Bermuda: Getting there & around

There are regular scheduled flights to Bermuda from the USA, Canada and the UK. Travellers arriving from other destinations by air will need to connect through one of these countries.

Several airlines offer direct service from New York, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Charlotte and Washington DC. Air Canada flies daily from Toronto and weekly from Halifax. British Airways flies direct daily from London-Heathrow. The departure tax on all air flights is US$25.00 , which is usually included in the price of your ticket.

Between April and October, some 17,000 cruise ship passengers sail to Bermuda each year. Most cruise ships sail from US East Coast cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Newport, Wilmington, Charleston and Fort Lauderdale. They all suspend operations in the winter months. Cruise ship passengers pay a US$60.00 departure tax, which is usually included in the price of your ticket.

There are no car rentals in Bermuda. Visitors can ride public buses and ferries, rent a moped or scooter, use taxis - or even hire a horse and carriage. The island is so tiny and the public bus system so good that even the most independent travellers will not miss having their own vehicles. To ride the bus you need to have the exact fare in coins.

Metered taxis can be found at the airport and most large hotels. Taxis can also double as tour operators if you want to piece together your own sightseeing tour of the island. Drivers turn off the meter in such circumstances and generally turn on the charm. Their knowledge and commentary can add plenty of local colour to a tour. Expect to pay an hourly rate.

Bermuda's narrow winding roads can be challenging for riders not used to mopeds so make sure you're comfortable on two wheels before you hire a machine for the week. Enough visitors spill their mopeds for the term 'road rash' to be part of the island vernacular. To hire a moped you need to be 16 years old, wear a helmet and promise to drive on the left side of the road. Strangely bicycling is not a particularly popular way of getting round, though some moped rental stores do rent bikes. Be prepared to work up a sweat.

Ferries are a scenic way to get around and, in some cases, are much faster than the bus. Ferries connect Hamilton with Paget, Warwick and the Somerset/Dockyard area. Walking is the obvious way to get around Bermuda's towns but walking between towns is not much fun since the narrow roads rarely have sidewalks. Horse and carriage rides are for romance rather than getting from A to B.