EAST END

St. George’s, one of three main town centers on the island, was the first established by settlers on the island in 1612. It was a key port city during the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars, assisting both the American rebels and the Confederate south in obtaining supplies; in 2000, its rich architectural and military history earned it a spot among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Now, it’s home to several churches and a stunning seaside fort, but it’s not just lodged in the past: St. George’s and the rest of the east end are also home to some of the island’s most pristine outdoor spaces, a handful of iconic restaurants, and a perfumery-cum-tea shop. For a little history and a little modern, there’s no better destination on the island.

CRYSTAL AND FANTASY CAVES

The Crystal Caves of Bermuda, an otherworldly network of caves and subterranean lakes, was first discovered in 1901 by two Bermudian boys who were trying to track down a lost cricket ball. What they eventually uncovered is now one of Bermuda’s true hidden treasures—a cavernous, watery world, complete with centuries-old stalactites and stalagmites. Today, guided tours take visitors deep inside these two Ice Age–era caves where you’ll descend about 120 feet below ground for an unearthly natural experience. A word of caution, though: a tour through the Crystal Caves of Bermuda is not for the faint of heart or for the claustrophobic—the spaces that lead to the caverns are tight. The tour operators recommend that prospective visitors reach out in advance of arrival; walk-in tours are available during peak season.

UNFINISHED CHURCH

For a brief time in the late 19th century, townspeople wanted something new and shiny—they wanted to replace the then-dilapidated St. Peter's Church. The town began to erect a new church, but squabbles over money, plus a healthy dose of local drama, led the project stall out after the roof was erected in 1897. (The roof blew off in a freak storm roughly 30 years later.) Now, the Unfinished Church looks like the picturesque ruin of a house of worship—and not one that was simply never finished—with arches of limestone bricks and a carpeting of scratchy Bermuda grass. Parts of the church are currently closed due to safety concerns, but you can get a sense of its ghostly atmosphere even from the outside.

BERMUDA AQUARIUM, MUSEUM, AND ZOO

The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, a trio of attractions in Flatts Village, couldn’t possibly be a better place to bring the kids for a half-day of island-inspired exploration. The sprawling waterside facility has three distinct permanent components: the aquarium, where you’ll peruse tanks filled with fish and other marine life (like the 140,000-gallon North Rock tank, which mimics a local reef system and houses sharks, tuna, and barracuda); the zoo, which features animals found in island ecosystems around the world; and the natural history museum.

FORT ST. CATHERINE

Bermuda is well-known for its stone fortifications, and Fort St. Catherine is among the island’s most impressive. Set on a hilltop overlooking the spot where English settlers first crashed upon Bermuda’s shores in 1609, this mighty military structure was originally constructed in 1614 as a much smaller fort built by the island’s first governor, Richard Moore. And while what you’ll see today is largely an expanded version, completed in the 19th century, the imposing fortress is an excellent example of Bermuda’s military architecture—not to mention an ideal spot to snap some gorgeous sunset pictures of the island’s craggy coastline.

SWIZZLE INN

Bermuda has two national drinks: the Dark n' Stormy, made with Gosling’s Black Seal Rum and ginger beer, and the Rum Swizzle, a not-so-sweet punch originally invented at the Swizzle Inn when it opened in 1932. In those days, the Bailey's Bay dive bar was a converted 17th-century roadhouse that served potent rum drinks and Bermuda fish chowder. Nearly 90 years later not much has changed; in fact, graffiti from decades of customers is still scribbled all over the walls. Anything goes, which is why patrons are encouraged to “Swizzle Inn and Swagger Out.” It’s impossible to find a bar or restaurant in Bermuda that doesn’t serve Rum Swizzles, but you can’t leave the island without trying a taste of the original.

HAMILTON

Hamilton, the island’s capital city (referred to by most locals as, simply, “town”) is the business and financial hub of Bermuda, populated with pastel-colored office buildings (this is still Bermuda, after all). But that’s not to say there’s a dearth of leisure activities downtown: That’s where you’ll find fresh, contemporary boutiques, some of the country’s best restaurants, and a handful of cultural sites. Wander down Front Street, lined with brightly hued buildings (zoned at a maximum of two stories to preserve the waterfront skyline), or venture farther into town—wherever you’re at, here are the best things to see in Hamilton, Bermuda.

WEST END

Until it went out of use in 1995, just a few years after the end of the Cold War, the Royal Naval Dockyard was the United Kingdom’s largest naval base in the Atlantic. Today, it’s better known for its tourist attractions: shops like Dockyard Glassworks and the Bermuda Rum Cake Company, Dolphin Quest and Snorkel Park, and a sampling of pubs. And where the east end of the island is home to Bermuda’s best nature reserves Walsingham and Blue Hole Park—the west end is where you’ll find its most iconic beaches and some of its finest dive shops.

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