Kids & Families
Bermuda is a very family-friendly island: safe, small and easy to get around, with calm beaches, friendly people and plenty to do whatever the weather. Our cottages sit on our own small, sheltered beach, so the fun starts at the front door.
Here are our favourite places for children, grouped by type and listed nearest first from the cottages in Somerset. Each one has a link to directions in Google Maps. Tap a number to see the place on the map.
Play parks and playgrounds | Animals and the sea | Rainy-day and indoor ideas | Adventures | At the cottages | Tips for families
Watford StudiosPlay parks and playgroundsAnimals and the seaRainy-day and indoor ideasAdventures. Numbers match the list below.
Getting around with children
Our bus stop is just yards from the cottages, on routes 7 (along the South Shore) and 8 (Middle Road), which run between Dockyard and Hamilton. Wait at the pink pole for buses into Hamilton and the blue pole for Dockyard. For places in the east, change buses in Hamilton. From Dockyard, ferries run to Hamilton all day, and to St. George's in summer, which children usually love. If you are not sure where to get off, ask the driver: they are always happy to help. More on our Getting Around page.
Play parks and playgrounds
Bermuda has only a handful of public playgrounds, but the best ones are easy to reach from us. All of them are free.
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Somerset Long Bay Park
Cambridge Road, Sandys
A playground and picnic areas behind a long, quiet crescent of sand with calm, shallow water, good for paddling and first snorkels. Next door, the Audubon Society's Somerset Long Bay East nature reserve has a pond, a short trail and a bird hide.
Good to know: Free. The park has toilets and picnic areas.
Walk, about 17 minutes. Go through Somerset Village and follow Cambridge Road west to the park. There is no bus along Cambridge Road.
Our Beaches guide | Our Parks guide | Directions in Google Maps
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Royal Naval Dockyard play areas
Royal Naval Dockyard, Sandys
Photo: Jerrye and Roy Klotz MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Dockyard has two playgrounds. The public playground with summer sprinklers, a splash-and-play spot on hot days, is in front of the Fun Zone where Bastion Way meets Maritime Lane, close to Snorkel Park Beach. Inside the grounds of the National Museum of Bermuda, the Museum Playhouse and Playground was built around a giant green moray eel wrapped round a lighthouse with a slide.
Good to know: The public playground is free. The museum playground is inside the museum, so you need museum tickets (children under 16 go free with an adult; see National Museum below). Check opening times before you go.
Bus, routes 7 or 8 towards Dockyard from our stop (blue pole). Dockyard is the end of the line, so you can't miss your stop. You can make a day of it with the beach, the museum and the shops.
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Warwick Long Bay playground
South Road, Warwick
A small playground by South Road, above Warwick Long Bay, Bermuda's longest beach: about half a mile of pink sand.
Good to know: Free. The South Shore can have surf and currents, so keep a close eye on children in the water.
Bus, route 7 from our stop towards Hamilton (pink pole). Ask the driver for Warwick Long Bay.
Warwick Long Bay on our Beaches guide | Directions in Google Maps
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Shelly Bay Park
North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish
A beach park with a playground: a new play set for children aged 2 to 5 was added in 2025. The beach has soft sand and very shallow water, even at high tide, so it is perfect for toddlers. Some trees along the beach give shade.
Good to know: Free. It is a few minutes along the North Shore from the Bermuda Aquarium, so you could combine the two in a day.
Bus to Hamilton, then route 10 or 11. Take a route 7 or 8 bus to Hamilton (pink pole). From the Hamilton bus terminal take a route 10 or 11 bus towards St. George's and ask the driver for Shelly Bay.
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Clearwater Beach park
St. David's
Two spacious, family-friendly beaches side by side, Clearwater and Turtle Bay, in a large park with a playground and nature trails.
Good to know: Free. Lifeguards in season.
A full day out. Take a route 7 or 8 bus to Hamilton, then route 1, 3, 10 or 11 to St. George's, and change to route 6 for Clearwater Beach (ask the driver where to change). In summer you can take the Orange Route ferry from Dockyard to St. George's for the first part (see Getting Around).
Animals and the sea
Fish, turtles, dolphins and a zoo: Bermuda is a wonderful place for children who love animals. For more calm beaches, see our Beaches guide.
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Mangrove Bay
Somerset Village, Sandys
Photo: Andrew Currie, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons A small, sheltered beach in Somerset Village, with boats moored in the bay. The water is calm and shallow, good for a paddle with little ones.
Good to know: Free. There are shops and places to eat in the village.
No bus needed. Walk along Mangrove Bay Road into Somerset Village: only a few minutes from the cottages.
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Snorkel Park Beach
Royal Naval Dockyard, Sandys
A small man-made beach inside the old Dockyard walls. The water is shallow and popular with families, and snorkel gear can be hired on site.
Good to know: Check opening times and any entry charge before you go.
Bus, routes 7 or 8 to Dockyard (blue pole), then a short walk past the Fun Zone along Maritime Lane.
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Dolphin Quest Bermuda
National Museum of Bermuda, Royal Naval Dockyard
Paid, booked programmes in which visitors meet bottlenose dolphins in pools in the grounds of the National Museum. Children can join some programmes from age 3, on a shallow wet platform (a family group programme starts at age 2), and the programmes that include swimming start at age 5. Guests must be comfortable in the water. Anyone who has paid to enter the museum can watch the encounters.
Good to know: Book ahead on the Dolphin Quest website, which lists current prices. Museum entry is included for booked participants.
Bus, routes 7 or 8 to Dockyard (blue pole), then walk up to the museum at the far end of Maritime Lane.
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Church Bay
South Road, Southampton
Photo: Cait_Stewart, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr Best for older children who swim well: the reef is very close to shore, bringing lots of colourful fish within easy reach. One of the island's best snorkelling spots.
Good to know: A concession stand rents snorkel gear and sells snacks in season. Steps lead down from the road to the beach.
Bus, route 7 from our stop towards Hamilton (pink pole); ask the driver for Church Bay.
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Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI)
40 Crow Lane, Pembroke, on the edge of Hamilton
The Ocean Discovery Centre, an interactive museum of the sea, with Bermuda's only indoor dive experience and treasures from shipwrecks.
Good to know: Adults $20, youth (3 to 17) $15, under 3 free. Mid-March to the end of November: Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, weekends 10am to 4pm; from December to mid-March it is closed on Mondays. Last admission one hour before closing. Closed on some public holidays.
Bus to Hamilton (routes 7 or 8 from our stop, pink pole), then walk along the waterfront to Crow Lane, at the eastern end of the harbour. Or take the Blue Route ferry from Dockyard to Hamilton.
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Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo (BAMZ)
North Shore Road, Flatts Village
Photo: Curtis & Renee, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Bermuda's favourite day out for children, run by the Bermuda Zoological Society: an aquarium of reef fish, a natural history museum and a zoo. Look out for the giant Galapagos tortoises and the flamingos.
Good to know: Open daily from 9am (closed Christmas Day). Last admission 4pm; the zoo closes at 4.30pm. Adults $10, children 5 to 12 $5, children 4 and under free. Children under 12 must be with an adult.
Bus to Hamilton, then route 10 or 11. Take a route 7 or 8 bus to Hamilton (pink pole), then a route 10 or 11 bus towards St. George's; ask the driver for the Aquarium in Flatts. Shelly Bay Park, with its toddler playground, is a little further along the same road.
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Tobacco Bay
St. George's
Photo: StormyDog, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr A sheltered bay among dramatic limestone rocks, great for snorkelling, with parrotfish and sergeant majors. Busy on cruise-ship days.
Good to know: Equipment rentals and a snack bar.
Best in summer: the Orange Route ferry from Dockyard to St. George's (Monday to Saturday; see Getting Around). Otherwise, bus to Hamilton and then route 1, 3, 10 or 11 to St. George's. From King's Square it is about a 20-minute walk. Fort St. Catherine is close by.
Tobacco Bay on our Beaches guide | Directions in Google Maps
Boat trips: glass-bottom boat tours leave from Dockyard and Hamilton, a good way for non-swimmers to see the reef, shipwrecks and sometimes turtles. Operators and timetables change from season to season, so check current operators on Go To Bermuda.
Rainy-day and indoor ideas
Showers in Bermuda rarely last long, but if you need a few hours under cover, try these.
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Dockyard shops: Clocktower Mall, Craft Market and Glassworks
Royal Naval Dockyard, Sandys
Mostly under cover and close together. At Dockyard Glassworks you can often watch glass being blown; the Bermuda Craft Market, in an old cooperage, sells work by local makers; and the Clocktower Mall is in the big building with two towers.
Good to know: Check opening times, especially out of season.
Bus, routes 7 or 8 to Dockyard (blue pole).
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National Museum of Bermuda
The Keep, Royal Naval Dockyard
Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Bermuda's maritime museum, inside the old fortress at the tip of Dockyard: ramparts and cannons, shipwreck treasures and the grand Commissioner's House. There is a Museum Detectives Trail for children, and the playground (above) is in the grounds.
Good to know: Children under 16 go free with an adult; adults $20, seniors $18. Opens 9am on weekdays in summer (9.30am at weekends), 10am in winter; closes 5pm, last admission 4pm. Toilets and baby-changing facilities. There is no café, but there are picnic tables and Dockyard has plenty of places to eat.
Bus, routes 7 or 8 to Dockyard (blue pole), then walk to the end of Maritime Lane.
National Museum: plan your visit | Directions in Google Maps
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Crystal & Fantasy Caves
8 Crystal Cave Road, Hamilton Parish
Photo: Captain-tucker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Guided tours down into two caves full of stalactites, with floating walkways over crystal-clear underground pools. Children love it.
Good to know: There are steps down into the caves. Tours run through the day from 9am; the last tour is at 5pm (combined tours of both caves have shorter hours). Check prices on the caves' website.
Bus to Hamilton, then route 1, 3, 10 or 11 towards St. George's; ask the driver for Crystal Caves.
Adventures
For children who like to explore: old forts with ramparts and cannons, a trail for bikes and clifftop walks.
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Railway Trail by bike or on foot
Starts at Somerset Village
The old railway line, closed to traffic, runs the length of the island. The Somerset section is broad, flat and mostly paved: the safest place in Bermuda for a family bike ride, with woods, bridges and water views.
Good to know: Free. Bike hire: see our Getting Around page (ask the hire company about children's bikes and helmets).
Walk. Join the trail in Somerset Village, a few minutes from the cottages.
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Fort Scaur
Scaur Hill Fort Park, Somerset
A Victorian fort with a dry moat and ramparts to explore, in a hilltop park with picnic spots and some of the best views in Bermuda.
Good to know: Free park. Keep an eye on small children near the moat and walls.
Bus, routes 7 or 8 towards Hamilton (pink pole): get off at Somerset Road and Scaur Lane, then a short walk uphill. Or walk or cycle along the Railway Trail.
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Spittal Pond Nature Reserve
South Road, Smith's
A loop trail past the pond and along dramatic clifftops to the "Checkerboard" rocks, Jeffrey's Cave and Portuguese Rock, carved by early visitors. Great for birds, especially during migration.
Good to know: Free; open dawn to dusk. Keep little ones close on the clifftops.
Bus to Hamilton, then route 1 along South Road; ask the driver for Spittal Pond.
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Fort St. Catherine
St. George's
Photo: Jerrye and Roy Klotz MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons A fort and museum on the island's north-east tip, with cannons and ramparts above the beach where the shipwrecked Sea Venture settlers came ashore in 1609.
Good to know: Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (the Department of Parks may change hours for events). Check prices on gov.bm.
Bus to Hamilton, then route 1, 3, 10 or 11 to St. George's, then a walk (about 1.5 km) or a taxi. In summer, the Orange Route ferry from Dockyard is a lovely alternative. Combine it with Tobacco Bay.
More things to do
- Paddle and kayak: our kayak and paddle boards are on the beach for you to use. Children should always be with an adult and wear a life jacket.
- Glow worms: on summer evenings a few days after the full moon, Bermuda fireworms light up the water shortly after sunset. See our Glow Worms page for when to look.
- Lizards, frogs and crabs: spot lizards sunning themselves in the garden, listen for whistling frogs at night and look for crabs on the rocks. See Reptiles, Frogs and toads and Sea creatures.
- Events for children: Good Friday is kite-flying day in Bermuda, with home-made kites in the sky all over the island and a KiteFest at Horseshoe Bay. See What's On for what is happening during your stay.
At the cottages
Our own sheltered beach is just steps from your door, with chairs, umbrellas and floats to use. The snorkelling straight off the beach is excellent: the rocks close to shore are full of fish, and turtles often swim by. Please keep a close eye on children in and near the water, and bring beach shoes, as there can be sharp rocks, particularly when the sand moves. The kayak and paddle boards are there to enjoy too (with an adult, and life jackets for children). In the garden, look out for lizards, birds and, after dark, the tiny whistling frogs. See Facilities for more.
We have a travel crib you can borrow: just mention it when you book. For anything else (high chairs, strollers, car seats, beach gear and toys) we recommend Little Longtails, a Bermuda baby-equipment rental company. They are very efficient.
Practical tips for families
- Bus and ferry fares: children under 5 travel free. Older children pay a child fare of $2.75 in cash for any journey; you need the exact fare, as drivers do not give change. Passes are also available. Fares and passes are on Shorelink and our Getting Around page.
- Car seats: if you need a child seat in a taxi, ask whether one is available when you book, or bring your own. Visitors cannot rent full-size cars, and the two-seater mini-cars are not designed for young children.
- Sun: the sun is strong even on cloudy days. Use plenty of reef-safe sun cream, hats and swim shirts, and find shade in the middle of the day.
- Drinking water: carry plenty of water on days out; many smaller beaches and parks have no shops.
- Portuguese man o' war and jellyfish: especially in spring, these blue, balloon-like creatures can drift in and wash up on the sand. Their tentacles sting badly, even when they look dead, so teach children not to touch them. See Sea creatures.
- Water shoes: useful on rocky beaches, and on ours.
- Swim safely: lifeguards cover only a few of the busiest beaches in season. The north-shore bays near us are calm; the South Shore can have surf and currents.
- Pharmacy: there is no longer a pharmacy in Somerset Village, so bring any medicines you need, and children's essentials such as sun cream and plasters.
Opening times and prices change, so please check the official websites before you go. Prices are in Bermuda dollars, which are equal to US dollars. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
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