Best Beaches in Bermuda: Find the Right Beach for Your Day

Horseshoe Bay Beach: For Amenities and Pink Sand

• Location: Horseshoe Bay Beach Road, Southampton WK 04
• Getting here: Bermuda’s Route 7 bus travels along the South Shore and stops at Horseshoe Bay. From Hamilton, the scheduled journey is about 25 minutes. Route 7 also connects the area with Royal Naval Dockyard on selected services.

If it’s your first trip to Bermuda and you only have time for one major beach day, Horseshoe Bay in Southampton Parish is the place to start.

This broad crescent of pale pink sand has bathrooms, changing facilities, food, and rentals for loungers, towels, snorkelling equipment, and boogie boards.
Horseshoe Bay Live serves food and drinks at the beach, so there’s no need to pack lunch unless you want to.

If you’re travelling with small children, look for Port Royal Cove at the eastern end of Horseshoe Bay. The enclosed section is shallower and more protected than the main beach.

Tobacco Bay Beach: For Calm Water Near St. George’s

•  Location: 1 Coot Pond Road, St. George’s GE 03
• Getting here: From the centre of St. George’s, it’s about a 15-minute walk to Tobacco Bay. No public bus goes directly to the beach, but Routes 1, 3, 10, and 11 can get you from Hamilton to King’s Square in St. George’s. From there, walk or take a taxi.

If you’re in the town of St. George, Tobacco Bay is a natural stop for a day at the beach. You can walk over from town, swim or snorkel around the rock formations, and stay for food or a drink.

The water stays relatively calm here, especially around the limestone formations that shelter the bay. Grab a mask and snorkel, and you can usually find parrotfish, angelfish, and other colourful reef fish close to the rocks.

There’s a restaurant and bar right at the beach, along with bathrooms and beach rentals. In summer, some evenings bring bonfires, live music, and happy hour specials, so it’s worth checking what’s happening before you head over.

Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve: For Nature and Quiet Beaches

•  Location: Cooper’s Island Road, St. George’s
• Getting here: Route 6 from St. George’s stops at Clearwater Beach, which is also the stop for Turtle Bay and Cooper’s Island. If you’re coming from Hamilton, take Route 1, 3, 10, or 11 towards St. George’s, then transfer to Route 6. A taxi is more direct if you’re coming from elsewhere on the island.

Turtle Bay and Cooper’s Island. If you’re coming from Hamilton, take Route 1, 3, 10, or 11 towards St. George’s, then transfer to Route 6. A taxi is more direct if you’re coming from elsewhere on the island.

If sitting on the sand all day sounds nice, but not quite enough, Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve is where to go. 

The reserve covers 12 acres at Bermuda’s southeastern end, with walking trails, a restored pond, salt marsh, and access to several beaches, including Clearwater Beach and Turtle Bay. You can swim for a while, put your shoes back on, walk the trails, then settle in on another stretch of sand.

Birdwatching is particularly good here, so bring your binoculars. Herons, egrets, and kingfishers are regulars around the reserve, and turtles are sometimes spotted in the surrounding water. At the far end of the peninsula, make your way up to the top of the wildlife observation tower for a wider view across the coast.

There are no facilities inside the nature reserve itself, so bring water and whatever else you’ll want along the way. Before or after your walk, stop at Clearwater Beach, where you’ll find bathrooms, a playground, and seasonal food and drinks at Sunjammers Bar and Grill.

Snorkel Park Beach: For Families and Cruise Visitors

• Location: 7 Maritime Lane, Royal Naval Dockyard, Sandys MA 01
• Getting here: If you’re at Royal Naval Dockyard, walk to Snorkel Park at 7 Maritime Lane. It’s within the Dockyard complex and close enough to the cruise terminals that you don’t need a taxi or bus.

If you’ve arrived in Bermuda through the Royal Naval Dockyard and the goal is to get into the water quickly, Snorkel Park Beach Club is hard to beat.

The beach sits right inside the Dockyard complex, with swimming, paddleboards, water bikes, and other rentals available. You’ll also find bathrooms, lockers, food, and drinks on site, which makes It particularly handy for families who don’t want to carry beach gear across the island.

Stop here for a few hours, and when it’s time to try something else, you’re close to the National Museum of Bermuda and the rest of Dockyard once everyone’s dried off.

After dark, the energy shifts at Snorkel Park. The beach club hosts DJs, live entertainment, bonfires, and late-night events geared towards adults.

Jobson’s Cove: For Calm Swimming

•  Location: Jobson’s Cove, Warwick WK 04
• Getting here: Take the Route 7 bus along the South Shore and get off around Warwick Long Bay. From Warwick Long Bay, follow the coastal walking trail to Jobson’s Cove.

Jobson’s Cove is tiny compared with nearby Horseshoe Bay and Warwick Long Bay, and that’s exactly why so many people love it.

The cove is sheltered by tall limestone formations that practically close it off from the open sea, leaving calm, shallow water that feels more like a natural swimming pool. It’s one of our favourite choices for families with younger children or anyone who’d rather float than deal with bigger South Shore waves.

There aren’t bathrooms, restaurants, or rows of rentals right at the cove. Facilities are available at nearby Warwick Long Bay, and the two beaches are linked by a walking trail through South Shore Park.

Jobson’s Cove is small enough that a handful of groups arriving at the same time can really change the atmosphere. If you want that desert island feeling, go earlier for a quieter swim.

Astwood Cove and Southlands Beach: For Fewer Crowds

Astwood Cove

• Location: 49 South Road, Warwick WK 07
• Getting here: Astwood Park is at 49 South Road in Warwick. If you’re coming by taxi, scooter, or rental microcar, follow South Road and look for the park entrance. Route 7 also travels along South Road, so ask the driver for the closest stop to Astwood Park.

You need to work a little bit to get to Astwood Cove, but the effort is worth the reward.

The beach sits below Astwood Park, surrounded by steep cliffs. To reach it, you’ll follow a winding trail down from the park. The descent can be tricky, particularly for young children or anyone with mobility concerns, so this isn’t the beach we’d choose when accessibility matters.

The payoff is a beach that often feels far quieter than the better-known stretches farther west. Up above, Astwood Park has parking, bathrooms, picnic tables, and a broad grassy area overlooking the water.

Bring what you want for the beach itself. Once you make the walk down, you won’t find a concession stand waiting for you.

Astwood Park is one of Bermuda’s better spots for Stargazing. There’s relatively little light pollution along this stretch of the South Shore, so it’s worth coming back after sunset on a clear night.  

Southlands Beach

Location: 60 South Road, Warwick
Getting Here: Southlands Beach is at 60 South Road in Warwick, directly across the road from Southlands National Park. Route 7 runs along the South Shore and passes Southlands Park. If you’re driving, follow South Road and look for the beach access on the ocean side opposite the park.

Southlands Beach offers another quiet, slightly more accessible option along the South Shore.

The beach sits across South Road from Southlands National Park, a 37-acre property filled with walking trails, historic ruins, and a remarkable grove formed by just a few enormous banyan trees. You won’t find many beach day amenities here, so bring what you need rather than counting on chair rentals and a beachfront restaurant. If you’re ready for lunch afterwards, Lost in the Triangle is a short walk away on South Shore Road and specialises in fresh Bermuda fish and seafood.

Church Bay: For Snorkelling

•  Location: South Road, Southampton WK 07
• Getting here: Take Route 7 along South Road and get off at Church Bay in Southampton. If you’re travelling by taxi, scooter, or rental microcar, Church Bay Park is directly off South Road.

For snorkelling straight from shore, Church Bay is the beach we’d choose.

The reef sits close enough to shore that you can start seeing fish without booking a boat trip. Parrotfish and angelfish are common around the shallow reef, and the rocky underwater terrain offers plenty to look at once you’re in.

Church Bay Park overlooks the beach and has bathrooms and picnic areas. There’s also a concession stand where you can buy snacks and rent snorkelling equipment.

Which Bermuda Beach Should You Choose?

If you want the shortest version:

    •    Best all-round beach: Horseshoe Bay
    •    Best for calm swimming: Jobson’s Cove
    •    Best for snorkelling: Church Bay
    •    Best near St. George’s: Tobacco Bay
    •    Best near Royal Naval Dockyard: Snorkel Park
    •    Best for nature: Cooper’s Island
    •    Best for fewer people: Astwood Cove or Southlands Beach

Bermuda is famous for its stretches of pink sand, but there’s much more variety along the coast than you might expect. Whether you’re looking for calm waters, snorkelling hot spots, secluded shores, or a beach with food and amenities nearby, you’ll find the perfect spot to slide your toes into the sand while you’re here. 

Explore more of Bermuda’s beaches and start planning your stay.