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Bermuda is a group of islands in the Atlantic, and for sailors there are two important harbours: St. George’s Harbour at the eastern end, with the main office for clearing in, and Hamilton Harbour off the capital in the middle of the island chain. Here you can read how to get from the airport to the harbours in Bermuda, where the berths are, where to shop, what the sailing weather is like, which destinations are sailed to from here, and what skippers need to bear in mind when clearing in.
The essentials at a glance
- L.F. Wade International Airport is on St. David’s Island in the east. By taxi, you can reach St. George’s in 10 to 15 minutes and Hamilton in 20 to 40 minutes.
- There are no ordinary rental cars in Bermuda. You get around by taxi, bus or ferry, or you can rent a small electric car or a scooter. The Bermuda dollar is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, and US dollars are accepted everywhere on the island.
- At St. George’s Harbour, there is a supermarket about 200 metres from the harbour, while in Hamilton there are several supermarkets in the town centre.
- Hurricane season runs from June to the end of November. Outside tropical storms, the weather is most settled from late spring to early autumn, when the Bermuda-Azores High usually brings light southeasterly winds.
Where are the harbours in Bermuda?
In Bermuda, yachts berth in two places: in St. George’s Harbour at the historic town of St. George’s in the east, and in Hamilton Harbour off the capital, Hamilton, which lies to the southwest in the middle of the island chain. By bus, it is around 50 minutes between the two harbours. St. George’s Harbour is home to the main office for clearing in; in Hamilton, only yachts with a berth at Princess Marina and regatta participants clear in.
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More Information| Feature | St. George’s Harbour | Hamilton Harbour |
|---|---|---|
| Location | East end, St. George’s town (UNESCO World Heritage Site) | Centre of the island, capital Hamilton |
| Einklarieren | Main office at the east end of Ordnance Island | only for yachts with a berth in Princess Marina, after registering by email |
| Guest berths | Captain Smokes Marina, St. George’s Dinghy & Sports Club, superyacht berth on Ordnance Island (up to 150 m) | Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (130 berths, yachts up to 150 feet), Princess Marina (60 berths), Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club |
| Taxi from the airport | 10 to 15 minutes | 20 to 40 minutes |
| Bus routes | 1, 3, 10 and 11 | most routes from the Central Bus Terminal |
| Ferry | Orange Route to Dockyard, summer timetable only | Ferry terminal on Front Street, all year round |
Arriving in Bermuda for the start of your sailing trip
From L.F. Wade Airport to the harbours
The quickest way to get to the harbour is by taxi. Taxis wait at the airport; they seat up to six people and run on a meter, with fares set by the government. A surcharge applies at night between midnight and 6 am, and on Sundays and public holidays. Allow 10 to 15 minutes to get to St. George’s and the berths at the east end, and 20 to 40 minutes to Hamilton, depending on traffic.
Bus routes 1, 3, 10 and 11 also serve the airport. With a lot of luggage, however, the public bus is impractical. For larger crews, you can book a minibus in advance. On the ground floor, beyond customs, you will find rental firms offering small electric cars.
When taking a taxi, it is best to give the full name of the berth, for example “Captain Smokes Marina, St. George’s”, “Ordnance Island, St. George’s” or “Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Hamilton”. The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club is not in Hamilton itself but opposite, in Paget.
By bus, taxi or ferry
The pink-and-blue buses run on eleven routes, most of which start at the Central Bus Terminal on Washington Street in Hamilton. Routes 10 and 11 run between Hamilton and St. George’s, together about every 15 minutes during the day on weekdays, and the journey takes around 50 minutes. Routes 1 and 3 also go to St. George’s, but by a longer route. You can pay on the bus with the exact cash, by card or with the Shorelink app. If you are staying for several days, a pass valid on all buses and ferries is worthwhile.
The ferries depart from the ferry terminal on Front Street in Hamilton, around 250 metres from the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. From there they run to Dockyard, to the west and across the harbour to Paget. St. George’s has a ferry connection only in the summer timetable: the Orange Route then runs from Dockyard to St. George’s, not from Hamilton. It does not run in the winter timetable.
Parking
For visitors, parking hardly matters, as there are no ordinary rental cars. If you arrive with a rented electric car or scooter, you will find public car parks in St. George’s right by the harbour on Water Street, as well as at Customs House Square and on Ordnance Island, each around 100 to 150 metres away. In Hamilton, the nearest public car parks are on Gorham Road and Bermudiana Road, each around 350 metres from the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club marina.
Showers and sanitary facilities
Both harbours have showers for guests. In St. George’s Harbour, Captain Smokes Marina, the St. George’s Dinghy & Sports Club and the marina on Ordnance Island have showers, and the club and the marina on Ordnance Island also have a laundry. In Hamilton Harbour, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club has showers and a laundry.
Shopping for the trip
In St. George’s Harbour, Somers Supermart is around 200 metres from the harbour, in the town. For a big shop by taxi or electric car, you can reach The MarketPlace towards the middle of the island, around 7.3 kilometres as the crow flies.
In Hamilton you have a wider choice: Miles Market is around 250 metres from the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club marina, The English Market around 500 metres and The MarketPlace around 600 metres. Further supermarkets in the town centre are between 800 metres and just over a kilometre away.
Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services
Bermuda’s acute-care hospital is the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, around 2 kilometres from the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Its emergency department is open around the clock. In the east, there is the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre on Hall Street in Southside for minor injuries and illnesses. It is open only on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 9 pm.
There is a pharmacy in St. George’s around 150 metres from the harbour. In Hamilton, the nearest pharmacies are around 400 to 800 metres from the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. There is a doctor’s surgery in the town centre, around 800 metres away.
- 911: emergency number, also for ambulance
- At sea: Bermuda Radio listens around the clock on VHF channels 16 and 27 and on DSC channel 70
Where is St. George’s Harbour?
St. George’s Harbour lies at the eastern end of Bermuda, off the town of St. George’s, which was founded in 1612 and was the capital until 1815. The old town, with its lanes and stone houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Directly off the town centre lies the small island of Ordnance Island, at the eastern end of which customs clears arriving yachts.
The berths are spread across several facilities along the town waterfront. Captain Smokes Marina lies west of the St. George’s ferry landing, and it is around five minutes on foot to the old town. St. George’s Marina opened on Ordnance Island in 2023, a pier mainly for superyachts. Around 900 metres east of the old town, on Cut Road, is the St. George’s Dinghy & Sports Club, a private club that accommodates visiting yachts and serves as a customs point for several Atlantic rallies.
Facilities in St. George’s Harbour
At Captain Smokes Marina, yachts moor stern-to at the quay using mooring lines. There is fresh water, electricity at 110 and 220 volts, sanitary facilities with showers and internet, as well as barbecue areas and picnic areas. A hardware shop and boat repairs are nearby. St. George’s Marina on Ordnance Island offers alongside and stern-to berths for vessels up to 150 metres, as well as reception, showers, a laundry, a lounge and dining. The St. George’s Dinghy & Sports Club has showers, a laundry and a bar.
Where is Hamilton Harbour?
Hamilton Harbour lies in the middle of Bermuda, and the capital, Hamilton, stands on its northern shore. The town was founded in 1793 and has been the capital since 1815. The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club lies directly on Front Street, the harbour road with shops and restaurants, and the ferry terminal is around 250 metres further east.
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club was founded in 1844 and is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the western hemisphere. The participants in the Newport Bermuda Race also arrive here. Further west, the Princess Marina at the Hamilton Princess hotel has 60 berths for boats from around 30 feet up to superyachts. Opposite, on the southern shore in Paget, the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club welcomes visiting yachts at its marina.
Facilities at Hamilton Harbour
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club marina has 130 berths and takes yachts up to 150 feet in length. When there is space, visiting yachts usually berth on the outer marina wall with shore power. The club uses North American electricity and has only a few adapters, so you should bring your own cables. Facilities include water, free Wi-Fi, showers, a laundry, help with mooring, a repair service, a restaurant with a terrace and a bar. Visiting yachts pay $4 per foot per day from 1 April to 31 October and $3 from 1 November to 31 March, with a 10 per cent discount from 30 days (as of November 2026).
What is the sailing weather like in Bermuda?
From late spring to early autumn, the Bermuda-Azores High is usually at its strongest. It brings the most settled weather of the year, with light south-easterly winds and fair-weather clouds. Hurricane season runs from June to the end of November, peaking from late August into September. In winter, fronts pass through more often, and off the US east coast lows occasionally develop that intensify very rapidly.
The Bermuda Weather Service issues a warning of strong winds for small vessels (Small Craft Warning) when average winds of 20 to 33 knots or waves of nine feet and above are expected. From 34 knots it issues a gale warning, and from 48 knots a storm warning. It forecasts sea state separately for the waters inside and outside the reef.
Which sailing destinations are near Bermuda?
Offshore passages lead from Bermuda in three directions. Several Atlantic rallies stop here, both on the way to Europe and on the way to the Caribbean.
- Azores: To the east, towards Europe, lie the Azores, for example the Marina Horta on Faial.
- Antigua and the Caribbean: To the south you head into the Caribbean, for example to Falmouth and English Harbour on Antigua.
- US east coast: The race course of the Newport Bermuda Race, from Newport, Rhode Island, to the lighthouse at St. David’s, measures 636 nautical miles and leads straight across the Gulf Stream.
What can you do on a day in port in Bermuda?
In both harbours the town lies right on the water. In St. George’s you explore the old town on foot, while in Hamilton a stroll through town begins on Front Street.
- St. Peter’s Church in St. George’s: The church is considered the oldest continuously used church in the Western Hemisphere, with cedar beams, candle holders and an old graveyard.
- Museums in St. George’s: Tucker House, dating from the 1750s, shows everyday life in the colonial era, while the Bermuda National Trust museum in the former Globe Hotel shows Bermuda’s role in the American Civil War.
- Fort St. Catherine: The fortress, dating from 1614, stands above the beach where the first settlers came ashore in 1609. You can explore its tunnels and ramparts.
- Hamilton: From Front Street you can walk to the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, built in 1869, whose tower you can climb, and on to Victoria Park.
- Fort Hamilton: The fortress from the 1870s on the edge of Hamilton is now a park with views over the town and harbour.
For skippers: clearing in and marine weather in Bermuda
Foreign yachts register in advance, call Bermuda Radio before arrival and usually clear in with customs in St. George’s Harbour.
Register before departure
Bermuda Radio asks all yachts to fill in the online yacht form in the departure port before setting off. Pre-registration with customs via SailClear is mandatory. Everyone on board needs a valid, machine-readable passport. You can complete the Maritime Declaration of Health up to two days before arrival.
Clearing in at St. George’s
As you approach the island, call Bermuda Radio on VHF channel 16. Bermuda Radio gives you the approach information, guides you into St. George’s Harbour and assigns you the berth at the customs dock. The customs station is at the eastern end of Ordnance Island; the officer comes aboard and handles customs, immigration and the health check in a single appointment.
Without a previously applied-for permit, a yacht receives a five-day transit permit when clearing in, which costs $5 per metre. Anyone wishing to stay longer applies within that time for a cruising permit of up to six months, which costs $6.50 per metre for yachts under 24 metres and $8.50 per metre from 24 metres (as of November 2026). Yachts taking part in an approved regatta or sailing event are exempt. Crews on visiting yachts may stay for up to three months on arrival, and an extension is possible through the Department of Immigration.
Clearing in at Hamilton and for regattas
In Hamilton you can clear in directly at the Princess Marina if you have a berth there and have applied to customs in advance by e-mail. Regatta participants clear in at their destination club: participants in the Newport Bermuda Race at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, the Marion Bermuda Race and the Annapolis Bermuda Race at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, and several Atlantic rallies at the St. George’s Dinghy & Sports Club.
Which marine weather forecast applies in Bermuda?
The Marine weather forecast of the Bermuda Weather Service is updated four times a day, at 5:30, 11:30, 16:30 and 23:30 local time. It covers the waters up to 25 nautical miles off the coast, gives wind, visibility and sea state inside and outside the reef, and includes the high and low water times for St. George’s; for Great Sound, add ten minutes.
On VHF channel 2 (162.4 MHz), Bermuda Radio broadcasts the forecast continuously, supplemented from June to November with information on tropical storms. Bermuda Radio announces urgent warnings on channel 16 and then repeats them on a working channel. On channel 27, safety messages with the weather are broadcast every four hours, and NAVTEX is available on 518 kHz.
Sailing trips from Bermuda on Törnfinder
You can find sailing trips that start or stop off in Bermuda under Cabin Charter for a Transatlantic Crossing, sailing trips heading south under Sailing in the Caribbean. You can find all offers by date and sailing area under Trips.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from the airport to St. George’s Harbour?
The quickest way is by taxi; the journey takes 10 to 15 minutes. Bus routes 1, 3, 10 and 11 also stop at the airport, but the bus is impractical if you have large luggage.
How do I get from St. George’s to Hamilton?
By bus on route 10 or 11 in around 50 minutes, roughly every 15 minutes during the day on weekdays. There is no direct ferry between St. George’s and Hamilton.
Can I hire a car at the start of my sailing trip in Bermuda?
No, standard hire cars are not available in Bermuda. You can rent a small electric car or a scooter, and electric car rental companies are located at the airport. Parking in St. George’s is right by the harbour.
Are there showers in the harbours in Bermuda?
Yes. In St. George’s Harbour, Captain Smokes Marina, the St. George’s Dinghy & Sports Club and the marina on Ordnance Island have showers; in Hamilton Harbour, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club does.
Where do yachts clear customs in Bermuda?
In St. George’s Harbour at the east end of Ordnance Island. On your approach, call Bermuda Radio on VHF channel 16, which will direct you to the berth at customs.
When is the hurricane season in Bermuda?
From June to the end of November, peaking from late August into September. Outside of tropical storms, the weather is at its most settled from late spring to early autumn.
