BERMUDA so much more

Day One: Arrive to Beautiful Bermuda!

After checking into your hotel, head to the beautiful Botanical Gardens. This impressive 36-acre paradise is the best place to enjoy and identify our island's delightful flora. Inside the Gardens awaits numerous cultural experiences. Camden House, the official residence of Bermuda's Premier, is open for tours except when official functions are scheduled. The Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art is also located in the gardens. This gallery is Bermuda’s first ever purpose-built museum that houses a collection of over 1,200 pieces of Bermuda-inspired art.

Day Two: Explore St. George

The Town of St. George, is a World Heritage site and is the oldest English-speaking colonial town still in existence. It is home to a plethora of cultural experiences, so be sure to set aside a full day!

Start at St. Peter’s Church. Completed by Christmas of 1612, it is the oldest Anglican church in continuous use in the western hemisphere. Behind the south churchyard is the Old Rectory, built in the 18th century by pirate George Dew.

Continue over to the Unfinished Church. Construction of the church started in the 1870s when the magnificent Gothic structure was meant to replace St. Peter's Church. Following a series of problems, including parish infighting, financial difficulties and a damaging storm, construction was abandoned on the eve of its completion. Today, the picturesque ruins are a protected historic monument and part of St. George's World Heritage Site.

Wander over to St. George's Historical Society Museum. Furnished much as it was when it was a private home, this typical Bermudian structure from the early 1700s houses artifacts and documents pertaining to our island's earliest days. The house is filled with period furniture, documents, old letters, displays of pewter, china and rare books.

Visit the Bermuda National Trust Museum in the Globe Hotel. Governor Samuel Day built this structure in 1700. Today it is one of the oldest stone buildings on our island. The offices of the Confederate agent, Major Norman Walker, were housed here during the American Civil War (1861-1865), which makes this significant historic building a most appropriate site for the exhibit "Rogues & Runners-Bermuda and the American Civil War."

Continue your tour to Tucker’s House Museum. Henry Tucker, President of the Governor's Council, moved into this house in 1775, and his family remained there until 1809. Some of the treasures on view include a magnificent collection of Tucker family silver, china and crystal, antique English mahogany and Bermuda cedar furniture, family portraits by Blackburn and exquisite hand-sewn quilts.

If you were so indulged in the beauty of the Botanical Gardens, don’t forget to stop at the Bermuda Perfumery. Since 1928, the Bermuda Perfumery manufactures exclusive and rare perfumes under the brand Lili Bermuda. In 2006, the Perfumery launched Coral to celebrate its new location, at Stewart Hall in St. George's. Coral is a beautiful fusion of freesia, essence of rose, Clementine and ginger. Come to the Perfumery for a free tour and sample our beautiful perfumes.

If historical re-enactment is your game, be sure to be at King’s Square at 10:30am. A guided tour through narrow alleys and lanes of St. George’s is offered after which the Mayor of St. George’s greets visitors back at the square. At 12 noon, the Ducking commences! A light-hearted, historical re-enactment of public punishment.

Day Three - Explore Dockyard!

The National Museum of Bermuda is located in Dockyard. The Museum is set within the Keep, a sprawling six-acre fortress at the edge of the Royal Naval Dockyard. Eight historic buildings, including old munitions warehouses and the newly restored Commissioner's House, contain a great variety of exhibitions on our rich history.

Whether taking in some local history, stunning views from the ramparts, or exploring Bermuda's largest fort, there is plenty to see and learn at this important cultural attraction.

After taking in the museum, wander over to the Bermuda Craft Market, This is our island's largest, most extensive craft outlet, with more than 60 friendly local artists ready to show their craftwork to visitors. Look for candles, Bermudian cedar work, ceramics, jewelry, fabric art, painted glassware, three-dimensional decoupage, needlework canvas, Christmas ornaments and quilts. (Open 9:30am-6pm daily from May to October; 10:30am-5pm daily from November to March)

Continue your tour to Bermuda Clayworks. Local artisans and potters use this converted warehouse to craft attractive floral-patterned vases, and dishes featuring dolphins, Bermuda hibiscus, cottages, lighthouses, gardens and many other motifs. (Open daily 9am-6pm daily from April to October; 9am-5pm daily from November to March)

Last stop on the tour is Dockyard Glassworks & Bermuda Rum Cake Company. Experience the heat of the furnace and watch as the artists demonstrate the process of Glassblowing and Flameworking. Afterward, browse through the wide variety of hand made glassware produced locally in Bermuda (Open Daily January - March, 9:00am - 5:00pm April - December 9:00am - 10:00pm)

Day Four - Head to Hamilton!

Visit our Bermuda National Gallery. (Open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm; 10am - 2pm Saturday ). Admission is free!

The Gallery is located on the second floor of the City Hall & Arts Centre in the heart of Hamilton. It is the home of the national art collection, showing both Bermuda and world art. The museum has a diverse collection and exhibition program of past and present works by local and international artists that tells Bermuda's history through its fine and decorative arts as well as reflecting Bermuda's multicultural heritage.

After wandering the gallery, head up to the Bermuda Society of Arts. This gallery consists of constantly changing exhibits that are displayed in the West Wing of City Hall. Annual juried shows attract local artists who display works created with watercolours, oils, pastels, acrylics and charcoals. The Photographic Show each January features underwater and shoreside shots. Open 10am – 4pm Monday through Friday, and 10am – 2pm on Saturday.

Stop by our Sessions House and learn more about the powerful role Parliament plays in Bermuda. Every 10:30am (Monday - Thursday), a 45 minute tour is given.

At 12 noon, wander up to Fort Hamilton for the Skirling Ceremony. Here, overlooking the harbour in an untried fortress, authentic kilted pipers, drummers and dancers perform to the bagpipe "skirl" of the Bermuda Islands Pipe Band. Note: this is a seasonal event; refer to our Calendar of Events page.

From 2:30 – 4:00pm, enjoy a Bermuda Cookery Demonstration located in the No. 6 Passenger Terminal, Front Street. Here Bermudian cuisine is showcased as a “melting pot” of ethnic influences as Bermudian chef Cheryl Kerr shares local flavors! Note: this is a seasonal event; refer to our Calendar of Events page.

And don’t forget to stay for the Gombey Revue. The swirling rhythm and vivid costumes of the Gombey Dancers and musicians are an exciting, historic Bermuda folk art event. Be sure to bring your camera!

Day Five - Last Bits and Ends!

Indulge yourself in afternoon tea at Heritage Court at Fairmont Hamilton Princess. Recently praised by the New York Times as having the best afternoon tea in Bermuda, The Heritage Court is proud to continue this thoroughly British tradition dating back to the early 1800s. Popularized by then Queen Victoria—whose daughter Princess Louise inspired the name Hamilton Princess after her visit to Bermuda in 1883—the custom of taking tea in the afternoon is now a signature event of the hotel, enjoyed daily by tourists and locals alike.