So you’ve landed in Bermuda, and life is good. There’s a lot to take in. How are you going to get around to do it all?
At some point, you’re either going to need to get yourself to the stunning pink sandy beaches that surround this tropical paradise or drag yourself reluctantly off them and head back to the hotel. Am I right?
Okay, maybe you also want to go shopping in the many boutiques on this wonderful island, take in the gorgeous clifftop scenery or head to the marina and dine on the freshest seafood in the hippest restaurants. Or perhaps you just want to slum it in your luxury hotel room and take the odd excursion outdoors for some fresh air.
Whatever your interests are, there’s one thing that links them all – transportation. What’s the best way to take in everything that this beautiful island nation has to offer?
We’ve got you covered! We’ll tell you everything you need to know about transportation in Bermuda. From taxis, bus and ferry through to carriage rides, hire cars and cute electric scooters, you’ll be zig-zagging from point to point before you know it.
General Information
Traffic jams are unheard of in Bermuda and the pace of traffic mimics the relaxed vibe of island life – speed limits are never set above 20 mph/32 km per hour. Safety is paramount here so be prepared to ease off and travel gently. There’s no rush to get where you’re going.
Bermudian traffic drives on the left, like the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Make sure you look both ways if you’re driving or crossing the street. It’s lucky the speed limits are so low as it can help save you if you fall back into the habit of driving or looking in the wrong direction.
Public Transport: Bus and Ferry
The public transport system in Bermuda is well-serviced, clean, punctual and inexpensive. It has both bus and ferry options, which can be an excellent way of seeing Bermuda from land or sea. The ferries offer beautiful views of the island as they take you to your destination. Ahhhh, so relaxing …
Take note that you must have coins in the exact change to buy tickets on both buses and ferries – notes aren’t accepted, and no change is given.
You can avoid the hassle of exact change by buying a Transportation Pass for anything from one day through to a seven-day pass and it gives you unlimited rides across both bus and ferry – you just hop on and hop off as you like.
If you don’t need an unlimited transportation pass, you can also buy a booklet of tickets for both bus and ferry as well as individual tokens.
Transportation passes, tickets and tokens CANNOT be bought aboard a bus or ferry – you have to buy them in advance. You can get them here:
- Central Terminal on Washington Street (bus)
- Central Terminal on Front Street (ferry)
- the Visitor Information Center in the city of Hamilton
- the Royal Naval Dockyard
- and other authorized outlets, including many post offices.
The ferry system, known as SeaExpress, has four public routes and many Bermudians use this for their daily commutes. Can anything beat heading out onto the open water as a way of getting around? It is so much nicer than sitting in a traffic jam!
Most of the ferries are fast catamarans with indoor sections as well as open decks. You can check the Bermuda Ferry website for schedules, fares and other information.
The bus system, known as Breeze Bus, has 11 routes and 14 different bus zones serving the island. You can bet that a bus can take you most places you want to go. They’re also easy to spot as they’re painted in pink and blue stripes!
Most buses leave from the Central Terminal next to City Hall in Hamilton and there are bus stops peppered throughout the island with little grottoes that provide shade or shelter from the rain. Check this site for schedules, fares and other information.
Taxis in Bermuda
Taxis are plentiful in Bermuda, and although they can be expensive, they’re also a private and flexible option for travel. All taxis in Bermuda are metered so there’s no need to bargain on price. They’re also regulated by the government and must be clearly marked and insured, by law.
The taxis seat either four people (in a car) or seven (in a mini-van) and the type of taxi you choose decides your rate:
- car - $2.75 per mile, with a hiring fee of $5.15
- mini-van - $3.50 per mile, with a hiring fee of $6.45
Rates are 25% higher for car taxis between midnight and 6am, as well as all day Sunday and on public holidays. There is also a 50% higher rate for mini-vans. If you have luggage, there will be an extra charge of $1.00 per piece of luggage.
You can take a taxi just to get from point to point or you can hire it by the hour to go a number of places. Most private island tours are done with taxis – you’ll often find your driver doubles as a certified tour guide. In these situations, you make a booking for a minimum of three hours and away you go. Rates are around $50 per hour for car taxis, and $70 per hour for the mini-vans. Be sure to ask your driver if they have any openings!
You’ll find taxi stands in prominent places across Bermuda. You can also call one over the phone – your hotel or restaurant will be happy to do this for you or you can find one in our directory.
A standard tip for your taxi driver is around 15% of the total fare.
Scooters and Bikes
If you want fun, freedom and the wind in your hair, then traveling Bermuda on a scooter or bike is the way to go!
It’s easy to rent scooters on the island and you don’t need a license – though you’ll need to show a photo ID that proves you’re 18+. Don’t worry, they won’t completely leave you to the wolves. You’ll get a short training session and they’ll make sure you feel comfortable on the scooter before letting you take off into the sea air.
You can rent a scooter for pretty much any length of time, whether it’s a day, a week, or even a month. The rental company will give you the aforementioned practice session and furnish you with all the essentials, including a helmet (which you must wear by law), a basket, lock, third party insurance and so on.
You have to ensure you return the scooter with a full fuel tank – they’ll show you how to operate it or you can pay an additional amount that basically buys the tank of gas so you don’t have to worry about filling up when you return it. You can also have a scooter delivered to, and picked up from, your location. Could there be anything easier?
You’ll find scooter rental companies at the Royal Naval Dockyard as well as dotted across the island, including in both St George and Hamilton. Costs begin at around $55 a day for a single seat scooter.
You can also try a hybrid electric bicycle, which offers all the advantages of fun, exercise and zero emissions, as well as an electric motor that will save your legs as you’re powering up the hills on the island.
If you really do want the exercise, then you can also hire a regular bike. There’s a wonderful 18km trail called the Bermuda Railway Trail that offers a fantastic way to see the island. You can hire bicycles from different places including the Royal Naval Dockyard, Paget and Hamilton.
Introducing the Twizy!
For a great option that combines the freedom and fun of a scooter, with the higher safety and comfort of a mini-car, you can’t go wrong with the new Renault Twizy fleet in Bermuda. These are two-seat vehicles where one person fits cozily into a seat behind the driver – a little like a scooter with a roof. They can have either three or four wheels.
The Twizy is an electric scooter/car hybrid designed by Renault’s Formula One racing team and they can travel up to 50 miles on a single charge. There are 25 on the island and you need to be 18+ with a valid driver’s license in order to hire one.
You can find a Twizy at various locations across the island including at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. There are charging points in most big hotels.
Carriage rides
For a romantic sense of yesteryear, nothing beats a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. Sit back and relax as your guide takes you through the historic streets of Bermuda and fills you in on the stories and fun facts about your island destination.
You can take a carriage ride in the town of St George, for a duration of around 30 minutes to an hour, and it will show you many of Bermuda’s main attractions. Between May and October, you’ll also find carriages in the area of the Royal Naval Dockyard and along Front St in Hamilton.
You can expect to pay around $50 for a tour of 30 minutes or $100 for an hour tour.
Car Rentals
Put simply, tourists can’t rent a car in Bermuda. You might find this frustrating if you’re used to traveling by car, but it’s actually a clever rule from the Bermuda Government.
Think about this. There are around 65,000 residents on Bermuda, which is just 21 square miles. It’s tiny! But tourists swell this population to around 650,000 every year. If every tourist rented a car, it would clog the streets with traffic and choke the air with fumes, every day of the year.
As Bermuda is known for its calm pace and clean air, limiting car rentals is one of the ways the government can ensure the island retains its peaceful nature, clean air and that people can continue to enjoy the relaxed pace of life.
However, you decide to get around Bermuda, one thing is for sure, you won’t be disappointed.
