayed, in a rental home on North Shore Road.

I was personally a big fan – it’s a quieter atmosphere, but it’s a short drive to Hamilton and situated so that it’s pretty easy to travel both east and west on the island.

The North Shore is mostly homes and cottages rather than hotels, which makes it one of the best areas for a vacation rental. It’s also generally a less expensive option if you have a larger group.

Downside: the famous pink-sand beaches are on the other side of the island, so plan on a scooter or the bus.

Hamilton Parish & Tucker’s Town

The east-central part of the island, near the airport. This is where you’ll find Rosewood and Grotto Bay, plus Blue Hole (great for a swim and a jump) and the Crystal Caves.

It’s a great pick if you want a resort with everything on site. The South Shore beaches and the West End are further away.

St. George’s

St. George’s is the old town at the eastern tip, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with colorful colonial streets and quiet beaches nearby (like Cooper’s Island, from my hidden beaches post).

It’s definitely the prettiest town on the island.

Stay here for history and quiet, but know that it’s the furthest point from the South Shore and the West End.

West End: Sandys & Somerset

The West End is the quietest part of the island, home to Somerset, Mangrove Bay and the Royal Naval Dockyard, where the cruise ships dock.

It’s the most remote area, which is exactly why couples love it. Cambridge Beaches is out here, and Mangrove Bay is one of my favorite spots on the island. Just plan on a 45 to 60 minute trip to get anywhere else.

But again – the cruise ships dock here. So bear that in mind. The feeling of ‘remoteness’ may vary day to day.

You can see a lot of the spots I mention in this post, and the rest of my favorites, on my map below.

Bermuda Hotels at a Glance

Prices are per night in June (peak season), before taxes and fees.

Where to stay	Area	From (June)	Nearest beach	Best for
Rosewood Bermuda	Tucker’s Point	Luxury	Private beach club	Splurge
Devonshire Waterfront Home	North Shore	$880	Calm north shore water	Groups & longer stays
The Reefs	Southampton	$845	Its own South Shore beach	Beach lovers
Hamilton Princess	Hamilton	$840	Beach club shuttle	Restaurants & nightlife
Cambridge Beaches	Somerset	$904	Mangrove Bay	Couples (no kids 12 and under)
Grotto Bay	Hamilton Parish	$685	Blue Hole	Families
Oxford House	Hamilton	$485	Shuttle or bus	Boutique on a budget
Blue Horizons	Warwick	$200	Warwick Long Bay	Budget

The Best Places to Stay in Bermuda

Time to get to business.

Below are my picks for the best places to stay in Bermuda, from splurge to budget. Prices are June rates (peak season) per night, before taxes and fees. Expect them to drop a lot from November to March.

Note: Make sure to look for the “backup option” box (looks like this) under each property. Bermuda only has a handful of hotels, and the good ones fill up for the summer, so it’s worth having a second choice ready.

Note: Use my links if you’re going to book! They’re affiliate links (Expedia and Booking.com), so you pay the same price, but I get a small commission that helps keep this blog going.

Best Luxury Resort: Rosewood Bermuda

Price: From about $1,700 USD
9.4 rating from 540+ reviews on Expedia

If you’re going all out, this is the one.

Rosewood sits on Tucker’s Point, on the east side of the island, with a private beach club, a spa and a golf course. There are only 88 rooms, so it never feels crowded.

It’s also close to the airport, Blue Hole and the Crystal Caves, though the South Shore beaches are a ride away.

But I would say the best thing about it is that guests get access to the longest stretch of private pink sand beach on the island.

Backup Option: The St. Regis Bermuda Resort. Right on St. Catherine’s Beach in St. George’s (East Side), from about $1,057 a night. (Also on Booking.com)

Best Vacation Rental for Families: Devonshire Waterfront Home

Price: From about $880 USD
9.8 rating from 140+ reviews on Expedia

This is where I stayed, and I’d do it again.

We were six people, and you won’t get a better price for a large party on the island. Especially not with waterfront property.

The house was great. A full house with two floors, a kitchen, dining room, living room (with amazing view of water, see below), three bedrooms, and a massive deck and patio with a path right down to the water.

You even have your own (kind of) private beach.

Backup Option: Moon Gate West. A two-bedroom apartment in Paget, rated 9.4 from 27 reviews on Booking.com, from about $386 a night.

Best Beach Hotel: The Reefs Resort & Club

Price: From about $845 USD
9.6 rating from 1000+ reviews on Expedia

The Reefs sits right on the South Shore in Southampton, on its own beautiful stretch of pink sand, a short ride from Horseshoe Bay and Church Bay.

All 62 rooms have their own furnished balcony, and there are three restaurants and a spa on site. Guests must be 21 to check in, so it’s a calm, adult kind of place.

Backup Option: The Loren at Pink Beach. A sleek, modern resort on its own pink-sand beach in Smith’s Parish, rated 9.6 on Expedia, from about $1,359 a night.

Best in Hamilton: Hamilton Princess & Beach Club

Price: From about $840 USD
9.2 rating from 1000+ reviews on Expedia

Also known as the ‘Pink Palace’, this hotel is a Bermuda classic.

It’s a beautiful spot that’s full of history, having opened in the 1880s and used as an intelligence hub during World War II.

You’re a walk from the best restaurants on the island and the main bus and ferry terminals, and when you want the beach, a shuttle takes you to its private beach club on the South Shore.

Backup Option: Rosedon. An adults-only hotel just up Pitts Bay Road, rated 9.6+ on Expedia, from about $980 a night.

Best for Couples: Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa

Price: From about $904 USD
9.2 rating from 1000+ reviews on Expedia

Out on the tip of the West End in Somerset, Cambridge Beaches is about as romantic as Bermuda gets.

The resort wraps around its own little beaches, right next to Mangrove Bay, one of my favorite spots on the island. Kids 12 and under aren’t allowed, so it stays quiet.

The catch is the location: it’s 45 to 50 minutes from the airport, so this is a place to settle in, not the best base for exploring. That being said, the South Shore beaches (Warwick, Horseshoe, Church) are not too far.

Backup Option: Azura Bermuda. Remodeled in 2024 and right on the South Shore in Warwick, rated 8.7 from 178 reviews on Booking.com, from about $1,097 a night. (Also on Booking.com)

Best Resort for Families: Grotto Bay Beach Resort

Price: From about $685 USD
9.0 rating from 1000+ reviews on Expedia

Grotto Bay is one of the best-value resorts in Bermuda, and an easy pick for families.

It has its own small beaches, a pool and caves on the property (one of them is a spa), and Blue Hole is literally across the road. The airport is about five minutes away, which makes arrival day easy with kids.

Reviews say some of the rooms are dated, but it’s close enough to the middle of the island that both ends are easy day trips.

Backup Option: St George’s Club. One-bedroom villas on the hill above the old town of St. George’s, rated 8.5 from 108 reviews, from about $600 a night. (Also on Booking.com)

Best Boutique Stay: Oxford House

Price: From about $485 USD
9.4 rating from 160+ reviews on Expedia

If you want to stay in Hamilton without paying resort prices, this is it.

Oxford House is a small guesthouse a short walk from Front Street, with breakfast included.

It has more of a charming feel to it, a nice alternative if you’re not one for larger resorts.

Backup Option: Royal Palms Hotel. Two old manor houses with a pool and gardens just outside Hamilton, with free breakfast and an evening wine hour. Rated 9.8 on Expedia.

Best Budget Stay: Blue Horizons Guest House

Price: From about $200 USD
8.3 rating from 80+ reviews on Booking.com

Let’s get to the options if you don’t want to spend $500+ a night. Spoiler alert – there aren’t many of them on Bermuda.

But Blue Horizons is one.

It’s on South Road in Warwick, close to Warwick Long Bay, one of my favorite beaches on the island, with studios that have their own kitchens, plus a pool.

For the South Shore, at around $200 a night in June, it’s hard to beat. It won’t be a luxurious stay, but it’ll get the job done.

Where you stay is really just a place to sleep anyway. The beauty of Bermuda remains the same for everyone.

Backup Option: Chinna Cottage. A one-bedroom apartment in Hog Bay on the West End, rated 9.5 from 24 reviews, from about $178 a night.

How to Get Around Bermuda

This is why where you stay matters so much. Visitors can’t rent cars in Bermuda, so you have three options:

1. Scooters. My favorite way to get around, from about $50 a day. You need to know how to ride and be comfortable doing so, obviously, but it gives you total freedom. There are several spots to rent from near the airport, just look up ‘scooter rental’ on Google Maps. Scooter Mart and Oleander Cycles are good options. Remember that you drive on the left here.

2. Buses and ferries. They cover the whole island, and a 3-day pass for both is $44. Just know that some of the best hidden spots are a walk from the nearest stop.

3. Mini electric cars. Tiny two-seaters you can rent, from about $100 a day.

I go into more detail in my 3-day itinerary, but we got scooters from Oleander Cycles and took them everywhere. It’s an amazing way to explore the island.

How to Get to Bermuda

Bermuda is closer than most people think. It’s about 1.5 hours by plane from New York and under 2.5 hours from most other East Coast cities, with direct flights from Canada and London too.

The airport is on the east end of the island. A taxi takes roughly 25 to 30 minutes to Hamilton and closer to an hour to the West End, so factor that in if you’re staying out in Somerset.

Booking Tips

Book Early for Summer

May to October is peak season, and with so few hotels on the island, the best places book up early (especially around Cup Match, the two-day holiday at the end of July or start of August).

April and November are the sweet spot: warm enough for the beach and noticeably cheaper.

Winter Is Cheap (But Not Beach Weather)

Bermuda isn’t in the Caribbean, and it shows in winter. From December to March it’s cool and windy, more hiking and exploring weather than beach weather, but prices drop a lot.

It may be cheaper, but the magic in Bermuda happens by the water.

Hurricane Season

Hurricane season runs from June to November. Direct hits are rare, but get travel insurance if you’re booking for late summer or fall.

Note: Get your travel insurance through SafetyWing! If you use this link and my promo code (BOLDPASSPORT8), you’ll get eight free weeks of electronic theft coverage.

Taxes & Fees

Don’t be caught off guard at checkout! Bermuda hotels add government tax plus their own fees on top of the nightly rate. At Rosewood, for example, that’s 11.75% in tax and fees plus a 12% club fee. Budget roughly 20 to 25% more than the price you see at the bigger resorts.

Where to Stay in Bermuda: FAQ

What is the best area to stay in Bermuda?

For most people, the South Shore (Southampton and Warwick) or Paget. The South Shore puts you on the best beaches, and Paget is central, with Hamilton and the beaches both close.

Is it better to stay in Hamilton or on the South Shore?

Stay in Hamilton if you won’t ride a scooter and want restaurants and easy buses and ferries. Stay on the South Shore if you came for the beaches.

Can you rent a car in Bermuda?

No. Visitors can’t rent regular cars. You can rent scooters or tiny two-seater electric cars, or use the buses and ferries.

When is the cheapest time to stay in Bermuda?

December to March, when it’s too cool for most beach days. April and November are the best balance of weather and price.

Is Bermuda expensive?

Yes, it’s one of the more expensive islands to visit. Most hotels are $500+ a night in summer. A guesthouse or a vacation rental with a kitchen is the easiest way to cut costs.

Final Thoughts

Bermuda isn’t a cheap trip, but it’s worth every penny.

If it’s your first time, stay on the South Shore or in Paget, close to the best beaches and still central enough to explore the whole island.

If you’re traveling as a group or want more space, rent a home like I did. And if you can get the same waterfront home on the North Shore, don’t hesitate.

Whatever you pick, book early for the summer. Once you’ve sorted out where to stay, check out my 3-day Bermuda itinerary, the best hidden beaches in Bermuda, and the best cliff jumping spots to plan the rest of your trip.