Taking a cruise to Bermuda can be an exciting experience! Although Bermuda has three main ports — King’s Wharf, Hamilton Port, and St. George’s Port.
The King’s Wharf at the Royal Naval Dockyard tends to be the busiest cruise ship port on the island, making it the main docking area for visitors. As your ship docks, your thoughts might start to turn to where the closest beaches are.
With that in mind, here are some of the best Bermuda beaches near the main cruise port to delight the whole family, adults and children alike.
9 Bermuda Beaches Near Cruise Port of King’s Wharf
Bermuda is home to many beautiful beaches, enticing about 805,000 tourists in 2019. You can often find easy walking routes to most of them but you can also take advantage of Bermuda’s public transportation, including buses, taxis, ferries, and moped and bicycle rentals. (Note that tourists cannot rent cars on the island.)
Rates for the bus and ferry vary based on the island’s 14 zones, but generally, you can expect to pay anywhere from $3.50 to $5 for an adult ticket. A child’s ticket is typically slightly cheaper. If you choose to take a taxi, initial fares hover at about $5, with an additional charge of $3 to $5 per mile. Prices hinge on the taxi you choose to take.
If a bicycle or moped rental is more your style, expect to pay at least $50 for a moped and around $30 to $40 for a bicycle, depending on where you rent. Of course, if you’re looking to save money, walking is always free, and Bermuda is an impressively walkable island.
Here are nine beautiful Bermuda beaches near the main cruise port.
1. Snorkel Park Beach
Snorkel Park Beach is an easy 10-minute walk, or about a three-minute drive, from King’s Wharf. During the day, it’s a lovely spot for families. The sand is beautiful, and the water is shallow and clear, making it perfect for children who might be afraid of sea creatures. Reflecting its name, this beach offers snorkel rentals for the whole family.
The beach usually hosts family-friendly events on weekends, but they do have a beach club and bar. So, if you’d rather not be around people drinking, it might be best to consider alternative destinations. What’s more, by nighttime, the beach is open to adults only, as they turn it into a nightclub where you’ll find DJs, dancing, and fun drinks.
2. Sea Glass Beach
Sea Glass Beach is about an eight-minute drive from the cruise port or a half an hour’s walk if you want an adventure on foot. Depending on the size of your family, you can probably expect to pay around the same amount for bus tickets or a taxi ride.
This spot is a relaxing place to hang out and enjoy the sun. It’s also where a lot of sea glass washes up, hence the name. While you can look at and pick up the sea glass, Bermuda prohibits you from taking any home. Still, Sea Glass Beach is a charming place for families to explore. However, it doesn’t have amenities or lifeguards.
3. Somerset Long Bay Beach
Somerset Long Bay Beach is about a 13-minute drive from King’s Wharf. There isn’t a ferry that can take you from the port to this area, so your best options would be to take the bus or a taxi. Just be cautious, as this beach lacks amenities and lifeguards.
While the beach might be quiet and unsupervised, there is a lot of open space to play games such as frisbee or soccer. Make sure to pack a lunch or plan on visiting one of Bermuda’s many tasty restaurants afterward.
4. Daniel’s Head Beach and Park
Daniel’s Head Beach is one of the quieter of the many Bermuda beaches near the cruise port. It’s only minutes away from Somerset Long Bay Beach, so the best transportation to reach this beach would probably be either the bus or a taxi. If you take the ferry, expect multiple stops zig-zagging through the island before you get close to your destination.
The beach is about a 15-minute drive from the port and is slightly off the beaten path, so you might need to do a little walking even after your transportation drops you off. This beach and park area has beautiful spacious views of the water. It’s an ideal spot for some family water sports fun, such as snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
This secluded area is an excellent option if you want to check out the local sea life with your family. Be sure everyone brings their camera!
5. Church Bay Beach
Church Bay Beach is a little inlet located on the southwestern part of Bermuda’s coastline. It’s about a 20-minute drive from the cruise port, or you could take a minimum of two ferry rides to get close to it. Just keep in mind that the ferry rides will put your travel time well over 20 minutes, and you’d still need transportation from the ferry dock to the beach.
The inlet has a small sandy coast that surrounds Church Bay, which boasts crystal-clear, turquoise waters. Rocks on either side of the area protect the bay from rough water, making it a calm place to swim for children and adults alike. Those features also make it a great place for snorkeling and exploring sea life in peace.
6. Horseshoe Bay Beach
Horseshoe Bay Beach is about a 25-minute bus or taxi drive from King’s Wharf. Otherwise, you could take a few ferry rides to get to the vicinity of the beach and then take a taxi.
It’s one of the island’s most well-known beaches, so it’s more likely to be crowded than other spots on this list. However, it offers beautiful pink sand, which gets its coloring from the shells of plankton-like organisms called foraminifera. With such enchanting surroundings, Horseshoe Bay is ideal for families wanting to hang out, swim, and enjoy the island views.
You might see some moon jellyfish floating around in the calm, crystal-clear waters, but don’t feel alarmed. Moon jellyfish, or Aurelia aurita, can get to the size of dinner plates, but their sting isn’t harmful.
The beach has large coral reefs located all around the bay, which afford snorkelers gorgeous views and the chance to catch sight of local sea life. There’s also a beach bar for you to grab some food if you or the kids are hungry.
7. Angle Beach
To get to Angle Beach, you have the option of taking a 30-minute bus or taxi ride or taking a few ferry rides over to the general area. The beach is on the other side of Horseshoe Bay Beach, so you could easily walk between beaches if you find that one is busier than the other. Angle Beach tends to be less crowded since there aren’t any food or amenities available.
Like Horseshoe Bay Beach, the waters are rather calm due to the surrounding reefs and rocks that break the waves. It’s a great place to float around, swim, and enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding South Shore Park.
8. Hidden Beach
Despite its mysterious name, Hidden Beach is only minutes away from Angle Beach. If you look at a map of Bermuda, it’s slightly to the right. Your best transportation option would be to take a bus or a taxi to Horseshoe Bay Beach and then walk over to Hidden Beach.
The beach appears like a hidden, quiet cove, making it the perfect spot for you to relax and get away from the more crowded tourist areas. Here, you’ll find crystal-clear waters that will have you feeling like you’re on a personal island getaway.
Climbing the rocks can keep kids entertained for hours while you relax on the beach. Bermuda can get into the high 80s depending on the time of year, but the rocks at this cove provide lots of shade. So, if you or your children don’t want to deal with the hot sun, this could be the perfect spot for your family.
9. Warwick Long Bay Beach
Warwick Long Bay Beach is the final entry in this list of the best Bermuda beaches near the cruise port. It’s about half an hour’s drive from the port and is slightly further down the coastline than Hidden Beach. The sandy coastline of this beach parallels South Road, so it’s easy to find and walk to, which is especially great if you have small children.
While there aren’t any lifeguards or amenities, there is plenty of room for playing games, building sand castles, and swimming without being on top of other people. Coral reefs line the waters, providing visitors with an explorer’s paradise. In addition, there are some beautiful hiking trails and a nearby playground to check out if anyone gets a little restless.
Closing Thoughts
With nine Bermuda beaches near the main cruise port, you’ll have plenty of options for planning a fun excursion for the whole family from the King’s Wharf at the Royal Naval Dockyard.
David Chapman
Contributor
