Your Bermuda Bucket List: Summer Edition

Fill your summer getaway with lasting memories when you dive into island events and experiences found only in Bermuda. Whether these are once-in-a-lifetime or repeat adventures, you’ll love every moment. Don’t miss special deals and offers to get even more out of your getaway.

Celebrate Carnival in Bermuda

Every June, Bermuda is awash in colour and euphoric energy during Carnival, a celebration of Bermuda’s vibrant culture. The event always features action-packed parties and live music, and it all culminates in the Revel de Road parade, where masqueraders in stunning costumes dance through the streets in a glorious road march overflowing with joy and revelry. If you love soca and cultural festivals, Carnival is an absolute must. See our 7-Day Carnival Itinerary.

Experience Cup Match

So much more than a cricket competition, Cup Match Weekend is one of the biggest events of the year. Part sports tradition, part Emancipation celebration, and part island-wide party, Cup Match is a cultural phenomenon. 

See the big game at St. George’s Cricket Club or Somerset Cricket Club (depending on the year), take in the sight of all the decked-out cars repping the teams, and feast on festival foods like conch and beef pies. Get in on a game of Crown & Anchor, a traditional dice game originating from the British Royal Navy that’s a staple of Cup Match fun. After the match, get ready for a full lineup of Bermuda-style fun, on land and water. See our Cup Match Guide & Itinerary.

Watch the Powerboats race 'Round The Island' Boat 

Speed lovers can get some vicarious thrills by watching some of the fastest powerboats to ever hit Bermuda’s waters at the fan favourite “Around the Island” boat race. Held on the first Sunday after Cup Match Weekend, this annual race brings spectators to the shore to watch the boats zip by at breakneck speeds.

Get Immersed in Pink-Sand Beaches 

Bermuda’s silky pink sand is a perfect backdrop for any summer moment. The South Shore is home to some of the island’s most impressive stretches of pink sand. Take a barefoot stroll, enjoy sunbathing, or find the best photo ops for living the swimsuit model life in Bermuda. But the best way to enjoy the sand is to build your own pink sand sculpture. In August and early September, the Bermuda Sandcastle Competition hosts free workshops and tutorials at Horseshoe Bay Beach, where you’ll learn techniques from talented Bermudian sand sculptor Hannah Emmerson. 

Go Snorkelling With Colourful Parrotfish

Named after their vibrant colours and beaked mouths, parrotfish are reef cleaners who scrape algae off rocks as their primary food source. Thanks to them grinding down coral, their diet results in our famous pink sand! A critical piece of Bermuda’s ocean ecosystem, parrotfish are protected from fishing and therefore easy to find – you’ll often see them right off the beach. Swim with these strikingly beautiful fish at top snorkelling spots like Tobacco Bay , Church Bay, or Sea Garden and snap some underwater photos.

Reel in the Big One on a Deep Sea Fishing Trip

Anglers rejoice: The world record books prove that Bermuda's waters offer some of the best big game fishing on the planet. There's a reason we've earned our spot in the big game angler's playbook decades ago: Our waters are a wonderland for wahoo, marlin, tuna, and more. Take your shot at catching the big one on an unforgettable deep sea fishing trip – book your bucket list fishing expedition with a local tour operator such as Early Bird Charters.

Kayak or Jet Ski Under the World’s Smallest Drawbridge

Buck the trend of seeking out the “world’s largest” and seek out the “world’s smallest” instead – the world’s smallest drawbridge, specifically. At just 56cm wide, the gap on Somerset Bridge is just wide enough to accommodate a sailboat’s mast. See it from a different angle by cruising under it on a kayak or jet ski. You can book your water ride with H20 Watersports or K.S. WaterSports Adventure Tours & Rentals.

Indulge in Cocktail Culture

A deliciously refreshing cocktail is an essential experience in Bermuda. Sure, you can easily order the classics like a Dark ‘n’ Stormy or a Rum Swizzle (Bermuda’s national cocktail), but you can also find more creative and innovative offerings like the Gates Bay Mary, a Bermudian twist on the Bloody Mary. Discover the top cocktails for a taste of Bermuda culture, and see what your mixologist can shake up for you at spots like the Sunken Harbor Club at Cambridge Beaches or The St. Regis Bermuda Resort. For a guided experience, take a cocktail tour with History with a Twist with Long Story Short. 

Watch the Day Disappear on a Sunset Cruise

The sunset just looks even more stunning when you’re on the water, and Bermuda offers some spectacular sunsets. You can book a sunset sail on a catamaran and learn about the sights as you take in the coastline while the sun dips low. You can also catch an ÜberVida sunset mini cruise, which lets you slowly float through Paradise Lakes and Hamilton Harbour on an hour-and-a-half cocktail cruise as the sun goes down. 

Witness Bioluminescence After a Full Moon

After the sun goes down, you can catch even more luminous beauty. On the third night after a full moon in the summertime, you can see bioluminescent glow worms circling around the surface with a bright green glow that illuminates the surrounding waters. Book a tour with Ana Luna Adventures to see this incredible natural phenomenon.

Catch a SpaceX Launch in the Night Sky

On a clear night in Bermuda, you might be able to see even more than just the stars – you may also be able to spot a SpaceX rocket launch from the East Coast. If you’re eager to track when SpaceX will be in the sky, check out the launch schedule by Next Spaceflight.

Rent a Private Island 

Ever dream of having your own private island? In Bermuda, you can rent one. Book one of Bermuda’s exclusive private hideaways like Hawkins Island, a 25 acres of lush woodland reserve with a tranquil private beach. Explore private islands and luxury villas available for rent.

If renting a private island isn’t in the cards, you can still find secluded spots that feel like your own slice of paradise. Warwick Long Bay is a wonderfully tranquil spot with a sweeping coastline and rocky outcroppings dotting the horizon, and Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve at the island’s eastern end is ideal for communing with nature and wildlife. Find the best secluded beaches in Bermuda.

More Bermuda Adventures

Want to go deeper into Bermuda? Sprinkle hidden gems, active adventures, and local favourites into your bucket list with this collection of Bermuda summer adventures.